ONLINE SHORT COURSES
LIVING ROOM LEARNING
Keep flexing your acting muscle and pushing yourself forward artistically with our limited edition online short courses.
At TAFTA we believe that there should be no barriers to acting training. With Online platforms now available, we have a selection of short courses and workshops that we believe transfer well to an online medium! Despite learning in your own home, our teachers treat every online course and workshop just as if you were in the room with them.
Online classes run year-round, however, when lockdowns are in place over Australia, we do our best to update our roster with online offerings as soon as we can.
We are constantly in communication with our teachers on the efficacy of their curriculum in the online platform. If a particular course or workshop does not translate well online, we won’t put it online. Simple as that.
DON’T JUST HEAR IT FROM US, THIS IS WHAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE HAD TO SAY!
“The class was PHENOMENAL. I would be thrilled to work with Robert [THE ACTOR’S VOICE] again, hopefully in person. But don't get me wrong, online was a really wonderful experience and introduction to voice work for me. His teaching gave me not only a better understanding of how to be more open and find more resonance in my voice, but also many tools for maintaining vocal health and even finding truth in my performance.”
"Thank you so much for today's class. I didn't expect a zoom class [SCENE STUDY WITH KATE ELLIS] could be so fun. I feel like we all learned so much and you were able to create such a positive, playful and safe space for everyone whilst navigating this extremely challenging way of teaching and learning"
Private Zoom Classes with Tafta FOunder, John Orcsik
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.
FREE ONLINE Q & A WITH AWARD WINNING WRITER, SCRIPT CONSULTANT, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER & MENTOR TIM MARSHALL
Tim Marshall, Writer/Director/Producer, Script Consultant & Mentor - Free Online Q & A on Sunday the 13th of Nov 6pm to 7pm. Ask all their burning questions about screenwriting, putting together a short film or feature film, how to develop and pitch a TV series, whatever questions you have you'll be able to ask Tim!
Tim Marshall is an award-winning writer/director and producer committed to sharing his knowledge and supporting the next generation of creatives making their way into the industry.
In 2013, his short film Gorilla won the Iris Prize in the UK, the world's largest LGBTIQA+ short film prize. His next short Followers, screened at Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, and as part of the Accelerator program at MIFF.
In 2021, Tim shot his first feature film as writer/director/producer, queer horror Closing Night. The film stars award-winning queer actor Daniel Monks, and is produced by award-winning QLD producer Bec Dakin, and Tim Marshall, with executive producers Dan Lake and Kurt Royan from Orange Entertainment Co. The film will be released in early 2023
Producing Your Own Work with Oscar-Shortlisted Producer Lucy Hayes
Producing Your Own Work will take you from concept to execution, teaching you how to produce your own work. Oscar Shortlisted Producer Lucy Hayes will teach you how to think like a producer and give you the skills that are required to successfully produce short and feature length films, and TV series/Web Series.
Lucy J. Hayes is an award winning producer of films, television and commercials. Her films have played at festivals across the globe including the Berlinale, Sydney Film Festival, TriBeca and Austin Film Festival. Lucy is the co-founder of Wabi Sabi Studios (LOST & FOUND) with Bradley Slabe & Andrew Goldsmith and Stanley & Morph with John Tummino.
Online Short Film Writing Course with Tim Marshall
Tim Marshall has recently begun working on a project in Western Australia. His short film writing course is postponed until a later date. Email us to join the waitlist for his course!In Twenty-seven contact hours over nine sessions, you will be guided by Award-Winning Writer/Director Tim Marshall on the tools, technique and process required to write a short film screenplay. Tim will then mentor you as you write your first, second, and polished draft of your short film, as well as how to pitch your shoot to producers and funding bodies, as well as some tips on producing the short yourself!
A feature film script can seem daunting, but as an actor, a great short film can be your platform to the character you always wished you wanted to play, a story that hold special significance to you, and recognition at a film festival!
U.S. Accent with Carmen Lysiak
For those hoping to work in the US market - not to mention, all the US productions being filmed in Australia - mastering the American accent is vital. This course involves specialist coaching with our US accent coach, Carmen, and will go from the basic structural elements of language in the mouth to encompassing cultural characteristics that will authenticate the accent.
This course is for beginner to intermediate level actors and will cover vocal focus and sound placement, emphasis and stress, the dominant American R sound, key vowel sounds and consonants as well as applying the accent to your scenes work to make the accent sound authentically you.
(QLD Actors Only) Casting Workshop With Leigh Pickford (Maura Fay Casting)
**Please note we are only accepting Queensland based actors at this time for this Online Casting Workshop**
Senior Casting Director of Maura Fay Casting, Leigh Pickford is one Australia’s must-see Casting Directors.
This is your chance actors to be seen by a high profile casting director who casts for some of the most ground-breaking projects such as:
Secret City, Safe Harbour, Bite Club, Pine Gap, Hotel Mumbai, Guardians of the Tomb, The Wrong Girl, Janet King, Wonderland and many more!
In this workshop Leigh will help actors improve their understanding of the industry and the audition process, providing invaluable information and insights into the casting world.
Mastering the RP Accent with Helen Stuart
For those looking to work in period Dramas (like Bridgerton), Fantasy Epics (Lord of the Rings anyone?), or simply those looking to move to the UK and work in Film & TV, mastering the RP (Received Pronunciation) accent is crucial.
In this seven week online course, Helen will discuss the etymology of the accent, how it lives and breathes in you, the actor. You will learn that it isn’t just different vowel sounds that make a dialect, and how to connect your accent to your breath and body, and develop vocal traits that can aid the particular character you are playing.
Casting Workshop with Tom McSweeney CSA (McSweeney-Newman Casting)
Tom McSweeney is a Casting Director at the powerhouse Casting Office McSweeney-Newman Casting!
This is an unbelievable opportunity to work online with a Casting Director responsible for some of Australia’s most high-profile projects. Learn how to make an impact with your auditions, what McSweeney-Newman Casting looks for in an actor, and how to navigate the world of self tapes vs in room auditions.
Commercial Casting Masterclass with Jo Briant
In this online casting workshop you will learn how to prepare for a commercial audition, present yourself in audition, and most importantly - book the audition!
TVC’s are an actor’s bread and butter, and can help fund your more creative pursuits - but there is an art to the TVC audition.
Jo Briant is a Casting Director at Fountainhead Casting and has been a successful actor for 35 years!!
NOT FINDING WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?
We schedule new workshops and courses every month!
Fill out the form to the right if you would like to be put on the waitlist for our courses & workshops, and you will be first to know when that course is announced!