part time tv program vic prospectus
Transcription
part time tv program vic prospectus
Part Time Professional Program - Conducted by Australia’s Leading Actors - ! ! Our trainers are the most sought after actors in the country INTRODUCTION An Australian first. Entrepreneurs and talent managers Craig and Dominique McMahon have long been passionate advocates for training and developing actors. Our industry is changing fast as it keeps pace with technological developments and as our industry becomes closer to the US. There is more than ever a need for actors to get serious about their craft and their ongoing training in order to develop the skills needed to stay competitive in our industry. Craig and Dominique teamed up with one of Australia’s most experienced television actors and renowned actor trainers, Glenda Linscott (Underbelly; Winners and Losers, Prisoner, Murder Call, McLeod’s Daughters) and commissioned her to create this unique course. This course is unique because it specifically focuses on acting for the small screen. We only have to look at the phenomenal international success of Australian stars like Isabel Lucas, Eric Bana, Rachel Griffiths, Hugh Jackman, Deborah Lee Furness, Grant Bowler, Julian McMahon and Simon Baker, all of whom cut their teeth in home grown television. Our industry is changing fast and there is an army of brilliant young Australian actors who are being presented with marvellous opportunities all over the world. Our actors need to be prepared to service the widest range of opportunities that exist in our own industry and also be prepared for the exciting opportunities that are presented to us by the American market. There has never been a course specifically designed to train actors to deal with fast turnaround television. This is an Australian first. We are thrilled and proud to offer this exciting adventure in acting training. It presents an absolute gold mine of experience and opportunity for anyone who is serious and ambitious about being an actor in the Australian television industry today. We are preparing actors to be ready, fit and able to go when opportunity knocks. COURSE OUTLINE This unique course has been designed to equip actors with the mental, physical and emotional strength needed to flourish in a work environment that often puts actors under intense pressure. Our aim is to provide a world class television drama training course to: • • • Equip and train actors with the craft and experience to perform with excellence in fast turnaround television in Australia Create autonomous actors who understand their role as actors in society, and with a deep understanding of popular culture as it exists in Australia today, who are independent, creative, fulfilled individuals Promote personal health, stamina and inner strength Actors will be trained by practising industry professionals and the course has a strong performance focus. Actors will be performing on camera from the first week and there will be showings at the end of each term. In the final two weeks of the course the company will shoot television scenes with a professional director and crew. The course has been designed to approximately mirror the schedule of an actual television drama, so from the first read through, actors are developing a mental and physical discipline to deal with performing in industry conditions. The course is dense and very fast-paced. Actors will be required to do all their reading, preparation and exercises at home ready for the next week. We hope you will take from this course a way to live in the world as an actor, connected and inspired by the world we live in and the culture we produce in Australia. There are 3 x 10 week terms. Classes run Wednesday evenings (6:30pm - 9:30pm) and Saturdays (9:00am - 5:00pm) each week. The Program is conducted by working industry professionals (please refer to “The Team” for a comprehensive list). STRUCTURE OF THE WEEK: WEDNESDAY EVENINGS: Skills Development: Read Through, Voice, American Dialect, Movement and Improvisation. SATURDAY MORNINGS : Analysis, Creativity & Imagination and TV Episode of the Week. SATURDAY AFTERNOONS: Rehearsal, Actor Training and Workshops. ALL ACTORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO: Daily • Keep a private reflection journal for assessment Once a week • Complete a written assignment on scene study and story overview • Watch and be prepared to discuss a set television episode that aired during the week • Have seen or experienced the film/play/novel/art work/exhibition for The Artist’s Way seminar and be prepared to discuss Once a term • Research and prepare a 10 minute presentation which profiles three prominent Australian television artists - an actor, a director and writer of their choice. TERM ONE THE ACTOR PREPARES; CONNECT WITH YOUR SELF/CONNECT WITH THE OTHER Focus for this term is research and development. Identify your strengths and weaknesses as an actor and articulate your own personal plan for improvement over the next 30 weeks. You will have valuable time to connect with your Self and develop an understanding of how you behave in your world. This is in preparation for your work as an actor ready to inhabit another soul and to able to interact authentically and vividly with other characters and situations. This term is also for you to start to be aware of the world we inhabit and the culture we produce. Also to identify how and why actors are valuable and the positive function of an artist’s role in society. SKILLS TRAINING: TV episode Read Through VOICE: Breath Station MOVEMENT: Alexander Technique, Yoga and Improvisation ACTING: Introductions to Practical Aesthetics; Meisner; Strasberg; Stanislavski; Viola Spolin; Contemporary and classic texts & The Artist’s Way. TRAINING: Weeks 1-3: The Actor Prepares with Glenda Linscott. This module is a fantastic introduction to basic Stanislavski techniques. Jam-packed full of games, thoughts, exercises and strategies to help you identify factors that undermine confidence, and a basic overview of an actor’s technique and some ideas about Transformation: How to connect to Character/Text/Emotion. Identify any blocks you may have and start to release yourself into the performance space. Articulate your own personal plan for development through the course. Weeks 4-7: The Actor’s Way with guest actors and directors. Weeks 9-10: Practical Aesthetics with Andrea Moor. TERM TWO THE ACTORS PRACTICE; GET A GRIP ON TEXT & PERFORMANCE SPACE The focus for this term is to build on the basics and advance your technique with more difficult material; to expose you to the widest range of script genres, and experience working with a range of professional actors and directors. It includes an introduction to the more technical aspects of performing on set and how to use the camera and work with a crew. Voice and Movement classes will continue with the addition of the development of skills needed in the field including US accents