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.
Rolling Auditions: 2025 Full Time Program
TAFTA’s pivotal Full Time Program is now hosting auditions for the 2025 intake!
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.
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.
Casting Workshop with Thea McLeod (McLeod Casting)
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 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. Thea enjoys her twelfth year as the resident casting director for the iconic Australian TV show “Neighbours”
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.
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.
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.
Casting Workshop with Will Pearce (McGregor Casting)
Will Pearce is a Casting Director living and working on Gadigal Land, Sydney. 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 on many local & international
projects including: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Babyteeth, Foe, Evil Dead Rise, The
Unusual Suspects, Savage River, The Twelve, Apples Never Fall, The Wilds, Fisk & The Deb.Please note this workshop is strictly 18+.
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.
Casting Workshop with Michelle Clancy (Ben Parkinson Casting)
About Michelle:
Michelle is the Senior Casting Director and Head of Commercial Division at Ben Parkinson Casting.
Michelle has been in the industry for 20+ years and been at Ben Parkinson Casting for 20 years.
Her experience has seen her cast thousands of campaigns including many worldwide release campaigns. 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 alike due to her genuine care of the actors and her wish for them to succeed.
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.
Casting Workshop with Thea McLeod (McLeod Casting)
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 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. Thea enjoys her twelfth year as the resident casting director for the iconic Australian TV show “Neighbours”
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 Thea McLeod (McLeod Casting)
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 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.
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.
Casting Workshop with Thea McLeod - SOLD OUT
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 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.
Thea will share her knowledge with you, giving you the very best tips to enhance your opportunities as an actor in the entertainment industry.
Learn audition and self tape technique from one of the busiest Casting Directors in Australia.
EXTENDED Casting Workshop with Stevie Ray (McGregor Casting) - SOLD OUT
We are very excited and honoured to have Stevie Ray, Casting Director at the powerhouse Casting Office McGregor Casting doing a one-day Casting Workshop at TAFTA!
They are responsible for casting films like:
BabyTeeth, Penguin Bloom, Judy & Punch, Top End Wedding, Danger Close, Thor Ragnarok, Mary Magdalene, Berlin Syndrome, Lion and many more!!!
They cast Ongoing TV Series such as:
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Wolf Like Me, Bump and Year Of, Last Days of the Space Age, Fisk, Colin from Accounts and more!
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 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 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.
One Day Intro to Acting Intensive with Andy McPhee (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Sons of Anarchy, Wolf Creek)
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.
Andy is also an Acting Coach, training hundreds of actors the craft and discipline of acting. Andy notably coached his son Kodi Smit-McPhee throughout his career. Kodi has just won a Golden Globe for The Power of the Dog, AND was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Award.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
Discusses the reality of being a working actor in both Australia and LA
Aims to prepare any actor to work on any set, knowing the terminology, the demands of being in-front of the camera
Confidence building on camera
Analysing scripts utilising your own life experience
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.
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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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 upcoming courses and workshops, and you will be first to know when that course is announced!