This month sees the launch of the Screen Actors Workshop iPhone App. The free app download is now available from Android and from Apple. With currently over 58% of web access via Smart Phones and growing rapidly, having our own app is a step into the future for the school. The dynamic new app was designed by John North from Evolve Systems Distribution. John - father of teen student James North - is an expert in app design and application and he’s done a fantastic job on the school’s new app. Much appreciated John!

You can download our free Apple iPhone App here

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/screenactorsworkshop/id635077298?ls=1&mt=8

You can download our free Android Smart Phone App here

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_screenact.layout&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5hcHBfc2NyZWVuYWN0LmxheW91dCJd

TERM 2 MASTERCLASS PROGRAM

Next up on the Masterclass Program is one of our new courses for 2013, Cold Reading Techniques tutored by actor/MC/presenter Salvatore Coco (Two Hands; Looking for Alibrandi; Underbelly 3; Sea Patrol Series 4.) Some of our top advanced students have requested a course on cold reading, as cold reads at drama auditions can be a potential minefield, and many talented actors miss out on plum roles simply because they fail to understand the process and the techniques involved. This intensive one day course involves comprehensive on-camera performance coupled with insightfull assessment. The workshop will cover all you need to know to blitz your way through cold reads and win the role. (For further information refer to course flier attached to your April-May newsletter link email)

Also slated for Term 2 is the hugely popular Armoury for Actors Masterclass. This full day course, held at The Botany Pistol Club with tutor/armourer Tony Garland (Superman Returns; Underbelly Razor) is literally a blast and teaches students everything there is to know about the safety, handling and discharge of firearms in the context of credible on-set action performance. (For further information refer to course flier attached to your April-May newsletter link email)

Armourer Tony Garland instructs students during the theory session

Student Tess Mailman unleashes a massive AK-47 barrel flash during the practical session

STUDENT NEWS

Congratulations to 9 year-old Junior student Maya Beck who has been working hard in class and seeing the result pay off handsomely with a lead speaking role in the Polly Pocket TVC screening on the Foxtel kids channel Nickelodeon. Maya has also recently completed work on a music video for the band Khanz, where she struts her stuff as a dancer. Well done Maya!

12 year-old Junior student Zach Zitis has been no slouch either, currently gracing our television screens in a Smith Family TVC. Zach is featured 100% in the commercial as he delivers a moving piece to camera.

And while on the subject of our Junior students, it  was heartening to see the noticable improvement in confidence and presentation from our two newest students, Antonio Nardo (7) and Eden Thomas (8) With only a couple of on-camera class scenes to their credit thus far, Eden and Antonio are becoming relaxed and supremely confident in front of the camera, displaying a great sense of fun in their most recent work. Well done Antonio and Eden!

Performing in your underwear seems to be the current trend amongst our advanced adult students with Sam Smith recently performing in the play Jilted in his underdaks. Not to be outdone, classmate Tim Page is currently featured 100% in a new Bonds Flexits TVC with former tennis ace Pat Rafter; and, you guessed it, strips down to his Bonds undies along with the rest of the “film crew.” The TVC is a hoot and Tim knocks his role as Pat’s manager out of the park. What’s next guys? Full frontal? Please, no!!!

REELFOCUS

ReelFocus - an Australian based company - are setting up a World Wide Web site to promote young talent by inviting them to upload videos of their creative efforts, which will be judged by industry professionals and the general public. ReelFocus is the first internet platform of its type in the world; it is free to join and prizes will be awarded for outstanding work.

For more information check out the ReelFocus Facebook page.

AGENCY TELEVISION PILOT

After numerous rewrites and some serious polishing, Hugh Cann’s Canny Productions satirical television pilot, Agency, has won the support of veteran producer Bill Hughes (Packed to the Rafters.) With Bill’s blessing and encouragement, Hugh is in the process of submitting the pilot episode to ABC-TV for their consideration. This is potentially good news for our students, as the supporting roles, 50 worders and featured extra spots available in Agency will be cast exclusively through the school. The Screen Actors Workshop studio also features as one of the locations in Agency. Stay tuned for more news as it comes to hand.

NEW FILMS ON DVD

I have to agree with the illustrious Mr Penn, but below are some exceptions to the rule of mediocrity which are now available in your local video store…

Argo (USA: 2012) Director Ben Affleck. Starring Ben Affleck (The Town), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Alan Arkin (Catch 22; Little Miss Sunshine) and John Goodman (Treme) Winner of three 2013 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing; Argo is a brilliant edge-of-the-seat thriller based on a true story about the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-80. In lesser hands this film could have been nothing more than a one-dimensional gung-ho flag waving bore, but with a brilliant screenplay by Chris Terrio, spot on direction by Affleck and, with George Clooney as one of the producers, quality cinema is guaranteed. You’ll also get a laugh from the cynical one-liners directed at the Hollywood film industry, which are masterfully delivered with wit and relish by Goodman and Arkin. Five out of five for this superb film!

The Master (USA: 2012) Director Paul Thomas Anderson. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. Damaged World War 2 navy veteran (Phoenix) finds salvation of sorts with the leader of The Cause (Hoffman) only to be ultimately disillusioned by the strange cult (shades of Scientology are evident.) Joaquin Phoenix’s towering performance in this rather strange film is a  masterclass in physical performance and body language.

