an actor’s job is to personally and confrontingly respond to the text and the moment
~ John Orcsik - TAFTA Artistic Director
In great acting, the character emerges from within you, based on the circumstances of the text and the reality of the moment.
At TAFTA, we teach truthful and honest acting for screen that will expose yourself to the danger and excitement of living truthfully in the moment and find confidence and freedom in front of the camera.
WHAT DO WE TEACH?
At TAFTA we know that the best acting happens in the moment.
Our workshops, courses and programs are designed to strip away the confusing theory that is thrust upon actors-in-training and focus on practical on camera training to give actors of all ages and levels the opportunity to deepen the craft of acting.
With a focus on screen acting for the Film & TV Industry, our faculty are working actors, directors, casting directors, agents and coaches from all over Australia.
We celebrate the uniqueness of the actor, and welcome actors of all ages, ethnicity, ability and acting experience.
WHY IS TAFTA RIGHT FOR ME?
TAFTA’s Full Time and Part Time curriculum, and Short Courses and Workshops are designed specifically to maximise your ability to communicate feeling, emotion, and story through the camera. As a result, TAFTA is suited for any actor looking to work in the Film & TV industry. After developing the fundamentals of acting, almost all of your training will be done in front of a camera, developing your confidence for on-set work and as a visual storyteller. You also have the opportunity to take your recorded footage home to study further in your own time.
Along the way you will learn often overlooked skills and techniques that will be invaluable to you over your career as an actor. You will learn how to produce emotions on cue, understand the ins and outs of all steps in the filmmaking process, as well as developing the fortitude needed to thrive in this industry.
At TAFTA, we pride ourselves on the TAFTA community that come in and out of our doors. We often have current and past students come in to produce their own work, shoot self tapes and seek career advice. As a TAFTA student you will be part of this community and you will be the first to hear of offers, opportunities and industry events.
“The help, support, guidance, care, and passion of the TAFTA team will give anyone the best opportunity they can get to pursue their acting dream. I recommend TAFTA to anyone looking for an acting start.”
— ARIA TAYLOR | Charlie Says, Counter Play
OUR TEAM
A team of Working Actors Behind the scenes to produce working actors on our screens
JOHN ORCSIK
FOUNDER & Artistic DIRECTOR
John Orcsik is a Writer, Director and Actor, known for his work on stage, the small screen and the silver screen over the last 60 years. John started TAFTA on the Gold Coast in 1994 and has since been sharing his insights into the Film and Television industry with students across Australia for the past twenty-five years, helping nurture local and international actors. During this period, John developed and perfected his unique and powerful ‘Emotions’ technique, which is not taught at any other acting school in the world.
He has performed in countless Australian film and television productions with major sustaining roles in numerous TV series and continues to work as an actor alongside his desire for mentoring new generations of performers.
John’s Film & Television credits include: Cop Shop, Neighbours, Home & Away, Casino Reef, Stingers, The Saddle Club, The Condemned, Pawno, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, and, more recently in 2021, Superwog and New Gold Mountain.
TIRION JONES
ERIN FORD
Throughout her teenage years, Erin was extremely passionate about musical theatre and decided to put her energy purely into the creative arts when she reached 17.
As important as the city is whilst being in the industry, Erin finds herself immersed in nature, whether it be horse riding, camping, being by the beach, or going on road trip getaways.
Being a people person, Erin is excited to see what life’s journey brings over the coming years with her acting and modelling.
NOTABLE ALUMNI
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Deniz Akdeniz (Tomorrow When the War Began, Once Upon a time, Agents of shield)
“I learnt countless amounts of skills and traits at TAFTA that I couldn’t have done without and I’ve used them now and in the past for Tomorrow When the War Began and other projects.”
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Ella Newton (Harrow, Seachange, The Girl At The Window)
"John Orcsik is an extraordinary teacher, mentor and friend. I have no doubt that it is thanks to John and the TAFTA ensemble that I have been able to book work in the Australian television industry. Specifically, in working in the advanced teens class with John, as well as the emotions courses, my skills have been developed greatly, especially in terms of expressing emotions on screen. John truly cares about his students, and helped me numerous times with auditions and even in securing an agent.”
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Lily Van Der Meer (Neighbours)
“The incredible amounts of knowledge that I have learnt have been insane and I owe so much to TAFTA. TAFTA, you have taught me everything about the craft, from on-set etiquette, learning to be comfortable in this industry, how to audition and self-tape and I don’t know where I would’ve started without you!”
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Saskia Hampele (Neighbours, THe HEights, A Few Less Men, This Little Love of Mine)
“I’m very grateful for the opportunities TAFTA has opened up for me. I would recommend it to anyone needing a launching pad for their acting career. I received invaluable mentoring, coaching and support that’s lead to an incredible agent, opportunities to audition worldwide and gained lead roles in film and TV.”
