Every actor and aspiring performer needs a show reel. Show reels are a quick and easy way of showing agents, casting directors and directors how good a performer you are. And with YouTube now a major viewing platform you can get international exposure via the site.

What is a good show reel? At the end of the day it all comes down to your performance. Whiz bang effects and transitions are fine and dandy but you don’t want them to overshadow the most important element of your show reel – the performance. A show reel must show you at your best.

If you are just starting out in the industry then a simple one scene reel will be adequate. Casting directors and agents are pushed for time and they don’t want to watch something from a newcomer that rambles on and on. Therefore a dynamic two minute reel is all you need at this stage of your career.

For established performers, a four to five minute compilation of professional work is acceptable.

How much will a show reel cost? Prices can vary widely – from around $200-00 to $250-00 for a simple but effective one-scene reel, to over $1000-00 for a full blown extravaganza. But once again, it’s not about effects-driven flash and dazzle, but about you as a performer and how good you are.

A professionally filmed and edited scene with a strong performance is all you need as a newcomer.

Our team of industry professionals at the Screen Actors Workshop have been producing show reels, demo scenes and Audition scenes for aspiring performers and professional actors for over 20 years with proven results.

Contact Us for a quote.

Show Reels is a post from: Screen Actors Workshop Acting Classes

Related posts:

1. Motivation and Attitude A character in a scene – as in everyday life...
2. Words are not Important (It’s what we mean when we say them that matters) One of the actor’s greatest fears is forgetting their lines....
3. Industry Standard Actors Resume If you want to be taken seriously in the film...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The Screen Actors Workshop

www.screenactorsworkshop.com.au

NOVEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER

To all Students, Parents and Associates,

It’s been a busy few weeks since Term 4 commenced and to keep up with all of the news we are issuing a mid-term newsletter.

January 2012 Film Acting Techniques Master Class

The popular Film Acting Techniques master class has been running for 23 years now and has given hundreds of the school’s students the knowledge and skills to unleash a dynamic and compelling screen performance. For dates, times and further details please refer to the attached course flyer.

New Tutors

The staff and I would like to welcome two new tutors to the school.

Actor Salvatore Coco (Home and Away; Boot Men; Underbelly 3) will be tutoring the Screen Acting Intensive over two consecutive Sundays from 1 to 5pm on November 27 and December 4. The screen intensive is designed to take the aspiring actor’s on-camera skills to the next level, detailing what is expected of an actor when working in film and television production. In this hands-on master class you will learn the skills that real actors use. There are currently two positions still available in Salvatore’s course, so be quick!

Voice development coach Elena Kalinina is the school’s new Voice and Articulation tutor.

Elena has been teaching voice and articulation for 29 years and her unique method has produced profound results. Elena will also be tutoring a Russian Accents master class at the school. Over the past two weekends Elena sat in on Bill Pepper’s American Accents and Dialects master class to see how well the students were expressing themselves and to get a feel for the school’s culture and teaching style.  Elena noticed the same thing that I have over the years – too many students don’t know how to speak properly; either due to stiffness in the jaw and tongue area or constriction of the throat. Elena will be running a new Voice and Articulation class early 2012. Her course is a must if you are not articulating correctly (and that would include 95% of the students I’ve worked with over the years!) Learning how to use your voice correctly and confidently will make you far more effective as an actor. And a good speaking voice is a sure fire way to gain the attention of those who matter in this highly competitive industry.

Screen Actors Workshop Mentoring Program

After numerous requests from students and graduates the school has established a Student Advisory and Mentoring program. Utilising the school’s contacts and our tutors extensive industry experience the new program is a 24/7 information, mentoring and advisory service for current and former students and graduates working professionally – or aiming at working professionally – within the film and television industry both at home and overseas.

What does the program offer? The service offers ongoing support and career advice via phone and email, along with face-to-face scene rehearsal for screen tests and film and television roles for a monthly subscription fee of $25.

What else does the program offer? Preference for paid acting work offered to the school from independent producers, directors and production companies, along with first preference for in-house produced corporate and training films, music clips, show reels and any other available opportunities. In fact anything we can do to help move your career forward, from compiling industry standard resumes and picking the best head shot, to discounts on show reels and demo scenes.

Is the program good value for money? A $25 monthly subscription is extremely good value, especially when you consider that private one-on-one acting tuition rates start at $75 per hour.