and monologue preparation. PHYSICAL TRAINING WILL INCLUDE: Firearms Archery Fencing Water Stunts Safety on set Getting to know your film crew Camera Technique classes will teach you how to work with a camera, a microphone and the crew. ACTOR TRAINING: Weeks 1-2: ACTING SHAKESPEARE! This module will be extending your flexibility and range and will bring you to a new level of expression and passionate commitment to your work. Weeks 3-10: A roller coaster ride of scene studies with Directors and Actors from genres including: Television Soaps; Children’s Television; Police Drama; Social Drama; Telemovies; Situation Comedy There will be a live performance of the monologues and On Camera Scene Study showing on the last day of term to an invited audience of family and friends. TERM THREE ACTING FOR TELEVISION; EXCELLENT CRAFT/CONFIDENT PERFORMERS The focus of this term is to provide for the actor maximum opportunity to practice their craft in industry conditions. Also to look at how actors get the job: Screen Tests, Auditions and Call-backs. Actors will demonstrate the ability to prepare a role and always deliver interesting, inventive and authentic performances. There is also a module that covers post-production, excellent presentation skills and handling publicity. Voice and yoga classes will continue but drop back to once a week, a habit that will continue once the training is over. This term the morning skills classes will specifically focus on the episode of the week, which will be read and rehearsed on Mondays. TERM 3 STRUCTURE: • Studio scenes rehearsed. • Outside broadcast scenes will be taken onto location, rehearsed and recorded with a minimum crew. • Studio scenes recorded. Play back and analysis of previous week’s work. Weeks 1-2: Situation Comedy. Weeks 3-8: Screen Tests, Commercials and Handling Publicity. Weeks 9-10: The filming of a television episode with a full crew and professional director. PERFORMANCE DAY: At the end of the term there will be a showing of the year’s best work to an invited audience of agents, producers and directors, friends and family. CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: This is a talent based course. Entry will be by audition & interview only. Please fill out the attached application form and return it with a current headshot/photograph and $35.00 administration fee. COURSE FEE: $6,000 + GST Payment Options: In Full:!! $6270.00 (GST Inclusive) $330.00 discount Direct Debit:! $1,000.00 upfront payment and then a weekly direct debit payment of $133.00 over ! ! the duration of 42 weeks. Audition Dates: 27th and 28th of January, 2011 Term Dates: Orientation Day: 2nd of March, 2011 Term One: Term Two: 5th of March – 7th of May, 2011 8th of June – 13th of August, 2011 Term Three: 24th of September - 3rd of December, 2011 • Wednesday’s 6:30pm - 9:30pm & Saturday’s 9:00am - 5:00pm Acting For Television Part Time Professional Program 2011 THE TEAM IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER MENTORS ESTHER ANDERSON Melbourne / Brisbane Esther Anderson is stunning in her role as Charlie Buckman on Network Seven’s most successful and longest running drama series Home and Away. Esther joined the cast to spice things up in the town of Summer Bay in 2008 and has not looked back since. Prior to Home and Away Esther was a key presenter on Nine Network’s Post Cards enjoying travelling throughout Victoria presenting charming and interesting stories, from rock climbing to fashion she covered it all. More recently she gave her name to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday appeal and is the 2010 ambassador for the Leukaemia foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave. Esther also won Cosmo Woman of the Year in both 2009 and 2010. She was nominated for a Gold Logie for Australia’s Favourite Television Personality and a Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress 2010. LUKE MITCHELL Melbourne / Brisbane Luke Mitchell is fast becoming one of Australia’s most recognisable faces on the small screen for not just his boyish good looks but unique acting style. After a successful run on Australia’s longest running soap Neighbours playing bad boy Chris Knight, Luke walked straight into a lead role on the internationally acclaimed series H2O Just Add Water (series 3) starring as Will Benjamin. It was this series that earned Luke a reputation in the business as “the one to watch” and as a serious contender among many of Australia’s heavy weight performers. Upon his completion of H2O Just Add Water Luke was offered and accepted the role of Romeo in the Multi Award winning Network Seven drama Home and Away. So in demand was Luke by his fan base that in 2009 he launched www.lukemitchellofficial.com which has been a resounding success. Luke won the Logie for Best New Male Talent 2010. ASHLEIGH BREWER Melbourne / Brisbane At just 19, Ashleigh Brewer has been working steadily as an actor on our Australian screens, guest starring in Blue Heelers; Sleepover Club and H2O Just Add Water (series 1 & 2). Her big break through came in 2009 when she auditioned for and won the role of troubled teen Katie Ramsay in award winning serial drama Neighbours, a role she has made her own and winning fans throughout the UK and Australia. Ashleigh is also a professional dancer and recording artist. Ashleigh was nominated for a Logie for Best New Female Talent 2010. CHRISTOPHER MILLIGAN Melbourne / Brisbane At just 21 Chris Milligan has had some amazing victories in his career as an actor in Australia. His breakthrough came when he auditioned for and was invited to work on HBO’s Stellar miniseries The Pacific produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. This epic series took Chris throughout Australia into some of the most eye catching tropical locations to some of the harshest bush land in Australia. Chris worked on The Pacific for 12 months then relocated to Melbourne to further his career. After filming/starring in many national television commercials he went on to audition for Neighbours and won the role of Ramsay street trouble maker Kyle Canning. Chris has been enjoying life on the Neighbours set for the past 2 years and currently plays Kyle together with his lead role in the BBC and ABC period comedy/drama Dead Gorgeous. Following on from his 18 month stint as a recurring Guest on Neighbours, he has just been signed as a lead character on the show. PETER ANDRIKIDIS THE TEAM Melbourne / Brisbane Peter is the Winner of 3 Australian Film Institute Awards for Best Direction and 4 Australian Film Institute Awards for Best Drama. Also 10 Australian Film Institute Award Nominations for outstanding Directing and Producing. Wildside, the groundbreaking drama series, is Peter's greatest directing achievement. Two episodes, which Peter directed, won a total of eight AFIs including Best Direction. He then went on to direct the entire ABC series Grass Roots written by Geoffrey Atherden. This series went on to win seven AFI's over two seasons including Best Direction. It also won a New York Festival Award. In 2001 he directed the telemovie My Husband, My Killer starring Colin Friels and David Field, which also won numerous awards and his third AFI for Best Direction. In 2002/3 Heroes Mountain (drama telemovie about the Thredbo Rescue) and Jessica (mini-series with Sam Neill) each won a Silver Hugo for Best Direction and a Gold/Silver Plaque for Best Drama at the Chicago International Television Awards. Sam Neill also won a Silver Logie along with the Jessica production for Best mini-series. In 2004/5 Peter directed five telemovies of Black Jack for the Ten Network, which featured Colin Friels solving 'cold crime cases', which again won numerous awards including best direction. 