All Posts by Richard Sarell

1) A supportive environment to explore your chosen goal

Experienced actors know what they need to work on.  Sometimes they just want to keep working.  That's what The Salon provides - a chance to follow the creative performance path each individual wants to explore.

2) Professional advice and support

Guidance can be helpful to expand challenges or suggest solutions.  Richard Sarell's professional expertise enables him to offer encouragement or alternative options to a variety of performance processes.  Often the best guidance simply clarifies that the actor is on the right path.  Richard will support in actor in their goals.

3) Well organised and productive sessions

A professional working space makes sure that individuals are respected and that goals are clearly organised.  The Salon operates on the basis that actors are clear about their purpose so that they can assess their progress or achievements.

4) Logical and professional strategies will apply

Assessments by other actors and Richard will be logical and clearly argued.  That way they are supportive and the critique is helpful.  Statements such as "I feel that worked" or "I feel that didn't work" are not specific enough.  Debate will be based on clear reasons.

5) Opportunity to expand techniques

Richard specializes in very effective and efficient techniques that have evolved to work at the speed required for TV and screen.  One technique equips actors with between 2 - 10 minutes preparation to attend an audition with 9 options to offer. And switching between those options during an audition takes between 10 - 20 seconds.  Actors interested in exploring those and similar techniques can choose to do so.

6) Flexible use of the time and space

Actors will be supported in using the time and space in the most efficient way to make sure they gain maximum benefit from the sessions

The Challenge for You 

The concept was started in 2018 when two actors turned up for a private coaching session at The Rehearsal Room. They brought a scene from the “The Room”. Their goal was to see if they could play it as straight drama and make it believable. They had a one-hour booking and after 45 minutes rehearsal we shot it. (They were still carrying their scripts.)

1) It is fun

Part of The Rehearsal Room philosophy is that acting should be fun.

2) It is simple to do

The actor's job in the view of The Rehearsal Room is to tell the story and be believable.  This script provides an entertaining challenge to fulfill both those tasks.

3) To make sure you are always practising your skills

It is important that an actor keeps working at building skill.  Skill has two components - the first is knowledge and the second is experience.  This is an easy way to build experience and in taking on the task you will increase your knowledge base, too.

4) Define the issues that are important for a scene

Clearly defining the ingredients that drive the story and the relationship between the characters is the key to a good performance.  This script throws up a number of good challenges in both those areas.

5) Practice working at the fast pace required for television

The original exercise was learnt, rehearsed, shot and reviewed within 60 minutes.  Kyahl and Daniel had read the scene a couple of times but hadn't actively started learning it until they arrived at the class.  A key ingredient of the acting skills taught at The Rehearsal Room is making effective decisions quickly.  You don't have to work that way for this exercise but it is important to keep in mind that on a modern set rehearsal times are short and actors need to be able to quickly make big changes to their preparation if they are going to be able to take direction effectively

Our first Friday Play Reading produced a very successful exploration of an engaging  Australian play.

The standard of the read increased and increased as we progressed and by the time we got to the final act it was really flying. With actors who had trained at NIDA, the VCA and some Rehearsal Room veterans present the performance standard was high. The outcome was a very entertaining evening with a lot of laughs.

BRING SOME NIBBLES
The reading started at 6.30pm and by the time we had finished many of us were quite hungry. Bringing something to nibble on is a good plan for the next Friday evening event.

NEXT FRIDAY SOCIAL
The next opportunity will be on Friday 16 November and is a "Monologue Night".

Bring a new monologue you would like to try out or one you have done before but want to test a different approach to. It’s an informal evening of creative play amongst friends.

If there is time, actors may be able to run a second version of their monologue to try something different. Keep your monologues to a maximum of 5 minutes.

You don't have to perform to attend. Come along and socialise. Bring a friend - everyone is welcome.

$5 for the night – drinks are $5 – chips provided – bring your own nibbles.
164 Kings Way, South Melbourne (front entrance) or 24 Tope Street (back entrance).

If you would like some more information about attending or if you are a writer that would like us to read your script contact Richard@rehearsalroom.com

Everyone wants to learn quickly.  No one wants to waste time.  You need a learning system that explains techniques clearly and that arouses your interest.  This process will excite you to explore more and expand your understandings.  It is an approach to acting and learning that engages your participation and stimulates your imagination.  It is a very effective skill builder.  

GET ONE-ON-ONE FEEDBACK

In the ‘PREMIER’ format you will have ONE-ON-ONE coaching and feedback.  Just upload your recordings of your exercises for very personal assessment by professional director Richard Sarell.  

1) Learn how to build a character effectively

Throughout the history of acting tools that create a character are complicated and vague. These new techniques will enable you to create a believable character quickly. Managing character choices efficiently is the key to being an effective TV actor. You can learn to do it in seconds.

2) Be able to change the character without affecting other content

Character is a separate entity that should be managed in its own right.  You will be able to make huge changes to character if your director or casting director is looking for something different without changing the character's role in the story.

3) Understand how to create a character that audiences like

Casting Directors and Directors know that actors who deliver engaging performances are hard to find. If you can totally engage an audience with your performance, the professionals who want to hire you will instantly recognize your skills.

4) Gain a modern understanding of Stanislavski techniques

This is a no bullshit approach to traditional theories. It cuts through the complexities of other acting processes and explains them in a simple common sense language. You will be empowered by your new understanding of Stanislavski process. This is an acting process that makes sense.

5) Try exercises that develop your expertise

Amazingly effective exercises will both build your skill and expand your understanding.  This is an inventive and productive approach to learning how to create a character.

1) Build audition skill in two different audition formats

It is important to understand what a Casting Director expects of you and what they might ask of you.  What they ask might change depending on the audition format they are exploring.

2) An opportunity to sort out your specific confusions

Sort out your those areas you often aren't clear about.  Learn how to ask the right questions to get the right answers. 

3) Benefit from the knowledge of an experienced Casting Director and an experienced Director

During the briefing sessions after each audition you will get practical hands-on advice from the Casting Director's point of view and a Director's assessment.  You will explore a variety of options that are then tested out.

4) Work on real briefs so you get real experience

This will be a thoroughly professional working environment - dealing with the issues professionals face and using professional techniques to overcome them

5) Explore two different forms of TVC Auditions

Sometimes you have to work with another actor - sometimes you have to work alone.  Explore different techniques and different processes that help deal with these very different auditions.

6) Get to know a working Casting Director

Casting Directors not only need to know about your skill level they also need to know you.  Because you have a day to play with the challenges this workshop offers you will get to build a relationship with a working professional Casting Director