• SUNDAY NIGHT I 8 Weeks I 7:00pm - 9:00pm I Commencing 13th of October, 2019
• TUESDAY NIGHT I 8 Weeks I 7:00pm - 9:00pm I Commencing 15th of October, 2019
• THURSDAY NIGHT I 8 Weeks I 7:00pm - 9:00pm I Commencing 17th of October, 2019

It's hard to believe that we are fast approaching the final term for 2019.  What an incredible year it has been for many of our students who have booked series regular roles, guest roles and major national and international television commercial campaigns.  We have also welcomed more amazing trainers to the studio, as well as multi-award winning special guests: all leaders in their respective fields.  To complete a fantastic year of training, Film & Television Studio International is super excited to welcome to the studio, one of Australia's leading Film & Television Casting Directors, JANE NORRIS from JANE NORRIS CASTING.  Jane has cast more than 20 feature films, tele-features and TV series, collaborating with all television networks as well as with leading producers, directors and production companies in Australia and overseas.  She is currently casting the hugely anticipated NETFLIX Australian/USA joint production CLICKBAIT, which will be filmed here in Melbourne at Dockland studios.  Veteran Australian filmmaker Tony Ayres is creating, running and producing the show alongside Christian White, while HARRY POTTER and ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD producer David Heyman is taking up production efforts.  After working as Senior Casting Director at MULLINARS CASTING for 20 years, it was only a matter of time before Jane ventured out on her own to form the hugely successful JANE NORRIS CASTING company.  We are so excited to welcome her as our very special guest in the final Text to Screen-Test Program for 2019.

Text to Screen-Test has been facilitated by some of Australia's most celebrated actors and directors over the years.  Term 4, 2019 is no exception.  We welcome to the studio for the first time ever, Summer Bay resident, ORPHEUS PLEDGER, who currently stars as Mason Morgan on the Seven Networks flagship drama HOME & AWAY.  This is a one-time-only opportunity to work with Orpheus, while he is on hiatus from filming.  Due to popular demand, we are excited to welcome back Australian TV icon Scott Major.  After working as an actor for over three decades, Scott is now one of the series directors on NEIGHBOURS and has just recently directed the first and second season of hot new Network Ten Drama PLAYING FOR KEEPS.  NEIGHBOURS Director & long-time trainer and Patron of Film & Television Studio International Simone Buchanan is also back for another fantastic term ahead.  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.  Scott, Simone and Orpheus will 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 CASTING DIRECTOR Jane Norris.  This is an incredible opportunity for our actors to meet and greet Jane and to recieve direction and personal feedback on their work.  She is very much looking forward to seeing the wonderful talent we have at Film & Television Studio International.

After 20 years with MULLINARS CASTING CONSULTANTS, Jane launched her own firm, JANE NORRIS CASTING, based in Port Melbourne.  The highly respected casting guru has just finished working on a bunch of projects including season 4 of Matchbox Pictures’ NOWHERE BOYS; producer Julie Ryan’s heartwarming award-winning family film H IS FOR HAPPINESS (starring Miriam Margolyes, Richard Roxburgh, Emma Booth, Daisy Axon and Wesley Patten); and her husband Robert Connolly’s feature film adaptation of Jane Harpers bestselling, award-winning novel THE DRY, starring Eric Bana, Genevieve O'Reilly, Kier O'Donnell, John Polson and Miranda Tapsell.  The Adam Cullen biopic, ACUTE MISFORTUNE, beautifully cast by Jane, and starring Daniel Henshall, just opened to 5-star reveiws at it's world premier at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Jane’s eye for on-screen potential has seen her create award-winning casts that merge new and exciting Australian talent with International actors.  She is currently casting the hugely anticipated NETFLIX thriller CLICKBAIT, a joint Australian/USA production created by Tony Ayres, to be filmed in Melbourne.

When casting a TV project, Jane works closely with the producers, director and the network about their vision for the show. She facilitates their dream cast but is renowned throughout the film and television industry for her ability to discover new talent, and for challenging the creators mindsets about actors, introducing them to new faces.

Jane has cast numerous award-winning television series, championing actors in the early stages of their careers.  As well as identifying promising emerging actors, Jane is a strong advocate of diversity in casting. Her career highlights include casting US TV series HUNTERS for Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment, travelling to the Tiwi Islands to cast Indigenous ABC TV series THE WARRIORS, and her time in East Timor casting the award-winning feature film BALIBO.  

We are delighted to have Jane in studio, to take our actors through her audition process when casting for film and television:

"Acting and auditioning involves common sense, but thats easy for me to say standing on the other side of the camera! I think if you’ve done the prep before you’ve walked into the audition room, then you’ve just got to trust your instincts in the moment. Listening is key, listening to the director/casting director and also to the person saying the lines opposite you. No actor likes auditioning, it’s the hardest part about the job but if you can find a way to make it real in those 10 minutes, that’s a good place to start" - Jane Norris

SCOTT MAJOR'S acting début was playing Murray on HOME & AWAY in the 1990s. He joined the NEIGHBOURS cast for a brief period in 1993 as the original Darren Stark and then was a part of the HEARTBREAK HIGH cast as Peter Rivers from 1994–1995. In 1998 Scott appeared in ALL SAINTS - Season 2. In 1999 he was cast in the Aussie film ENVY (titled as THE NEW GIRLFRIEND in the United States). Two years later he featured in the iconic film adaptation of HE DIED WITH A FELAFEL IN HIS HAND.  Scott also played the part of Tom Morgan in the Australian drama, ALWAYS GREENER, which was shown on the Seven Network between 2001 and 2003. He also wrote, produced, directed and starred in his own play called BOTH SIDES OF THE BAR at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  Scott then went on to guest star in the BBC soap DOCTORS and the second series of LOVE SOUP, a BBC comedy starring Tamsin Greig.  He now resides in Melbourne and began appearing in NEIGHBOURS from July 2008 as Lucas Fitzgerald. In 2013 Scott left the show to persue his passion for Directing. He is now part of the directing team on NEIGHBOURS, and won the 2019 Australian Director’s Guild Award for Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Drama Serial for NEIGHBOURS (Episode 7776A).  Most recently, Scott directed both the first and second season of hot new drama PLAYING FOR KEEPS, for the Ten Network.  We are thrilled to have him back in the studio.

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.  There is no end to her talents as an actor, director and trainer, and we are incredibly proud to have her as our Patron.

ORPHEUS PLEDGER has been working in the Australian film & television industry for nearly two decades.  In 2002, eight-year-old Orpheus starred in writer-director Emma Freeman's short film LAMB. The following year, he began appearing as Lewis Harfield in the drama series CRASHBURN. Orpheus starred as Tycho Everson in the science fiction children's series SILVERSUN in 2004, and has also made appearances in THE SECRET LIFE OF US; WELCHER & WELCHER; SCOOTER: SECRET AGENT; Nick Giannopoulos' feature film THE WANNABES; MARSHALL LAW and MCLEOD'S DAUGHTERS.

In 2011 Orpheus joined the cast of NEIGHBOURS in a recurring role playing Noah Parkin. He then went on to co-star in Nine Networks television movie SCHAPELLE; a real life story about the Australian convicted drug smuggler. In 2016 Orpheus became a series regular on one of Australia’s highest rating and longest running serial dramas HOME & AWAY playing Mason Morgan, the youngest member of the Morgan family, and has fast become a firm favourite with fans all over the world.  Orpheus is tipped to be our hottest Aussie export in 2020 with several exciting productions coming up.

To enrol in any of our programs, 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

NB: Previous industry guests for Text to Screen-Test 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 andThe 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 Playgroundand 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).