But to get your money’s worth, you obviously need to use the service, so the program is not for those who aren’t actively chasing work.

Student News

Advanced teen students Rebecca Carbone and Aris Varvarian have successfully auditioned and been accepted into the prestigious Atlantic Theatre Company 3 week full time program in L.A. for January 2012. The rigorous entry conditions and serious competition for a place in the course didn’t faze Rebecca or Aris. In fact, I received a call from the coordinator of the program early this week praising both of the teens for their acting skills and attitude. Aris was accepted into and completed the demanding course last year too, so I’m sure he’ll be a good source of information for Rebecca before they fly to L.A. Congratulations and good luck to you both with this golden opportunity!

Advanced adult students James Bolger and Jodie Lea Campbell have just wrapped a Subscribe-HR shoot via the school’s contacts. The corporate product promo will be screened online and the producers are hoping the promo will go viral.

Intermediate adult student Brandon Vear scored his first paying job via the school on a demo scene supporting Melbourne actor Ashley Jeffrey. The scene we shot for Ashley was for an online audition for Barrett Casting for the role of a policeman.

Former student and New Yorker Brady Kirchberg returned to America a few years ago where he founded the Red Wheelbarrow Theatre Company. The company performed three highly successful off-Broadway productions and are now producing their second film. The various scenes Brady has sent me links to from the films are exceptionally well-acted with state of the art production values. The sky’s the limit for you now Brady!

Jodie Lea Campbell is back in the news again, this time for her role of Russian International Peacekeeper Gina Lednyak in the Danger Alliance online commercial promoting a new gaming app. The new app is in the same genre as the game Worms and is used on iPhones, iPods and Macs. The new app has received rave reviews and the online promo will hopefully increase Jodie’s growing acting profile. With only 7 days notice before she had to play the role of a Russian speaking character, Jodie said the techniques she learned in the American Accents and Dialects master class from tutor Bill Pepper really paid off when it came to learning the difficult Russian accent in such a short amount of time. Jodie said the technique she applied from Bill’s classes “helps to break down the sounds and allows you to work out what goes where.” The firearms skills Jodie learned in tutor Tony Garland’s armoury master class also came in handy as her character had to fire a rocket launcher. Along with some of the other women who have completed the armoury course over the past few years, Jodie fell in love with a pump action shotgun – her favourite weapon during the master class. She now informs me she wants a rocket launcher! Look out! Both producer Dous Rahman and director Andy Fernandez praised Jodie’s performance on the Danger Alliance shoot. Perhaps you should have hit them up for the rocket launcher when they were heaping praise on you Jodie. You never know your luck, eh?

Sabeena Manalis‘s career has taken another leap forward with the role of “Sabeena,” Frankie’s wild little cousin in the SBS-TV satirical comedy series, Housos.  Actor/producer/director Paul Fenech’s Housos – like his Fat Pizza series – is definitely not for the faint hearted; but if you’re not easily offended by drug use, foul language, sex scenes and madcap antics and you like your comedy rough and ready, then you’ll get a laugh from Housos.

Class Scene DVDs

If you would like an edited copy of your class scenes on DVD then see me in class and I’ll arrange it for you. Class scene DVDs are $40 per term’s work (4 scenes beginner/Intermediate level and 5 scenes advanced level) Any extra scenes shot where you have doubled up to fill in for someone  away during a filming class can also be added to the DVD for an extra editing fee.

Compilations of 4 or 5 of your favourite scenes from previous and current term’s work are also $40 per DVD.

Well that’s all the news for now. More to come in the December newsletter.

Alan Nurthen

Director

The Screen Actors Workshop NOVEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER is a post from: Screen Actors Workshop Acting Classes

Related posts:

1. The Screen Actors Workshop OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER The Screen Actors Workshop www.screenactorsworkshop.com.au OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER To All...
2. The Screen Actors Workshop September 2011 Newsletter The Screen Actors Workshop www.screenactorsworkshop.com.au SEPTEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER   To...
3. The Screen Actors Workshop July 2011 Newsletter The Screen Actors Workshop www.screenactorsworkshop.com.au JULY 2011 NEWSLETTER To all...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The Screen Actors Workshop

www.screenactorsworkshop.com.au

OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER

To All Students, Parents and Associates,

As we head toward summer and the end of another year I’d like to remind you to jot down the date for the Studio Christmas Party on Saturday December 10: 7-30 till 11- 30pm. It’s been a big year for the school and the Christmas party is the perfect opportunity to unwind and reflect on our students achievements during 2011 and to speculate on the possibilities for 2012. During the evening we’ll be screening camera footage from 2011 classes along with edited scenes highlighting some of the year’s most outstanding work. There’s be plenty of tasty snacks and interesting people to meet and all students, family and friends are welcome.

