To open the April-May newsletter some good advice from actors Annette Benning and John Hamm …
Term 1 saw an influx of new students joining the school. The potential talent, from juniors through to adults – and most particularly with the new teen students – has been impressive. The new students integrated quickly with the established students and, once they’d settled in, turned in some impressive work. Well done. And keep up the good work.
The Big Move!
The big news for next term is that we will be relocating the school upstairs to Level 2 of the building.
Yes, that’s right: after 15 years in our ground floor studio space, we are moving to the top floor over the April semester break.
The new front entrance is at the northern end of the building, through the glass doors and up the stairs past the dance school to our new studio space on Level 2 – or conversely, via the stairs at the rear of the building.
New owners bought the building late last year and told us they would like us to sign a new two year lease, they then said that was a “mistake” and they wanted to take over our downstairs space, offering us a similar space upstairs.
Their “mistake” however, gave us leverage to demand extra space upstairs for the same rent we are currently paying. Obviously the order to relocate came as a shock and we had no time to budget for the move – five x five lease, new signage, paint, security locks etc. but we’ll scrape through as we always do.
We’ll miss our old ground floor studio as it has served us well over the years but at the same time we’re excited about having a completely new space to work in.
Term Dates
Term 1 classes complete over the week ending Saturday 7 April.
Term 2 classes return from week commencing Tuesday 24 to Saturday 28 April.
PLEASE NOTE: The school does NOT observe public holidays during our ten week terms. Therefore the school is open over Easter (for the Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon classes) and open on Anzac Day (when the Wednesday adult class returns for Term 2.)
It would be greatly appreciated if all students returning for Term 2 classes rebook their nominated class position with a $50 deposit. Deposits help the school stay afloat over the semester breaks and leave less to pay on your fees when classes return.
Screen Test Master Class Review
The intense and challenging Screen Test/Audition Process master class, held over two consecutive Sunday’s on 4 and 11 March pushed the participating students to the limits of their ability and, as a result, they are now armed with the knowledge and the practical skills to blitz the screen test process.
Well done to the participating students Danielle Castles, Claire Trussell, Tara Tuffy, Emily Angell, Giselle Holmes and Megan Roggiero for their hard work and professionalism during a very tough course. Well done!
The Brat
The 12 minute noir-style short film, The Brat, set in Sydney in 1931 and produced in black and white, starring Danielle Castles, Tara Tuffy, Emily Angell and Paul Millett, and featuring cameos from Anika Basa, Vera Polianskaia and myself is the school’s festival film for this year and I’ll be entering it into some of our favourite short film festivals over the coming 12 months.
The Brat DVD slick
If you have 12 minutes to spare, then check out the film. I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy it…
Student News
Our alumni continue to make their mark on the film and television industry with 2015 graduate Paul Millett appearing in numerous TVCs and drama series.
Paul in costume for the film Prufrock & Co.
Meanwhile 2006 graduate Aileen Beale was among the cast of the hit ABC TV two part series Friday on My Mind – voted Best TV Drama for the period January 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.
Aileen played Margaret Young, matriarch of the famous music family which spawned The Easybeats (George Young) and ACDC (Angus and Malcolm Young.) Well done to Aileen and the rest of talented cast and crew!
Aileen Beale (above) and (below) in character as Margaret Young
Class Scene DVDs/USBs
If you would like an edited DVD or USB of your past term’s scenes then email me or see me in class and I’ll organize it for you.
Class scene editing is $50 per term’s five scenes or the same price for a five scene compilation of your favourite scenes from current or previous term’s work.
Further study of your edited scenes at home is a very beneficial means of quickly and effectively improving your craft skills.