DATES TIME COST LOCATION
Oct 18th - Dec 13th. 10am - 2pm $495 (GST Included) 20 Haughton Rd, Oakleigh
John Orcsik’s Advanced Teen Program is an audition only accelerated screen acting program for Teens.
The Advanced Teen class is for students who have been recognised as hard working, committed and eager to learn. This program will develop advanced skills that actors will need to work professionally in the industry.
You will learn skills that will be directly applicable in auditions and call-backs, on professional sets, and when working with directors.
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.
John Orcsik, playing John Kelly in The Legend of Ben Hall
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.”
Ages: 14-17.
Schedule:
Week One:
Saturday, 18th of October 10:00am - 2:00pm
Week Two:
Saturday, 25th of October 10:00am - 2:00pm
Week Three:
Saturday, 1st of November 10:00am - 2:00pm
Week Four:
Saturday, 8th of November 10:00am - 2:00pm
No Class: Saturday, 15th of November.
Week Five:
Saturday, 22nd of November 10:00am - 2:00pm
Week Six:
Saturday, 29th of November 10:00am - 2:00pm
Week Seven:
Saturday, 6th of December 10:00am - 2:00pm
Week Eight:
Saturday, 13th of December 10:00am - 2:00pm