ACTING FOR TELEVISION Full Time Professional Program 2012

INTRODUCTION

Our industry is ever-changing as it keeps pace with technological developments as well as our industry becoming intertwined with the International market. There is more than ever a need for actors to get serious about their craft and their ongoing training in order to develop the skills needed to stay competitive in this industry. As this industry evolves there is an army of brilliant young Australian actors who are being presented with exceptional opportunities all over the world. These actors include but are not limited to: Margot Robbie, Ryan Kwanten, Chris Hemsworth, Poppy Montgomery, Melissa George and Rachel Taylor.

Our actors need to be prepared to service the widest range of opportunities that exist in our own industry while also being prepared for the exciting opportunities that are presented to us by the American market. There has never been a course specifically designed to train actors to deal with fast turnaround television. 

This is an Australian first.

We are thrilled and proud to offer this exciting adventure in acting training. It presents an absolute gold mine of experience and opportunity for anyone who is serious and ambitious about being an actor in the Australian and American television industries in its current climate.  
We are preparing actors to be ready, fit and able to go when opportunity knocks.

COURSE OUTLINE

This unique course is designed to equip actors with the mental, physical and emotional strength needed to flourish in a work environment that often puts actors under intense pressure and scrutiny.

Our aim is to provide a world class television drama training course to:

• Equip and train actors with the craft and experience to perform with excellence in fast turnaround television in Australia and overseas.
• Create autonomous actors who understand their role as actors in society, with a deep understanding of popular culture as it exists in Australia today - who are independent, creative and fulfilled individuals.
• Promote personal health, stamina and inner strength.

The course has been designed to approximately mirror the schedule of an actual television drama, so from the first read through at 8:00am on Monday morning, actors are developing a mental and physical discipline to deal with performing in industry conditions. The course is dense and fast-paced, with actors working on the floor with exceptional trainers from day 1.   

Actors will be required to do all their reading, preparation and exercises at home ready for the coming week. We hope you will take from this course a way to live in the world as an actor, connected and inspired by the world we live in and the ever-changing culture that is produced and nurtured in Australia.

The course is comprised of 3 x 10 week terms. Each week comprising of 3 full days (Either Monday, Tuesday & Wednesdays or Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays) of training. The Program is conducted by working industry professionals who are experts in their field.  (please refer to "The Team" information for a comprehensive list).

TERM 1 OVERVIEW

The focus of this term is research and development. Students learn to identify their strengths and weaknesses as actors over the next 30 weeks. You will have valuable time to connect with your Self and others, and will develop an understanding of how you and we, as humans & artists behave in the world. 

This is in preparation for your work as an actor, ready to inhabit another soul and to able to interact authentically and vividly with other characters and situations in a professional manner.

• Keep a private reflection journal for assessment 

Once a week

• Complete a written assignment on scene study and story overview
• Watch and be prepared to discuss a set television episode that aired during the week
• Attend a company meeting

Once a term

• Research and prepare a 10 minute presentation which profiles three prominent
• Australian television artists - an actor, a director and writer of their choice.
• Prepare a self-assessment / goals & objective journal for discussion.

Course Materials (included but not limited to):

• An Actors Handbook by Stanisklavski 
• Respect For Acting by Uta Hagen
• Acting with Adler by Joanna Rotte
• A Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder, Lee Michael Goh, Madeleine Olnek, Nathanial Pollack, Robert Previto & Scott Zigler
• Sanford Meisner on Acting by Sanford Meisner & Dennis Longwell
• The 7 Steps to Stardom by Christina Ferra-GiIlmore
• Blank workbook
• Ring folder to contain work with 30 dividers

STRUCTURE OF THE DAY

MORNING
Skills training: TV Episode of the week company read through
Voice: Arthur Samuel Joseph's VOCAL AWARENESS & General American accent work
Movement: Alexander Technique, Yoga, Tai Chi and Improvisation / Clowning
 

AFTERNOON

Actor Training, Rehearsals and Workshops: This is an incredibly powerful unit that introduces you to aspects of the Stanislavski Technique. Students will engage principals from Uta Hagan, Stella Adler, Meisner, Practical Aesthetics, Chekhov and Lee Strasburg, all of which is taught by leading actor trainers in these specific fields and techniques who are sourced Australia wide.

This unit encourages you to identify with yourself as artists: building meaningful and truthful screen characters, stretching and accessing your imagination, becoming more present, impulsive and in the moment. Students will also explore archetypes and mask work to further engage as actors.

TERM TWO OVERVIEW

The focus in this term is to build on the basics, then advance your technique work with more complex material; to expose you to the widest range of script genres, and experience working with a range of professional actors and directors, all at the top of their game.

