Ivana Chubbuck
Ivana Chubbuck is the founder and director of the Ivana Chubbuck Studio and creator of the cutting edge and widely adopted Chubbuck Technique, which has been used in Oscar winning and nominated performances. In her own words, “The difference between the Chubbuck Technique and those developed in the past is that I teach actors how to use their emotions not as an end result, but as a way to empower a goal. My technique teaches actors how to win.”
Essentially, The Chubbuck Technique takes the very same pain, insecurities, issues and fears that usually cause self-destructive behaviors and instead uses the very same issues as a powerful fuel to overcome, resolve, learn, evolve and create catharsis for the characters in the script. Thereby the Chubbuck Technique philosophy creates a dynamic journey for the actor, writer, director and ultimately the audience. The underbelly of the Chubbuck Technique is to find a way to “win” in spite of and because of the pain.
There are 26 ongoing classes (12 in-studio and 14 online geared toward international students) ranging from introductory to master level classes. The Studio maintains a focus on producing and nurturing actors, writers, and directors in a rigorous professional environment. It is our mission to empower our students with the tools to become successful and to make empowered and proactive choices in their work.
Some of the actors Ivana has worked with during her 35-plus year career include Academy Award winners and nominees:
Charlize Theron
James Franco
Halle Berry
Brad Pitt
Jake Gyllenhaal
Jon Voigt
Sylvester Stallone
Elisabeth Shue
Djimon Honsou
Terrence Howard
Catherine Keener
Jared Leto
Ivana’s students are well represented at the Academy Awards, Emmys, Tonys, Critics’ Choice, and many other international movie, television, and theater awards. Her work with Judith Light on Broadway garnered Ms. Light two consecutive Tony Award wins, the first time in the history of the Tonys that has ever happened. She has also worked with:
Jim Carrey
Gerard Butler
David Boreanaz
Chris Pine
Gal Gadot
Shia LeBeouf
Meg Ryan
Judith Light
Jessica Alba
Eva Mendes
Craig Robinson
Kate Walsh
Damon Wayans
Kate Bosworth
Marcia Cross
Isla Fisher
Liv Tyler
Mary J Blige
Simu Liu
America Ferrera
Sienna Miller
…and a host of many others. In addition to working with actors, Ivana works with Hollywood’s premiere directors and writer/producers.
Ivana Chubbuck is the author of the best-selling book The Power of the Actor, published by a division of Penguin Books (Gotham). The book has been translated into 20 languages.
Globally, there are Accredited Chubbuck Technique teachers and schools in countries including: Russia, Japan, England, Philippines, Brazil, Columbia, Uruguay, Argentina, Canada, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Israel, Romania, Australia, Germany, Austria, Italy, China, Indonesia, Romania, Ukraine, France, Belgium, Spain, Poland, and more.
Ivana often holds seminars and workshops internationally, and has been a guest teacher at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy, China’s Dome Academy, and The Juilliard School.
She has been given the high honor of being called this century’s Stanislavsky by the Russian press and actors’ community. Ivana was also honored by The Russian International Film Festival with a lifetime achievement award for her contributions to the film industry alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, William Friedkin, and Francis Ford Coppola.
Ivana’s work goes to the source of what motivates human behaviour in order to recreate real behaviours and be truly in the scene. The Chubbuck Technique has been used by actors, writers and directors worldwide to great success and awards.
Halle Berry thanks Ivana Chubbuck during her speach after winning best actress for Monster’s Ball.
“Ivana Chubbuck is the premiere acting coach of the twenty-first century. Her astute knowledge of the human condition, coupled with her ability to translate that insight to her students, is remarkable. Ivana’s innovative methods of teaching both complements and rival those of the great teachers of the past. Her philosophy transcends what we once knew about the art, and forces actors through their own catharsis to discover authentic ways of bringing the complexity of life to the screen and stage. Under Ivana’s tutelage, the course of my career and depth of my work have changed dramatically.”
“I finally went to a class in Los Angeles with this wonderful teacher, Ivana Chubbuck. Ivana taught me how to take my emotions and take everything that has happened in my life, and use it to make me an effective actor. The stakes have to be high – so it was really an interesting place for me to stand on my feet and fall on my face many times.”
“She just began to break me down, and I went, “Wow.” Because it’s almost as if certain acting habits become calcified and, before you know it, you’re like a piano player with one finger. You keep hitting that same note over and over again. She right away got into really subliminal, exploratory personal chambers that I wanted to keep closed. Like my son’s death. I said, ‘I really don’t want to go there, I really don’t want to talk about that. She said, ‘Well, that’s what needs to come out. You need to express that. This is what this character is dealing with, that kind of loss, that kind of grief.”
“Judd Apatow introduced me to Ivana [for the movie Funny People] and I’ve worked with her on every role since. She has always encouraged me to take risks and push boundaries with my work. She has taught me that my fears, insecurities, neurosis and generally all those things that make me one screwed up human being — are actually the elements that make the substance and journey of the characters we create together — unique and special.”
“The worst moment a director can experience is when a scene isn’t working and the actors and crew are staring at you for answers — and you don’t have any. The Chubbuck method has helped me to never be at a loss for words on set. Not just words, but the right words. Ivana has given me a practical set of tools, not only to troubleshoot problematic scenes, but to help my actors prepare for their roles. Directing without a workable method is like going to war without a gun. Thank you Ivana!”