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Lauren Esposito (The Conjuring 2, Love Child, Swimming for Gold)
“Whenever I am back home in Melbourne I always go to TAFTA for my self-tape auditions. The atmosphere is amazing and all the teachers, especially John are incredible. Thanks to John, I have improved immensely with my acting and have developed different ways of approaching my scenes. I have learnt so much about my craft from going to TAFTA over the past couple of years and I always look forward to coming back.”
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Ethan Panizza (Playing for Keeps, The Doctor Blake Mysteries)
“I owe TAFTA a lot for where I am in my career and couldn’t ask for a better mentor than the man, John Orcsik. Doing the TAFTA Full-Time courses and the LA Experience not only got me representation in Australia but also a manager and agent in the States. John pulled me out of Perth and from then on has been there the whole way. Now I am starting to make little ripples in the States and will never forget who first believed in me. To the TAFTA Team, John Orcsik and Jess Orcsik for always being there.”
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Teressa Liane (The Vampire Diaries, Roman Empire, The Reef: Stalked)
“The TAFTA 20-week course is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, both personally and for my career as an actress. Early into the course, I developed a strong foundation of skills and techniques, which freed my mind and gave me the confidence to trust my own choices in a scene. The course takes you through the real expectations of a working actor and brings familiarity to the small things you just won’t be taught on set. I loved the challenges that came with being mentored by working professionals, the bar was set high and we all pushed ourselves and grew as individuals and actors. Now, auditions are fund, the thought of being on set is no longer daunting as I know I’ve run countless scenes with blocking, marks, multiple cameras a sick scene partner, tired and hungry boom-operators, sound (and human) interference and… well, whatever may come… I know i can do it! Thanks to John and the incredible team at TAFTA!”
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James Frecheville (Animal Kingdom, New Girl, Peaky Blinders),
“TAFTA was definitely a really crucial part of my training. Through doing a TAFTA course I really learnt how to shake the whole performance.”
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Chris Pang (Crazy Rich Asians, Palm Springs, Charlie's Angels)
“I can honestly say that everything I know about acting has come from TAFTA, not just the skill and rehearsal practice, it’s the whole mentality and training system behind it. It’s not just a school, it’s more like a family.”
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Osamah Sami (Ali's Wedding, Tennessine, Savage River)
Without TAFTA I’d never have come so far as an actor. The amount of work exceeds my dreams and continues to do so. Thank you TAFTA and John you know I will never stop thanking you.
OUR TEACHERS
Click the images below to read about our world class faculty - their experience, teaching philosophy, credits, examples of their work and the classes they run.
Melbourne
SASKIA HAMPELE
TEENS/BEGINNERS | SYDNEY
Saskia teaches TAFTA's Teens and Beginners classes in Sydney. Her acting credits include Neighbours, City Homicide, The Heights and A Few Less Men. She is based in America and Australia working as an actress, entrepreneur and acting coach, and has a thorough understanding of screen acting and techniques required to have a successful career in the film business. As one of the Australian Women's Weekly - Women of The Future winners in 2017, Saskia is an excellent role model to young actors.
ANNELIESE APPS
ACTING COACH | SYDNEY
At the end of 2016, Anneliese Apps graduated from WAAPA. Upon graduation, Anneliese was awarded the Inaugural Equity Neighbours internship, which saw her spending some very valuable time on the set of Neighbours. Since then, she has had experience in both TV and film, playing the character of Beth Ellis in Home and Away, and Brigid Payne in the 2019 Australian Film ‘Ride Like a Girl’.
Anneliese has also had plenty of training and experience in theatre. Among the many roles that she has played, she has enjoyed performing in a plethora of Shakespearean plays, playing the characters of 'Hero' in Much Ado About Nothing, 'Lady Macbeth' in Macbeth, and 'Volumnia' in Coriolanus- which was toured to Greece and performed in an amphitheatre on the island of Hydra. During WAAPA, Anneliese won the female Sally Burton Award for best Shakespearean Monologue, playing the role of 'Phoebe' from As You Like It.
Since graduating from WAAPA, Anneliese has also realised her passion for teaching. She loves sharing everything that she has learnt from her acting work and training, with students of all ages.
KATE ELLIS
ACTING COACH | MELBOURNE
Kate Ellis is an Acting Coach for film & television actors, a progressive Arts & English Education Innovator, a Writer; & a developer of community programs. Each role is driven by the belief that sensory rapture can be cultivated in the every-day & that deeper levels of intimacy with self, other & environment can be achieved through the art of listening.
Kate has worked with actors such as Lucy Fry, Connor Jessup, Marney Kennedy, Aisha Dee & Daisy Axon; has facilitated community programs at The Abbotsford Convent, MPavilion & for the Victorian Arts Education Festival; & her writing can be found in various books & online journals.
NATASHA MCNAMARA
VOICE/US ACCENT | SYDNEY
Natasha McNamara is a vocal expert with over 10 years experience as a voice coach. As a voice coach, Natasha has a versatile teaching style. She has been both a professional actor and voice teacher and thus has a unique understanding of the student experience and industry expectations.