2006 saw Peter direct the $15 million dollar co-production with the Granada - ITV The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant with Romola Garai, Jack Davenport and Sam Neill. This screened to eight million viewers in the UK. It won an AFI, a Logie, and a New York Festival Award for Best TV Mini-series and a Silver Plaque for Best Direction at the Chicago Awards. In April 2006 he was voted one of the Top Ten Directors in Encore Magazine 'Celebration of the Industry's Finest'. The list included Baz Luhrmann, Gillian Armstrong, Phillip Noyce and Rolf De Heer. Peter has also completed work on the SBS mini-series East West 101 A drama about what it means to be Muslim in Australia after September 11, 2001. The cast includes Don Hany, William McInnes and Susie Porter and he is currently in production with The Informant for Channel 10 & Killing Time for Fremantle Media Peter also directs episodes of Underbelly and more recently Wog Boy 2 starring Vince Colosimo and Nick Giannopoulos. RACHAEL BECK Melbourne / Brisbane Award-winning actor, Rachael Beck is one of Australia's most in-demand performers in musical theatre and television. Rachael is widely remembered for her award winning role as 'Belle' opposite Hugh Jackman in Beauty and the Beast, which won an ARIA Award for the Best Australian Soundtrack / Cast / Show Release in 1996. Much of Rachael's current time is dedicated to musical theatre, including her role of 'Peg Hartigan' in the Sydney Theatre Company production of Summer Rain, directed by Robyn Nevin. Prior to this, Rachael has also worked consistently in Australia's most popular theatre productions, including Eureka for Essgee Entertainment, directed by Gale Edwards and playing the lead role of Sally Bowles in the IMG production of Cabaret, directed by Sam Mendes. Also for IMG, she played Kathy Selden in the hit Singing in the Rain directed by David Atkins, which earned her a prestigious Mo Award nomination, and the role of 'Maria' in The Gordon/Frost Organization / SEL production of The Sound of Music. Rachael created the roles of 'Princess Maria' in The Production Company's Call Me Madam and 'Donna', 'Chanelette' and 'Amy' in Big Hair in America, which premiered at the Hot House Theatre under the direction of Marion Potts. Rachael's other stage credits include her Green Room Award nominated performance as 'Fantine' in the Cameron Macintosh production of Les Miserables, 'Rumpleteaser' in Cats also for Cameron Macintosh, the role of 'Naomi' in the Playbox and STC production of Secret Bridesmaid's Business and as 'Sally' in Me and My Girl, which toured Australia and New Zealand for the Adelaide Festival. She has also appeared in two further productions with the Sydney Theatre Company, as 'Fredrika' in A Little Night Music and 'Lady Mortimer' in Henry IV. In 1992, Rachael performed the role of Judy Garland in her own one-woman show, Young Judy written by John Beck. An impressive list of television credits also supports Rachael's position as one of Australia's most promising actors, including City Homicide; Stingers; Mercury; The Feds; This Man This Woman; GP, The Flying Doctors; and her popular on-going role as 'Sam' in Hey Dad over three years. She has also appeared in the film Ocean Boulevard and in three seasons of the highly successful Channel 7 series, It Takes Two. Rachael has worked with Todd McKenny and Tommy Tycho in a series of concerts entitled Broadway to Hollywood with the Symphony Orchestras in Australia; the national tour of War Of The Worlds, and most recently Christmas in Concert for QPAC. Rachael’s impressive career is a testament to her staying power in Australian entertainment. MICHALA BANAS Melbourne / Brisbane The forever gorgeous Michala Banas has had, and continues to have, an incredibly successful career as a working actor in Australia. Her television credits are extensive including; Winners and Losers; Neighbours; McLeod’s Daughters; Always Greener; Something in the Air; Beastmaster; The Saddle Club; Blue Heelers; Round the Twist; The Lost World; High Flyers; Flipper; Murder Call; State Coroner; Good Guys, Bad Guys; E Street and GP. We are absolutely delighted to have her as part of our team. She encapsulates all the qualities that we aim to instill in our emerging actors: Talent, humility, warmth and fun. No doubt the best is yet to come from Michala. SIMONE BUCHANAN Brisbane / Melbourne Simone’s experience in the industry is vast and wide. After playing Debbie Kelly for many years in Australia’s most successful and longest running sitcom Hey Dad, Simone went on to star alongside Deborah Lee Furness in internationally acclaimed feature film Shame. Simone has also starred in many television dramas including Neighbours, McLeods Daughters, Blue Heelers, Water Rats, All Saints, Pacific Drive, A Country Practise, Sons and Daughters and many more. In addition to Shame her film credits include: Forced Entry, Push, The Man from the High Country, Doctors and Nurses and My Brilliant Career. Simone will be working with student actors in areas of social drama and situation comedy. KIMBERLEY DAVIES Melbourne Kimberley is a darling of Australian television, first coming to our attention as a series regular on Australia’s longest running soap opera Neighbours. Upon completing many successful years on the series, Hollywood beckoned. Her first series regular role was playing opposite the great Joan Collins in Pacific Palisades, a Spelling Production. Roles then followed on popular sitcoms Ally McBeal and Friends. Kimberley’s movie credits include The Next Best Thing starring Madonna; The Shrink, starring Courteney Cox and David Arquette; Psycho Beach Party opposite Lauren Ambrose; Made, starring Vince Vaughn; and South Pacific starring Glen Close and Harry Connick JR. Kimberley has since returned to Melbourne to raise her young family whilst appearing in guest roles on various Australian TV dramas. She also recently appeared as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. SIMONE DE HAAS Melbourne / Brisbane Simone de Haas is one of Brisbane’s busiest and most in-demand theatre professionals, with experience in almost every aspect of theatre production