Janos Szasz

Learn Film Directing from Practicing Oscar Shortlisted, Cannes Selected, former head of Harvard A.R.T institute director with 30 years of experience in teaching.

Private coaching available for Film Directing, Acting for Theater and Acting on Camera.

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Former Students

  • John Bernthal

    ACTOR

    The Punisher, The Walking Dead, Daredevil. Wolf of Wall Street, The Odyssey, The Accountant, Baby Driver, Night at the Museum.

    Former student at the Harvard American Repertory Theater Institute for Advanced Theater Training.

  • Tim Kang

    ACTOR

    The Mentalist, Rambo, Mister Green, The Forgotten, Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, Bound for Greatness, Robot Stories, Two Weeks Notice, Room 731

    Former student at the Harvard American Repertory Theater Institute for Advanced Theater Training.

  • Kornél Mundruczó

    FILM DIRECTOR

    Pieces of a Woman, Jupiter’s Moon, White God, Place to Be, Tender Son, Delta, Evolution.

    Former student at the Hungarian Academy of Film and Drama.

  • Mickey Solis

    ACTOR/SCRIPTWRITER

    Rogue Hostage, Blindspot, Red Dead Redemption II, The Blacklist, Man with a Van, Yellow Eyes, Sender

    Former student at the Harvard American Repertory Theater Institute for Advanced Theater Training.

  • Kovács István

    FILM DIRECTOR

    Berlinale Best Director, director of Ostrom (2018), The Sound of Concrete (2015) and Csúszópénz (2014).

  • Dénes Nagy

    FILM DIRECTOR

    Berlinale Best Director, Kurtág (2025), Natural Light (2021), Másik Magyarország (2013) and Soft Rain (2013).

How We Work Together

Open to young, dedicated future directors, as well as serious filmmakers ready to work at a professional level.

János Szász is opening a limited number of private, one-on-one in person or online mentorships. We begin with a conversation and end with a polished portfolio or an introduction to casting directors.

Coaching is structured around what you actually bring in, wether a scene you’re stuck on, a role you’re building over weeks, or a script that needs a director’s eye before it goes to pitch.

  • One-on-one, in person (Potomac/DC metro) or via video. Scene work, audition prep, script analysis, or a directing/production consultation — structured around what you bring in.

  • A sustained arc rather than a single fix: role preparation from first read to performance-ready, or a directing project taken from concept through blocking.

  • For writers and producers: script notes from a director’s perspective — structure, actability, and what a script will actually look like in production.

  • The complete crash course personalized at any level to fit your prior experience and leap your career forward.

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Not theory, but real craft.

Not theory, but real craft.

Inquire About Private Coaching

Cannes. Sundance. Karlovy Vary Crystal Globe winner. Chicago International Film Festival Gold Plaque winner. Screened at AFI Fest. Member of the European Film Academy winner if European Film academy prize.

Directed Eyes of the Holocaust, a documentary produced by Steven Spielberg. Director of Angels in America at Arena Stage, Washington DC.

A Director’s Eye, Applied to Your Work

Based in the DC area, currently developing new film projects in the U.S. No theory. Real craft: directing actors, visual storytelling, how a professional set actually runs.

Limited spots.  Learn More

Let’s Talk

Tell me what you’re working on, and I’ll tell you honestly whether I’m the right fit for it.