Whoosh! There goes another year! And to open the final newsletter of 2017 some wise words from Meryl Streep, along with some words on Meryl’s approach from actor Jeff Daniels
The past year has seen many of our alumni and current students forge ahead with their acting careers – with many other keen and motivated students slowly but surely following in their footsteps. Well done and here’s to a fun and creative 2018!
Next year also sees the school celebrating 30 years in the business, tutoring and nurturing local talent for three decades. No mean feat for a small business which survives on student fees alone and yet punches well above its weight in the film and television training sector. Here’s to another successful 30 years to come!
2018 Term Dates
Term 4, 2017 classes complete week ending Saturday 16 December.
Term 1, 2018 classes commence from Tuesday 30 January.
It would be appreciated if all students returning for Term 1 classes post a $50 deposit to secure their class position. Class Fee deposits not only leave you with less to pay when classes resume, but help the school to survive financially over the 6 week Summer semester break.
Bill Hughes Master Class Review
Due to popular demand, Bill Hughes’ Advanced Screen Craft and Performance master class was held for the third time this year over two consecutive Sunday’s in November.
Well done to the participating students – Lakshay Dhiman, Tara Tuffy, Tayla Stevenson, Dale Raphael, Meredith Cox, and the youngest student to complete Bill’s course, ten year old Giselle Holmes. The students learned a great deal during the challenging course and worked hard to create truthful and powerful performances. Needless to say, young Giselle – who is as keen as mustard to learn the craft – held her own with the older students and was a joy to work with.
December Kids Film Acting Workshop
The children’s workshop is fully booked and running over three consecutive days from Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 December. I’m looking forward to working with young Charlie McGraw (who completed the October workshop) and the five new faces joining him for the three day workshop this month.
January Film Noir Acting Master Class
Bookings are now open for the January 2018 Film Noir acting master class. The three day course runs on Tuesday 16 (pre-production: 7 to 9 pm) and Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 (production: 10 am to 6 pm.)
The last film noir style workshop we held was in 2013, and the course produced the edgy short film, Bullet With Butterfly Wings.
Actor Tony Dreise in a screen grab from Bullet With Butterfly Wings
Student News
Congratulations to Liam J Phelan whose web series Back in the Game was an official selection in the 2017 Baltimore New Media Web Festival.
Well done Liam. Keep up the outstanding work!
Grant Garland is becoming ubiquitious on our television screens, performing in everything from high rotation TVCs to first-rate drama series.
The same can be said for fellow actor Bobby Babin who is popping up all over the place. Bobby below with Richard Roxburgh on the set of the new series of Rake.
A heartfelt “love your work” to Aileen Beale, who knocked it out of the park as Margaret Young, matriarch of the famous Young family, in the two-part ABC-TV drama Friday on My Mind (the story of The Easybeats.) Aileen had the look, the accent and the matronly walk down pat. It was a pleasure to watch you strut your stuff – great work Aileen!
Class Scene DVDs/USBs
If you would like an edited copy of your past term, or previous term’s work then see me in class or email me and I will organize it for you. Class scene DVDs or USBs are $50 per term’s scenes or the same price for a compilation of your favourite five scenes from current and previous terms. Further reviewing of your work at home quickly leads to improvement in your craft and performance skills. A worthwhile investment indeed.