INTENSIVE SCREEN ACTING
Ages 16+ | Two Year Course | Audition Entry OnlyYEAR 1
COURSE CONTENT
The Intensive Year 1 course continues practice and development of ‘Method’ techniques. The course introduces and develops Specificity, Obstacles and Complication, while Justification and Emotional Truth are further developed. Actors are introduced to a new method technique ‘Off-the-page’ (Guskin) with the key aim of encouraging immediacy, an in-the-moment response to text and freedom from self-censorship.
END OF YEAR PRODUCTION
Students apply this technique along with breath and vocal techniques to Shakespeare monologues, then use their skills to learn and deliver a classic Shakespeare monologue as well as devise a modern interpretation of the monologue. Both are filmed professionally. Actors apply their skills to scene work, scenes chosen with their input and agency input to best showcase them and the characters they want to explore.
Filmed monologues and scene work are showcased on the big screen at Filmbites’ Premiere Night the following March and will be added to the actor’s showreel.
YEAR 2
COURSE CONTENT
The second year Intensive course involves depth of practice and work with more specificity in inner dialogue, movement and voice as well as non-verbal exploration. Actors are introduced to basics of Meisner including truthful responses to imagined circumstances, the power of listening and reacting, and the importance of freedom in acting through focusing on “the other” in a scene. Actors apply their tools to broaden character exploration and choices, as well as deepen their understanding and experience with the craft of acting.
END OF YEAR PRODUCTION
Students work with an emerging industry writer to develop characters and build character journeys to be incorporated in a filmed short feature production. The production will involve emerging industry director and crew as well as industry acting coach for rehearsals. The film is shown on the big screen at Filmbites’ Premiere Night the following March and will be added to the actor’s 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: $700 per term
2024 CLASS DATES AND TIMES
INTENSIVE YEAR 1
MALAGA Wednesdays 4 – 6:30pm
FREO Tuesdays 4:15pm – 6:45pm
INTENSIVE YEAR 2
MALAGA Saturdays 9:45am – 12:15pm
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.
OUR INTENSIVE 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).