Ian Vernon, founder and coach at Vernon Acting Method

Ian Vernon — Founder, Vernon Acting Method

Scene 02 — About Ian

About Ian Vernon

Ian Vernon has spent more than two decades behind the camera — as a working film director and as a coach who tells actors the truth about their performance. He uses his own unique "method" to get results.

Before he ever called "action," Ian trained in film and photography at art college and built a career as an advertising and fashion photographer, working on assignments around the world. That eye for image and detail followed him into directing, and eventually into the room where he now trains actors for the screen.

He has written and directed; a TV pilot, four feature films and nine short films. Screened at Cannes, Raindance and festivals across Europe, US and Canada. This experience he brings directly into every class.

Read Full Bio

Scene 03 — The Method

Why actors choose Vernon Acting Method

Deliberately small classes

Capped at nine actors, usually fewer than seven — so every actor is seen, filmed and given proper individual direction each week.

Practical scene workshops

You receive your scene five to six days before class. Workshop it in the class under the eagle-eye of Ian. Then your scene is filmed on camera.

Honest, professional feedback

Critique that is direct and constructive, never designed to flatter. The kind of note you'd get from an experienced director on set, not an acting class leader protecting your feelings.

24+ years of direction experience

Taught in Manchester and specialist classes in Los Angeles for over two decades, built on real production experience directing actors - and his own method.

Scene 05 — In Their Words

What actors say

"Ian's experience — honest critique, gently delivered — truly helped me. He doesn't just tell you what's wrong; he shows you how to fix it and why it matters on set."

Former Vernon Acting Method student

Evening class, Manchester

"Most coaches don't explain how to correct your performance. Ian does — in a way that actually transfers to being in front of a real camera on a real set."

Former Vernon Acting Method student

Evening class, Manchester

"The class is small enough that you're never just watching. Every week, you're the one on camera, being properly directed — not lectured at."

Former Vernon Acting Method student

Evening class, Manchester

Full Bio

Ian Vernon — Full Biography

From advertising photography to award-winning features — and, for the last 24 years, the acting room.

Early career

Photography to filmmaking

Ian Vernon trained in film and photography at art college before becoming a successful advertising and fashion photographer, working on assignments for agencies around the world. Wanting to return to his first love — directing and writing — he went on to study Method acting, Stella Adler and Meisner technique in both the UK and Los Angeles, giving him a director's understanding of how to draw the best performance from an actor on screen.

Writer & Director

Features, shorts and a TV pilot

Ian wrote and directed Actors, a TV pilot and feature film, along with nine short films — four of them shot in Los Angeles. One of his feature length screenplays won UK Lottery Funding. His feature work spans black comedy, wartime drama and supernatural thriller, each one sharpening the same instinct: what makes a performance believable on camera.

Rebels Without a Clue (2010) Best Little Whorehouse in Rochdale The War I Knew Brood Parasite

Recognition

Festival honours

Rebels Without a Clue screened at Cannes' Palais Marché and won Best Soundtrack, Best Cinematography and Best Supporting Actor at the Ibiza International Film Festival, with a nomination for Best UK Feature at Raindance. Best Little Whorehouse in Rochdale premiered at Palm Beach International Film Festival, winning the Audience Favourite Award, then Best Foreign Film at San Diego and Best Feature at London Independent Film Festival — later released as a cult northern comedy. The War I Knew premiered at Palm Beach, won the Rising Star Award at Canada International Film Festival, and has since been released in more than nine countries.

Newspaper coverage of Ian Vernon at the Ibiza International Film Festival — Ibiza International Film Festival

Ian Vernon on the red carpet at the BAFTA Film Awards, London — BAFTA Film Awards, London

Ian Vernon at the BAFTA Los Angeles Film Awards — BAFTA, Los Angeles

24+ years

Coaching screen acting

For over 24 years, Ian has coached screen acting workshops in Manchester and specially requested classes in Los Angeles. He has visited LA at least three times a year since 1999. His "method" draws from experience directing actors in real productions. This enables him to give students technical, on-set knowledge (that many acting schools simply don't teach). Actors he has directed and coached have gone on to star or guest-star in major UK & US television/film productions.

Selected TV & Film Credits

Here – starring Tom HanksOutlander: Blood of My BloodFackham Hall Doctor WhoOutlanderSons of AnarchyCSI Coronation StreetEmmerdaleHollyoaksShameless USA Waterloo RoadBelgraviaRobin Hood (MGM+)

Today

Vernon Acting Method

Ian teaches his own brand of screen acting in Manchester - Vernon Acting Method. Classes are kept intentionally small: built on his own unique "method", with practical on-camera scene work, and direct - constructive, usable - feedback.

Scene 08 — About the Classes

Evening screen acting classes in Manchester,
on camera

Classes are for beginners and very experienced actors. Many return term after term.

Classes run on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, 7pm to 10pm, in a nurturing environment in North Manchester.

Numbers are capped at nine actors, usually fewer than seven, so every actor is properly seen. You'll receive your scene five to six days before class, giving you time to learn and prepare it before attending class and workshopping it with Ian. Then you are filmed performing the scene.

Each session starts with practical theory - the topic varies each week: eg, script breakdown, body language, character study, auditions, agents, video self-tapes, on-set terminology , etc... Then, I workshop your scene - giving direction, and feedback. Working on the "notes" given - you continue practicing. Finally, the scene is filmed... The group watch all the scenes at the end of the evening.

Location

North Manchester

Class nights

Tue & Wed, 7–10pm

Class size

Max 9 actors

On camera

Every week

Enquire About Classes

Ian Vernon working a scene with actors in an evening class — In class — working a scene

Practical theory

Screen acting styles, script breakdown, body language, and real on-set terminology.

Rehearsal

Work your scene, received 5–6 days earlier, with the group.

Individual direction

One-to-one notes and redirection from Ian before you go again.

Filmed & critiqued

Your scene is filmed and the group watches and discusses every performance.

Also Available

Prefer one-to-one sessions?

Ian also offers private 1-to-1 coaching sessions during the daytime, in person in Manchester, as well as video 1-to-1 sessions for actors based too far away to attend in person. Same honest, practical direction — tailored entirely to you.

Enquire About 1-to-1 Coaching

Impressive, Stand-out,
Screen Acting Starts Here.

About Ian Vernon