Casting Workshop with UK Casting Director Jade Rambaut (Finnian Tweed Casting)
MORNING & AFTERNOON SESSIONS AVAILABLE
TAFTA is thrilled to welcome UK Casting Director Jade Rambaut to our Australian studios. Jade is part of some of the top Casting Offices in the UK, responsible for casting projects such as: 'The Witcher' and 'Redeeming Love' (DJ Curuso (xXx, I Am Number Four, Eagle Eye). I also worked on 'Sweet Bitter' (Produced by PlanB//Brad Pitt), 'Indian Detective' (Created by Frank Spotnitz), 'Down a Dark Hall' (Starring Uma Therman, AnnaSophia Rob and Directed by Rodrigo Cortés). And I can now say 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera' (starring Gerard Butler, O'Shea Jackson Jr and directed by Christian Gudegast and produced by eOne).
This casting workshop is a must for any actors interested in the UK industry, who want to work with a high profile Casting Director.
Casting Workshop with Thea McLeod (mcleod Casting)
MORNING & AFTERNOON SESSIONS AVAILABLE
TAFTA is thrilled to welcome back the very popular, Thea McLeod. Founder of McLeod Casting, Thea McLeod is one of Australia’s most prominent casting directors with a wide breadth of work ranging from international films to television. Thea has a passion for discovering and nurturing the next generation of A-list actors from Australia and beyond. Thea has been casting the very popular Australian classic Neighbours for 12+ years. Thea spent eleven years in the UK where she was both an actress and a casting director, gaining much experience on an international level for film, television, and commercials.
Actors Bootcamp with Andy McPhee
We are so lucky to have Andy McPhee in between his filming commitments to take One Day Intro to Acting Intensive.
Andy is an actor with decades of experience on films like Wolf Creek (2005), Animal Kingdom (2010), Pizza (2005), Wilfred (2010), Dr. Blake Mysteries (2015), and Gallipoli (2015). Andy has also starred internationally in major release features such as Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks (2013), See Saw’s Slow West (2015), FX’s Sons of Anarchy (2010), and Criminal Minds (2011), as well as Netflix Voice dubbing for the lead detective (US accent) in Marry My Dead Body.
Most recently coming off of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) and currently on Stan Original Series, Thou Shalt Not Steal (2023).
COURSE OUTCOMES:
6 week intensive, working from basic knowledge to advanced
Skill building on camera
Character creating
Truthful decision making in the moment
Individualised coaching and scene work
Casting Workshop with Michelle Clancy (Ben parkinson casting)
MORNING & AFTERNOON SESSIONS AVAILABLE
TAFTA is proud to welcome back Michelle Clancy. Michelle has a long and prestigious career in the industry, with 20+ years of experience. She has cast thousands of campaigns both local and international. She is the Senior Casting Director and Head of Commercial Division at Ben Parkinson Casting.Michelle has cast jobs all across Australia and extending to New Zealand on campaigns. She has a great ability to bring out the best performances in talent, with her nurturing nature and is greatly loved by our adult and child actors.
Casting Workshop with Stevie Ray (McGregor Casting)
SATURDAY & SUNDAY SESSIONS AVAILABLE
TAFTA is excited to welcome back Stevie Ray. Stevie is responsible for casting many high end Australian and International Projects. This extended day-long Casting Workshop is an unbelievable opportunity to get in front of the top Casting Directors in Australia. If you’re watching something and say to yourself “Who cast that?” It was probably Stevie. Learn how to make an impact with your auditions, what McGregor Casting looks for in an actor, and how to navigate the world of self tapes vs in room auditions.
Casting Workshop with Cinzia Coassin
MORNING AND AFTERNOON SESSIONS AVAILABLE
TAFTA is excited to welcome back Cinzia Coassin. Cinzia Coassin is an accomplished Casting Director with extensive experience across theatre, film, and television. Starting her career as an actor, she later transitioned into behind-the-scenes working on different major projects. Cinzia is passionate about helping actors build confidence and make unique, connected choices, while sharing her industry knowledge in casting and production.
Casting Workshop with Will Pearce (McGregor Casting)
MORNING & AFTERNOON SESSIONS AVAILABLE
Back by popular demand TAFTA is happy to welcome back Will Pearce. His casting career started in London, where he worked with some of the UK’s top casting directors. Will joined McGregor Casting in 2017 and has worked as an Associate and Casting Director on many Australian and International projects. Will was named a Rising Talent as a Casting Director for 2024 by IF Magazine & is an active member of The Casting Guild of Australia. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to meet and work with the future of casting in Australia.
