The History of Acting - Tony Knight Masterclass
ACTORS and ACTING has existed in one form or another for over 2,000 years. Throughout the ages, the history, evolution, legacy, and influence of actors and acting has run in a parallel complementary way with the history of theatre, film, radio, and television.
To quote Shakespeare, ‘the purpose of play’ (of acting) is ‘to hold as twere the mirror up to nature’. Shakespeare also wrote that actors enact ‘the brief and abstract chronicles of the time’. Whilst the former quotation may provide and overall reason and purpose for acting, the later quotation is of greater relevance to this study of the History of Acting.
What is a ‘professional actor’?
Following Jean Benedetti, the art of the professional actor needs to be considered under two headings:
- The inner creative process.
- The conventions and codes, the performance spaces which shape the outward expression of that inner process.
Said to be one of the oldest professions in history, Acting gives "Storytelling" new gifts as it allows artists to draw from past discoveries and modernise it for new audiences. Knowledge is power. In this Masterclass, be challenged by the incredible Tony Knight (former NIDA Head Of Acting 1992 - 2011) beyond your comfort zone and discover your new level of artistry that elevates your understanding of humanity. Responsible for training many celebrated actors including two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, Miranda Otto, Sam Worthington and more. Do not be faint-hearted, this course is only for artists who possess discipline, determination and vigour for achieving excellence. If you're serious about your craft and the professional pursuit of acting, then this masterclass is for you
FRIDAY 18TH & FRIDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2020 (PST)
8PM - 11PM
SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER & SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2020 (AEST)
1.00-4.00PM
Limited places available.
AAFTA ARTISTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED RECEIVE 25% OFF
Master coach Tony Knight
Tony Knight was educated at Sydney Grammar School and trained at the Drama Centre London, which includes in its alumni Colin Firth, Frances de la Tour, Paul Bettany, Penelope Wilton, Michael Fassbinder and Tom Hardy. Tony has considerable knowledge, experience and expertise as a professional acting teacher and director.
Tony has been the Program Leader for the Musical Theatre (B.A. Hons.) course at the LaSalle College of the Arts, Singapore, developing and implementing a new curriculum. He was the Head of Acting at Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), training some of Australia’s most celebrated national and international actors, such as Cate Blanchett, Sam Worthington, Alex O’Loughlin and Miranda Otto.
Tony has taught, directed and lectured in many parts of the world, including Australia, the USA, Japan, Romania, Singapore and Tonga. He has spoken at numerous international and national conferences, including the annual ITI-Drama Schools Conference in Romania, and at the Musical Theatre Educators Conference, in Perth 2015, which included delivering a paper re current research - What’s Hidden Underneath: Secrets & Sex –The Pajama Game and American Drama n the early 1950s, the Age of McCarthyism, HUAC, and The Kinsey Report.
Tony has a passionate interest in all the performing arts, and dedicated to improving the training of young actors. He is now freelancing and completing his PhD on Richard Burbage: Shakespeare’s Actor & the Art of ‘Personation’. Now resident in Adelaide, South Australia, Most recently he has successfully delivered three public lectures on the 'Identity of the Australian Actor' at the National Portrait Gallery and the National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra.
Tony He has been teaching at SA Casting and Angela Heesom Casting, as well as his own private classes. He has also been directing and producing, including three successful professional productions - Harold Pinter’s Old Times, and William Mastrosimone’s Extremities at the Adelaide Festival Centre, and Gardner McKay’s Toyer at the Bakehouse Theatre, Adelaide.
STAGE 3 Judges
PETER MCGRATH
PETER MCGRATH
Peter Blackburn is a prolific, award-winning director, teacher, coach, theatre and filmmaker renowned in the Australian scene. Peter has worked alongside, been mentored by and taught by some of the world’s most spectacular industry minds – including Larry Moss, Noni Hazlehurst, Ellen Burstyn, Peter Evans, Mike Alfreds, Rob Marchand, Rena Owen, Kim Farrant, Cameron Daddo, Matt Scholten and many, many more. He has taught at leading institutions including NIDA, VCA, 16th Street, The National Theatre Drama School and DHPC. His work is breathtaking, his actors love him, his perspective and insight on the industry and the craft are unmatched and, what is not always a given; he really knows his stuff. Peter holds a Masters of Directing from the Victorian College of the Arts (MelbourneUniversity) as well as a teaching Degree from UNE and tertiary degrees in English Literature and Film (UNSW). He was a recipient of the prestigious Mike Walsh Fellowship for Directing through NIDA in 2019. After collaborating with renowned acting coach Larry Moss on ‘Holding the Man’ in 2014, Peter has worked in Los Angeles with the Australian Theatre Company on a number of occasions. His staging of Brendan Cowell’s ‘Ruben Guthrie’ for the company in 2016 won the L.A. Scene Award for Best Comedy, Best Director and Best Ensemble (among others). Having worked in some capacity in the Arts for nearly three decades, Peter has contributed to upwards of 30+ productions as director, dramaturge, actor and/or writer since 2010. In 2021 he founded PB Actor Coaching & Directing to focus on independent artists’ self-sufficiency and agency, and, along with SceneWorkout and Bitten By Productions, is determined to create a space for Independent Communities – a collection of artists and companies unaffiliated to any governing body or in thrall of any particular approach or institution, but who nevertheless seek to assist, guide and reach other independent artists find their potential and move beyond what they thought possible.
