About the Author

Jul 24

Totally Truthful and Compelling to Watch

Every so often, something so outstanding happens that its importance needs to be recorded. Last week ANDREA McCANNON’S performance in Wednesday evening’s ‘Eclat’ MASTER CLASS was such an occasion. ANDREA delivered a fabulous 6 minute 45 second blemish free performance recorded in one take.

At The Rehearsal Room, as actors progress through the various levels of the classes they work on longer and longer scenes. That’s because the challenge for the actor to keep a scene engaging for the audience increases considerably as the length of the scene grows. This scene was nearly seven minutes long! That’s unusually long for a TV script. There were plenty of challenges here, yet ANDREA made it look easy.

This exceptional performance was totally engaging, compellingly real, charming and thoroughly entertaining. Fine work.

ANDREA’S association with The Rehearsal Room began in 2005. She started in the Intermediate Sunday Workshop and has continued to return over the years.

The next Sunday Intermediate Workshop commences on Sunday 6 August at 2pm. Enrol here.

Jul 10

TV Presenting Workshop

By Richard Sarell | Acting Classes & Workshops

TV Presenting Workshop

Dates:

Duration:

Times:

Tutors:

Early Bird
Full Fee:

Saturday 10 July - 14 Aug

29 hours over 6 weeks

2pm - 6pm

Richard Sarell

$690.00 available till 30 Jan
$770.00

NOTE: The 2 final days may be full days + Final Review a fortnight after completion

ENROL NOW

Learn practical professional TV Presenting skills and overcome your public speaking fears. The confidence that has you relating to the camera in a charismatic way will work just as well to a live audience. You will learn more in your first session than you normally get from a whole course.

How to write good copy, co-present, conduct great interviews are explored.

"

We’ve been sending our first time presenters to Richard to help get them camera ready for many years. He’s a consummate professional with a deep understanding of performance and presentation.

Darren Hutchinson - Joined Up Films Pty Ltd
"Who's Been Sleeping in My House" (Adam Ford) ABCTV, "Will Australia Ever Have a Black Prime Minister" (Mark Coles Smith) ABCTV; "Are You Addicted to Technology" (Dr Huu Kim Le) SBS

An engaging performance that charms your audience will become a habit.

Professional performance skills will have you feeling at home on the public podium, the boardroom or in front of the camera.

In the final session shoot your own story that includes co-presenting, two reporting pieces to camera, an interview and a voice over.

BRING AN SD CARD to record your work to take home to assess. SD Card details are HERE.

Yasmin Bushby

The course gave me the confidence to know what I'm supposed to do on the set - it is very very practical and it works

What will be covered in this course?

1) Essential performance skills for communicating to an audience

Relating to the camera in a way that engages the audience makes it clear what the key to all good public speaking is

2) Keeping an open and spotaneous approach to charm your audience

Often the techniques that are taught are artificial. Here you will learn simple practical skills that utilize the strengths of your personality

3) How to cope with stresses and distractions so you stay relaxed and real

Managing nerves and understanding what generates them is a fast track to success.

4) Understanding the production process and how a presenter fits into it

Working with a director who has experience directing current affairs and documentary means you will learn a professional approach to dealing with time constraints and other distractions.

5) Interviewing skills that give polished engaging results

Understanding the interviewers job is the key to doing engaging, spontaneous and entertaining interview whether on stage or on screen.

6) Performing promos, coping with voice overs and autocue

Some specific areas require specific skills. This course introduces a practical approach to these issues.

Adam Ford3 series of 'Tour the World'

The thing that I like about The Rehearsal Room is that it gives you a process ... it gives you a formula that you can rely on.

THIS IS FOR YOU IF...

TV Presenting is something you have always wanted to do but didn't know where to start
The presenting course you have already done didn't build your confidence
Speaking comfortably in public is something you would like to master
You generally don't feel confident in groups and want to find a way of boosting your confidence
A tertiary degree in journalism hasn't made you comfortable in front of the camera
You believe you have the skills to be a presenter and want to learn more about how the industry works

IF YOU DON’T HAVE THESE SKILLS …

Misunderstandings about the presenters job will haunt your skill set
You may never find out how good you can be
Remaining confused about issues that should be really clear will be the norm
Naive mistakes will occur because you don't have a practical understanding
The presenters job will be much harder for you than it needs to be

ABOUT RICHARD...

