ABOUT A.C.T

A.C.T stands for A Conscious Thought
We believe every form of communication is a performance
Communication is 90 % of what we all do everyday …
So,
Every Human Interaction is ultimately an … A.C.T

“A Conscious Thought”

Method by Kathy Uyen

A.C.T “A Conscious Thought” Method by Kathy Uyen, is an approach to help not only professional actors, and performers but also every day people to manage their emotions, actions, voice, movement, and speech by using the POWER of A CONSCIOUS THOUGHT.

A.C.T is a step by step breakdown of the human communications and behavior process tracing emotions, actions, voice, movement and speech back to A Conscious Thought. By accepting that our thoughts trigger emotions, behavior, voice and movement, we can consciously focus on a series of new thoughts to change our desired emotion, reactions and behaviors.

MISSION

TO EDUCATE

To educate and cultivate a respect for the Art of Acting, a study of human emotional communications and behaviors designed for Actors, Performers and Everyday people

TO EMPOWER

To empower actors, performers and everyday people to be the best character we can become in the many roles we play.

TO create

To CREATE COMMUNITY of Best Characters to encourage discussion and personal growth and connection through the practice of Acting.

Our vision is to cultivate a respect for the craft of Acting and Performance, as an art of human expression, communication and being emotionally present and connected in everyday moments.

 

A.C.T Academy aims to preserve the art of human emotional connections, to cultivate emotional intelligence, confidence and the ability to educate, empower, connect and empower the future generations of Vietnam.

VISION​

Kathy Uyen is the Co-Founder & CEO of A.C.T Academy, an Acting and Filmmaking Academy offering curriculum in Acting, Directing, TV/Hosting, Screenwriting, Producing and Public Speaking. Co-Founded together in 2020 with Thanh Bui, Musician, Business Entrepreneur & Founder of Soul Music & Performing Arts Academy. Kathy is passionate about sharing the technique of Acting as a way to empower confidence in not just actors, performers but everyday people of all ages, on camera, on stage and in life. She also serves as a Public Speaker, invited to be a Vietnam TEDx speaker, and Guest Judge of many films industry related events and festivals

KATHY UYEN​

Educator/ Director/ Actress/ Writer/CEO & Co-Founder.
Born and raised in San Jose, California, graduating with a double major with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Irvine.

In Los Angeles, Kathy has worked in all aspects of entertainment from Casting, Film & TV, Development & Research, Talent Agencies, and Film Production at prestigious companies such as DreamWorks SKG, Warner Brothers, and Happy Madison, Adam Sandler’s production company. She was featured in numerous films and television shows such as “How I Met Your Mother” (2007), “Asian Stories (Book 3)” (2005), “Supercapitalism” (2010) in Hong Kong, and “Finishing The Game” (2007) by Justin Lin.

Kathy’s role in Victor Vu’s film “Passport to Love” (Chuyen Tinh Xa Xu) (2002) was her first film in Vietnam, which help her to win the Golden Kite’s Best Supporting Actress in 2009. Her leading role in Charlie Nguyen’s film “Fool for Love” (De Mai Tinhs) became a big box office hit in 2010 and made her the most memorable role to the audience. Soon after, Kathy won a triple threat as Co-Writer, Producer, and Actress in “How to Fight in Six Inch Heels” (Am Muu Giay Got Nhon) which garnered her second Golden Kite Award for Best Leading Actress in 2013.

After joining quite a lot of films in hometown, in 2019, Kathy premiered her debut as Co-Writer and Director of “Chi Chi Em Em” a psychological thriller starring Thanh Hang, Chipu, and Lanh Thanh produced by Muse Films & Timothy Linh Bui. It was the highest anticipated thriller film of the year and was voted 2nd Best Film of the Year by We Choice Awards 2019.

Between films projects, Kathy is the most sought Acting coach for rising & celebrity film actors and actresses in Vietnam including Chipu, Diem My, Kaity Nguyen, Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc, Lanh Thanh, Le Xuan Tien, Hoang Oanh and many more.

Acknowledge about her mission, Kathy Uyen now is the Co – Founder & CEO of A.C.T Academy, on Acting and Filmmaking Academy offering curriculum in Acting, Directing, TV/Hosting, Screenwriting, Producing and Public Speaking with Mr. Thanh Bui in 2020. She also serves as a Public Speaker, invited tp be a Vietnam TEDx speaker, and Guest Judge of many film industry related events and festivals.

THANH BUI

Educator / International Artist / Entrepreneur / Advocate for the Arts

In 2012, Mr. Thanh Bui became the founder of the renowned Soul Music & Performing Arts Academy (SMPAA), an international-level education institution with a vision to build the next GLOCAL Citizens of Vietnam – individuals with Global mindset and Local values.

In 2016, Thanh founded Asia Music & Performing Arts Education (AMPA Education), an Australian based Charity registered by The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

In 2018, Thanh founded Embassy Education Group, an innovative education system from Pre-school – 12, with a curriculum that is fully arts and sports integrated based on The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. And officially introducing Little Em’s Pre-school – the first pre-school in Vietnam to have signed an agreement to co-operate and apply the Reggio Emilia Approach method with Reggio Children, Italy.

With a strong passion for all art forms, Thanh is collaborating with Educator/Director/Actress, Ms. Kathy Uyen, to be co-founder of the A.C.T Academy, specializing in international level training for the various disciplines of film/tv, to develop the industry’s next prominent actors, actresses, directors, screen-writers …

Thanh is heavily focused on building infrastructure to support, nurture, develop, facilitate and amplify his vision for creative education and the arts for all children in Vietnam.