Term 4 Master Class Program

Bill Pepper‘s American Accents and Dialects master class will run over three x four hour sessions from 12 noon to 4pm on Saturday November 5, Saturday November 12 and Sunday November 13. Mastering the standard American accent is a must for Australian actors as there is work to be had on offshore US productions filming in Sydney and on The Gold Coast. You can’t fake the accent and close enough isn’t good enough when auditioning for small roles in local US productions. Bill’s course will supply the tools and the vocal skills you need to develop an authentic  American accent and thereby maximise your credibility at casting sessions.

(See attached course flier for further details)

Peter Phelps Screen Acting Intensive will run over two x four hour sessions from 1 to 5pm on

Sunday November 27 and Sunday December 4. Don’t miss the opportunity to work with one of Australia’s most popular actors in this dynamic master class where you will learn the acting techniques that real actors use on a day-by-day basis, thereby enabling you to fast track your skills to the next level.

(See attached course flier for further details)

January 2012 Film Acting Techniques Master Class

The popular and challenging Film Acting Techniques master class will be held over the weekend of the 14^th and 15^th of January, 2012 with pre-production on Tuesday January 10, from 7-30 to 9-30pm. Course fliers will be distributed late November.

24/7 Youth Film Festival Awards Presentation

The 2011 24/7 Youth Film Festival Screening and Presentation night was held on Sunday September 18 at the Warriewood Cinema complex. The event was a huge success with 450 people in attendance and a fun night was had by all attendees and special guests. Award-winning actor and Screen Actors Workshop master class tutor Peter Phelps was the master of ceremonies for the evening and, as one of the judging panel and the screen acting tutor for this year’s event, I presented the Emerging Actor and Best Actor awards to the winners. The young film makers (aged 14 to 24)  tackled some interesting themes and subjects with their films. This year’s winners Pat Feary and Rhys Bennett are the only team to have entered every year since the competition began nine years ago. Pat and Rhys won Best Film (judges and audience choice) for their hilarious film Monkey on My Back, about a guy plagued by his persistent on-screen narrator. The lads also picked up awards for Best Script and Best Actor (Rhys Bennett.) Pat and Rhys also won the Best Film award last year for their dark comedy None Before One, a spoof on current affairs-style interviews. The two young men are certainly on a roll and have their sights set on Tropfest 2012. Mayors Jean Hay (Manly) and Michael Regan (Warringah) voiced their support and ongoing commitment to the competition and I’m looking forward to working with them again next year.

Student News

Graduate Agoes Soedjarwo appears as Chinese Opium kingpin Chow Fat in Episode 13 of Wild Boys, screening Sunday November 27 on Channel 7. Agoes, Indonesian by birth, committed himself completely to the audition for the cameo role and with help from his wife Julie, he dressed from head to toe as a 19^th Century Chinese gangster, proving that if you look and act the part, you’ll win it.

Advanced adult student Sam Smith is currently working on Baz Luhrmann‘s remake of The Great Gatsby as stand-in for actor Tobey Maguire. Gatsby is currently in production at Fox Studios in Sydney. Sam’s role as stand-in requires him to fill in for Maguire for lighting and camera set ups and to perform in preliminary rehearsals, after which the star emerges from his trailer and takes over the limelight. The job is a golden opportunity for Sam as it gives him access to performers of the calibre of Maguire and star Leonardo DeCaprio. Sam said it’s been a real education working on a big budget Hollywood funded film, not only for the contacts he’s making but for the behind the scenes machinations of cast and crew and the application of high-end camera support equipment and lighting set ups. Sam’s budding career is certainly on the up and up! Congratulations mate.