and performance, as a singer, actor, choreographer, designer and director." She has directed numerous productions - from children’s pantomimes to corporate entertainment, plays, music theatre and opera. Simone has won awards for Music Theatre (Ruthless, The Musical), Drama (The Norman Conquest Trilogy) and most recently the ABC Bell Award for 2008 Best Independent Production (Five Women Wearing the Same Dress) all for Mixed Company, the theatre production company she operates with her husband. In addition to directing over 30 productions for Mixed Company, Simone has also directed for Opera Queensland, University of Southern Queensland Opera Studio, Ignatians Musical Society, Brolga Community Theatre and Brisbane Arts Theatre. Simone is also a qualified Coach and Mentor and facilitates master classes and workshops in various aspects of performance, as well as providing personal performance coaching for actors and singers throughout south-east Queensland. Simone’s coaching and mentoring utilises her unique blend of talents, diverse theatrical experience and highly sensitive intuition to free the performer and develop authentic presence. PETER DODDS Melbourne / Brisbane Director, cinematographer, editor, and writer, Peter is best known as the award-winning producer and director of the international hit television drama Neighbours. Peter has produced or directed television drama for each of Australia’s commercial networks, and the ABC. Following successful directing engagements on critically acclaimed TV series including Home and Away, The Fast Lane, The Barton’s, House Rules, Inside Running, GP, The Power-The Passion, and having produced and directed A Country Practice for three years, Peter took on the challenging position of producer of the iconic Neighbours. Drawing upon twenty years of professional success, Peter introduced initiatives and a methodology of production at Neighbours to boost operational and creative standards. Over his 14 years with the show, Peter continuously grew and shaped the series to meet the demands of increasingly sophisticated audiences both in Australia and worldwide, and to keep Neighbours abreast of rapidly emerging new technologies, including implementation of full HD in 2007. Peter produced over three thousand episodes of Neighbours, establishing, nurturing and ensuring the highest professional quality - as reflected in the recent successful change to Channel 5 in the UK. His awards for Neighbours include the 2001 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Serial Drama and the 2000 Inside Soap Award for Best Overseas Soap. MARIE DUMONT Melbourne Marie has been working at Victorian College of the Arts and Music (VCAM) since 2006, appointed Head of Physical Performance for the Undergraduate diploma in Acting. A native of Quebec, Canada, Marie graduated from the University of Montreal (Bsc Arts et Sciences) and pursued further studies in France, firstly at the Conservatoire National de Theatre de Bordeaux and then at the Jacques Lecoq International Theatre School in Paris, from which she graduated in 1984. Marie worked as an actor/theatre-maker on numerous new works in Quebec. She toured widely in North America, with the internationally acclaimed Les Deux Mondes Theatre Company including a season at BAM, the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New-York. She also worked extensively in radio, television and film in Quebec. In 1994-95, Marie returned to Paris, spending a year working side by side with Jacques Lecoq and studying his teaching methodology in depth. Marie’s approach to movement training for actors owes much to Lecoq and has also been greatly influenced by Ariane Mnouchkine of The Theatre du Soleil, with whom she studied on a number of occasions. Upon her arrival in Australia in late 1996, Marie established herself in Queensland and continued her career as actor, teacher, movement choreographer and community arts facilitator, working both nationally and internationally. She also set about developing a unique approach to movement training for actors. Marie taught Mask and Movement at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), at the University of Queensland (UQ), and at Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre’s Annual Stomping Ground Workshops. Marie also worked with Access Arts Queensland, creating and touring Movement/Sound Circles workshops with people of varying abilities. (Queensland/Japan). Marie is a trained Flamenco dancer and Fitness instructor. She is also the acting evaluator for Cirque du Soleil’s auditions in Australia. JONATHAN DUTTON Melbourne / Brisbane Jonathan started his career playing the role of Wayne "Tad"/"Tadpole" Reeves in the Australian television series Neighbours for several years. He then went on to star in British comedy series Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, playing the character of David Fish. After he returned to Australia, Jonathan starred on the successful drama series The Secret Life of Us, playing Jeff. Other acting credits include All Saints; MDA; Blue Heelers and Thunderstone. After turning his hand to Directing, Jonathan is now one of the series directors of Neighbours and will be directing exciting Australian Feature Film Between Friends in 2010. GABRIELLE FITZPATRICK Melbourne Gabrielle is long remembered in Australia for her series regular roles in Paradise Beach and The Man from Snowy River, playing Montana Hale. Her breakthrough roles came in via action feature film Power Rangers and television series Roar, starring alongside Heath Ledger, which saw American agents and producers come knocking. After relocating to the United States, Gabrielle has starred in many movies, television dramas, soaps and sitcoms. Her film credits include Mr Nicy Guy, starring alongside Jackie Chan and Miki Lee; Inferno, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Her television credits include 24; Lost; Providence; North Shore; Frasier; Nash Bridges; Dragnet & NYPD Blue to name a few. With a stellar television career both here in Australia and in the USA, we couldn’t be more delighted to have Gabrielle as part of our unique faculty. PETER “PK” KENT Brisbane Born in Australia, but raised in Canada before returning down under in the late 70’s, Peter’s love for the arts, especially film & television, was firmly set at a young age. While attending a workshop held by Australian casting company, Maura Fay & Associates, Peter’s uncanny knack for accents and natural performances quickly singled him out and he was hired as an auditions reader for Australian/American co-productions. So began his involvement both in front of and behind the camera. His acting and accent ability led to him being cast in many American film and television roles, working opposite names including Rod Stieger, Gabrielle Anwar, Temeura Morrison, Judd Nelson, Mark Lee, Mimi Rogers and Jessica Alba and by 1995, he was cast in a support role in Space Above and