Casting Workshop with Lou Mitchell (Maura Fay Casting)
WORKSHOP A SCENE WITH A BUSY CASTING DIRECTOR!
We are excited to have Lou Mitchell from Maura Fay Casting in Melbourne, busy with projects such as The Furies, Moon Rock for Monday and The Whistleblower, as well as various other projects, this is a fantastic opportunity for actors to work with Lou.
U.S Accent with Tyler Coppin
Tyler Coppin is one of the most popular and in-demand coaches for actors learning and perfecting a General American Accent. Whether you're an actor preparing for pilot season, a young performer who’s just starting out, or a producer wanting the American accents in your project to sound authentic, you've landed in the right spot.
OPEN DAY
BEFORE YOU SIGN WITH ANY OTHER ACTING SCHOOL
BEFORE YOU DECIDE ON ANY OTHER FULL OR PART TIME ACTING COURSE
Come to our free information session 2pm-4pm and hear from some of our teachers and distinguished alumni.
The Agent’s Perspective with Daniel Scharf (Profile Creative)
Want to learn what goes on inside Australia’s top talent agency? We are offering actors a unique opportunity to learn from leading industry professionals in our newly created Agent’s Perspective Series.
Emotions #1 with John Orcsik
LEARN TO ACCESS AUTHENTIC EMOTIONS ON CUE!
Over years of working in Film & TV , John found he was required to reach deep emotional places on a busy set, with little time to prepare, and with few takes.
Emotional recall and sense memory became unsustainable and dangerous.
After studying the nature, purpose and qualities of emotions and where they are in the body's natural energy centres, John created a simple physical technique where you can access and express any emotion.
On cue.
At will.
Rolling Auditions: 2025 Full Time Program
TAFTA’s pivotal Full Time Program is now hosting auditions for the 2025 intake!
2025 Level Up Program Auditions
Over 16 weeks, two nights a week, TAFTA’s Level Up Program is designed to help push working actors to the next level of their careers.
With challenging new course work, this course is designed for serious actors.
One Day Scenework Masterclass with Colin Budds
This one day workshop is for committed actors wanting to take their on camera acting to the next level; extend their screen craft and their range as an actor within the frame.
Colin will help you strip down your performance to its most truthful bringing out your natural charisma - what some people call “X Factor” - making the Casting Director want call you back and the audience want to see you in the next scene.
Screen Acting for Beginners with John Orcsik
Our Intro to Screen Acting course is the ultimate course for aspiring screen actors. Designed to give the budding actor both the confidence and the skill to get up in front of a camera with a professional attitude and focus that lends itself to the beginnings of a great acting career.
This four-week course is simple, practical, informative and essential to the beginner.
CASTING WORKSHOP WITH DAVE NEWMAN (FROM MCSWEENEY NEWMAN CASTING)
TAFTA is excited to host Casting Director Dave Newman from McSweeney Newman Casting in our Melbourne Studio in August 2024!
With a strong desire to unearth fresh Australian talent, Dave Newman is actively involved in not only finding but also nurturing the development of Australian talent.
ONE DAY ACTING MASTERCLASS WITH PETER ANDRIKIDIS
Guided by one of the most experienced Film & TV Directors in Australia, this One Day Scene Study Masterclass is focused on refining your process, and exploring new on-set techniques to elevate your work on the screen. You will workshop scenes and develop a collaborative relationship with acclaimed director Peter Andrikidis - Director of the recently released Stan Original 'Bali 2002', as well as 'Eden', 'The Reckoning', 'East West 101' and many, many more.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS MASTERCLASS WITH SIAN DAVIES
Sian Davies is an accomplished director and writer of television, film and commercials. Sian’s most recent work includes directing the Stan series Black Snow (Goalpost Pictures/Sundance TV), directing The Twelve (Easy Tiger/Foxtel), Spreadsheet (Northern Pictures/Paramount +), Surviving Summer S2 (Werner Films/Netflix) and Bloom S2 and The Gloaming for Stan. Other recent credits include Reef Break, Bad Mothers (Jungle Entertainment), Wentworth (FremantleMedia), House Husbands (Playmaker), and True Story with Hamish and Andy (Radio Karate). Sian has written and directed several short films which have enjoyed extensive festival play worldwide. Her debut film Poetry, financed by Film Victoria, premiered at MIFF in 2007. Her follow up film Piñata, had its world premiere in competition at MIFF in 2009, and her VCA graduate film Blackout screened at Forum Cannes and Clermont Ferrand.
