Hi Guys

We’ve had a fantastic year with some great successes for people and we have topped of the year with yet again another MAJOR FIRST – that is the ‘Schiff Company Seminars’ in both Sydney and Melbourne.

David and Kenny were really impressed with the people they met and their dealings over the time they were here. They were both fantastically supportive and generous with their time to those who came along and were very willing to listen to everyone and answer any questions that were on people’s minds. The information they had to impart with regards to the workings of managers, agents, productions companies etc in Hollywood was nothing short of enlightening! If you missed it, it’s a great pity as this was first hand information from one of the top management companies in the world! This wasn’t hearsay, this wasn’t us trying to sell you anything, they told you how it really is and what really need to do. I think this information should be locked away in the recesses of everybody’s minds.

Dreams, aspirations and longings are all necessary BUT reality must always be the baseline. You always must keep a realistic head on your shoulders, don’t undersell yourself and nor must you over estimate your abilities, there are exceptions to everything and every rule but you must BE TRUE TO YOURSELF and you MUST see yourself realistically, not how you think you might be seen, but how you actually are seen, sometimes this can be a rude awakening, but one that’s necessary.

Let’s reiterate a few things that Kenny and David imparted on us:

1. A GenAm US accent is not just vital but paramount to any kind of success in Hollywood
    
2. Going over for Pilot Season – unless you already have an O1 or have strong leading roles on your CV your are probably wasting your time, money and your Australian Agents time, especially if it’s possible that you could be working here! The casting directors are too busy trying to place “Name Actors” or “Marquee actors” in leading roles and filling the rest of the cast with known experienced actors. There is no time to take chances and the chances are few. You are better off getting your agents/ managers both here and in the US to submit you for roles which you can upload and send. If you are successful, the Visa will happen as a matter of course.
    
3. VISA’s – don’t pay anyone for a Visa, not the over inflated amounts being asked for by companies that are dubiously reputable. If you get a job offer a Visa will be arranged by the production company and or your US management for that job! Perhaps after a couple of job offers, a full O1 or even a Greencard is possible. Don’t sit around desperately wanting an O1 when you don’t qualify – it’s better to try and go for the jobs, nail them and then the O1 will come. The emphasis here is on skills and how good you are. Remember – keep all your PR, press, photos etc, no matter how apparently insignificant, you will need them down the track for Visa submissions
    
4. Studying in LA – be careful where you study. There are a lot of people out there just wanting to take your money. Be wary of any kind of short term program that sees you on a whirlwind visit of casting directors. Investigate! Do your research, be smart about where you go and who you hand your money over to! ‘Excursion’ types of so called immersives are generally a waste of your time and money. Your knowledge may increase but your skills won’t. 
    
5. You are who you are. And that means you don’t have to be stick thin or have fat lips and certainly you don’t need to do any major work! They (the Schiff Co. Anyway) want to see people FOR WHO THEY REALLY ARE, in other words, they want to see the REAL YOU, because at the end of the day, IT’S THE REAL YOU THAT IS CASTABLE
    
6. YOU ARE YOUR BEST AGENT. If you don’t have an agent who supports you or one that you can communicate with – find someone that you can! Don’t sit around bitching and feeling sorry for yourself with the thought that ‘your agent’s not getting you any work’ – what are you doing about this! Sometimes, it’s not so much what your agent can do for you but what you can do for your agent.

Moving in to 2012, let’s reiterate again a few points that people seem to forget:

1. Short films, I don’t know how many times we say this, are the blind leading the blind. Necessary to do to get some experience in front of the camera and if you want to keep active, but generally useless for your showreel unless there is a good scene, cut in YOUR favor, with good performances all round, not just yours. If the other actor in the scene is not of the same standard, it will detract from you.
    
2. Training – keep active, keep learning, keep growing. Whilst short films are good experience they should not come before your training. You are doing them a favor, get them to schedule around you. If they can’t, don’t do the film. Without continuous training, your base skill levels will diminish which leads to frustrations and disappointments when actually getting a screentest!
    
3. Professionalism – I have seen a significant lack of professionalism this year. If you are on time you are late (as David Man says). Think of your fellow actors, don’t always think about yourself. Do the homework. Don’t turn up unprepared – YOU WOULDN’T DO THIS ON A JOB, so why do it in class. If you are not going to make it for whatever reason, call or let someone know, don’t just not turn up – JUST TURNING UP TO CLASS ISN’T GOING TO MAKE YOU BETTER, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THE WORK!
    
4. Remember – “When you get better, you get better” – this applies to everything. When you get better you get a better agent, when you get better you get better material for your showreel, when you get better you get better jobs!

All in all 2011 has been a great year, thank you for all of your support and I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a fantastically productive New Year! We have some great things coming up for 2012… more will be revealed.

Regards
John

Student Stories

Alisha Stanza

“Just letting you know I got a bit part with Thea on Neighbours! She said that every time she sees me I'm improving so i think it's all thanks to your classes. Best classes I ever enrolled in and hopefully this is only the beginning for me ”

Emily Greenaway

Congrats to Emily who got a bit part on Neighbours after doing one of workshops with Thea McLeod.

Chris Bartholomew
“Have done 2 auditions this year for Terra nova, one was for several roles and the other for one role. Didnt get either but was good to audition for. Auditioned for Wild Boys and got a better role than I auditioned for. Also auditioned for a telemovie being shot for the ABC called MABO and got that role too. Having a good year and the ball is rolling for me and looking forward to an even better year next year. Thanks for everything and still believe that TAFTA is one of the best vehicles to showcase yourself in front of Casting Directors that you wouldnt get a chance to see much of normally. It creates opportunity!! “

Triple Talent Agency (one of our really supportive agencies)

Hi John – thought that I would give you an update on TAFTA actors with Triple Talent.

• Madison  Daniel is currently playing Claudia Howard on Neighbours, so far 3 episodes
• Madison Daniel has just landed a lead guest role for 3 or more episodes in Winners and Losers.
• Ben Howell has landed Frank Findel a delivery man, guest role in Neighbours.
• Brittany Kate Testa has just finished two episode guest role in Neighbours as Eve Fisher
• Cameron Ryan had a small role in Jack Irish as the lead Police Officer
• Adam Camerlengo is currently on air as the lead chef in the new Worksafe Campaign.
• Rachel Costanzo – Amber in Neighbours, couple of episodes

These are the roles that our TAFTA students have done over the last two weeks. Also over fifty screentests for various roles, last few weeks. Thankyou so much for your ongoing support John, it really is appreciated”.

SCREENTESTS GAINED SO FAR IN 2011:

Screentests gained so far in 2011: 169                                                               

Winners & Losers: 6	Neighbours: 25	Offspring: 2	Underbelly Series: 1
Terra Nova: 2	Rush: 2	Grandmothers: 1	Conspiracy 365: 4
Australia on Trial: 3	Mental: 2	Rescue Special Ops: 1	Mabo: 1
Wild Boys: 1	Jack Irish: 1

2012 Courses

Shortly we will send out an email with new course dates and new courses for 2012 – stay tunned

Refund Policy

Please know from 2012 our refund policy has changed. Make sure you read the application form when it is sent to you and our website for more information.