OUR TEAM
Mike Migliara
Founder, CEO, Artistic Director
Instructor: Ottawa, Calgary
Born and raised in Montreal, Mike Migliara's journey into the world of Casting began when he dropped out of University in 2000. He was offered a Casting Assistant position at The Montreal Casting House. After more than a decade of servicing among the best Canadian Producers and Directors as a Casting Director, he returned to Concordia University in 2012 whereby he completed his BFA from Concordia University in Theatre and Film Studies. Along the way, he became the most sought-after acting coached. Many actors who are now Canadian household names, became his clients: Tim Rozon, Michael Mando, Cindy Sampson, to name a few. His teaching techniques are revered for their unique blend of academic knowledge in theatre and film, coupled with his insider insights into the casting process, equipping actors with a comprehensive understanding of the skills necessary to secure coveted roles. Migliara has created an uncluttered, comprehensive audition list and system. He has created an acting system that is easy, fast, and proven as reliable. Migliara's acting system uniquely includes the POV of business strategies, marketing, and growth - by which he refers to as "audition strategy and career management. His system has proven to be effective. Every semester, many of his students are exceeding; booking auditions, roles, and being repped by reputable talent agents. As a member of the Casting Directors Society of Canada (CDC), Mike has left an indelible mark on both Hollywood and Canadian productions. His portfolio boasts collaborations with esteemed entities such as Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, and Ubisoft, where he has contributed to Casting Leads, Supporting, and Principal roles across various mediums including Feature Films, TV series, Video Games, Commercials & High Profile Music Videos. Beyond his casting endeavors, Mike is the visionary behind "The Screen Acting Academy (SAA)", a beacon of innovation in Performing Arts education. Rejecting the notion of gate-keeping, the academy operates on the belief that anyone with the passion and dedication for screen acting can excel and make it - given the right education and training. SAA's curriculum not only hones acting skills but also imparts invaluable knowledge on navigating the intricacies of the entertainment industry, ensuring students are equipped with effective business strategies for a quick and successful entry in the Film, Television, Voice Over, and Performance capture markets. At The Screen Acting Academy, personalized attention is paramount. Graduates receive one-on-one instruction, networking opportunities, and guidance from industry professionals. The academy serves as a launchpad for aspiring actors, assisting them in securing representation, crafting their brand, and fostering their growth through ongoing mentorship. And finally, Mike is the Vice President and a Development Producer for Knightshoot Media Inc. He develops content, for both scripted and unscripted, that are based on true stories. He pitches to some of the biggest production houses in Canada.
Karen Cliche
Instructor: Ottawa
Karen found her niche in powerful, intelligent and feminine characters with a memorable exuberance. She hopes to guide her students into understanding human behaviour, and aims to help guide them towards making stronger choices when creating a character.
Growing up as an army brat, Karen’s family was frequently posted to various countries worldwide, allowing her the opportunity to observe the human experience from a broad perspective. Her talents of observation and passion for the performing arts paired with a psychology degree, allow Karen to fine-tune her knowledge in human behaviour, furthering her abilities as a performer to flesh out the characters she creates.
During her more than 20-year acting career, Karen has played leading roles in 8 television series and 40 movies - landing one of her first acting roles in a Francis Ford Coppola film. Karen has also appeared in several comedies, one of which has been nominated for a Gemini Award in Comedy. As a well rounded actor, she also works a great deal in the commercial market, lending her voice to radio and TV.
Shawn Baichoo
Shawn Baichoo
Instructor: Ottawa
Specialty: Stage Combat, Motion Capture, Voice and Screen
Shawn has been a professional working actor for over 20 years and aspires to teach his students the power of physicality and movement when on-camera and how much more emphasis it can give your performance.
Holding a black belt in Shotokan Karate, Shawn studied with ‘Fight Directors Canada’ in 1999 after completing his theatre studies. He is a versatile performer, in whom producers trust to achieve the most highly rated projects. He has been cast in prominent speaking roles including Lead and Supporting roles and is acclaimed for his diversity and character work.
Shawn’s performance skills include theatre, camera, voice, stunts, movement capture and combat choreography. He’s worked on video game development such as Watchdogs 2, the Assassin’s Creed series, and many more. Shawn currently works as a Performing Arts and Stage Combat instructor, Combat Director, Stunt Designer and Consultant.
Instructor
Felipe Moura
Instructor
Felipe Moura
Instructor: Ottawa
Felipe strives to help his students connect with their innermost selves, in order to unlock their full potential of expression and true soulful-freedom. In Felipe’s words ‘to be able to - little by little, uncover the raw human elements, live the experiences, and derive truth when breathing life into a character is a privilege’.
Felipe Moura is a multi-faceted Actor, Director, and Teacher with over 25 years of experience. Originally from Brazil, he began his career in the entertainment industry at the age of 15 as a Union actor. Nevertheless, he has always been interested in the creative endeavour of teaching and directing. By accompanying a student through the discovery of the human experience, Felipe found the reflective nature of the art of an actor to be a therapeutic process of self-discovery, and incredibly humbling.
