Monthly Archives: April 2017

Three Success Stories
Apr 28

Three Success Stories

By Richard Sarell | News

Fiona Banks is a busy director. With recent credits on The Dr Blake Mysteries, House Husbands and Winners and Losers she regularly runs sessions for The Rehearsal Room’s MASTER CLASS actors. This week she told The Rehearsal Room how pleased she was with JESSICA STANLEY’S performance in the final episode of The Dr Blake Mysteries (Series 5). The series has not yet been scheduled but Fiona said, “Jessica is going to be very pleased with her work.” Fiona is excited about this performance. So is JESSICA.

Congratulations, JESSICA.

 

INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
Actor WESLEY FORKE is achieving international recognition at film festivals for his outstanding performance in “Degree of Separation” as is KYAHL ANDERSON the director of this 14-minute film. It’s most recent review from the Stonefair Festival in Romania gives high praise to the film’s performances which is the story of Troy played by WESLEY. The Stonefair reviewer writes, “The delivery of the simple yet powerful message is substantially aided by the outstanding performances of all actors involved, and especially by Wesley Forke as Troy and Arta Mucaj as Virianna. The delivery of each line feels completely natural, while moments of silence and quiet contemplation are just as powerful insights into their personalities.” According to this Stonefair review these performances have achieved the perfect balance between relationship and circumstance to deliver the “raw power” of this story’s message.

 

“Degree of Separation” was produced by DARREN MORT.

 

MAKING A STRONG IMPRESSION
ELLMIR ASIPI has just completed his second term of classes at The Rehearsal Room and during the term shot his first professional gig in the ABC’s new kids show “Mustangs FC”.   ELLMIR is 16 and was originally booked for an 8-day shoot with a few lines on this new ABC show. His performance attracted attention because his part grew. By the end of the shoot he had been booked for a total of 20 days. That’s every actor’s dream … a promotion that occurs because the quality of your work is recognised.

He is plainly doing the job well. Congratulations, ELLMIR.

Apr 20

How To Get To Las Vegas

By Richard Sarell | News

Hard working actor/singer Anthony Sparkes played ‘Cec’ in 29 episodes of “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries”.

That’s how he got invited to Las Vegas for “A Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries Convention”. It simply was too good an opportunity to miss … so, he is on his way. He is expanding his itinerary and stopping by Los Angeles as well, of course.

Anthony has just completed the Advanced Workshop (for experienced actors) and no doubt will be thinking about joining a MASTER CLASS when he gets back. He is an actor on the move.

Apr 19

Summer Intensive

By Richard Sarell | Acting Classes & Workshops

Managing the Actor's Mind

Dates:

Duration:

Times:

Tutor:

Full Fee: Student Fee:

Deposit:

Monday 14 – 18 Jan

(5 days)

10.00am to 5.00pm

Richard Sarell

$715
$615

20%

Pay in 2 instalments


Does your mind sometimes refuse to find a way through the CREATIVE CHAOS it is generating?
Do you sometimes not know where to start prepping a scene?
Does a scene sometimes end up entirely differently to the way you planned it?
Does the behaviour of your character sometimes end up dark and moody when you thought you were light and playful?  
Do you look at a scene sometimes and find your mind refuses to see the circumstances as real when the writer obviously does?

David Paterson Chopper, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Saving Mr. Banks, Frost Nixon

I have observed leading teacher directors in the US and UK and Richard shares with them that facility to guide actors through the guff to the heart of the scene.

AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION:  Throughout time acting teachers have been showing you, the actor, the best decision making processes for finding your place in a scene.  But one area has been ignored.  There is little advice on how to manage the mind of the actor who is implementing the decisions.  If the actor's mind is unclear the performance technique will lack focus and the outcome will be muddled. 

This process is designed to manage the mind that delivers the performance.

What will be covered in this course?

1) Identifying the creative decisions that confuse ... finding a path to fix them

While using our creative mind is always exciting, it can also be downright confusing.  There are so many impulses that are flooding in it is hard to sort out which ones are important.  Or whether any of them are.  The way to find a pathway through the chaos is to build a simple hierarchy of choices.

