We are excited to have Actor, Dancer, Teacher and Entrepreneur Jessica Orcsik join us for a free industry Q&A in lockdown!
Jess is the company director of AAFTA - an acting school based in LA where they focus on the ART, the ARTIST and the BUSINESS. Providing Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers and Performing Artists opportunities for their talents to be crafted, showcased and recognised across both stage and media platforms around the world.
In this informal Q&A we will be discussing how to turn your actor self into an artist, marrying craft and creativity, developing your career as a business, the US market and ways to change your mindset to overcome your greatest critic - you!
The floor is also open to YOU to ask any questions around the acting, business of acting, or artistic process you want
About Jess:
Jessica Orcsik is an established actress, performer, choreographer and producer featuring in Stage, Film & Television productions for over 30 years. Her professional acting career began at age 4 on Australian TV show Richmond Hill. Since then has worked on various productions in both the United States and Australia. Jessica has worked and trained with prestigious studios and coaches across the globe including Larry Moss, Susan Batson, Lisa Robertson Studio, Matthew Barry, Lesley Kahn, Broadway Dance Center, Netherlands Dance Theatre and more. She's performed with Australian dance companies, national television shows, choreographed for national tours and hosted public events across Australia. Director of her own internationally acclaimed event/production company formally J.O. International Production.
As CEO and Academy Director of the American Arts Film & Television Academy, Jessica's love of the arts has seen her entrepreneurial skills soar and she has dedicated much of her career to educating artists in Film, Television & Performing Arts. Her success in international mentorships and artist development programs in Australia and Hollywood, make her a leading curator and facilitator in arts education and mentoring for creatives around the world. This has also leant to her recent launch of her podcast ArtArtistBiz.
Through her experience in all platforms she's developed a huge passion for supporting ‘inclusion & diversity’ within the performing arts and film & television community. She currently remains the International Marketing & Entertainment Coordinator for Focus On Ability International Film Festival, where she facilitates Australian Filmmakers and Actors on expansions of their careers on international levels. Her short documentary “Stepping Into Focus” became a starting point for her production career. Producing and hosting continued with a variety of public events and competitions across Australia and in Los Angeles, including “On Broadway”; "Don’t Dis Disabilities Dance Extravaganza” and Focus On Ability International Short Film Festival. Invited to speak at the Actors Symposium alongside Breakdown Services in Vancouver in 2014; as well as having articles published in Dance Informa Magazine and New Idea.
Jessica's new production company Diversity Entertainment, LLC (affiliated with J.O. International Productions & Diversity Pictures) has seen her enter the world of writing and directing. Her recent film “A Death Perspective” (writer, director and actor) has received numerous awards across festivals including Best Indie Short & Best Women's Short at the Independent Short Awards. As well as an Honourable Mention at Global Shorts, Los Angeles both recognised by IMDB. More recently gaining her selection for the Artists Emerging Initiative with Ermantourage. As associate producer her Australian feature “Unsound” with WiseGoat Productions, recently won Melbourne Queer Festival and nominated for Best Indi Film at the AACTA Awards. Diversity Pictures currently has several projects in development for production and release in 2021.
PREPARATION:
Jess will be answering your questions about acting, the business of acting, living and working in the US, and engagin with your own unique artistic process!
You will receive a confirmation email 48 hours before the beginning of the Q&A with a Zoom Link and the opportunity to submit any questions you would like the facilitator to ask.
STRUCTURE:
The Q & A will start with a collation of questions sent through by participants and then run on to an open forum where participants post questions in the chat and our facilitator will read out the questions with your name (or anonymously if you specify).