Felipe served as a certified educator at the Stanislavsky Institute, a division within the Latin American Film Institute located in São Paulo, Brazil. There, he taught actors varied methodologies, including: Stanislavski's System, Meisner Technique, Adler Technique, Chekhov Technique, stage combat, and sensuality for film and television.
Instructor
Mike Migliara
Founder, CEO, Artistic Director
Karen Cliche
Karen Cliche
Instructor: Ottawa
In her professional acting career, of over 20 years, Karen Cliche has had leading roles in 8 television series and 40 films, including guest appearances. One of her first acting roles was in a Francis Ford Coppola film shooting in Australia and Hong Kong. She found her niche in playing strong, intelligent, female characters with memorable exuberance. Karen has also starred in several comedies, one of which has earned her a nomination for a Gemini Award in comedy performance for The Business (TV Series 2006-2007) .
In conjunction with her training in screen acting, Karen was an army brat. Her talent stems from observing many different cultures and countries around the world; watching many different personalities, experiences and situations. Academically, Karen studied psychology, which gives her strong precision in human behaviour, permitting her to make memorable choices in fleshing out her characters. Karen took some years off when she had her daughter, and now lives in Ottawa, ON.
Time and time again, she continues to thrive in the entertainment industry – booking substantiated roles: from being a member of the supporting cast, to large principals! In just the last 3 years, she has booked 5 lead roles & supporting cast. As well as working extensively in the commercial market – lending her voice to radio and TV!
Michelle Leblanc
Instructor: Ottawa
According to Michelle “knowledge is power”, which has fueled her pursuit of education and training. Michelle is a very well-rounded instructor who offers the benefit of variety and exploration.
Michelle LeBlanc has been an actor for over 20 years and has a well-rounded experience as a performer having worked on stage, on camera, and doing voice overs. Her post-secondary multidisciplinary education is a testament to her curiosity and love of learning. Inspired by her drive for knowledge in combination with a passion for the arts, Michelle attended the Acting Conservatory Program at the Ottawa Theatre School where she studied method acting techniques for several years. Through her keen desire to learn and absorb new techniques, Michelle learned voice techniques with John Stocker and various coaches. She’s received on-camera training with Michael Gordin Shore and has attended workshops hosted by notable Canadian Casting Directors including Ron Leach, Stephanie Gorin, Brian Levy and Gail Harvey.
As of today, Michelle has appeared in over 30 staged productions. She’s worked on films, television and as voice artist in over a dozen radio shows. She is the inaugural recipient of the Prix Rideau Emerging Artist Award.
Instructor
Michelle leblanc
Patrick bugby
Instructor
Patrick Bugby
Instructor: Ottawa
Patrick Bugby is a professional actor in the Ottawa and Perth theatre communities. He training is extensive in the theatre and in academia: Ottawa’s School of Speech and Drama, Algonquin’s Performance Arts Program, The Third Wall Academy.
Jennie Esnard
Instructor: Ottawa
Jen Esnard has been a professional actress from the age of 5. She starred on Broadway in NYC, and starred in several productions staged at Ottawa’s Orpheus Musical Theatre.
She is a proud member of SAG, ACTRA, and UDA, and has been cast on screen for speaking roles in the USA, Canada, and Quebec, performing in both English and French.
Jennie has starred in various films, and has a seasoned resume with both supporting and principal roles. In both independent feature films and television.
In the past 2 years alone, she has been cast in a total of 6 productions. Recent credits include “An Ice Palace Romance” ,Twas the Night Before Christmas”, and “Hot Frosty” as Diana, playing opposite to American stars such as Craig Robinson, Lacey Chabert, and Lauren Holly.
As a Black actress, she faced limited opportunities, which taught her the importance of versatility and the reach for excellence no matter the cost. And additionally, to convince casting directors and producers to take a chance on change.
Her mantra is to center oneself and practice consistently, a crucial key to success in this industry. Today, she offers guidance to mature individuals of color who aspire to enter the industry, encouraging them not to overthink and to stay grounded in their pursuits!
Jennie esnard
Instructor
daniel Garcia
Instructor
Daniel Garcia
Instructor: Vancouver
Daniel has worked as a performer on an international level. Having worked in the US market, to the UK and Chinese Theater scene, his instructive abilities are grounded in pragmatic and inspiring skills needed to thrive in the industry.
Daniel began his career in the United States, graduating with a B.A. in Theater from UNT. Upon graduating, he worked on mainland China for 6 years as a series lead voice performer for an animated series and other major international production conglomerates. While in China, Daniel got hired by Disney World Family and became a resident Actor. He has also performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, UK.
Daniel returned to North America, settling down temporarily in New York City, where he worked as a SAG-AFTRA member co-starting in many prominent American programs and continued his studies of the craft at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre. Daniel is now in Ottawa working as an ACTRA actor. When he’s not teaching with the SAA, he works on television and film productions shot in Ottawa or Toronto.