Beyond, a science fiction series produced by the team who brought us the X-Files. While continuing to perform both American and Australian roles, he also began instructing acting students in the use of American accents. This led to him being hired as an American Dialect Coach on the late Heath Ledger’s (RIP) first American television series, Roar. Pete also performed opposite Heath, Vera Farmiga and Lisa Zane. His professional reputation grew quickly and he continued working on American productions often both as an actor and a dialect coach. Near the end of the 90’s, MGM hired him to coach the accents on the Australian/American co-production of Flipper. He also directed the lead children’s performances, along with playing a regular role in the show for two full seasons. He then went on to another American series The Beastmaster and was responsible for coaching both the accents and performances of the lead actors Daniel Goddard and Jackson Raine, along with many guest leads including Grace Jones and New Zealand’s Marton Csokas. Pete worked that series for a full three seasons, and directed on a number of occasions. In between crew work, Peter still found time to perform roles in other productions including Crocodile Dundee in L.A. and Attack on the Queen. More recently he was cast as a father in the children’s television show Mortified, played a lawyer in the Japanese feature A Very Good Company and a slave trader in the American action feature, The Condemned. He has coached Rachel Ward in Monarch Cove, Nicholas Cage in Ghost Rider, Gerard Butler in the Jodie Foster film Nim’s Island, Rose Burn and Ben Mendelson in the Nicholas Cage feature Knowing, both Megan Gale and Theresa Palmer for George Miller’s Justice League and has recently returned from Melbourne where he was working with Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce and Bailee Madison on the feature Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark. BARBARA LEANE Melbourne / Brisbane Barbara Leane founded, managed and operated the theatrical agency Barbara Leane & Associates for 26 years providing representation to leading actors, directors and writers in all fields of the entertainment industry throughout the world. She was honoured by Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 2004 for service and contribution to the Australian acting industry and actors – the only Australian Agent to be granted such an honour. She worked as the Casting Consultant to the Gordon Frost Organisation for the 2008 / 2009 production of Wicked, casting the lead roles, supporting cast and ensemble. Barbara is passionate, focussed and driven with more than 26 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Utilizing her wealth of knowledge she has been"integral in guiding the successes of actors, agents, casting directors and production companies through her training, coaching and mentoring expertise. Additionally, Barbara works with a select clientele of industry professionals throughout Australia, South East Asia and the United States where her coaching, negotiation skills, facilitation and training modalities are pristinely deployed. GLENDA LINSCOTT Melbourne / Brisbane Glenda is an actress with extensive experience in film, television, theatre and radio. She is best known to audiences for her role as Rita Connors, the bikie chick in Prisoner, for which she won a Penguin Award for Best Actress, and also as Dr. Imogen “Tootsie” Soames in Murder Call. On stage she has worked for many companies around Australia and has played lead roles in a national tour of Steaming for Gary Penny Productions, Women of Troy and Angels in America for the Sydney Theatre Company, Daylight Saving for the Melbourne based Hit Productions, Communicating Doors, Crimes of the Heart and Dinner with Friends for the Marian Street Theatre. Glenda is passionate about Australian writers and telling Australian stories. She has had an extensive relationship with the Griffin Theatre Company in Sydney which dedicates itself to development of Australian plays. One of the highlights was appearing in the Australian premiere of Speaking in Tongues which went on to become the feature film Lantana. Most recently Glenda appeared in Shadow Passion by Anthony Crowley at Chapel Off Chapel, and completed a national tour of Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell. For this work Glenda received standing ovations and rave reviews! Glenda has recorded numerous features, poetry programs, book readings and dramas for ABC radio. The latest being an autobiography for Radio National’s First Person Dibs in Search of Self, Aurora Calling : A Joint Observation and China which is yet to go to air. Glenda has extensive teaching, coaching and directing experience. She worked as a performance consultant for the French feature film The Trail shot entirely on location in Namibia in 2005, directed by Academy Award nominee Eric Valli, and on Ray Lawrence's Jindabyne and the children's television series The Lost Treasure of Fiji for Jonathan Schiff Productions. She has taught and directed for the VCA, Drama and Music Theatre departments, and for the VCA Knowledge Transfer Unit, NIDA, Australian Theatre for Young People, Melbourne University, St Martins Youth Theatre, The National Theatre and The Australian College of Film and Television and the Film & Television Studio International. Last year she launched her own business Perform with Confidence providing training and support coaching for professional actors and for people in business. JENNY LOVELL Melbourne / Brisbane Jenny’s training includes 2 years with the Drama Studio Sydney, Voice workshops with master teachers Rowena Baylos (L.A.) and Andrew Wade (RSC), Improvisation workshops with Keith Johnstone and as an International Fellow at the Globe Theatre, London. She has been performing on stage, screen and TV for over 20 years. TV includes Prisoner, The Money or the Gun, Blue Heelers, MDA and Sensing Murder. Film work includes Picnic at Hanging Rock, Gallipoli and Darkness Falls. Theatre includes work as actor and director with Actors at Work (Bell Shakespeare Company), Waking Eve (Playbox), Sex, Drugs and Walking Frames (La Mama), Dead Tragic (Impro Melbourne), Iron and Rabbit Hole (Red Stitch). Jenny has been improvising since 1987 while helping out with Theatresports™ at Belvoir Street Theatre in Sydney. Since then she has performed in improvisation shows in Sydney, Melbourne and at international festivals in San Francisco, Seattle, Hong Kong and Edmonton, Canada. She has been part of the continuing development of Theatresports™ in Sydney and Melbourne, performing on stage and in corporate and school performances. As well as Theatresports™ Jenny has performed in a number of different improvisation formats, including Harold, Shakespeare Scared Scriptless and Unforeseen Stories. She has created or helped to create 5 different long form improvisation shows and is currently working on her sixth. Jenny