• TUESDAY NIGHT I 8 Weeks I 7:00pm - 9:00pm I Commencing 30th of July, 2019
• THURSDAY NIGHT I 8 Weeks I 7:00pm - 9:00pm I Commencing 1st of August, 2019

Film & Television Studio International is beyond thrilled to welcome back to our studio, NEIGHBOURS Casting Director Thea McLeod from McLeod Casting.  NEIGHBOURS has been nominated for 5 Logie Awards this year, and is celebrating it's 34th year on-air.  It is an Australian icon that has employed so many incredible actors over the years, including many of our very own students.  In series regular roles: Ashleigh Brewer; Luke Mitchell; Zima Anderson; Chris Milligan: Taylor Glockner and Andrew Morley; and too many actors in starring guest roles to mention!  We currently have four Film & Television Studio International actors on the NEIGHBOURS set.  Our very own Artistic Director Craig McMahon got his start as an actor on the show, playing Jack Foster, over 25 years ago!  So, it is fair to say that we have had a very long-standing, wonderful relationship with the show.  We are also very fortunate to have NEIGHBOURS Directors Scott Major, Simone Buchanan and Kate Kendall part of our training team at the studio, as well as Executive Producer Jason Herbison, who continues to be an incredible advocate for emerging performing artists.  We are so thankful to all of the above industry professionals who continue to support our actors at Film & Television Studio International.

Our Text to Screen-Test program has been facilitated by some of Australia's most celebrated actors and directors over the years.  Term 3, 2019 is no exception.  We are so excited to welcome a new addition to our team this term: the gorgeous Jane Allsop.  This long-time Australian television actress has starred in so many different genres over the years; from romantic comedies to police dramas and murder mysteries, there is not much she hasn't done!  We hope you will join us in warmly welcoming Jane to our studio.  You are going to love her!  Due to popular demand, Neighbours Director & Patron of Film & Television Studio International Simone Buchanan is back for another fantastic term ahead. An incredible line-up of trainers and special guests, to say the least. Text to Screen-Test has been meticulously shaped to guide and encourage students to work on their specific areas requiring development, whilst bringing forth their strengths when screen-testing for prime-time drama.  Simone and Jane work with actors both individually and as a company, assisting students to POP from moment one of an audition. Scenes are assigned to students throughout the term block, along with prep work for each session. For actors who participated in previous terms, they have another opportunity to work in this ongoing manner with our outstanding trainers & special guests. Continuing across the terms ensures stability in training & rehearsal, and consistency in terms of the guidance & feedback offered, with scenes selected to target specific areas of weakness and strength. The studio also welcomes actors to the program who have not participated in previous terms as they can begin this process, leading to a stronger understanding of the requirements of screen testing.

On the last week of term, students will be able to put their hard work into practice during their screen-testing session with NEIGHBOURS Casting Director Thea McLeod. This is an incredible opportunity for our actors to meet and greet Thea, and to showcase their scenes to working professionals at the very top end of their fields.  

NB: Previous industry guests include but are not limited to: Jo Porter (Fremantlemedia Australia Head of Drama), Imogen Banks (creator, writer and producer of Multi-Award Winning Television Series Offspring; Puberty Blues; Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo, and Tangle, and Producer of mini-series Gallipoli; Party Tricks; Dangerous and The Beautiful Lie), Jason Herbison (Executive Producer, Neighbours), Amanda Crittenden (Series Producer, Wentworth - Series 1, 2 and 3), Foxtel's Head of Drama, Penny Win (The Kettering Incident, Devil’s Playground and Deadline Gallipoli), and Show Creator/Producer/Director and writer Andrew Prowse (INXS-Never Tear Us Apart; Underbelly Squizzy; Fat Tony; Rush; Farscape; Wildside; The Doctor Blake Mysteries; Heartbreak High; All Saints; McLeod’s Daughters; Ultraman and Monarch Cove); Television Producer Ian Collie (ABC TV Rake, starring Richard Roxburg and US Version of Rake, starring Greg Kinnear; Jack Irish, starring Guy Pearce, Marta Dusseldorp, Aaron Pedersen, Roy Billing, Shane Jacobson, Don Hany and Diana Glenn; The Principal, starring Alex Dimitriades, Aden Young and Mirrah Foulkes; 2013 feature Saving Mr Banks, starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson); and Australian film director and producer Tony Rogers, best known for directing the Tropfest and AFI award winning comedy Wilfred (starring Damian Walshe-Howling and Angus Sampson); producers Kristen Souvlis (Lightening Point, H20: Just Add Water) and Todd Fellman (Mental, Bait 3D, A few Best Men); Producer Tracey Robertson (Secrets & Lies, The Stange Calls, SLIDE) and Director Jovita O'Shaughnessy (Neighbours, Wonderland); Television Producer Natalie Lynch (Neighbours); Tony Ayres (Multi award-winning Show Creator/ Show Runner/ Executive Producer/ Writer/ Director and a founding member of Matchbox Pictures), Executive Producer Leigh McGrath (Hoodlum Entertainment); Senior Casting Director of Mullinars Casting, Nathan Lloyd; Jo Martino (Award-winning Prime Time Show Creator and Television Producer); Casting Director Amanda Mitchell (Mitchell Casting, Sydney); and Prime Time Show Creator / Television Producer Judi McCrossin (The Wrong Girl; The Secret Life of Us; The Time of our Lives; The Surgeon; Beaconsfield; Tangle; and Ship to Shore).

