Welcome to the Acting Up Newsletter for May 2006

CONTENTS:

April/May Workshop Report

• So, You Want To Be In A Soap?
• The Basics of Acting

June/July Workshop Announcements

• Acting Weekly Classes (Sunday afternoon program)
• The Basics of Acting
• The Business of Auditioning with Dina Mann

April/May 2006 workshop report

So, You Want To Be In A TV Soap? with Marisa Warrington

The TV Soap workshop with Marisa Warrington (“Sindi Watts” from Neighbours) was a great success, with all students taking full advantage of having such an experienced television actor available to them to answer questions and give advice.

Marisa took questions from the students on a wide variety of subjects - from technical questions such as knowing how to use the camera to best advantage, to practical questions, such as how the set of Neighbours works and what the audition process for the show entails. Marisa also gave audition tips to the class, as well as working with them on their scenes in an audition situation.

Marisa really enjoyed her time with the students and was very impressed with the level of talent amongst the group. The students all gained a great insight into the acting for soap process and a great day was had all ‘round!

We thank Marisa for making the time to come down and work with the students and look forward to working with her again when her busy schedule allows!

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The Basics of Acting

We ran The Basics of Acting workshop again in May over two weeknights – Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 May.

This time all students were local and first-timers to studying acting in this kind of environment. We were delighted with the level of talent and commitment shown by the students, all of whom worked really hard over the two days and produced some excellent results.

We had an equal share of men and women in the class, which made a nice change as well!

While The Basics of Acting is a roller-coaster introduction to the acting craft, with a lot of information thrown at students in a very short time, all the students coped very well and did some great work which was then put on tape.

All in all, May was a great month of learning and we’re really looking forward to the next lot of classes!

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We are currently running a Thursday night weekly class, (more about that in next month’s newsletter!) but due to popular demand (and people having work clashes with the weekday classes), we are now adding a Sunday afternoon class to the weekly class line-up, beginning on Sunday, June 18, 2006.

These classes are designed to give you a solid basic foundation in acting, covering characterisation, scene work, monologue work, Stanislavski technique, voice work, learning lines and camera/screen technique.

All techniques taught in these classes are based on those taught at The Actors' Institute, London (UK), affiliated with The Actors Institute, New York (US). Actor's Institute US graduates include Ted Danson (Becker, Cheers), Marisa Tomei (Alfie, My Cousin Vinny) and Sigourney Weaver (Alien, etc). UK graduates include Rena Owen (Once Were Warriors, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones), Claire Smithies (Kill Bill 2) and Kate Magowan (24 Hour Party People).

Beginners are welcome, as are those who have some experience in amateur theatre, school plays or in television (with extra work and bit parts) and wish to broaden their skills base in a professional and fun environment.

"It exceeded all my expectations. Sally obviously spent much time making each lesson valuable and a learning experience for each student each week. (She) has high standards for herself and for her students - which makes you 'buy in' to the lesson each week 100%." - Kathleen Ronchi, Acting Up Weekly Classes, 2004

"I definitely feel more secure and understand the relevance of certain techniques. Sally works with empathy and is very truthful, positive and concise. Fantastic!" - Janie Forsyth, Acting Up Weekly Classes, 2004

Dates: Sunday, 18 June to Sunday, 23 July, 2006
Time: 2pm to 5pm
Venue: Mt Martha House, Crn The Esplanade & Dominion Roads, Mt Martha VIC 3934
Length of Workshop: 6 weeks
Max. No. of Students: 8
Min. No. of Students: 4
Cost: $360 Full/$290 Conc. ($50 deposit required at time of booking)
Age Group: 15 years old to the Over 50’s
Bookings: 0410 798 514 or actingup@salmac.com

Please note: A deposit of $50 is due to secure your weekly class booking, either by cheque or direct credit (paying into Incognita's bank account via Internet Banking or at a branch of the bank). Details for paying the deposit are available on enquiry.

Understanding that funds can be tight in this profession, we also have a fortnightly payment plan available.

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The Basics of Acting - Tues 6 & Wed 7 June, 2006

A class designed for beginners, or those who have not yet trained, but are interested in learning the basic techniques required for acting with naturalism - a technique used for all screen work, as well as a majority of stage productions.

Using the Stanislavski method, and incorporating elements of the Adler and Chekov techniques, students will work on scenes during the workshop which will then be put on tape.

Students will be asked to prepare a scene, selected by the tutors prior to the class (which will be sent to them when they book a place).

Date: Tuesday 6 & Wednesday 7 June, 2006
Times: 7pm to 10pm
Venue: Mt Martha House, Crn The Esplanade & Dominion Roads, Mt Martha VIC 3934 (Melway Map reference: 144, H 12)
Tutor: Sally McLean
Length of Workshop: 2 days
Max No. of Students: 8
Min. No. of Students: 4
Cost: $120 Full/$90 Conc.
($50 deposit required at time of booking)
Age group: 15 years and up
Bookings: 0410 798 514 or actingup@salmac.com

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The Business of Auditioning with Dina Mann - Sat, 1 July, 2006

Auditions. The one thing nearly every actor dreads most, and yet we must all go through them. This workshop is designed to dispel the myths and non-effective habits we all form to get through this sometimes anxious, yet ultimately necessary experience.

The morning will be spent preparing an audition scene, discussion of the professional audition process as a whole & CV and headshot preparation. In the afternoon, the students will undertake an audition with established and well-respected Melbourne Film & Television Casting Director, Dina Mann, concluding with feedback on their work.

Students will work with Dina on their audition technique for television, and have the chance to ask questions about the audition process and working on screen. Students will then put a scene on tape for their own reference.

Dina is one of Melbourne’s most sought after casting directors. She began her career as an actress, recognised for several television soap opera and film roles in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1985 she became the Casting Director at ABC Television Melbourne and during her seven years there she cast several projects including: Phoenix I & II, Embassy I, II & III, Police Crop, The Magistrate, Street Angels, The Four Minute Mile, A Matter of Convenience and The Fast Lane.

Since becoming a freelance casting Consultant, she has cast a variety of projects including the documentaries The Good Looker (AFI Best Doco) and Islands, TV series and tele-features Waiting at the Royal (AFI Best Actress), Dreams for Life and The Widower and the feature films Only The Brave (AFI best performance award), Road To Nhill, Crackers, The Missing, Head On, Mallboy (AFI best performance award) and Japanese Story (AFI Best Actress, Best Film 2003).

Dina is also in great demand as a drama/dialogue coach for film and television, working with various respected drama institutions such as TAFTA, The Rehearsal Room, Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and others.

Date: Saturday, 1 July, 2006
Times: 10am to 4pm
Venue: Mt Martha House, Crn The Esplanade & Dominion Roads, Mt Martha VIC 3934
Tutor: Sally McLean & Dina Mann
Length of Workshop: 1 day
Max No. of Students: 10
Cost: $120 Full/$90 Conc.
($50 deposit required at time of booking)
Age group: 15 years and up
Bookings: 0410 798 514 or actingup@salmac.com

And on that note, I’ll finish here. Until next time, keep dreaming, keep taking action on your dreams and I look forward to seeing you at one of our workshops during the coming months.

Cheers,

Sally McLean
Creative Director
Salmac Productions &
Incogntia Enterprises
http://www.salmac.com/
http://www.salmac.com/incognita
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Hon. Patron: Sir Nigel Hawthorne
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Acting Up Contact Info:
Mobile: 0410 798 514 | Email: actingup (at) salmac.com
Web: www.salmac.com/masterclasses