This term includes an introduction to the more technical aspects of performing on set and how to use the camera and work with a 

MORNING
Skills training: TV Episode of the week company read through Voice and Movement classes will continue with the addition of the development of skills needed in the field including US accents and monologue preparation.

MIDDAY

• Firearms
• Archery
• Fencing
• Water Stunts
• Safety on set
• Getting to know your film crew

Camera Technique classes will teach you how to work with a camera, a microphone and the crew.
Close ups, mid shots, long shots. Camera Technique classes will teach you how to work with a camera, a microphone and the crew 

AFTERNOON
Actor Training, Rehearsals and Workshops: Chekhov, Shakespeare & Strasburg. This unit will see you go deeper into script interpretation, character building and using language with confidence and precision. Your work will be committed, strong and have pure clarity.

Actors will apply these techniques to a variety of genres - training under industry professionals, outstanding in their individual fields that include but are not limited to;

• Television Soaps
• Children's Television
• Police Drama
• Social Drama
• Telemovies and Feature Films
• Period Drama

TERM THREE OVERVIEW

The focus of this term is to provide for the actor maximum opportunity to practice their craft in industry conditions. Also to look at how actors get the job: Screen Tests, Auditions and Call-backs. Actors will demonstrate the ability to prepare a role and always deliver interesting, inventive and authentic performances.

MORNING

Skills training: TV Episode of the week company read through
Voice: Arthur Samuel Joseph's VOCAL AWARENESS & General American accent work
Movement: Alexander Technique, Yoga, Tai Chi and Improvisation / Clowning

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

This is a talent based course. Entry will be by audition & interview only. Please fill out the attached application form and return it with a current headshot/photograph and $45.00 administration fee.

COURSE FEE:

Payment Options:

Course fee, payment options and an application to audition form will be made available upon request through enquiry page.

MELBOURNE 2012 INTAKE - APPLICATIONS OPEN

BRISBANE 2012 INTAKE - APPLICATIONS OPEN

ACTING FOR TELEVISION

Part Time Professional Program 2012

INTRODUCTION

An Australian first.
The dynamic duo, entrepreneurs and talent managers Craig and Dominique McMahon have long been passionate advocates for training and developing actors. Our industry is changing fast as it keeps pace with technological developments and as our industry becomes closer to the US. There is more than ever a need for actors to get serious about their craft and their ongoing training in order to develop the skills needed to stay competitive in our industry.

Craig and Dominique teamed up with one of Australia's most experienced television actors and renowned actor trainers, Glenda Linscott (Prisoner, Murder Call, McLeod's Daughters) and commissioned her to create this unique course.

This course is unique because it specifically focuses on acting for the small screen. We only have to look at the phenomenal international success of Australian stars like Isabel Lucas, Eric Bana, Rachel Griffiths, Hugh Jackman, Deborah Lee Furness, Grant Bowler, Julian McMahon and Simon Baker, all of whom cut their teeth in home grown television. Our industry is changing fast and there is an army of brilliant young Australian actors who are being presented with marvellous opportunities all over the world. Our actors need to be prepared to service the widest range of opportunities that exist in our own industry and also be prepared for the exciting opportunities that are presented to us by the American market.

There has never been a course specifically designed to train actors to deal with fast turnaround television. This is an Australian first. We are thrilled and proud to offer this exciting adventure in acting training. It presents an absolute gold mine of experience and opportunity for anyone who is serious and ambitious about being an actor in the Australian television industry today.

We are preparing actors to be ready, fit and able to go when opportunity knocks.

COURSE OUTLINE

This unique course has been designed to equip actors with the mental, physical and emotional strength needed to flourish in a work environment that often puts actors under intense pressure.

Our aim is to provide a world class television drama training course to:

• Equip and train actors with the craft and experience to perform with excellence in fast turnaround television in Australia
• Create autonomous actors who understand their role as actors in society, and with a deep understanding of popular culture as it exists in Australia today, who are independent, creative, fulfilled individuals
• Promote personal health, stamina and inner strength

Actors will be trained by practising industry professionals and the course has a strong performance focus. Actors will be performing on camera from the first week and there will be showings at the end of each term. In the final two weeks of the course the company will shoot television scenes with a professional director and crew.

The course has been designed to approximately mirror the schedule of an actual television drama, so from the first read through at 8:00am on Monday morning, actors are developing a mental and physical discipline to deal with performing in industry conditions. The course is dense and very fast-paced. Actors will be required to do all their reading, preparation and exercises at home ready for the next week. We hope you will take from this course a way to live in the world as actor, connected and inspired by the world we live in and the culture we produce in Australia.