LORI TRIOLO
PETER MCGRATH
Anne’s just finished Line Producing the remake of Heartbreak High with Netflix and Fremantle Media. In 2021 she was Line Producer on kids TV series Born to Spy with ABCMe and Aquarius Films.
She’s worked on shows such as Odd Squad Mobile Unit a Canadian multiple Emmy Award-winning Kids TV series with FredBird Entertainment, and Fixing for Sydney and Hunter Valley Episodes of The Amazing Race Australia along with many other clients from around the world.
Anne’s produced everything from famous rock videos, interactive digital campaigns with Novak Djokovic for ANZ, high end TVC’s, live events, documentaries and films. She is now one of the go-to Fixers in Australia for International Productions shooting in this country. Her career has seen her working for Network Seven, Nine and SBS, along with major companies in agency, production and post production. Anne has produced a number of successful films in her 20 + year career including box office hit, Backyard Ashes (2013) and West (2007). Her latest film, The Merger (2018) shot in Wagga Wagga World Premiered at MIFF as the Centerpiece Gala Film and was Finalist at CinefestOZ (2018) and won Best Film at the OzFlix Independent Film Awards (2019). It is now trending on Netflix’s Top 10.
DONNA MORONG
GERALYN FLOOD
Nisrine Amine is an AWGIE-nominated, Lebanese-Australian actor, writer and producer from Western Sydney. Recently featured in the Australian feature film Slam, Deadly Women, Here Come The Habibs, and Janet King as well as the short films Amir (2018), Candlelight (2017), The Woman on the Top Floor (2012), Broken Time (2013), and The Parisian (2013), the web series I Luv u But (2014) and TAFEWSI's, Rob’s Campaign (2016). Nisrine received Outstanding Actor nomination at the 2017 Sydney Film School Award for lead role in short film Maya. Stage credits include The Girl/The Woman (NTOP/Riverside Theatre 2018), Alex and Eve: The Complete Story (Factory Theatre, 2013), The Colour Blind Project (Tap Gallery, 2011), and Arabian Nights (New Theatre, 2012) and countless playwriting development workshops. Her short film Apricot received funding by Screen NSW as part of their SEED: Regional Funding initiative and premiered at Flickerfest 2018 viewing on ABC. In 2012, Nisrine produced and co-directed The Young Creatives Festival of Shorts, a short-play festival for young people from Western Sydney as well as The Wizard of Oz (Our Lady of Mercy College, 2002), Check Please!
(Catherine Mcauley, 2010), Evil Shall Not Triumph (Catherine McAuley, 2010) and The Wiz (Ave Maria College, 2015). She also wrote, produced and starred in web series pilot Whatever After (2013). Her short play Must be the Dairy won People’s Choice at Round 2 of Crash Test Drama 2011. Nisrine was one of eight writers selected to take part in the Curious Works Behind Closed Doors program and has been mentored by Australian television writer Blake Ayshford as part of the program. Recent television credits include Home and Away, Amazing Grace, Mr Inbetween, and Frayed. She is the co-writer on the feature film Here Out West which was the opening night film at the 2021 Sydney Film Festival. Nisrine is also the co-founder and creative director of Parramatta Actors Centre
GERALYN FLOOD
TARIK KANIFANI
GERALYN FLOOD
The Film and Television industry is a family business for Tony, with both his father Calvin and grandfather Jack being accredited cinematographers. From a young age Tony knew he wanted to work in the family
business. Starting in the camera department at Panavision Australia then moving up through the camera department to become a director of photography. In his career as a DOP Tony has had many career highlights including winning best cinematography at
the worlds largest short film festival "Tropfest". Tony has also won multiple Australian Cinematographers Society awards for his work in commercial and drama. After 5 years of shooting Australians highest rated drama "Home and Away" Tony turned his mind to directing. After a successful attachment on Home and Away
Tony went on to direct 35 episodes of "Home and Away" and more recently moved to another Australian classic drama "Neighbours" with his most recent episode becoming the highest rating episode in several years both in Australia and the UK.
