Private Classes
Looking for personalised guidance to take your acting to the next level? TAFTA offers private coaching sessions with experienced industry professionals John Orcsik and Lana Golja (kids & teens). These one-on-one lessons provide a focused environment to work on audition material, rehearse scenes, refine technique, or develop specific skills such as screen performance and accent work. Whether you are preparing for an upcoming audition or simply want dedicated time to strengthen your craft, private coaching allows actors to receive tailored feedback and individual mentorship to support their growth.
Private Coaching with John Orcsik
Students also have the opportunity to work one-on-one with TAFTA founder John Orcsik through private coaching sessions. These personalised classes are ideal for actors who want to prepare an audition, workshop a scene, or focus on strengthening specific aspects of their screen acting technique in a focused environment. It is a rare opportunity to receive direct guidance and mentorship from one of Australia’s most experienced industry professionals
$150 / Ph
Meet John
John Orcsik is a distinguished Australian actor, screenwriter, director and producer whose career spans nearly six decades. He began his screen career in 1967 on Bellbird, followed by roles on Crawford Productions series including Homicide, Division 4, and Matlock Police. He also appeared in the cult series Number 96 and its 1973 feature film adaptation.
John’s breakout role came in 1978 as Detective Mike Georgiou in Cop Shop, where he starred in over 550 episodes until the show’s finale in 1983. Reflecting on his time on the series, John has said, “It was bloody hard work, sometimes 17-hour days, but it was also such fun.”
Following Cop Shop, John continued acting across film and television, appearing in productions such as Petersen, The Man from Hong Kong, Pacific Drive, Neighbours, The Saddle Club, Stingers, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, and more recent projects including Superwog and New Gold Mountain.
In 1994, John founded The Australian Film & Television Academy (TAFTA). Under his leadership, TAFTA expanded nationally and developed a unique “Emotions” technique, a modern approach to screen acting that emphasises authenticity and fast, accessible emotional connection in performance.
Alongside his acting work, John has also written for television, scripting episodes of Prisoner and contributing to Division 4 and Silent Number. He has directed numerous theatre and screen productions and continues to develop his own writing projects.
A passionate industry educator, John has helped shape the careers of many successful actors.
TAFTA alumni include:
Chris Pang (Crazy Rich Asians, Charlie’s Angels, Palm Springs)
Eliza Taylor (The 100, Neighbours, Christmas Inheritance)
James Frechville (Animal Kingdom, The Drop, The Dry)
Jesse Spencer (House, Chicago Fire, Neighbours)
Teressa Liane (The Vampire Diaries, Into the Badlands, Neighbours)
Ella Newton (Harrow, Neighbours, Dangerous Animals)
Harry Popple (Itch, The Imposter, Crazy Fun Park)
Students frequently credit John’s mentorship as instrumental in their development, with many saying his guidance has shaped the foundation of their acting careers.
Private Coaching (Kids & Teens) with Lana Golja
Students under the age of 18 have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Lana Golja through private coaching sessions. These personalised lessons are ideal for preparing audition scenes, working on material for self-tapes, or developing specific screen acting skills in a focused environment. Lana also offers Standard U.S. accent coaching for young actors, helping students develop clarity, confidence and consistency when performing in an American accent.
$100 / Ph
Meet Lana
Lana Golja is an actor and long-time member of the TAFTA community. She began her journey at TAFTA over 15 years ago as a student, attending workshops and classes, filming countless self-tapes, and performing in a two-handed production of Macbeth directed by TAFTA founder John Orcsik at the 2020 Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Since booking her first lead television role in the Logie-nominated series Worst Year Of My Life, Again! during her final year of high school, Lana has appeared in productions including Winners & Losers, Upper Middle Bogan, House Husbands, Summer Love, Wentworth, and The Mongoose.
Alongside her acting career, Lana has spent several years working with children across Australia and internationally in the children’s entertainment space. She has performed and worked with well-known brands including Disney, Mattel and Peppa Pig, gaining extensive experience engaging with young audiences through live entertainment and events.
At TAFTA, Lana teaches several youth classes for ages 5 and up, including Mini Movie Makers, Juniors and Teens, and also runs TAFTA’s school holiday programs. She enjoys helping young performers build confidence, explore creativity and develop a love of storytelling in a supportive and encouraging environment.