2) Understanding the reasons that blur the creative decision making processes

Many of the factors that generate creative confusions stem from the way our minds work.  Understanding the mechanics of our mind's processes enables us to short circuit problems and have fun with the solutions.

3) Making clear decisions about the scene

Powerful performances arise from actors who are in charge of their process.  The simplest pathway is the best but our mind will rush to overcomplicate the most straightforward of choices.  Managing our fears that magnify the confusions is the pathway to putting the fun back into acting.

4) Finding your characters specific role in a scene

​Understanding your role is the key to doing any job well.  For the actor understanding in simple terms the role their character has in the developing story lifts the mist of confusion.

5) Learning to work at a fast pace with effective choices

Clearing the mind of random confusions is the pathway to successfully working at the speed required for a modern film shoot.  Clear mind = clear choices = clear outcomes.

6) Challenge yourself, expand yourself and trust yourself

Be part of a course that takes your work to a new professional high while bringing the fun back into acting.

THIS IS FOR YOU IF...

  • You want to reduce your creative fears and increase your creative fun
  • The belief that you have the ability to act keeps being disrupted by irrational self doubts
  • Your fervent hope is that acting can be simpler as well as more fun
  • Catching up with new and very practical techniques excites your creativity
  • Bringing exciting new skills to your acting process is something you would relish

IF YOU DON’T HAVE THESE SKILLS 

  • You will compromise the consistency of your performances
  • Being consistently real will be tricky
  • Director’s notes will be confusing
  • Confusion will generate fear that will paralyse your decision making process
  • Monitoring the bad habits that creep into your work won't be possible
  • The fun of being in the most enjoyable classes in town will pass you by

ABOUT RICHARD...

Richard loves conducting the  Summer Intensive.  It is exciting to focus so intensely on the needs of a small group (maximum group size of 8).  He loves the huge leaps forward in understanding and skill that actors achieve in this environment.



The huge success of "The Memory of Water" that Richard directed at Chapel Off Chapel (Nov 2017) clearly proved the efficacy of The Rehearsal Room's processes.  Audiences loved it.  Max Davine wrote in his blog on goodvibemelbourne.com "The realism he achieves is funny and heart-wrenching, sometimes both at the same time, as in life."



Richard believes that it is the clarity and trust of simple, functional processes that enables the actor to defeat their fears and restore order from potential creative chaos.  




THIS COURSE STARTS - Monday 14 January 2019

Over 5 fun filled days learn skills you will use throughout your career. Learn to be real, to be versatile, to be a great listener and to be funny. 

Apr 19

Easter Intensive

By Richard Sarell | Intensives

Easter Intensive 
MANAGING THE ACTOR'S MIND

Dates:


Duration:

Times:

Tutor:

Full Fee: Student Fee:

Deposit:

Friday April 19 – Monday 22 April
(Tuesday 23 April optional)

4 days (with an optional 5th)

10.00am to 5.00pm

Richard Sarell

$580 (+$100 for 5th day)
$500 (+$80 for 5th day)

20%


Does your actor's mind sometimes refuse to find a way through the CREATIVE CHAOS it is generating?
Do you sometimes not know where to start prepping a scene?
Does a scene sometimes end up entirely differently to the way you planned it?
Does the behaviour of your character sometimes end up dark and moody when you thought you were light and playful?
Do you look at a scene sometimes and find your mind refuses to see the circumstances as real when the writer obviously does?

David Paterson Chopper, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Saving Mr. Banks, Frost Nixon

I have observed leading teacher directors in the US and UK and Richard shares with them that facility to guide actors through the guff to the heart of the scene.


AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION: Throughout time acting teachers have been showing you, the actor, the best decision making processes for finding your place in a scene. But one area has been ignored. There is little advice on how to manage the mind of the actor who is implementing the decisions. If the actor's mind is unclear the performance technique will lack focus and the outcome will be muddled no matter how good the techniques. This process is designed to manage the mind that delivers the performance.

