About Giovannie

giovannie-espiritu sfactorsworkshop

 

"Because you are forced to see things from someone else's shoes, I believe that acting has the capacity to change the world one person at a time. Empathy for one another increase as we are allowed to love ourselves from our deepest flaws to our brightest gifts. it is a study of humanity itself and this crazy lovely world we live in." - Giovannie

Director Giovannie Espiritu, Founder of Hollywood Actors Workshop

Giovannie Espiritu is a groundbreaking storyteller whose creative vision is deeply informed by her journey as a bisexual, once-undocumented immigrant Filipina mom who survived a Biblical doomsday cult. Her work—ranging from film to television—explores themes of resilience, social justice, and human complexity. Her acclaimed short films, including ALLY 3000, which garnered over 12 awards, and Legacy, which won a 2023 Silver Telly and the Hyundai Evolve Innovation Award, tackle issues of patriarchy, generational trauma, and bias with humor and heart. 

Espiritu’s latest project, MAID TO SHINE, a six-episode romantic comedy, highlights her commitment to inclusive storytelling, set against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas and focusing on a Filipina maid with a hidden talent. Additionally, her feature film LOVE & KARMA starring International star Bai Ling, Oscar nominee Eric Roberts, Golden Globe nominee Joanna Pacula, and Filipino talent Belinda Panelo and Jojo Riguerra, showcases her knack for blending emotional depth with engaging narratives. Recognized as one of the “Most Influential Filipina Women in the World” by the Filipina Women’s Network, Espiritu’s mantra, “Break Hearts Wide Open and Create More Moments of Joy,” drives her to craft stories that uncover resilience, hope, and humanity in all its forms.

She is a proud member of the Producers Guild of America, Alliance of Women Directors, the TV Academy, and SAG-AFTRA.


She coaches kids/teens/adults online nationwide through HollywoodActorsWorkshop.com and was named as one of the top 40 Audition Coaches in Los Angeles by the Hollywood Winners Circle. Her students are represented by the top agencies in the Bay Area and Los Angeles and notable student alumni include William Lipton (Daytime Emmy Nominee, Cameron on General Hospital) and the Espina Sisters (Hosts of Dreamworks’ “Life Hacks for Kids on the Road”). 


 

In her spare time, she rock climbs and advocates for Domestic Violence Awareness/Prevention and LGBTQ equality. She has served on the Board of Directors for C.O.R.A. (a Bay Area domestic violence hotline and agency) and been awarded a Certificate of Recognition from the Senate for her community service. She is also a member of the Alliance of Women Directors and the Producers Guild of America.

An interview from ShowBiz Tonight.
Hollywood Actors Workshop. Curve Magazine, After Ellen, Bones, Buzzfeed.

 Her students are represented by the top agencies in the Bay Area and Los Angeles including JE Talent, Stars, Look, MDT, Clear Talent Group, CESD, William Morris Endeavor and many others.

As a believer in Gandhi's maxim, "Be the change you wish to see in the world," Giovannie began writing as a way to create more diversity in the film industry. Soon, it became another outlet for catharsis and healing as she relived deeply personal stories and wove them into her work, along with the lessons learned. Her ultimate goal and "nefarious plan" is to break hearts wide open to create more empathy and compassion by forcing audiences to walk in someone else's shoes.

Hollywood Actors Workshop Philosophy

The Hollywood Actors Workshop Philosophy

While the rest of the actors out there sit around and wait for the phone to ring, we proactive alchemists are quietly re-engineering our strategies, and honing our artistic skills, both commercially and theatrically. We're booking work because we are focusing on our core essentials - being really "Amazing Auditioners" (acting your BEST when it counts the most) and constantly improving our personal "show-business marketing.

Even top performers work with an acting coach. A supportive outside perspective can only help an actor improve as well as save years of trial and error.

 

Gio's Teaching Street Cred

Giovannie is one of the few acting coaches in the industry with a permit to teach. As this industry grows, it's important to keep our kid actors safe and protected.  You can find our article about kid actor safety and Giovannie's acting permit by clicking here.
*For reference, there are only 292 valid permit holders (including managers, photographers, publisicts and acting coaches) who are legally allowed to work with kid actors. This is according to the Department of Industrial Relations.)

Come Join the Fun!

If you're just dipping your toes into acting, don't worry, you're not alone and you're not too late. Acting is a super fun experience and I hope you explore our resources, blog posts, and videos available so that you can get a sense of what the inside of the world of acting is really like. If you've decided or already know you want to do acting, then the best way to get started is to sign up for our newsletter down below and/or also listen to our podcasts. We're all about taking baby steps in life and making gradual but fun progress. Once you've gotten to know us better then we would love to help you get started in the acting world.