PRICE
$495 + GST (Payment Plans Available)
DAY
Thursday Nights
DATE
23rd of October - 27th of November
TIME
6:30pm - 9:30pm
If you are looking for a technique that can help you become emotional on cue, take after take that doesn't require you to use real events from your past - to take all the pressure off the “Key acting moments”? Then this short course is what you’re looking for. This technique will empower you with confidence to face with emotional beats in a scene.
John Orcsik as Johnny Gilbert in Ben Hall
John played Johnny Gilbert for 8 episodes of the popular mini tv series Ben Hall.
Using John Orcsik’s unique method, you will learn a physiological process to express your emotions on screen, without the need to use emotional recall, sense memory, or any other potentially damaging techniques. There is no need to learn line, prepare a scene or imagine a traumatic event to prepare yourself for this class, it is just you and the technique.
Using a technique rather than emotional recall allows you to practice it, over and over again and become better and faster at accessing the required emotion every time.
John Orcsik as Det. Mike Georgiou in Cop Shop.
John played Det. Mike Georgiou for 556 episodes over 6 years.
In the fast paced world of Film & TV, this is a reliable tool that, once learnt, you can call on at any time.
These are tools that an actor can use throughout their career, no matter what mood you are in, you can create the right emotion on screen for your character with these physiological processes.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
Ability to express the Four Basic Emotions at will: Anger, Fear, Joy, Grief.
Practice working on each of these emotions with texts ranging from easy to difficult.
Ability to cry on cue (without accessing any past traumas)
Comprehensive emotional training
Deep understanding of how emotions physiologically present themselves in your body, your different energy centres, and how they can be accessed in performance
Training in presence and being in the moment
Breathwork
Immediacy in performance
Monologue Work
Practice makes perfect! On completing this intensive you will have learnt John’s emotions technique to the point where you can practice it on your own, so you are ready to hit that emotion when you’re under pressure on set or in an audition.
Meet John:
John Orcsik is a distinguished Australian actor, screenwriter, director, and producer whose career spans nearly six decades. He launched his screen career in 1967 on Bellbird, followed by roles on Crawford Productions series such as Homicide, Division 4, and Matlock Police. He appeared in the cult soap Number 96, both on television (1972) and in its 1973 feature film adaption.
His breakout role came in 1978 as Detective Mike Georgiou on Cop Shop, where he starred in over 550 episodes until the show's finale in 1983. Reflecting on his time on set, Orcsik shared how “It was bloody hard work, sometimes 17‑hour days, but it was also such fun”.
Following Cop Shop, he wrote scripts for Prisoner and continued acting in numerous films and series such as Petersen (1974), The Man from Hong Kong (1975), Pacific Drive, Neighbours, The Saddle Club, Stingers, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, and recent credits like Superwog and New Gold Mountain.
In 1994, Orcsik founded The Australian Film & Television Academy (TAFTA) on the Gold Coast. Under his leadership, TAFTA expanded to Sydney and Melbourne, offering nationwide workshops and classes. There, he developed a unique "Emotions" technique - a modern approach to screen acting that emphasises authenticity and quick, easy access to emotion in performance.
Although primarily known for his on-camera work, Orcsik has directed numerous theatre and television productions and written for TV. He scripted multiple episodes of Prisoner, contributed to Division 4 and Silent Number, and continues developing his own writing projects today.
A passionate industry educator, he has helped shape the careers of many now-established actors. TAFTA alumni include:
Chris Pang (Crazy Rich Asians, Charlie's Angels)
Eliza Taylor (The 100, Neighbours, Christmas Inheritance)
James Frecheville (Animal Kingdom, The Drop, The Dry)
Teressa Liane (The Vampire Diaries, Into the Badlands, Neighbours)
Ella Newton (Harrow, Neighbours)
Jesse Spencer (House, Chicago Fire, Neighbours)
Students frequently praise his mentorship: “Everything I know about acting has come from TAFTA … it’s the whole mentality and training system behind it,” and “John has been there the whole way.”
TRIGGER WARNING:
Some of the scripts used for this session contain content that may be distressing for you.
Please note that the scripts contain direct reference and use of the following words and notions:
SA, Assault, trauma, grief, and extreme emotions (anger, yelling etc)
Whilst we always encourage you to push your boundaries and treat all sessions as if you were cast in a project, this is a learning environment and we want to ensure you are as comfortable as possible!
Please let us know if you have any questions, and if you believe you'll find this content too difficult to work with.