What will be covered in this course?

1) Identifying the creative decisions that confuse ... finding a path to fix them

While using our creative mind is always exciting, it can also be downright confusing. There are so many impulses that are flooding in it is hard to sort out which ones are important. Or whether any of them are. The way to find a pathway through the chaos is to build a simple hierarchy of choices.

2) Understanding the reasons that blur the creative decision making processes

Many of the factors that generate creative confusions stem from the way our minds work. Understanding the mechanics of our mind's processes enables us to short circuit problems and have fun with the solutions.

3) Making clear decisions about the scene

Powerful performances arise from actors who are in charge of their process. The simplest pathway is the best but our mind will rush to overcomplicate the most straightforward of choices. Managing our fears that magnify the confusions is the pathway to putting the fun back into acting.

4) Finding your character's specific role in a scene

Understanding your role is the key to doing any job well.  For the actor understanding in simple terms the role their character has in the developing story lifts the mist of confusion.

5) Learning to work at a fast pace with effective choices

Clearing the mind of random confusions is the pathway to successfully working at the speed required for a modern film shoot. Clear mind = clear choices = clear outcomes.

6) Challenge yourself, expand yourself and trust yourself

Be part of a course that takes your work to a new professional HIGH while bringing the fun back into acting

THIS IS FOR YOU IF...

  • You want to reduce your creative fears and increase your creative fun
  • The belief you can act is constantly disrupted by irrational fears
  • Your fervent hope is that acting can be simpler as well as more fun
  • Catching up with new and very practical techniques excites your creativity
  • Bringing exciting new techniques to your acting process is something you would relish

IF YOU DON’T HAVE THESE SKILLS …

  • You will compromise the consistency of your performances
  • Being consistently real will be tricky
  • Director's notes will be confusing
  • Confusion will generate fear that will paralyse your decision making process
  • Monitoring the bad habits that creep into your work won't be possible
  • The fun of being in the most enjoyable classes in town will pass you by

ABOUT RICHARD...

Richard loves conducting this Intensive.  It produces such fantastic results for actors.  Focusing so intensely on the needs of a small group (maximum group size of 8) is exciting.  He loves the huge leaps forward in understanding and skill that actors achieve in this environment.



The huge success of "The Memory of Water" that Richard directed at Chapel Off Chapel (Nov 2017) clearly proved the efficacy of The Rehearsal Room's processes. Audiences loved it. Max Davine wrote in his blog on goodvibemelbourne.com "The realism he achieves is funny and heart-wrenching, sometimes both at the same time, as in life."



Richard believes that it is the clarity and trust of simple, functional processes that enables the actor to defeat their fears and restore order from potential creative chaos.



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THIS COURSE STARTS - Friday 19th 2019

Over 4 or 5 fun filled days learn skills you will use throughout your career. Learn to be real, to be versatile, to be a great listener and to be funny.

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Enter your text here...

Apr 15

How To Impress Your Agent

By Richard Sarell | News

Its an ongoing battle for an actor to keep working and be noticed.  

KARLA HILLAM decided to do something to promote herself.  She found a scene she wanted to do and booked a one-on-one coaching session.  We worked for an hour using a whole grab bag of techniques developed at The Rehearsal Room.  The aim was to make the performance bold and compelling to watch.  We worked hard.  Karla slept on our efforts.  The next day she recorded the scene in one simple shot with another Rehearsal Room actor who could aid her to push the drama and the story.  

Her agent LOVED IT!!!

Glenn Quinn, Richard Sarell, Kyahl Anderson
Apr 08

An Inspiring Start

By Richard Sarell | News

 

“It was inspiring. That is how it is meant to be,” said one participant in last Sunday’s “A New Vocabulary for the Actor” workshop.

This was the first time The Rehearsal Room’s new teaching team of Glenn Quinn, Kyahl Anderson and Richard Sarell had worked together at one event. The feedback was enthusiastic. “Everything is practical and makes sense,” was another comment.

