February-March 2018 Newsletter

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Here’s to a fun and creative 2018.

With the summer holidays winding down and classes returning from Tuesday 30 January through to Saturday 3 February, I’m looking forward to another year of teaching.

But first, some wise words from multi award winning actor David Gulpilil

Screen Test/Audition Process Master Class

The 2017 master class program was varied and challenging and was excellent educational value for the participating students.

**We have a full program lined up again for 2018, commencing with the Screen Test/Audition Process master class in March. Link to course flyer below…**

Screen Test Audition Process Masterclass

During my 32-year-teaching career it’s always puzzled me that aspiring actors are prepared to spend a considerable amount of time and money to learn how to act for the camera – but then neglect to make a small investment to learn how to win a job in the first place.

Working on set with other actors and the director is a completely different scenario compared to auditioning for a role. In fact the two situations are polar opposites, as both require a completely different approach and skills set.

To all those students seeking acting work this year, this master class is essential training.

And while we’re on the subject of the audition process master class, I’d like to welcome the latest member of our teaching staff Italian actress Clara Voda to the school. Clara will be tutoring the course over the two consecutive Sundays on 4 and 11 March.

Screen Test master class tutor Clara Voda

Children’s Film Acting Workshop Review

The children’s film acting course held over three days on 20, 21 and 22 December was a great success and produced the fun and energetic short film Ant Man Training School.

A selection of screen grabs from the film

I’ve completed post production on the film and the cast will be proud of their work when they see the final result at the screening on Friday 2 February.

Well done Zy McLoud, Lola Hayson, Charlie McGraw, Catherine Wang, Josh Hills, Tayla McLoud and Richard Wang.

Teen-Adult Film Acting Master Class

The teen and adult film acting master class wrapped on Sunday 21 January after two days and one night of recording.

**The detailed film-noir-style script, The Brat, is set in Sydney in 1931 and the film is produced in black and white to suit the period.**

The sets and locations look great and the performances from the talented cast of Danielle Castles, Tara Tuffy, Emily Angell, Paul Millett, Anika Basa and Vera Polianskaia are solid and highly detailed. I even played a role myself in the film which was great fun – even though my character is despicable and morally bankrupt. I can’t wait to start editing the film as it will be challenging to do creative justice to story and character.

Class Scene DVDs/USBs

If you would like any of your work from last year edited to DVD or USB then contact me and I’ll get it together for you.

Class scene DVDs/USBs are $50 per term’s scenes or the same price for a compilation of your favourite five scenes from 2017.

Additional study of your performances at home fast tracks your craft and performance skills. A highly beneficial study aid!

To wrap up the newsletter, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the new students commencing classes with us this term and to welcome back our many ongoing students for another ten week term of screen acting classes.

Alan Nurthen (Director)

Website

A website is essential for any actor. It’s a place where you can post clips of your performance, the latest updates in your career, your head shot and resume. If you don’t have a website then get it sorted asap. It’s a great way to show the industry that you are keen and up for […]

The way to play an eyeline

In film and television eyelines are vitally important. The best advice to follow is what British actor Michael Caine suggests. Caine found that looking into the eye closest to the camera achieved the best results, as there was more of your face seen on camera. For example: if the camera is shooting over the other […]

Tyre Kickers

Every term of classes or so, we run into a time wasting “Tyre kicker.” Tyre kickers are the term we use to describe fearful people. The type of person who wants to do something different and exciting but whose fear of failure prevents them from doing anything meaningful. This type of person will book into […]

Getting Started

You’ve got an agent now. They like you. You like them. Then you get your first job. It’s an extra bit. Standard issue starting point. You turn up to the set. Don’t be nervous. You’re undergoing training and you were picked to be on-set. Relax. Have a look around. Take it all in. Do what […]

Wooden Acting

When an actor’s performance is described as “wooden,” what does that mean? Basically it means that the performance is forced, in other words, the feelings and emotions are “acted,” not felt. Good acting is living in the moment and truthfully experiencing what the character is feeling emotionally from moment to moment. Wooden acting can be […]