is a 2004 Green Room nominee for her performances in Iron (Red Stitch) and Dead Tragic (which she also produced for Impro Melbourne) and was General Manager of Impro Melbourne for 10 years. As well as performing and directing Jenny also teaches drama, Shakespeare and improvisation with Monash University, Victorian College of the Arts and St. Martins Youth Art Centre. Jenny loves to improvise any scenes that involve genre and would most like to improvise again with overseas improvisers, especially the Europeans, as they put you on your toes and are not afraid to challenge you to speak in other languages. ROBERT MARCHAND Brisbane Robert Marchand is a director and writer. He has specialised in television mini-series with an emphasis on performance and character. His credits include Fields Of Fire, Come In Spinner, Sun On The Stubble, Kangaroo Palace and The Potato Factory. He has been awarded four AFI Awards and his work has had numerous AFI and Logie nominations. Robert is a graduate of the Australian Film Television & Radio School, where he investigated the Mike Leigh improvisation method, working with actors over a three month period. He subsequently attended workshops conducted by Mike Leigh and has frequently used the process in his own work. Since 2003, Robert has run his Character-based Improvisation Process (CBI) workshops throughout Australia, in New Zealand and the USA. It has been part of the curriculum of the Grad Dip course at AFTRS. His master classes have been featured at SPAA Fringe; West Australian Academy of Performing Arts; the Australian Directors Guild Conference and at the AFC’s IndiVisions initiative. He is the advisor on several films using character-based impro techniques in development or in production. He is now engaged in Doctorate studies at Flinders University on advanced research into the CBI process. CRAIG McMAHON Artistic Director: Melbourne / Brisbane Craig is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Film & Television Studio International, founded in 1999. After working in front of the camera for most of his life as an actor and Television presenter, Craig went into management forming McMahon Management (MCM), and is now one of Australia’s most sought after agents. Craig personally manages celebrity actors and graduates, however his passion is discovering and developing exciting new talent, launching them into the Australian & American film & television markets. Also an exceptional acting coach and inspiring motivator, Craig works with his actors on every aspect of the business, from training, to image, to marketability and promotion. Under his tutelage and guidance, students have gone from complete beginners to working award winning actors. DOMINIQUE McMAHON Managing Director: Melbourne / Brisbane Entrepreneur, Dominique McMahon co-founded the Film & Television Studio International at the age of 19. Today, 11 years later the Brisbane division continues to thrive under her direction. In 2006, Dominique not only took the acting studio national, opening the doors with unprecedented success in Melbourne, but formed together with her partner McMahon Management, a talent company managing high end television personalities and established actors." McMahon Management works in conjunction with various Hollywood, New York and London based managers and agents, injecting Australian clients into these prospective markets." At the head of both companies, Dominique has assisted in the rise of many performing artists throughout Australia and Internationally. In 2010 Dominique commissioned the launch of the Film & Television studio International’s first ever Full Time Professional program; with the focus on training actors ENTIRELY for the rigors of fast turnaround television." JOSS McWILLIAM Brisbane Joss McWilliam is one of Australia's most highly regarded performing artists. A core actor with the Queensland Theatre Company, his most recent performances include Away; A Christmas Carol; Hitchcock Blonde; Mano Nera; Grace; The Real Inspector Holland; Black Comedy; We Were Dancin’; The Fortunes of Richard Mahony; Richard III; Buried Children; Fried and Top Dogs. Over the past 2 decades, Joss has also performed with the Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company and many more companies nationally and internationally. Joss’s television credits include ongoing lead roles in Water Rats; Pacific Drive; The New Adventures of Skippy; H20 - Just Add Water as well as guest roles on The Strip; Blue Heelers; Wildside; Coral Island; Time Trax; GP; The Flying Doctors and Something Wicked. His film credits include Dancing on Glass; Eat In Or Take Away; Coolangatta Gold; Jailbirds Run; How Wonderful and The Top Kid. Having taught at the Film & Television Studio International for over eight years, Joss has become an integral creative driving force to the Brisbane studio bringing a wealth of industry experience and knowledge to his students. Together with Craig McMahon, Joss has been instrumental in training many emerging performing artists who have gone on to become household names. LEITH McPHERSON Melbourne A graduate of the renowned Voice Studies course at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, Leith McPherson has been a full-time voice, dialect and acting coach for the last thirteen years. Leith is currently working as a freelance voice and dialect coach based in Melbourne and has worked with companies including the Malthouse Theatre, Red Stitch, and several shows for the Melbourne Theatre Company since moving to Melbourne in 2009. Prior to that, Leith was Lecturer in Voice for the Acting and Music Theatre Departments at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts for six years and worked at many of the major drama schools in London. Leith has extensive experience as a voice, accent and acting coach for film and television, theatre and music theatre. A passionate and active member of the Australian theatre industry, Leith is now based in Melbourne and works as voice and accent coach for the Melbourne Theatre Company. Currently Leith is working on Becky Shaw for Echelon Productions at MTC. Upcoming work includes: A Behanding in Spokane, Apologia, Hamlet, Next to Normal, Clybourne Park and The Importance of Being Earnest for MTC 2011. Leith worked as Assistant Director and Voice Coach on the recent production of Richard III. Recent work as a voice and dialect coach includes All About My Mother, Boston Marriage, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Madagascar, The Drowsy Chaperone, Rockabye and August: Osage County for MTC and A Streetcar Named Desire for the MTC Education Program, Oh Well Never Mind Bye, Stop. Rewind., Farragut North, Faces in the Crowd, In a Dark, Dark House and The Laramie Project: Ten Years On for Red Stitch and Knives in Hens for the Malthouse Theatre. Leith has also worked as a voice consultant for the MTC productions of Songs for Nobodies, The Swimming Club, Ninety and