Coach Gets a Shot

When acting coach Roy London cast the feature film that marks his directorial debut, casting wasn’t much of a problem.

“It seemed only natural--and right--to use my students,” London says.

The film is “Hit Man,” a thriller currently shooting for Vision International, which London co-wrote with Kenneth Pressman from Pressman’s off-Broadway play, “Insider’s Price.” It revolves around a hit man (Forest Whitaker) who has a change of heart when he’s hired to kill a young mother (Sherilyn Fenn).

Fenn (Audrey on “Twin Peaks”) is a student of London’s. So are Sharon Stone, Jim Belushi, Louie Anderson and Lois Chiles, all of whom appear in cameos.

A former actor, London began teaching full time a dozen years ago, and says he has coached some 300 students. He’s also directed episodes of “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” (Shandling is yet another student).

As for how London prepped to direct a feature film, he says, seriously: “One of the things I did was hire a (directing) coach.”