ADVANCED SCREEN ACTING
Ages 14+ | Two Year Course | Audition Entry Only
Advanced Year 1
COURSE CONTENT
This course introduces aspects of ‘Method’ techniques and foundational elements of the teachings of Stanislavski, Strasberg and Adler including inner dialogue, sense memory, imagination and physical stimuli. These tools develop the actors in their emotional truth and understanding with characters and scenes. Actors are guided to develop insight and awareness to their own approach to the craft. Actors develop their practice with these methods throughout the year through character improvisation work and scripted scenes, including devising an original monologue based on scene work.
END OF YEAR PRODUCTION
In terms 3 and 4 of Advanced Year 1 the actors put to practice the skills and tools they have acquired throughout the year Actors apply their skills to scenes chosen for them by the head of acting and head of casting. Actors produce a filmed scene that has both non-verbal and dialogue elements.
The showreel scenes are also directed by guest industry directors and allow the students to get a real feel for what an actors work look like. Some Industry Directors we have worked with are; David Vincent Smith, Dominic Pearce, Alexandra Nell, Mimi Helm, Cody-Cameron Brown and Emma Vickery.
The filmed scenes are showcased on the big screen at Filmbites’ Premiere Night the following March and will be added to their showreel.
Advanced Year 2
COURSE CONTENT
Actors practice and extend inner dialogue, sense memory and physicality skills. Actors are introduced to more techniques for their acting tool box including Action statements, Objectives (scene and character) and Intent as well as breath work, specificity and deeper script analysis. Character work is based on identifying the relationship between a character’s inner needs, outer wants and actions to achieve these. Actors combine these exploration tools with previous learning to explore characters and scenes more deeply. Actors are mentored to continue their responsibilities and approach to the craft and industry.
END OF YEAR PRODUCTION
In term 3 actors in Advanced Year 2 begin working with a writer as they develop characters and story for a web series (approximately 20 minutes long, across all episodes). The web series is written specifically for the class and shot in Term 4 with a full crew. Their end-of-year production challenges the actors to embody and hold a character throughout multiple episodes and scenes. Seeing a character move through a story and exploring how it changes them.
Some Industry Directors we have worked with are; David Vincent Smith, Dominic Pearce, Alexandra Nell, Mimi Helm, Cody-Cameron Brown and Emma Vickery.
The completed web series is then showcased on the big screen at Filmbites’ Premiere Night the following March and their scenes will be added to their showreel.
COURSE STRUCTURE
DURATION: 2.5hrs per week. Terms 1, 2 & 3 run for 8 weeks. Term 4 sees a suspension of regular weekly hours to make way for rehearsal and production time.
YEAR OUTLINE FOR BOTH YEARS 1 AND 2
Term 1
class 2.5 hours
8 weeks
Term 2
class 2.5 hours
8 weeks
Term 3
Begin rehearsals
class 2.5 hours
8 weeks
Term 4
Filming end of year production.
Scheduled to class availability
FEE: $650 per term
HOW TO ENROL: New students are asked to undertake a placement workshop with Filmbites’ Head Acting Coach. Please click the link below for details. Entry is available up until week 3 of term 1 of each year.
2024 CLASS DATES AND TIMES
ADV YEAR 1
MALAGA Mondays 4:30 – 7pm
KWINANA Saturdays 10am – 12:30pm
ADV YEAR 2
MALAGA Thursdays 4:30 – 7pm
Watch our 2020 Advanced Year 2 class in episode 1 of ‘Upfront’
→
OUR ADVANCED SCREEN ACTING INSTRUCTORS
SHANTA SURENDRAN
Head Acting Coach
Shanta has trained actors since 2005 and has worked with both youth and adults at a range of levels from beginner to elite. Shanta is the creator, writer and head trainer of the acting curriculum. She also trains adults as part of the core training team at Nicholson’s Academy of Screen Acting. Shanta was also one of the key training team for the Diploma of Screen Acting at FTI which trained 2015 Heath Ledger Scholarship Winner, Cody Fern. In addition to acting training Shanta has worked with Jane Norris Casting as an acting coach.
Shanta‘s students have achieved many levels of success in their acting from confidence to self discovery to honing skills to success in industry. Industry outcomes have included entry into high caliber acting schools in Perth, the eastern states and internationally. Her students have also had success in getting high level audition call-backs and short lists (both nationally and internationally), as well as winning roles on commercials, web series, TV series and feature films.
TRENT BAKER
Acting Instructor
Trent Baker has over 25 years’ experience in the Australian entertainment industry as an educator, theatre director and actor.
He is a graduate of WAAPA’s three-year acting stream, the VCA’s postgraduate directing program and an International Fellow of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London.
One of the 12 actors that created Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Trent has performed for Melbourne Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Red Stitch, Railway St Theatre, 45 Downstairs, La Mama theatre and various TV and Film projects.
As an educator he has taught for W.A.A.P.A, The V.C.A. MTC Education, Bell Shakespeare, St Martins Youth Theatre, Monash and La Trobe universities and was for 5 years the director of drama at The National Theatre Drama School Melbourne.
Trent has directed for MTC Education, W.A.A.P.A, The V.C.A, Spiegeltent Melbourne and The National theatre. Other independent credits include Brilliant Traces for Red Stitch and the inaugural productions for both The Chapel Loft Theatre (Burn This) and Human Sacrifice Theatre (True West).
SIENNA CATE
Acting Instructor
Sienna graduated from NIDA in 2021 and is currently shooting series lead in the Channel 7 mini series ‘Anyones Daughter’. Other recent credits include; Megan in ‘The Heights’ (ABC/BBC UK), Peter in ‘Peter Pan’ (St Hilda’s), Jersey to Motown as lead vocalist (APAN), Frankie in ‘Odd one’s out’ (Redlight films), Scuttle in ‘The Little Mermaid’, Teen Angel in ‘Grease’ and more.