One Day U.S Scene Study Masterclass with Amy Chaffee
Amy is an Associate Professor at Tulane University where her research focuses on dialect and text work in film, television, radio and theatre. Most recent theatre credits include Dialect Design for Le Petit Theatre (New Orleans, LA, USA) “Born With Teeth” and “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Recent Film credits include: Marvel Cinematic Universe upcoming films (Due out July 26, 2024), “Deadpool Vs. Wolverine,” and as Scarlett Johansson’s dialect coach for ”Fly Me to the Moon” for Columbia Pictures which will be released July 12, 2024. Recent Television dialect design work: Both Seasons 1 and 2 for “Mayfair Witches” and “Interview With The Vampire” for AMC+ Immortal Universe and “The Corps” for Netflix. Amy has taught voice/text in the US, Europe, and Asia, & Australia. And, she been an actor and singer in over 150 theatre and on-camera productions. Education: B.F.A.-Acting at New York University Tisch School of the Arts and M.F.A. - University of San Diego/Old Globe Theatre. Amy is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and was the Executive Director of the 2023 Freedom and Focus in Los Angeles, CA.
Casting Workshop with Jane Norris - SOld Out
Jane has been a Casting Director for over 20 years, having worked on feature films, limited run series and episode TV series. She has collaborated with all television networks as well as with leading producers, directors and production companies in Australia and overseas. Renowned across the film and television industry for her ability to discover new talent, Jane’s eye for on-screen potential has seen her create award-winning casts that merge new and exciting Australian talent with international actors. Jane has championed many young actors in the early stages of their careers including discovering Kodi Smit McPhee, Angourie Rice, Julian Dennison, Odessa Young, Sam Corlett, Toby Wallace, Ed Oxenbold, and Morgan Davies
Casting Workshop with Micaeley Gibson (Anousha Zarkesh Casting) - Sold Out
Micaeley Gibson is a Casting Director and Associate at Anousha Zarkesh Casting!
In her session Micaeley will share insights into the casting process, while simulating a mock audition environment. This gives actors the experience of a real audition. Micaeley will provide feedback on your performance, giving you tips and tricks that can help you nail your next audition and answer any burning questions you may have about the industry, casting and performance.
Sketch Comedy with John Orcsik
Timing, actions, reactions and relations - visual and verbal combine with the basic element of surprise to create comic moments and performances (the setup/payoff principle, etc.). Comedy is not just about funny lines and funny characters. It is all that and much more.
For eight weeks, we will examine and perform the humour of Romantic Comedies, Sit-com, farce, sketch comedy and the great TV Comedy series, both Australian, English and American, and the great actors who performed in them.
Impulse & Instinct with John Orcsik
LEARN TO ACCESS AUTHENTIC EMOTIONS ON CUE!
Over years of working in Film & TV , John found he was required to reach deep emotional places on a busy set, with little time to prepare, and with few takes.
Do you ever find yourself constricted by pre-conditioned expectations of how a scene should run?
Have your confidence sapped by certain techniques that prioritise what someone thinks you should do instead of what you are doing in the moment.
One Day Advanced Screenwork with Colin Budds
Colin Budds (Home and Away, H2O Just Add Water, The Elephant Princess, The Saddle Club, Lightning Point, Neighbours and Prisoner) is known for drawing out screen presence from actors, helping them strip down their performance to its most truthful bringing out your natural charisma, making the audience want to see you in the next scene
This one day workshop is for committed actors wanting to take their on camera acting to the next level; extend their screen craft and their range as an actor within the frame.
Colin will help you strip down your performance to its most truthful bringing out your natural charisma - what some people call “X Factor” - making the Casting Director want call you back and the audience want to see you in the next scene.
Emotions #2 Intensive with John Orcsik
Emotions #2 consolidates and refreshes your learning in Emotions #1, going over the technique before learning to apply it to scenework. In the fast paced world of Film & TV, this is a reliable, simple and effective tool that you can call upon if sense memory, emotional recall, or other emotionally demanding techniques are not working. This is a technique that can give your next audition the extra edge, quickly adding emotion and stakes to your work, and fulfilling the demands of the script and the story when under a high pressure scenario. AND having the ability to go about your day unscathed afterwards.
Information Session
BEFORE YOU SIGN WITH ANY OTHER ACTING SCHOOL
BEFORE YOU DECIDE ON ANY OTHER FULL OR PART TIME ACTING COURSE
Come to our free information session 10am-1pm and hear some of our teachers and distinguished alumni.