There are 3 x 10 week terms. Classes run for 1 full day (Saturday) and 1 night (Wednesday) each week. The Program is conducted by working industry professionals (please refer to Faculty & Mentor information for a comprehensive list).

STRUCTURE OF THE DAY:

ALL ACTORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO:

TERM 1 OVERVIEW

THE ACTOR PREPARES
CONNECT WITH YOUR SELF/CONNECT WITH THE OTHER
Focus for this term is research and development. Identify your strengths and weaknesses as an actor and articulate your own personal plan for improvement over the next 30 weeks. You will have valuable time to connect with your Self and develop an understanding of how you behave in your world. This is in preparation for your work as an actor ready to inhabit another soul and to able to interact authentically and vividly with other characters and situations.

This term is also for you to start to be aware of the world we inhabit and the culture we produce. Also to identify how and why actors are valuable and the positive function of an artist's role in society.

MORNING
Skills training: TV episode Read Through
Voice: Laban, Arthur Samuel Joseph's VOCAL AWARENESS
Movement: Alexander Technique, Yoga and Improvisation
Acting: Practical Aesthetics; Meisner; Strasberg; Stanislavski; Chekhov; Stella Adler; Viola Spolin, Mike Leigh

MIDDAY
The Artist's Way, Seminars and Text Analysis

AFTERNOON
Weeks 1-3: The Actor Prepares with Glenda Linscott.
This module is a fantastic introduction to basic Stanislavski techniques. Jam-packed full of games, thoughts, exercises and strategies to help you identify factors that undermine confidence, and a basic overview of an actor's technique and some ideas about Transformation: How to connect to Character/Text/Emotion. Identify any blocks you may have and start to release yourself into the performance space.
Articulate your own personal plan for development through the course.
Weeks 4-7: The Actor's Way with Ian Stenlake, Rachel Beck, Danielle Carter and Martin Sacks.
Weeks 9-10: Practical Aesthetics with Andrea Moor.

TERM TWO OVERVIEW

THE ACTORS PRACTICE
GET A GRIP ON TEXT & PERFORMANCE SPACE
The focus for this term is to build on the basics and advance your technique with more difficult material; to expose you to the widest range of script genres, and experience working with a range of professional actors and directors.

It includes an introduction to the more technical aspects of performing on set and how to use the camera and work with a crew.

WEDNESDAY
Voice and Movement classes will continue with the addition of the development of skills needed in the field including US accents and monologue preparation.

SATURDAY MORNING

• Firearms
• Archery
• Fencing
• Water Stunts
• Safety on set
• Getting to know your film crew

Camera Technique classes will teach you how to work with a camera, a microphone and the crew.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Weeks 1-2: ACTING SHAKESPEARE!  This module will be extending your flexibility and range and will bring you to a new level of expression and passionate commitment to your work.
Weeks 3-10: A roller coaster ride of scene studies with Directors and Actors from genres including:

• Television Soaps
• Children's Television
• Police Drama
• Social Drama
• Telemovies
• Situation Comedy

There will be a live performance of the monologues and On Camera Scene Study showing on the last day of term to an invited audience of family and friends.

TERM THREE OVERVIEW

ACTING FOR TELEVISION
EXCELLENT CRAFT/CONFIDENT PERFORMERS
The focus of this term is to provide for the actor maximum opportunity to practice their craft in industry conditions. Also to look at how actors get the job: Screen Tests, Auditions and Call-backs. Actors will demonstrate the ability to prepare a role and always deliver interesting, inventive and authentic performances. There is also a module that covers post-production, excellent presentation skills and handling publicity.

WEDNESDAY
Voice and yoga classes will continue but drop back to once a week, a habit that will continue once the training is over. This term the morning skills classes will specifically focus on the episode of the week, which will be read and rehearsed on Mondays.

SATURDAY MORNING
Day 1: Studio scenes rehearsed.
Day 2: Outside broadcast scenes will be taken onto location, rehearsed and recorded with a minimum crew.
Day 3: Studio scenes recorded. Play back and analysis of previous week's work.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Weeks 1-2: Situation Comedy.
Weeks 3-8: Screen Tests, Commercials and Handling Publicity.
Weeks 9-10: The filming of a television episode with a full crew and professional director.

PERFORMANCE DAY:

At the end of the term there will be a showing of the year's best work to an invited audience of agents, producers and directors, friends and family.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

This is a talent based course. Entry will be by audition & interview only. Please fill out the attached application form and return it with a current headshot/photograph and $45.00 administration fee.

COURSE FEE:

Course fee, payment options and an application to audition form will be made available upon request through enquiry page.

BRISBANE 2012  INTAKE - APPLICATIONS OPEN

MELBOURNE 2012 INTAKE - APPLICATIONS OPEN

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