Dame on a Ten Dollar Note and as a dialect coach for the short film We of the Walls for the Warrambeen Film Festival. ANDREA MOORE Melbourne / Brisbane Andrea is a NIDA acting graduate and has studied at East 15 in London and with The Atlantic Theatre Company in New York. Andrea’s acting credits in theatre are extensive and include The Crucible; Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; Absurd Person Singular and Vincent in Brixton (QTC); The Narcissist (La Boite); Bitin’ Back (Kooemba Jdarra); Emerald City; Siren; A Map of the World; A Woman in Mind; Titus Andronicus; The Visit; Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant; An Ideal Husband; Games of Love and Chance (Sydney Theatre Company); Away (World Premiere); The Return; Kayak; Myth, Propaganda and Disaster (Griffin); Witchplay (voted best actress Edinburgh Fringe ’91); A Little Like Drowning; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Belvoir); The Old Boy; The Ninth Step; The Family; Diving for Pearls (Ensemble); The Newspaper of Claremont Street (Marion Street); and The Aunts Story for the NIDA Company. Andrea’s film credits include Subdivision; Travelling North; Round The Bend; Oscar and Lucinda; Strange Planet; The Man Who Sued God; Bitter and Twisted and many award winning shorts. Her television credits are extensive and include Passion; All Saints; The Flying Doctors; GP; A Country Practice; H2O; Mortified and her on-going role as the School Principle in Heartbreak High. Andrea is a dedicated teacher of actors and is currently undertaking a Doctorate of Creative Industries at QUT. Andrea cofounded Practical Aesthetics Australia, the Sydney annex of the Atlantic Theatre Company of New York. As a director Andrea has worked on numerous productions including Top Girls (WAAPA graduating year 2009), The Tempest (USQ graduating year 2009), Ghost Writer and Beautiful (…and moor theatre), Mad Forest and A Dream Play (NIDA Young Actor’s studio), Lysistrata (QUT Performance Studies), Red Cap (Asst Director, La Boite), Heroes (Asst Director QTC), Prisoner of Second Avenue (Asst Director QTC), The Works (Asst Director, QTC), Furious (NIDA first Year Actors), Stars (ATYP) and Henry V (Asst Director, ATYP). ROGER OAKLEY Melbourne / Brisbane Roger Oakley is a New Zealand born character-actor noted for his performances on Australian television. He was an original cast member of Home and Away playing foster father Tom Fletcher from 1988 to 1990 and appeared briefly in 2008. Oakley is also well known to Australian audiences as the controversial cross-dressing politician Doug Rutherford in the ABC drama, Something in the Air. Roger also appeared on a special of Where are They Now?, that reunited the original Fletcher Family. Roger was only on Home and Away for the first few years, but his exit was felt by Fans as he was one of the shows central Original Characters. Other TV credits include: The Sullivans, Prisoner, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, Good Guys Bad Guys, Blue Heelers, The Young Doctors and Neighbours. As of 2010, He remains hugely active in the industry and has just finished starring in Richard III at the Melbourne Theatre Company. He is Well-known in Television, Film and the Theatrical Stage. MARK PIPER Melbourne / Brisbane Spanning over three 3 decades in the international Theatre, Film and Television industry, Mark Piper’s award-winning career has seen him on the initial teams Producing and Directing many international drama programs including the US television series Ponderosa and Beastmaster, the German series Gute Zeiten Schechte Zeiten, and the New Zealand series Mercy Peak. His Australian credits include Water Rats, Neighbours, Home and Away, All Saints, Blue Heelers, Always Greener and Halifax F.P. Mark began his career as an Actor and has successfully directed more than 300 hours of television drama in all genres and has gained industry recognition through many award nominations. In 2000, Mark was honoured by an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Episode in a Television Drama for All Saints. Mark’s involvement in the performing arts began as a New Zealand actor touring with professional theatre companies and managing film production company Aardvark Films. He worked on Roger Donaldson’s (The World’s Fastest Indian) first feature film, Sleeping Dogs before moving to Australia in 1976. With over 35 years in the industry Mark continues to work in feature films, television drama, TVCs and theatre. Mark also enjoys sharing his wealth of knowledge with emerging actors and directors teaching at NIDA, Metroscreen and The International Film School. He is also working on a variety of new projects, including television series and feature films, through his production company markpiper.com. Mark is currently Producing the horror / action / thriller feature length film PHOBOS. JAN RUSS Melbourne / Brisbane Jan Russ is a name that will be familiar to many Australian TV fans. For nearly 25 years she was the Casting Director on Neighbours. She has been with Neighbours since its conception in 1985, and is held in high regard in the industry by cast and fans alike - which makes her contribution all the more special. In that time she is credited with discovering the careers of a myriad of actors who have forged national or international careers: Guy Pearce, Natalie Imbruglia, Holly Valance, Daniel MacPherson, Madeleine West, Craig McLachlan, Jesse Spencer and Brooke Satchwell, as well as famously casting a young Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. Jan also cast Film & Television Studio International students Ashleigh Brewer (aka Katie Ramsay), Christopher Milligan (aka Kyle Kanning) and Luke Mitchell who played Chris Knight on Neighbours before going on to star in Home & Away, not to mention all the students who were cast in Guest roles on the popular show. Most recently she returned to television as an Actor, with a guest appearance in City Homicide. The role put her on screen alongside cast regular Daniel MacPherson, whom she cast in Neighbours when he was 16 years old. Jan will soon be focussing her attention to casting an exciting new TV project, created and developed by McMahon Entertainment Group Pty Ltd. MARTIN SACKS Melbourne / Brisbane Martin Sacks is a well-known Australian actor, chiefly known for his 11-year role on Blue Heelers from 1994 to 2005. Martin first got into acting after a bit part in an episode of The Love Boat when it was filming in the Pacific. His first role came about in the series The Restless Years in the late 1970s, which started him on the television circuit in Australia. He emigrated to Hollywood in the 1980s, guest starring in series such as Thirtysomething, but preferred Australia, so he returned after a few years. Martin also had guest appearances in Love in Limbo; Encounters; Irresistible Force; Fields of Fire III; All the Way; Touch the Sun: Princess Kate; Slate, Wyn & Me; Tricheuse; LA; Emoh