Glenn explained how after completing his university degree it was The Rehearsal Room’s techniques that enabled him to grow from an ensemble player to a lead actor in professional music theatre. This touched a chord with an actor in the group who said, “…having spent 3 years at drama school … I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed and have really been looking for a refined, straightforward process to latch onto, to help me work more confidently and more quickly.”

The speed and effectiveness of The Rehearsal Room techniques impressed everyone on the day.

It was a very successful day for the new team.

 

Apr 07

Callback Audition Workshop with JANE NORRIS

By Richard Sarell | Intensives

Callback Audition Workshop

Dates:

Duration:

Times:

Tutors:


Full Fee:


7, 14 & 21 April

11 hours over 3 weeks

9.00am to 1.00pm (7 & 21 April)
3 hours morning or afternoon on 14 April

Casting Director Jane Norris
Director:  Richard Sarell


$348.00



A great opportunity to build your skill and flexibility in the audition room.  Rise to the challenge of being called back by the casting director with a specific task to fulfill. 

Be assisted in your preparation for your call back session by television director RICHARD SARELL.

Two audition sessions with an experienced casting director plus a coaching session in preparation for your callback session.


What will be covered in this course?

1) Build audition skill in two audition sessions with JANE NORRIS

It is as important for a Casting Director to meet and understand you as a person as it is for them to know about your acting skill.

2) An opportunity to push boundaries and find out what more you have to offer

This 'Callback' format gives actors the opportunity to explore a range of skills. - to test them out with a professional casting director and get feedback.

3) Get great tips on general casting issues

During the briefing sessions at the beginning and end of each workshop you will get practical hands-on advice from the casting directors.

4) The opportunity to ask questions

You will be able to ask questions in the two briefing sessions about the personal areas of confusion or concern you have.

5) Get specific analysis of your audition technique

In your one-on-one time with television director Richard Sarell you will get direct honest feedback about your audition technique and your acting technique.  Sometimes your acting techniques are great but your audition technique doesn't display your strengths.  Richard will assist you with clear and practical advice.

6) Make progress at being less nervous in auditions

Nerves can have a big impact on the outcome of an audition.  Making an audition an ordinary experience rather than an exceptional one is a skill that needs to be acquired and practiced.

Shane Porteous A Country Practice [Lead actor]

For an actor a scene must do more than further the plot - it must explore the relationship between the characters. Richard has a gift for making this process clear and simple. His direction gives me confidence to trust my own intuition, thus allowing the character room to breathe...

THIS IS FOR YOU IF...

  • You find Casting Directors intimidating
  • You are never sure exactly what a casting director is looking for
  • You have made great plans for your audition but never deliver them
  • Don't know how to conduct yourself in an audition
  • Don't know which questions to ask the casting director
  • You feel an audition is a competition that you must win

IF YOU DON’T HAVE THESE SKILLS …

  • you will always feel uncomfortable when auditioning
  • you wont have a professional understanding of the audition process
  • will remain confused about issues that should be clear to you
  • you will reduce your chances of doing a good audition
  • be rigid in your choices rather than relaxed, flexible and professional

ABOUT RICHARD...

Over his twenty-five year directing career Richard found that many actors he auditioned didn’t actually listen in auditions.  And he realised that it took many years of experience for actors to come to terms with and understand the audition process.

Having a practical understanding of what the actor's job is when auditioning is a massive help in enabling an actor to audition well.  These workshops aim to quickly build an actor's understanding of the audition process - which usually takes actors years of professional experience to acquire. There are many myths about auditions and many confusions about what Casting Directors and directors are looking for.

Richard was one of the first acting teachers to begin running workshops that allowed actors to interact with Casting Directors.  The aim was to give actors experience of the audition room so that they can approach an audition in a relaxed, focused and professional way.

These are the only workshops where actors also receive analysis and feedback from a director as well as a casting director.  This combined input from two different entertainment professionals makes these workshops unique and incredibly valuable.


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Learn skills you will use throughout your career. 

THIS COURSE - Saturdays 7, 14 & 21 April 2018