Former students Frank Stead and Bobby Babin can be seen strutting their stuff in the online film Waiting, in which Frank plays a town sheriff circa 1929. Waiting is beautifully shot and edited and the period is captured with stark realism – plus the shoot-out scene is as good as it gets. Frank’s American accent is seamless thanks to the skills he gained in Bill Pepper’s American Accents and Dialects master class and which he has been perfecting since. There’s no question about fellow actor Bobby Babin’s accent though as he is an American. Good work fellas.

Extra Curricular Studies

There are five new articles posted on the school’s site in The Acting Blog. With 29 articles now posted in the Blog, you have a wealth of information at your fingertips covering everything from how to find a reputable agent to sustaining a long-term career. It could ostensibly cost you thousands of dollars and many years of study and experience to learn the important lessons contained within the posted articles, so take advantage of the free info and happy reading.

Class Scene DVDs

If you would like an edited copy of your on-camera scenes from Term 3 – or from previous term’s work – then see me in class or email me with your order and I’ll put a DVD together for you. Class scene DVDs are $40-00 per term’s work or the same price for a compilation of 4 or 5 of your favourite scenes.

The staff and I are refreshed and raring to go again after the two week semester break and we look forward to working with you again this term.

Alan Nurthen

Director

The Screen Actors Workshop OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER is a post from: Screen Actors Workshop Acting Classes

Related posts:

1. The Screen Actors Workshop September 2011 Newsletter The Screen Actors Workshop www.screenactorsworkshop.com.au SEPTEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER   To...
2. The Screen Actors Workshop July 2011 Newsletter The Screen Actors Workshop www.screenactorsworkshop.com.au JULY 2011 NEWSLETTER To all...
3. The Screen Actors Workshop May 2011 Newsletter   To all Students, Parents and Associates, Classes return from...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The people who matter in the industry rate actors as either wannabe’s, unknown actors, known actors, stars, super stars, or mega stars.

Dreamers aren’t classified as wannabe’s: wannabe’s are acting students, aspiring actors hoping to eventually move into regular paid work.

Unknown actors are either struggling or making just enough money to move forward. They are faces you recognise but can’t put a name to.

Known actors have a good profile and recognition factor.

Stars, are well… stars.

Super Stars are internationally renowned actors.

And mega stars are a galaxy unto themselves.

So what is your current position on the slippery totem pole of success?

If you are one of the few mega stars then you are determined to hang on to your hard earned status and are highly selective when considering new projects – which at this ultimate level of success and recognition are numerous.

If you are a super star then you are pretty much occupying the same head space as a mega star.

If you are a star, then your aim is to become a super star; and then hopefully through the right exposure eventually gain mega star status.

If you are a known actor then you are making a living doing what you love and are either happy to continue at this level or have aspirations of moving toward stardom.

Unknown actors obviously want to become known actors and are usually working hard to achieve a higher profile.

Wannabe’s are at the bottom of the totem pole and the best advice for all wannabe’s is to continue studying the craft of acting, preferably screen acting technique and performance, for we’re not talking theatre here, but big and small screen success.

Wannabe’s; Unknown Actors; Known Actors; Stars; Super Stars; Mega Stars is a post from: Screen Actors Workshop Acting Classes

Related posts:

1. Industry Standard Actors Resume If you want to be taken seriously in the film...
2. The Screen Actors Workshop July 2011 Newsletter The Screen Actors Workshop www.screenactorsworkshop.com.au JULY 2011 NEWSLETTER To all...
3. The Screen Actors Workshop September 2011 Newsletter The Screen Actors Workshop www.screenactorsworkshop.com.au SEPTEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER   To...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

One of the actor’s greatest fears is forgetting their lines. But learning lines is an easy thing to do, as it’s a simple procedure to study the lines and cram them in until you have no trouble remembering just what your character says. However, merely learning the lines is not enough, for if that is all you do, you will respond only to cues when the right words are delivered to you; and consequently your dialogue will lack meaning, impact and depth. If, during a scene, you retreat inside your head searching for the right words you will automatically disengage from the other actor. There’s no point thinking, “Oh no, was that an if, an and, or a but?” Who cares? Because it really doesn’t matter, as once you’ve learned the lines and you are really listening to the other actor – listening with all of your senses – then whatever you say will be close enough to the written lines anyway and you will be responding truthfully and thus engaging with the other actor.

Remember, the words are not important – it is what makes the words happen that has meaning.

