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  • MONDAY NIGHT I 8 Weeks I 7:00pm - 9:00pm I Commencing 9th of October, 2017
  • TUESDAY NIGHT I 8 Weeks I 7:00pm - 9:00pm I Commencing 10th of October, 2017
  • WEDNESDAY NIGHT I 8 Weeks I 7:00pm - 9:00pm I Commencing 11th of October, 2017

With industry guests including 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 (Series 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); Casting Director Thea McLeod (Neighbours) and 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); 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), we take Ongoing Screen Acting Programs to another level. We are proud to say that there is not another acting studio in the country that comes close to Film & Television Studio International's illustrious group of trainers and industry guests.  At our studio we get straight to the point by going directly to the source of Australia's film & television, and that of course lies with the shows Creators, Heads of Network, Heads of Drama, Executive Producers and series Producers. These industry professionals are the decision makers and we are delighted to welcome Thea McLeod (Casting Director of Australia's longest running family drama Neigbhours), to our studio in Term 4, 2017.

Text to Screen-Test is facilitated by some of Australia's most loved actors, Bernard Curry, Simone Buchanan and Jacinta Stapleton, and 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.  Bernard, Simone and Jacinta work with actors both individually and as a company, assisting students to POP from moment one of an audition. Scenes are assigned to students each week along with an outline on the course content and 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 one-on-one screen-testing session with Thea McLeod.  This is an incredible opportunity for our actors to meet and greet Thea, and to showcase their scenes to this working professional who is at the very top end of her field.

SPECIAL GUEST: NEIGHBOURS CASTING DIRECTOR THEA MCLEOD.

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 that Got Away for Screentime.

ACTOR TRAINER: BERNARD CURRY

Currently starring as Jake Stewart in Showtime’s Flagship drama, Wentworth, Bernard Curry continues to have an incredible career both in Australia and the USA. After relocating to the States, Bernard went on to star in US Series Pretty Little Liars; NCIS; Once Upon a Time; Mistresses; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Ravenswood; Days of our Lives; and Blindspot. This follows his outstanding work in Australian film and television including Hoges; Home & Away; Satisfaction; Packed to the Rafters; Out of the Blue; Neighbours; MDA; CrashBurn; The Road from Coorain; Stingers; The Dish; Something in the Air; Thunderstone; State Coroner; Halifax f.p.; Snowy; and many more. 

ACTOR TRAINER: JACINTA STAPLETON

Jacinta Stapleton is an Australian actress born in Melbourne, Victoria.  She joined an actors' agency at the age of six and made her screen debut at the age of eight, appearing in Boulevard of Broken Dreams.  This was followed by many children's television shows, including The Flying Doctors and Genie From Down Under.  Upon finishing school, Jacinta was asked to appear for five weeks in the highly successful television soap, Neighbours. The role quickly expanded and Jacinta spent three years on the popular show playing the complex and controversial character, Amy.  After leaving the soap, she traveled overseas to study acting and voice and has since studied Meisner Technique, Practical Aesthetics and The Chubbuck Technique.  Whilst in the UK, Jacinta played Snow White in the West End.  Upon her return to Australia, she appeared in Patrick Hughes' first film, The Director, then landed the coveted lead female role in Romeo and Juliet with The Australian Shakespeare Company.

Jacinta has appeared and starred in many leading Australian Dramas including but not limited to: Molly; Never Tear Us Apart: the Untold Story of INXS; Packed to the Rafters; MDA; Blue Heelers; Last Man Standing; All Saints; Out of the Blue; Cops LAC; and American productions including Beastmaster; Lost World; and Stephen King's, Nightmares and Dreamscapes.  Her performance as main cast in prime-time drama Stingers garnered an AFI nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama.  Her role as the controversial Mercedes Corby in the telemovie Schapelle also earned her much industry accolades.  Jacinta appeared in Nadia Tass' feature film Matching Jack, and played the lead in independent genre film, Muscle Car.  She recently completed filming a Martin Coppin thriller, The Dunes, and US comedy Paint it Red, which are both currently in post production.  Jacinta is also an extremely successful voice artist and has many animated credits to her name including The Davincible’s and Santa's Apprentice.  We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Jacinta to our team of esteemed trainers and special guests.

ACTOR TRAINER: SIMONE BUCHANAN

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.  She has just wrapped filming on feature film Boar, starring alongside Ernie Dingo, Hugh Sheridan and John Jarratt.

BOOK YOUR PLACEMENT NOW

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