Tony is currently developing a series created by well known Actors "Brenton Thwaites" and "Tai Hara".
MATT BARRY
TARIK KANIFANI
TARIK KANIFANI
Jo Briant is a Casting Director at Fountainhead Casting and has been a successful actor for 37 years. She has worked extensively in theatre, film and television in New Zealand and Australia appearing in projects such as The End the Beginning, Life Goals, Bondi Slayer, Reckoning, Smokescreen, Kairos, Dave and Theo, The Fighting Season, MotherLode, Psychoanalysis, Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am, Home and Away, The Moodys, All Saints, Water Rats, Murder Call, Big Sky, Shortland Street and numerous commercials and voiceovers. She is also an experienced Director, Acting Coach, Success Coach and Energy Healer. And is a regular teacher at TAFTA and The Hub Studio and runs her own drop in classes. She loves combining acting, casting and coaching, as her wealth of experience and intimate understanding of an actors world both on screen and off enables her to guide other actors in a fun and nurturing way.
TARIK KANIFANI
TARIK KANIFANI
TARIK KANIFANI
Andy McPhee is an Australian Actor with an extensive career both local and international. Known for Iconic Australian films and series such as 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) and Criminal Minds (2011). Andy Mcphee is best known internationally for his portayal of Irish biker Keith McGee in FX Sons of Anarchy (2010). Next to be seen recurring as Turk, in critically acclaimed series WentWorth (2018) a contemporary revival of thee Australian Prison drama of the same name. Mcphee was also most recently starring in the Wolf Creek Miniseries (2016) starring Lucy Fry and John Jarratt. McPhee headlined four independent films including Living Space (2018) with director Steven Spiel, and the also the american production of What Goes Around Comes Around(2018) Directed by Tyson Jarvis and Mike Smallwood.
JOHNNY ONG
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A BEGINNERS Guide to Sitcom
INTERMEDIATE steps in Sitcom
INTERMEDIATE steps in Sitcom
In this ONLINE Beginners Guide to On-Camera Comedy with Crista Flanagan, actors will break down the various types of comedy and how they are technically executed for film and television. Special attention will be paid to the history of comedy in film and television, how to break down a comedy script and the responsibilities of the professional actor. Each class will be 3hrs and will run over 4 weeks.
FRIDAY 4PM - 7PM (LA)
SATURDAYS 8AM - 11AM (AEST)
STARTS FEBRUARY 4TH 2022
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
Price:
$397.00 USD PER COURSE
$952.00 USD FULL COURSE
INTERMEDIATE steps in Sitcom
INTERMEDIATE steps in Sitcom
INTERMEDIATE steps in Sitcom
In this ONLINE INTERMEDIATE steps in Sitcom Course with Crista Flanagan, Actors will apply the tools learned in the beginners course and dive deeper into the script analysis to create an ideal self tape for Sitcom. Crista will focus on the techniques and the painful truth behind the comedy within your performance. Actors will be pushed further outside their comfort zones and prepare to audition. Each class will be 3hrs and will run over 4 weeks.
FRIDAY 4PM - 7PM (LA)
SATURDAYS 8AM - 11AM (AEST)
STARTS MARCH 4TH 2022
MUST COMPLETE BEGINNERS GUIDE
Price:
$397.00 USD PER COURSE
$952.00 USD FULL COURSE
All ADVANCED Comedians only.
INTERMEDIATE steps in Sitcom
All ADVANCED Comedians only.
In this ONLINE All ADVANCED Comedians only course with Crista Flanagan, Actors will
engage in a Sitcom Self Tape bootcamp. Actors will required to tape audition sides each week that will be broken down and assessed just like seasoned professionals. You will build or re-build a workflow and acting process that feels comfortable, makes sense and produces the results you desire. Each class will be 3hrs and runs over 4 weeks.
FRIDAY 4PM - 7PM (LA)
SATURDAYS 8AM - 11AM (AEST)
STARTS APRIL 1ST 2022
MUST COMPLETE INTERMEDIATE GUIDE
Price:
$397.00 USD PER COURSE
$952.00 USD FULL COURSE
BOOK A CONSULTATION
BOOK A FREE 15 MIN CONSULTATION TO DISCUSS YOUR GOALS AND HOW AAFTA CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE THEM.