National Actors Intensive

TAFTA’s National Actors Intensive (NAI) is back - and bigger than ever.

Applications Opening Soon

About:

Join us this November for five transformative days with some of Australia’s most respected working casting directors and directors! TAFTA’s National Actors Intensive offers a rare opportunity to train directly with industry leaders in an immersive and fast-paced environment. Across five intensive days, actors will take part in two 4-hour sessions per day, gaining valuable insight, real-time feedback, and practical experience that sharpens both performance and professional readiness. Whether you're preparing to enter the industry or wanting to refine your craft in front of some of the biggest names in Australian film and television, the NAI is your chance to be seen, challenged, and inspired.

Info:

Dates: Saturday 27th of June – Wednesday 1st of July 2026
Venue: TAFTA Studios Melbourne | 20 Haughton Road, Oakleigh

Age: Strictly for ages 16+
Price: $2000 plus GST

Preparation is Key!

Participants will be assigned scenes for each workshop ahead of time and are expected to arrive with their material prepared and memorised. This ensures you get the most out of your time in the room and can work at a professional standard, just as you would on set.

An Expanded Experience for 2026

This year, we’re expanding the experience with two tandem sessions running simultaneously, meaning two classes of 20 actors, rotating between our incredible guests. Participants will work in intimate groups, maximising face-time and feedback with each guest. Actors will be able to choose between Group A or Group B when enrolling. Both sessions include the same guests, just in a different rotation each day.

Limited Spaces!

Limited Spaces!

Spaces are strictly limited to ensure a high-quality, focused experience, so early registration is strongly encouraged.

Value That Speaks for Itself

This program offers exceptional value for actors who are serious about their craft. A single workshop with an industry professional can cost upwards of $310 + GST, meaning 10 workshops would normally be around $3,100 + GST. With the NAI, you’ll receive all 10 workshops for $2,000 + GST, which is almost half the usual price while giving you access to an unmatched variety of expertise in one program.

What to Bring:

To make the most of your time at the NAI, please bring:

  • SD card – for recording your work in class

  • Notebook and pen – there will be a Q&A session during each workshop, so bring a notebook in case you’d like to jot down insights, advice, or industry tips. You’ll also have the chance to get your own questions answered.

  • Water bottle – to stay hydrated throughout the day

  • Lunch and snacks – there will be a 1-hour lunch break between sessions. You’re welcome to bring your own food, or you can purchase from the café next door, which offers hot drinks and meals. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby, just a short walk from our studios.

Parking & Transport:

Please plan ahead to ensure you arrive on time and ready for your session.

  • All-day parking is available on Haughton Road, however it often fills up early.

  • There is on-street parking nearby, but please note it has a 2-hour limit on weekdays. If you’re driving, we recommend finding all-day parking to avoid having to leave the studio during class and causing disruptions.

  • TAFTA is located directly across the road from Oakleigh Station, making it very easy to access by train. There are also plenty of bus routes servicing the area.

Confirmed Guests Include…

Confirmed Guests Include…

We’re thrilled to reveal the first of our incredible industry guests for the National Actors Intensive:

Dave Newman – Mako Mermaids, Terra Nova, The Pacific, East West 101

Dave Newman, co-founded McSweeney Newman Casting with Tom McSweeney in 2012. Working on both local and international projects for major networks like CBS, HBO and Disney +. Dave, with 35 years in the industry and 25 years in casting, believes that auditions aren’t about perfection, but about helping actors trust their unique interpretations of emotions and life. An actors greatest competition isn’t other actors, it’s usually within themselves and that inner battle to be honest, open, unfiltered and brave enough to show it to the world - there’s beauty in the imperfections and the messy.

Projects Cast: Blacklight, Love and Monsters, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Nautilus, Australia Day, Mako Mermaids, Terra Nova, The Pacific, East West 101

Colin Budds – Pandora’s Box, H2O: Just Add Water, A Vintage Christmas, The Saddle Club, Dream Island

Colin Budds is a veteran Australian film and television director with over 40 years of experience across both local and international productions. He has directed hundreds of hours of television, with credits including some of Australia's most iconic and globally successful series such as Home and Away, Neighbours, H2O: Just Add Water, The Elephant Princess, The Saddle Club, Prisoner, and Lightning Point. His work spans a wide range of genres, from drama and family to fantasy and crime, and includes projects with major studios like Paramount.

Projects Directed: Pandora’s Box, H2O: Just Add Water, A Vintage Christmas, The Saddle Club, Dream Island, Reef Doctors, The Actrix Stone, Lightning Point, Christmas Keepsake, Wicked Science, Blue Heelers, Romance at the Vineyard, The Lost World, Thunderstone

And that’s just the beginning… We have an outstanding lineup of directors and casting professionals still to be announced in the lead-up to the Intensive.

Stay tuned - more names dropping soon!