SCREEN UNDERSTANDING AND CHARACTER FOR SCREEN

with MICK PRESTON

We begin the program with developing our actors with a strong foundation for screen acting. You will learn the basics of acting, including building a character, analysing a text, and listening, sensing, reacting and the subsequent releasing of emotional responses. Mick will also work on the visual concepts of performance - you will learn how, as a screen actor, you can work within a frame, using your body, eyes and subtle facial expression to maximise presence on screen. This will all be done on camera so you can see your work in real time. Even if you have acting experience already, this module is a vital foundation element of our course.

VOICE & TECHNICAL APPLICATION

with JOHN PRESTON

Mastery of voice is not just for the stage actor, in fact, the screen requires an even greater vocal range and more subtle technique than the stage. Voice work is not just about volume. You will learn about tone, resonance, strength and range and that mastering these elements is a crucial foundational element to a great on-screen performance, and can be the key to many transformational roles. Adapting the voice to the frame size can be critical. John will also work on developing the Received Pronunciation (UK) accent, a key accent that has many applications in The Australian industry - from period work to fantasy work and many more.

IMPROVISATION

with JASON GEARY

Any scene, even if it is heavily scripted, relies on the skill of improvisation. TAFTA actors are known for their ability to work moment to moment, and this course will reinforce this skill. The common misconception is that you have to be fast and quick witted to improvise well, it helps, but it’s not what this course is based on. This course is based on strengths you already possess and performer;  listening skills, empathy, observation, clarity of ideas and perspective. Improvising characters, like building them though rehearsal, is a process, but, one that happens in the opposite order that you are used to. This is a module where you can play, work and adapt to the moment and to your scene partner - a key component to any acting!

EMOTIONS #1

with JOHN ORCSIK

Expression of the emotions at will is one of the most powerful and important tools a screen actor can possess - on set you will be asked to get to an emotional place quickly, and Emotions #1 can get you there. You will be given exercises to help you with the expression of emotion; simply, sincerely, where you are entirely in control and without delving into your personal trauma. This module is designed to help you understand the various emotions and what stimulates them, to find the keys to their expression. Our physiological technique at TAFTA is unique and not taught anywhere else and is in direct opposition to the “method” and other pseudo-Stanislavskian exponents which can be psychologically damaging. Acting should always be safe, fun, and free.

U.S. ACCENT & DIALOGUE

with MATT FURLANI

For those hoping to work in the US market, mastering the General American accent is vital. You will have specialist coaching from a US accent teacher to help perfect it, from the basic structural elements of language in the mouth to encompassing some cultural characteristics that will authenticate the accent. Culture both general and locally specific are great influences on behaviour. These will be included in your Accent study.

SCENE STUDY

with KATE ELLIS

Scene study will begin to take you through the necessities of deconstructing a scene and how you individually work on screen. Scene study ties together all the work you have done before into working on challenging scenes and effectively telling the story. You will practice analysing a script, working with wants and opinions and attitudes, extended character work, finding truth within the scene, the multitudes of scene preparation, and developing a list of skills to work on in front of the camera.

FRAME BY FRAME

with COLIN BUDDS

Frame by Frame challenges the actor to understand and implement their performance within a given frames, driven by the possibilities offered by the space and understand the limitations and possibilities of performance within that frame. This element is vital for both self-tape auditions and on-set work! Film and TV is a visual medium, and led by a director with decades of experience, you will begin to understand the performance from the Director's perspective and how to use your physicality to full effect. In Frame by Frame the actors and director work together to produce what might be the final performance in either a single or multi-cam shoot.

EMOTIONS #2

with JOHN ORCSIK

Emotions 2 is the essential next step to Emotions 1. After learning the key to all the basic emotions, Emotions 2 will take you through exploration and combination of the emotions in challenging scenes. This will allow you to find differentiating elements through interesting and unusual combinations of the basic emotions. 

CONTENT CREATION

with TIM MARSHALL

In today's busy industry, actors no longer need to wait for work to come to them. More and more we are seeing actors create their own work, which then gets picked up by networks, Netflix and even successful YouTube productions. Now is the time for all budding actors to get some basic writing and content creating skills under their belt, so they are 100% prepared for the film & television industry of the future! In this module, you will learn how to write for your own performance, to be used in the creation of your showreel shoot.

THE ACTOR/DIRECTOR RELATIONSHIP

with JASON CHRISTOU

With the finale of the Full Time Program coming up, and the realities of the industry looming, it is important to learn how to work with any director. Jason Christou is an award-winning writer-director (Nowhere Boys, Arguments with my Mum) who will help tie together all you have learnt for the last 20 weeks. Taking you through an exercise that connects you with how you best take direction, you will not only understand what being a director means, but you will be able to decipher any direction you are given and make it applicable to you and the way you work.

SHOWREELS

The final block of your program will be focused on providing you with content to share with agents and the industry post-study. This will be your showreel. TAFTA's professional teachers will guide you through each step of this process to make sure that you create a piece of film work that you are proud of, and that you can expand upon after you graduate. This process will also provide you with an authentic ‘on set’ experience. Each student will be required to be present on set to experience the technical aspects of being on set and working in film and TV. You will learn about the roles required to put a production together directed by a respected, working film & TV director. 

You will be provided with appropriate formats of your showreel that can be uploaded to Vimeo, Casting Networks & Showcast or your own website.

SHOWCASE

During the final week of this program, you will perform a showcase to some of Australia's top Directors, Producers & Casting Directors. 
Over 3 days from 9am-11pm you will perform multiple scenes and put your best foot forward in order to present yourself as one of Australia's newest actors. This final element is crucial for you to meet and get to know the people who you will be auditioning for and working with once you are represented by an agent and working in the Australian film industry. This is a wonderful opportunity to begin building professional relationships with the big names in Casting. These relationships are lifelong for an actor, and it is up to you to make sure that you maintain these professional relationships throughout your career.

The showcase will run similarly to our casting director workshops, where you will perform a scene you have been given by the director/producer/casting director and you will have an opportunity to receive instant individual feedback. There will also be time for Q & A. 

AGENTS & REPRESENTATION

You will be represented by a reputable agent from your first day of the course. Once the showreels are edited, they will be sent out to casting directors, producers, and directors.