The Total Picture Seminar, a California LLC, was formed by actor Martin Landau, director Mark Rydell, and screenwriter/playwright Lyle Kessler. The purpose is to educate actors, writers, and directors in the aspects of filmmaking. Martin Landau, Mark Rydell, and Lyle Kessler have worked together for many decades at The Actors Studio. They each bring industry experience, prestige, personal success, and a lifetime of teaching experience to this endeavor. The Seminar producer is Jeffry A. DeCola.