Ruo; Stock Squad and The City's Edge. Against his first instinct, Sacks took the role of Detective P.J.Hasham in the 1994 series Blue Heelers. The show rocketed him to fame, most notably due to his 7-year "willthey-or-won't-they" relationship with Constable Maggie Doyle (Lisa McCune) which ended with her death in the programme's seventh season. After playing P.J. for eleven years, and being one of only three original cast members still on the show in the twelfth season, Sacks left Blue Heelers to spend time with his growing family. His last episode aired on August 10, 2005. Sacks expressly asked the producers not to kill his character, so that he could return for a guest spot in the future. He did not get the chance, however: the show was cancelled in early 2006. Sacks is also a director, having directed episodes of Blue Heelers, All Saints and a short film called Crushed. Sacks also starred in the 2008 Australian TV hit Underbelly, portraying underworld loan shark Mario Condello and is currently starring in feature film BAIT. HAYDEN SPENCER Brisbane Hayden Spencer is an Actor, Writer and Teacher. Hayden’s biggest highlight throughout 2008 – 2009 is touring the world with the very famous Cirque Du Soleil. He has performed in a number of"Queensland Theatre Company productions including:"American Buffalo; A Streetcar Named Desire; Eating Ice Cream With Your Eyes Closed; The Real Inspector Hound / Black Comedy (double bill); The Lonesome West; The Messiah; Buried Child!and The Australian Sitcom Festival. Other Theatre credits include"Cyrano de Bergerac"for the"Melbourne Theatre Company; The Dance of Jeremiah; Way Out West (Director); The Drowning Bride; The Mayne Inheritance; Half & Half; Cosi; Still Standing; Clarke in Sarajevo; and Small Mercies for La Boite;!The Caucasion Chalk Circle and The Elephant Man for!Harvest Rain Theatre Co;!Monkey for Grin & Tonic/ Brisbane Festival;" Alive at Williamstown Pier and Jerusalem for Green Theatre and"The Ghost of Wally Lewis for Playlab/QPAT. Hayden also wrote and performed the highly successful festival show"Zooillogical"for"Schnapper Head Productions. Hayden has been the Fight Director on several stage productions including"The Tempest; Vertigo & The Virginia!(QTC);!Rio Saki & Other Falling Debris!(La Boite). Television roles include:"Kensational (SBS Documentary); Flipper and Medivac. Short film credits include"It’s Hot; A Good Death; Eustice Solves a Problem; The Fencer and Early Eddie & The Bus Stop Blues. IAN STENLAKE Melbourne / Brisbane Ian works at the highest level in Australian film, television and theatre currently starring as Lieutenant Commander Mike Flynn in popular Aussie drama Sea Patrol. The NIDA graduate’s other recent television credits include the role of Oscar Stone in Stingers for series one to five, as well as the lead role of James in the ABC's Children's Hospital. His film credits include the leads as Anthony in Dingles Down Under, John in Diana & Me opposite Toni Collette, Tug Medic in Trapped in Space, as well as a role in The Godfather III. Ian has won many awards throughout his career. He is a two-time Green Room Award Winner - for Best Male Artist in a Leading Role in 2004, for the production They're Playing Our Song, and again in 2006. He also received 3 Green Room Award nominations for Best Male Actor in a Musical for Oklahoma!; Cabaret and Eureka. Ian was a regular guest on Network Ten's GMA as a vocalist and appeared on many other live television shows such as Carols by Candlelight. Ian has extensive experience headlining corporate events and performed as a member of the group Bravo. He also starred in the stage spectacular Guys & Dolls, and Queensland Theatre Company's production of The School of Arts. KHRISTINA TOTOS Melbourne / Brisbane Khristina is one of Sydney’s leading screen acting tutors and has worked nationally and internationally as a director, actor, script editor, producer and acting coach. Her acting credits include All Saints, Going Home, Wildside, Crocodile Dundee and with the famous British director Mike Leigh in Greek Tragedy. KYM VALENTINE Melbourne Actress of the stage and screen Kym Valentine is without question an Aussie icon of the small screen made famous by her role as Libby Kennedy on Australia’s longest running soap Neighbours. Kim began her acting career in a McDonald's fast food advertisement at age five. Her television appearances have included My Two Wives; Adult Illiteracy; At Bathurst; Candid Camera; Home and Away; Swap Shop; Hoops TV and Cheez TV. In 1994 at age 17, she moved to Melbourne and joined the cast of Neighbours, remaining on the show until 2004. Wanting to extend her acting repertoire by returning to the stage, her character was written out with the option of a return. In 2005 Valentine took the lead role of Baby in Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, to rave reviews. In June 2007 due to public demand Valentine rejoined Neighbours on a permanent basis and serves as one of the show longest running stars. Acting For Television Part Time Professional Program 2011 APPLICATION TO AUDITION ACTING FOR TELEVISION Part time professional program 2011 PERSONAL DETAILS: Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Age: _____________________________________! D.O.B: ____________________________________ Street Address: ____________________________________________________________________________ Suburb: __________________________________! P/Code: ___________________________________ Daytime Ph:! ______________________________! After hours Ph: ____________________________ Mobile: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Email Address: ____________________________________________________________________________ Agent (not essential): _______________________________________________________________________ PREVIOUS TRAINING: __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ! FILM, TELEVISION & THEATRE CREDITS / EXPERIENCE: __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ *ADMINISTRATION FEE OF $35.00. *Please enclose a recent headshot/photograph with your application form. PAYMENT PREFERENCE: [ ] CHEQUE / MONEY ORDER [Payable to: Film & Television Studio International] [ ] Credit card! [ ] Savings Account Credit Card Type:! ! Credit Card Number:! ! Cardholder Name:! ! OR Savings Account Name:! BSB:!! ! ! Account Number:! ! ! [ ] Master Card [ ] Visa ____ ____ ____ ____ Expiry Date _ _ / _ _ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ I/We request McMahon Entertainment Group PTY LTD (ABN 61 133 400 969), trading as the Film & Television Studio International to arrange for funds to be debited from my/our credit card or savings account at the financial institution shown above. OFFICE USE ONLY: Headshot received:! ! ! Application payment received:! Audition & Interview ! ! ! yes / no! ! Audition date: ! yes / no ! ! Audition time: ! approved / declined! Notified:! ! ______________! ______________! yes / no ! !