To successfully learn and play convincing dialogue, the screen actors must connect with the stimulus that causes a verbal response. If the actor is aware of the real significance of the stimulus, and responds to the implied consequences, then the proper verbal response will be inevitable. There will be little danger of forgetting the lines if you have learned through all of your senses the connective pattern between the stimuli and the responses they generate.

To be a good actor, you must condition yourself to respond to stimuli instead of cues. You will be more receptive to what the other actor is doing as well as saying; you will be more responsive to the inflections and intonations of the other person’s lines, and you will be more aware of subtle physicalisations that will reveal what he or she really means by those words.

Instead of simply learning the lines, you should instead learn the role: The lines are connected to the role, and that includes the whole person; the stimuli they respond to, the significance of the stimuli and, of course, the lines themselves. If you merely concentrate on remembering your lines, then you will shut yourself off from the stimuli and your performance will be flat and unconvincing because you are only thinking about the words, and not the impact they have on you. If you are open to all of the stimuli that you receive at any given moment, then you will absorb the stimuli and it will affect you and you will respond accordingly. Your verbal responses will then come easily to you. There will be little worry about forgetting your lines if you have learned the role and you listen and respond truthfully to the stimuli around you. You will then be able to fully engage with the other actor and the things that you do and say will have real meaning. They will be truthful responses, not just empty, meaningless words.

It is what a person means when they talk to us that is important, not the actual words they speak. For example, if someone looks deep into your eyes and says, “I love you” certain feelings are generated. Your feelings about those words will not be the same if the person doesn’t make eye contact with you when saying them or if they are gazing off into the distance when speaking to you: The words are exactly the same but the meaning has now changed because of the way the person delivered the words to you. When a person speaks to us the inflection and intonation of the words also informs us as to what that person really means. It is the meaning behind the words that is of prime importance, not the words themselves.

Remember to learn the role, not just the lines: Then by listening and reacting truthfully to the  stimuli you will have little trouble remembering what to say – and most importantly, why you are saying it!

Words are not Important (It’s what we mean when we say them that matters) is a post from: Screen Actors Workshop Acting Classes

Related posts:

1. Listening and Reacting Is Important in Acting When asked in an interview what was the most important...
2. Industry Standard Actors Resume If you want to be taken seriously in the film...
3. Type Casting The most critical element of any film or television production...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The most critical element of any film or television production is casting the most suitable actors for the available roles. A good script, a good director and creative casting invariably produces a winning result.

An actor will always be cast according to type. The best available actor with a personality, physicality and attitude most resembling the scripted character will be cast for the role. For example, a conservative Christian type will never be considered for the role of a nasty Melbourne gangster, but if the role being cast calls for a person with strong religious beliefs then the actor will be in with a chance.

Most actors are confused as to what their actual “type” is. The below two web sites contain a wealth of information regarding character types and it is imperative that you know which “type” best represents you. Check out www.joeedelman.com and www.enneagraminstitute.com for a comprehensive run down of the various character types.

Many actors are too hung up on the negative aspects of their appearance: My nose is too big or too small, my lips are too thin, my ears stick out too much and so on and so on. As opposed to dwelling upon ones insecurities, it is far wiser to understand that these negatives can always be turned into positives.

Sydney casting director Kari Harris, tutor of the Audition Process Screen Test master class at the Screen Actors Workshop is highly regarded for the love and respect she has for actors. Kari is committed to nurturing, training and empowering actors to help them achieve their full potential on-screen.

Here’s an anecdote that Kari sometimes mentions to students during the course: Imagine that you are trying to establish a film career in Hollywood but you have a thick impenetrable foreign accent and are built like a tank. This is the predicament that Arnold Schwarzenegger faced, and for years Hollywood producers wouldn’t give him the time of day. That is until they were searching for a suitable actor to play the lead role in Terminator, a role for which they wanted a well-built actor without an American accent. All of a sudden Arnold’s negatives became positives and the rest is history.

A true story and invaluable advice for any actor. The point being, don’t sell yourself short: your own unique personality makes you special and therefore a very valuable commodity.

Type Casting is a post from: Screen Actors Workshop Acting Classes

Related posts:

1. Industry Standard Actors Resume If you want to be taken seriously in the film...
2. Motivation and Attitude A character in a scene – as in everyday life...
3. Actors Head Shots An actors head shot is their calling card. And if...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.