Guests include: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Andy McPhee, & Colin Budds.
Casting Workshop with Daisy Hicks
Daisy Hicks is an award winning Casting Director whose work spans across film, television, theatre and musical theatre.
Having previously worked at the Sydney-based casting offices McGregor Casting and i4 Casting, Daisy's credits as a Casting Director and Casting Associate include: Tough, It's Fine I'm Fine, & Juliet, Seasons 1-3 of Bump, Joe Vs. Carole, The Dismissal, Frayed Season 2, Way Out Assistance, and many more!
This a rare opportunity to work in the room with a Casting Director who is known for her friendly, positive attitude towards empowering actors to present their best work and her insightful approach to character and script. Learn how to make an impact with your auditions and how to navigate the world of self-tapes vs. in-room auditions.
Casting Workshop with Micaeley Gibson (Anousha Zarkesh Casting) - SOLD OUT
Micaeley Gibson has worked as a Casting Director for over 22 years on some of Australia’s most ground-breaking TV and Film Productions like recent AACTA Winner Mystery Road: Origins, as well as The Stranger (with Joel Egerton), New Boy (With Cate Blanchett), The Australian Office, The upcoming series ‘Class of 07’, new Shane Warne Biopic series ‘Warnie’ and many many more.
In her session Micaeley will share insights into the casting process, while simulating a mock audition environment. This gives actors the experience of a real audition. Micaeley will provide feedback on your performance, giving you tips and tricks that can help you nail your next audition and answer any burning questions you may have about the industry, casting and performance.
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.
Comedy Capers with John Orcsik
Timing, actions, reactions and relations - visual and verbal combine with the basic element of surprise to create comic moments and performances (the setup/payoff principle etc.). Comedy is not just about funny lines and funny characters. It is all that and much more.
For three weeks, we will examine and perform the humour of Romantic Comedies, Sit-com, farce, sketch comedy and the great TV Comedy series both Australian, English and American and the great actors who performed in them.
This course will demystify Comedy and introduce participants to the principles and requirements of comedy work.
Mastering the US Accent with Matt Furlani
The General American accent is no longer a luxury, but now a real necessity for the Australian actor. Don't want until you receive your self tape request to learn and practice your accent. By combining scene work with accent training, actors can develop a comprehensive skill set that enables them to fully embody characters and immerse themselves in diverse roles. The practical and hands-on nature of the course ensures that actors walk away with a heightened level of confidence and expertise in delivering authentic performances.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Practical exercises to build confidence in accent execution.
Engaging participants in real-life acting scenarios to practise and perfect their accents.
Integrating accent skills seamlessly within diverse scenes.
Gaining valuable experience in applying accents to different character portrayals.
Moving beyond isolated accent exercises to develop adaptable and natural accent skills.
Emphasising the seamless blending of accent skills into various scenes.
Achieving greater authenticity and believability in character portrayals.
Techniques to organically incorporate the US accent within character performances.
Enhancing actors' ability to immerse themselves in diverse roles convincingly.
Fostering a deeper connection between actors and their characters.
Casting Workshop with Amy Mete from Nick Hamon Casting
This session will provide invaluable lessons and insight into the audition process and a chance for valuable feedback! Amy specialises in casting comedy so don’t miss this opportunity to find your true comedic essence and deliver a showstopping audition from Amy Mete in this workshop!
The TAFTA Studio Membership
Every Wednesday night, TAFTA will host an open studio. Actors will pre-prepare scenes with a scene partner and have the opportunity to come in and workshop that scene with an array of teachers throughout their weeks.
Give yourself permission to play, do you and trust your instincts to feel more honest, real and free.
Audition Impact with Courtney Miller
Preparing a scene for self-taping is an essential skill for every actor. Throughout this course, participants will be guided through the art of scene analysis, uncovering character motivations and emotional arcs to deliver authentic and compelling performances. Additionally, students will receive specialised training in self-taping for both the Australian and US markets, understanding the subtle differences in casting preferences to tailor their self-tapes effectively. With in-class self-tape practice, actors will refine their skills, receiving constructive feedback to build a diverse portfolio of impressive audition-ready recordings. Courtney Miller’s "Audition Process" course is a transformative journey that equips actors with the tools and confidence to pursue their dreams in the competitive world of auditions.
MELBOURNE
“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.”
- Saskia Hampele (The Heights, Twenty Something and Neighbours.)
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