Her teachings cater to discovering the individual student’s unique voice and empowering them to use that voice. Natasha‘s accent work on film and stage covers Standard American, New York, Southern, English Received Pronunciation, Russian, Irish and accent modification.
ANGUS MCLAREN
ACTING COACH | SYDNEY
Angus has been acting in major film and television productions since the age of 12, accumulating starring roles in TV series such as Something in the Air, Worst Best Friends, The Saddle Club and Fergus McPhail, along with guest roles on Blue Heelers, Comedy Inc and a recurring role on Neighbours. After a stint on H2O: Just Add Water and his well-known series regular role on Packed to the Rafters. Most recently, Angus played a supporting role in the incredible Hotel Mumbai and the lead in The Naked Wanderer along side comedy legend John Cleese.
After joining the Sydney Teens just this year, Angus has already helped one of our students secure a role with the feedback that this student's "acting was far above the other submissions". What a guy!
JOHN STEWART
SELF TAPES | GOLD COAST
Johnathon Stewart started his career at Channel 10 Melbourne as a Props Boy. He progressed through the ranks from there into Lighting, Audio, News Cameraman and an understudy to a Children’s show Host. During this time Johnathon was studying Drama, Voice Production and Radio Announcing. Johnathon went on to have many Lead Guest Roles in shows such as, Cop Shop, Prisoner, The Sullivans, Skyways, Bluey, The Truckies (ABC) and Neighbours. During this time Johnathon freelanced as a radio Announcer with various Radio Networks. Johnathon also hosted a Morning Talk Show “Living” on Channel 10 Brisbane. He has Directed/Produced over 120 Corporate/Training films. In the last 20 years he has been a Drama Coach/TV Presenter Coach, Associate Casting Director and Queensland Manager for TAFTA (The Australian Film & Television Academy).
JO BRIANT
ACTING COACH | SYDNEY
Jo Briant is a Casting Director at Fountainhead Casting and has been a successful actor for 37 years. She has worked extensively in theatre, film and television in New Zealand and Australia appearing in projects such as The End the Beginning, Life Goals, Bondi Slayer, Reckoning, Smokescreen, Kairos, Dave and Theo, The Fighting Season, MotherLode, Psychoanalysis, Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am, Home and Away, The Moodys, All Saints, Water Rats, Murder Call, Big Sky, Shortland Street and numerous commercials and voiceovers.
She is also an experienced Director, Acting Coach, Success Coach and Energy Healer. And is a regular teacher at AMAW and The Hub Studio and runs her own drop in classes. She loves combining acting, casting and coaching, as her wealth of experience and intimate understanding of an actors world both on screen and off enables her to guide other actors in a fun and nurturing way.
NATALIE SALEEBA
SCENE STUDY | SYDNEY
Natalie Saleeba is an Australian born actress best known for her roles as Jessica Singleton in the medical drama series All Saints, Rosie Cammeniti on Neighbours and as Doctor Abigail Albert on the Logie award winning series House Husbands on which she starred through seasons 1- 5. Most recently Natalie reprised her role as Melanie in the ABC comedy Utopia.
Natalie’s debut role was in feature film Under The Lighthouse Dancing alongside Naomi Watts, Jack Thompson and Jacqueline McKenzie. Other early credits include Corridors of Power opposite Jeremy Sims and Head Start.
Throughout her career Natalie has made regular guest appearances on many Australian TV shows including Tricky Business, Winners and Losers, Stingers, The Secret Life Of Us, Always Greener, Head Start, Corridors Of Power and Sweat as well as playing the lead role, Debs in the British Foxtel co-production Lovebytes. Natalie also played Melanie in the ABC1 series Utopia and most recently could be seen alongside Rachel Griffiths in Dead Lucky for SBS, directed by David Caesar, as well as in the short film The Craft, alongside Helen Thompson and Zoe Terakes.
Natalie was nominated for a TV Week Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent for her work on All Saints.
In 2015 Natalie completed a role in the feature film Truth, opposite Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford.
IAN WATSON
DIRECTOR | SYDNEY
Ian Watson has been directing for over 30 years. As a theatre director his credits include productions for the Melbourne and Adelaide State Theatre Companies, the Griffin Theatre Company, the Hunter Valley Theatre Company, the Victorian College of the Arts and the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
In television Ian has directed over 200 hours of drama, with credits that include, Heartbreak High, The Secret Life of Us, Seachange, Wildside, the cult US Si-fi series Farscape, White Collar Blue, Blackjack, All Saints, Tripping Over, East of Everything, the multi award winning and Emmy nominated, Love My Way, Carla Cametti P.D a six part miniseries for SBS, Satisfaction, Packed To The Rafters, Wicked Love:The Maria Korp Story, Rescue Special Ops, Killing Time, the Emmy nominated Dance Academy, Underbelly Badness and most recently, Janet King and Anzac Girls for the ABC, House Husbands for Channel 9.