Thea McLeod is best known for her work as the Casting Director of Australia’s longest running drama, NEIGHBOURS, for Fremantlemedia since 2011 but has also cast many international film & television productions including SCHAPELLE (starring Jacinta Stapleton, Denise Roberts & Colin Friels), BETTER MAN (starring David Wenham & Claudia Karvan), WHAT TIME IS MY HEART (starring Luke Ford & Brooke Satchwell), CIRCLE WORK (starring Xavier Samuel & Lincoln Lewis), PAWNO (starring Kerry Armstrong), BLINDER (starring Oliver Ackland & Jack Thompson) and SUMMER CODA (starring Jacqui Weaver, Alex Dimitriadis and Rachael Taylor). Thea was also the in-house casting director for Seven Networks CITY HOMICIDE, and cast UNDERBELLY FILES: THE MAN WHO GOT AWAY for Screentime.

JANE ALLSOP was born in Oxford UK, but from only a few months old lived in Boston U.S.A. Her family returned to their home in Melbourne when she was still a child, and her passion for acting developed during her schooling years. Jane began acting classes at the age of 9, and appeared in her first commercial at 13. She went on to gain significant acting roles in noteable dramas including STATE CORONER, HALIFAX F.P, and KANGAROO PALACE, and continued studying, ultimately graduating with a bachelor of Visual and Performing Arts from the Victorian College of the Arts. Her big break came in 1999 when she landed the role of Constable Jo Parrish on the top rating crime drama BLUE HEELERS. She won a logie for her work on the show and left the series 5 years later. She went on to prove her versatility with roles on MDA and LAST MAN STANDING, and gave a memorable portrayal of Noeline Brown in THE KING telemovie. Over the last couple of years, she has featured in many of the most outstanding dramas being produced in Australia. She appeared in the Nadia Tass feature MATCHING JACK, and had ongoing roles in both series 2 & 3 of TANGLE and series 3 & 4 of RUSH. She played a lead role in UNDERBELLY FILES: TELL THEM LUCIFER WAS HERE, and gave a highly praised performance in the multi-award winning ABC series THE SLAP. She starred in a lighter role as Rachel on HOUSE HUSBANDS and played a significant part in another highly acclaimed ABC series DEVIL’S DUST, about the James Hardy asbestos tragedy. She has had recent roles in DOCTOR BLAKE and MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES, both for the ABC. She was also recently seen in her series regular role for the fourth series of RAKE. She has been fortunate enough to work with many of Australia’s leading directors and producers, and has shared the screen with many of Australia’s now internationally acclaimed actors; Hugh Jackman, Sam Worthington, Matt Passmore, Sullivan Stapleton, Vince Collosimo, Jacinda Barrett, Essie Davis, Melissa George and Richard Roxborough to name a few. We are thrilled to welcome Jane to our unparalleled team of trainers at Film & Television Studio International.

After playing Debbie Kelly for many years in Australia's most successful and longest running sitcom HEY DAD, Simone went on to star alongside Deborah Lee Furness in internationally acclaimed feature film SHAME.  Simone has also starred in many television dramas including NEIGHBOURS; McLEOD'S DAUGHTERS; BLUE HEELERS; WATER RATS; ALL SAINTS; PACIFIC DRIVE; A COUNTRY PRACTICE; SONS AND DAUGHTERS, and many more.  In addition to SHAME, her film credits include: FORCED ENTRY; PUSH; THE MAN FROM THE HIGH COUNTRY; DOCTORS AND NURSES, and MY BRILLIANT CAREER.  Most recently, Simone starred alongside Rachel Griffiths in feature film PATRICK, and UPPER MIDDLE BOGAN for the ABC.  Her film BOAR, in which she stars alongside Ernie Dingo, Hugh Sheridan and John Jarratt, was recently released in cinemas, nationally.  In 2018 Simone completed her Directors attachment on Australia's longest running serial drama, NEIGHBOURS, and is now one of the regular Directors on the show for 2019.  There is no end to her talents as an actor, director and trainer, and we are incredibly proud to have her as our Patron.

To enrol, simply book via our website.  It will automatically be sent to enquiries@filmtv.com.au. We will then process your application. If you send your application form and all placements have been filled we will be in touch to notify you.  If you have any further queries, please don't hesitate to contact us directly on 1800 FILMTV (1800 345 688).

*All applications are processed on a first in first served basis.  Once your placement has been confirmed, you will recieve a full week by week breakdown on what to expect from your program, together with further course materials which are sent to you via email.

Melbourne Studio I 390 Clarendon Street I South Melbourne I VIC 3205 I www.filmtv.com.au