• MONDAY I 8 Weeks I 6:30pm - 8:30pm I Commencing 2nd of August, 2021
• TUESDAY I 8 Weeks I 7:00pm - 9:00pm I Commencing 3rd of August, 2021
• WEDNESDAY I 8 Weeks I 6:30pm - 8:30pm I Commencing 4th of August, 2021
• THURSDAY I 8 Weeks I 7:00pm - 9:00pm I Commencing 5th of August, 2021
• SUNDAY I 4 Weeks I 6:30pm - 10:00pm I Commencing 22nd of August, 2021

Film & Television Studio International is super excited to welcome to the studio for the first time ever, Showrunner, Creator and Senior Television Executive, DAN BENNETT.  From HOME & AWAY to NEIGHBOURS to WINNERS & LOSERS and many, many more, Dan has worked on over 1500 hours of television drama, on some of Australia's most successful and internationally renowned series. He has worked with some of the best in the business including Bevan Lee, John Edwards, John Holmes, Sue Masters, Julie McGauran, MaryAnne Carroll and Coral Drouyn to name just a few.  As his development on a brand new series for Dan Bennett Productions continues, his passion to help artists pursue their dream job in film and television also continues.  We are so excited to welcome Dan to the studio as our special guest for the Text to Screen-Test Program, Term 3, 2021.

Text to Screen-Test has been facilitated by some of Australia's most celebrated actors and directors over the years.  Term 3, 2021 is no exception.  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 most recently directed the first and second season of Network Ten Drama PLAYING FOR KEEPS.  His most recent project was directing Jasons Herbison's latest brainchild, drama thriller LIE WITH ME. Created, written and Executive Produced by Jason, the four-part series was produced by Fremantlemedia and just aired in the UK on Channel 5 TV.  It will be coming to Network Ten later this year. Returning after a long stint in Los Angeles and the birth of his beautiful baby girl, we are thrilled to have actor Damien Bodie back in studio.  Damien needs no introduction.  He has been on our television screens in lounge rooms all across the country for over two decades. We loved him as bad boy Dylan Timmins on NEIGHBOURS and as the loveable Jonathan Kurtiss on WINNERS AND LOSERS, and all the wonderful characters he has played in between.  Due to popular demand, the gorgeous Kym Valentine is also back for Term 3.  There are very few Australian actors of Kyms generation that can boast a whopping 20 years dedicated to one Aussie drama. Of course we are talking about Libby Kennedy, a role that Kym made famous whilst starring on NEIGHBOURS. These days, in between auditioning for new roles, Kyms main focus is mentoring the next generation of performers breaking into one of the most demanding and competitive industries in the world. Kym is one of our most recognisable Australian actors; a true Aussie icon of the small screen.  Artistic Director of Film & Television Studio International and CEO of McMahon Management, Craig McMahon, will be conducting the Wednesday evening session of Text to Screen-Test in Term 3, 2021.  

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, Damien, Kym and Craig 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 Writer, Producer, Development Executive and Network Executive, DAN BENNETT.  This is a fantastic opportunity for our actors to meet and greet Dan and to recieve direction and personal feedback on their work.  He is very much looking forward to seeing the wonderful talent we have at Film & Television Studio International.

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. 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).  Scott also directed both the first and second season of hot new drama PLAYING FOR KEEPS, for the Ten Network.  Most recently, UK broadcaster Channel 5 and Network Ten co-commissioned Executive Producer, Show Creator and ongoing special guest at Film & Television Studio International, Jasons Herbison's latest brainchild, drama thriller Breathless. Created, written and Executive Produced by Jason, the four-part series was produced by Fremantlemedia and directed by Scott Major.

Craig McMahon is the CEO & founder of McMahon Management and Film & Television Studio International.  Craig works more behind the scenes these days, busy managing his clients both in Australia and Internationally, but continues to conduct his weekly class in studio, as he is passionate about developing new talent, helping emerging performing artists pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

Beginning his journey into the film and television industry at a young age and with over two decades of evolution, Damien’s television credits include series such as Winners and Losers, Neighbours, Elephant Princess, City Homicide, Saddle Club, Guinevere Jones, Blue Heelers, Short Cuts, Crash Zone, The Man From Snowy River, and feature films Blacklight, Born Guilty and Hating Alison Ashley. Damien’s on set experiences developed a thirst for learning, having studied locally and abroad from the knowledge and skills of Larry Moss, Ivana Chubbuck and Upright Citizens Brigade.  Over a lifetime, an actor's journey rises, accelerates and pivots like a rollercoaster, and it's Damien’s mission to help performers discover the tools they need to enjoy the ride whilst they are on it.

KYM VALENTINE has been working as an actor on Australian Television since she was 4 years old. With over 1000 episodes of NEIGHBOURS under her belt (across 20 years as Ramsay Street’s beloved Libby Kennedy), when it comes to fast turn around TV, Kym is an undeniable wealth of knowledge and industry know-how that any Australian emerging actor would be privileged to learn from.

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 163 Victoria Avenue I Albert Park I VIC 3206 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).