CLASSIC FILMS ON DVD

The Lost Boys (USA: 1987) Director Joel Schumacher. Starring Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Haim and Dianne Wiest. Excellent teen horror film which set the benchmark for the flood of teen vampire flicks to follow.

Sirens (Aust: 1994) Director John Duigan. Starring Sam Neill, Hugh Grant, Tara Fitzgerald, Elle Macpherson and Kate Fischer. Loosely based on the great Australian artist Norman Lindsey (played by Neill) and his plans to exhibit a new painting that the Anglican church have deemed to be a blasphemy. Hugh Grant is well cast as the young priest sent from Sydney to Lindsay’s idyllic rural retreat in Springwood to educate the artist on the “error of his ways.” The tension between the church’s teaching and the sensual side of life comes to a head when Estella, the priests wife, is slowly seduced by the libertine lifestyle.

CLASS SCENE DVDs

If you would like an edited DVD of your past term’s on-camera scenes then see me in class or send me an email and I’ll arrange it for you. Class scene DVDs are $40.00 per terms work, or the same price for a 5 scene compilation of your favourite scenes from current and previous terms work.

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome back our ongoing students and to extend a warm welcome to the new students commencing classes with us next week. The staff and I are refreshed and raring to go after the two week autumn semester break and I’m looking forward to working with you this term.

Alan Nurthen (Director)

March-April 2013 Newsletter

Term 1 classes complete week ending Saturday April 6 and Term 2 classes commence from Tuesday April 23, after the two week autumn semester break.

Term 1 was a challenging and productive term which saw students from all age groups and levels tackle some difficult scene work, with varying degrees of success. Comedy scenes are particularly difficult to play and a cleverly written two-hander scene from the school’s archives rehearsed and recorded during Term 1, proved the point; highlighted by the following story… As an old actor lay on his death bed, a fan from the nursing staff asked if he was afraid of dying. The old man laughed and said, ”Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.” Sound advice indeed.

SCREEN ACTORS WORKSHOP 25th ANNIVERSARY!

July 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of our actor training facility and we will certainly be celebrating in style! The majority of small businesses fail within 18 months to 5 years of start-up, so turning 25 is a major milestone for any business. The school will be hosting a big party in July to celebrate our achievement - so stay tuned for the May-June Newsletter in which the date and time for the party will be posted.

And while on the subject of exciting news, the Screen Actors Workshop has been nominated as an Outstanding Educational Service finalist in the 2013 Australian Small Business Champion Awards. On the strength of our two wins in three years at the local small business awards, we were nominated for the Australian awards by the selection committee. Needless to say, we are thrilled to be selected as a national finalist for this prestigious award. The awards ceremony takes place in The Grand Ballroom of The Westin Hotel in Sydney on Saturday April 13. We’ll let you know how we fared in the May-June Newsletter. Fingers crossed!

UNTOLD STORIES

Due to the school’s sponsorship and involvement with the annual 24/7 Youth Film Festival, I was asked by Warringah council to be the professional film industry judge for the 8 finalist films in the innaugural Untold Stories documentary competition; which I was more than happy to be involved with. The Untold Stories project is a competition for budding filmmakers aged from 12 to 24 years and involves the archiving of life stories from selected Warringah shire senior citizens. The standard of the films ranged from average to exceptional. The winning Seniors team (18 to 24 years) and the recipients of the $1,000.00 first prize were Veronica and Sofia Szterenyiova for their film Verso Sisters. The second prize of $300.00 went to Michael Perry for his film Shirley Allbright’s Story. First place in the Juniors category and the $1,000.00 prize went to Harri Gilbert and Mathew Hoff for their brilliantly produced film Pamela’s Story. The cinematography and editing on Pamela’s Story was truly outstanding and Harri and Mathew are names to keep an eye out for. Second in the Juniors and the prize of $300.00 went to Tom Unger for his film Theresa’s Journey from Hungary.

ASK THE AGENT MASTERCLASS REVIEW

The Ask the Agent masterclass held on Sunday March 24 with tutor Roxann Husband was a very interesting and informative workshop. The attending students Paul Millett, Shannon Donaghey, Oscar Lin, Meredith Cox, Greg Newnham and Jodie Campbell gained valuable insight into discovering how to brand themselves, succeed at auditions, and sustain a long-term acting career. Many thanks to Roxann for a fun and value packed session.

Agent Roxann Husband instructing the students

WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING OF THE JUNGLE

The Jungle, the third film in director Andrew Traucki’s Three Colours Red trilogy (Blackwater; The Reef; The Jungle) premiered March 8 to an enthusiastic (and very scared!) audience at Fox Studios in Sydney. Andrew has proven to be an exceptionally skilled director within the horror genre and The Jungle is highly recommended for the many fans of his previous two films. Actor Agoes Soedjarwo’s wife Julie was so scared that she had to leave the cinema half way through the film! Whether her exit was from fear alone, or whether Julie couldn’t bear to see the fate awaiting her husband’s character, I couldn’t say for sure.