Thanh is heavily focused on building infrastructure to support, nurture, develop, facilitate and amplify his vision for creative education and the arts for all children in Vietnam.

OUR Faculty

co-huyen-act

HOANG THANH HUYEN

Producer, Acting Coach at A.C.T Academy

A.C.T Academy proudly introduces Producer Hoang Thanh Huyen in teaching collaboration about acting and performing with us.

She has proven her competency in producing famous movies Sieu Nhan X, Co Hau Gai, Chang Vo Cua Em, Anh Thay Ngoi Sao and Tiec Trang Mau. Besides, she is the Director of TV show: Toi Yeu Viet Nam, XineMe, Tu Tru and Thao Ba Ba. With many years of experience in movie industry, Huyen understands the essential criteria in talent casting and the decisive factors that help actors and actress perform the best character on set.

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Mai The Hiep

Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Acting Coach at A.C.T Academy

For more than 20 years pursuing the 7th art form, Mr. Mai The Hiep has taken on many different roles from director, writer, producer, casting director for many film projects in Vietnam to actors, program editors, theater directors abroad.

He has participated in many famous film projects such as Blood Letter, Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass, Scandal, Battle of the Brides, Hollow, Bitcoin Heist,… In 2017, the first movie that he is a director “Like an old house and Forget Me Not “ that he was main director brought him a big success for his carrer.

COMMUNITY LOVE

It has been an honor for A.C.T Academy to work with many other actors, directors, and producers. Let’s listen all comments about A.C.T Academy. Read what our talented community members are saying about us

huynh-tuyet-anh

Huynh Tuyet Anh

Actor

Previously when I performed, I thought I would act and perform based on the dialogue in the script. However, in Scene Study class, Kathy has taught me more in details, how to create different layers of thoughts and emotions underneath the dialogue. I feel that is so interesting and can be applied into a lot of the work that I do.

vo-phan-nhu-binh

Vo Phan Như Binh

MC

Currently, I’m a TV host. After attending two courses of Acting Technique and Scene Study, I feel much more confident to get on set and perform different acting scenes. At the same time, I now have a deeper understanding of acting techniques. What I love most about the class is Kathy Uyen’s patience and dedication towards all her students. Previously, I was really shy to act and unable to express the characteristics and emotions of the character. But when I finish the acting course, I am ready to tackle any new role given to me and have a open-minded.

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Giang Thanh

Director

For a long time, I’ve always wanted to join short term classes about Directing at Ho Chi Minh City. When I received information on Kathy’s newly opened classes, I felt excited and registered immediately. During my training, I feel that her class is totally different from other classes I’ve been to before. Besides practical knowledge, her new teaching method is easy to comprehend and helpful for me. After only a few classes, I can already apply those tips & tricks into my work. The refinement in her lecture, her ability to core and listen to students’ opinion give me comfort and confidence in this learning environment. I hope we can have more extended classes, so we can have more opportunities to learn and exchange our knowledge with Kathy as well as other passionate fellow students.

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Chi Pu

Singer/ Actor

I’m very lucky to have the opportunity to collaborate with Kathy Uyen in the feature film “Chi Chi Em Em.” Throughout the process of script reading and character development, Kathy Uyen has always followed me closely to guide my character “Bào Nhi” in the right direction.

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Le Xuan Tien

Actor

I am really fortunate to meet Kathy Uyên during my early training to become an actor. She is a person with an abundant source of energy to inspire anyone with her passion for Acting. You can also say that Kathy Uyen is the one behind all the successful roles of Tien Le Xuan

samuel-an

Samual An

Singer/ Actor

After participating in 8 classes of Acting Techniques, I never felt so excited and passionate about acting like right now. To be honest, I am a shy and timid person. But when attending the acting class, I can’t believe that I have the confidence and courage to stand in front of another person to play a character. Finishing the course, my confidence as well as my acting skills improved significantly. The class is suitable for anyone with no experience or very little experience as an actor. It’s also very fortunate that a lot of students in the class are so excellent that I can learn a lot by observing them.

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Lam Thanh Nha

Singer/ Actor

Nha has just completed the Scene Study course. Nha has improved so much about my ability to control my own emotions, how to get emotions for difficult scenes like crying, hugging, kissing, and how to have consistentcy for 10 onsecutive takes on set, and how to draw emotions as fast as possible. In class, Kathy has always instructed me to feel the character’s emotions, free up myself, and build genuine emotions from within instead of forcing it or imitating any other character. I have found the balance between technique and emotions; techniques

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Lanh Thanh

Actor/ Model

During pre-production and filming on set, Kathy is not only a director but she is also my teacher. I want to call her with that title because she has taught me so much on set. Most of the knowledge I have learnt from her can be applied to most of my work. I hope Ms. Kathy’s future students can absorb and take advantage of the knowledge, enthusiasm, and passion that Kathy offers to be more confident in acting.

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Phan Le Ai Phuong

Model/ Singer

Studying with Kathy, you’ll discover how colorful and intriguing the world around you actually is. A great actor/actress has to know not only how to act but also how to observe and enrich our inner and creative self. At A.C.T classes, we are taught acting techinques with an international standard and being pushed pasts our limitations. Coming out of each class, we become more and more confident. Thank you Ms. Kathy Uyên for your amazing classes, your positive energy, and your company with all my projects.

HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS JOINED THE JOURNEY OF ACTING WITH A.C.T ACADEMY
WILL YOU BE THE FOLLOWING?

OUR GROUP Members

A.C.T Academy is proud of the member of Embassy Education Group – a leading education group in Vietnam aims to shape Vietnam’s future generation through The Power Of Creative Education, with full education pathways for our Vietnamse children to become Ambassadors For Life.

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