This course evolved because The Rehearsal Room acting process was so useful to Jules Lund in establishing a career as a TV Presenter at a very young age. Jules did all the acting classes and then found it was those skills that quickly had him working on Channel 9's "Get Away".

On the basis of Jules success Richard decided to run this TV Presenters course and it was an instant success. The techniques that presenters learn are an adaptation of the fundamental processes taught to actors at The Rehearsal Room. They have all the same clear, practical, efficient and common sense qualities that produce performers who are in charge of their choices in a very professional way.

These techniques work on stage, in the boardroom or in front of a camera

Many have found they are now more comfortable and proficient on a professional set because they totally understand the realities of the job. The end result has been a professional career.

And everyone has found that they learn the skills quickly because it is such a practical and supportive learning environment.

This video promotion was made for 2015 classes

Learn skills you will use throughout your career.

THIS COURSE - Saturdays 10 July to 14 August 2021

EMAIL YOUR INTEREST NOW

Jun 05

A Taste of Our New Home

By Richard Sarell | News

The Rehearsal Room tested out its new home at the Dream Factory in Footscray with a 3-hour workshop “Freedom for the Actor” on Sunday 4 June. The results were outstanding with moving and powerful performances resulting from the exercises.

GLENN QUINN and KYAHL ANDERSON did a superb job in bringing their perspective to the session. “Incredible content in an explosive afternoon,” was how KELLY CUPO experienced the day. “What a pleasure to work with three professionals,” she said. The strength of the teaching team at The Rehearsal Room is growing and growing. It is already at an impressive standard.

“Three minds with three different approaches combined together, really created a powerful approach to the conversation,” commented CIGDEN HONEY.

It was an exciting afternoon.

The first SUNDAY WORKSHOPS at the DREAM FACTORY start this Sunday 11 June.
Click here to enroll for the Introductory Workshop and here for the Intermediate Workshop.

- Swipe left/right to see more

: Introductions

: GLENN QUINN running his breakout session

: Kyahl pitching his theories to the group.

: Watching and assessing a monologue performance.

May 24

Another Step Forward

By Richard Sarell | News

“You have got the role,” are the words every actor wants to hear their agent say. JOSHUA HODGE has just heard those words because he’s got a gig on “Wentworth”.

It is another step forward in expanding his experience and it also helps in building a professional network with Casting Directors and Directors.

Although an actor is always hoping for the BIG BREAK, for most it is a question of building a reputation one step at a time. Each gig is an opportunity to gain more experience and each class is the opportunity to build more skill. JOSHUA recently completed the Advanced Workshop (for experienced actors) where in 10 weeks he explored over 15 techniques to manage character and advance the drama of the story. Those skills are aimed at generating a performance that will standing out from the crowd in the audition room. Well done, Josh!!

May 01

Hollywood Excitement

By Richard Sarell | News

Actor/Producer DARREN MORT and Lead Actor WESLEY FORKE were in Los Angeles last week to see their film “Degree of Separation” screened in the opening session of 17^th Beverly Hills Film Festival. “It was very exciting for the film to be accepted into the festival but to then be scheduled to open the festival was a huge honour,” DARREN MORT said from LA. Seeing the distinctive image of the film’s poster adorning the festival’s foyer generated a real sense of how significant this achievement is.

“Degree of Separation” was directed by KYAHL ANDERSON and DALE MASTIN. It was written by PHILIP CLAASSEN. Congratulations to everyone concerned.

- Swipe left/right to see more

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 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.

- Swipe left/right to see more

: The first presentation by the new team.

: The session explored the simplicity of The Rehearsal Room concepts

: Glenn & Kyahl are both working on the creation of the 20week-ACCELERATOR course for later in the year.

: In the break-out groups Glenn was exploring how to change character quickly

: In his break-out group Kyahl was exploring simple concepts for controlling a scene

: Glenn explains the concepts that built the skills that lead him to playing a lead in “Jersey Boys”

: Richard Sarell explaining the concepts to this break-out session

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

ENROL NOW

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...