Entertaining ideas of being a star of the screen? Wanting to understand what techniques to use when acting on camera? Or just curious about how actors make it look so easy when acting up there on your TV? You're in the right place! Sarah Hallam, Stephen Lopez and Sass Pinci are teaching Acting For The Screen, exclusive to the Incognita@Montsalvat program and bookings are now open - so grab your spot!

Join Sarah, Stephen and Sass in this one day workshop to learn about the techniques of screen acting in a fun, safe and empowering space. Learn about how to "hit your mark", how to embody your character and understand a scene quickly, how to act authentically on camera and more! Perfect for all teens that are interested in a potential screen career, or just want to have fun learning some new skills, as well as building self-confidence.

CLASS INFORMATION:

Students will be assigned a simple scene each and then work intensively on that piece over the space of one workshop with highly respected actor/teachers Sarah Hallam (Wentworth, Neighbours), Stephen Lopez (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, La Brea) and Sass Pinci (Queen Evil).

Beginners through to advanced level students welcome, as the work will be tailored to each individual student and where they are at with their acting knowledge.

Participant bookings close March 31 to give time to assign scenes.

OUTCOME: The chance to achieve a deeper understanding of acting for film & TV at a professional level, adding portable tools to your acting toolbox that will be useful in performing on screen, learning through experience.

Participants will get:

A solid, working understanding of screen acting technique;
Advice and guidance from Entertainment Industry practitioners & teachers with a vast knowledge of the industry;
A sense of joy and play around the acting process that is based in real technique and knowledge; and
The chance to activate and explore their creativity and self-expression.

Participants should bring:

A notebook and pen/pencil to take any notes; and
A packed lunch and bottle of water

Additional notes about the class:

Participants are requested to wear loose clothing that allows them to move.
All our teachers have current Working With Children permits

ABOUT YOUR TEACHERS:

SARAH HALLAM

Sarah Hallam is an established actor in Melbourne but holds Canadian, British and New Zealand citizenship; she believes this makes perfect marriage material! She graduated from the Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia full-time course in 2012 and was handpicked by Howard Fine to become his first Australian teacher of his technique.

Sarah has worked consistently in film/television for over twenty years; highlights include “Ann Jenner” in the Warnie telemovie, “Hutch” in Wentworth Season 5, 6 & 7, “Pia Nash” in Neighbours, Rush, City Homicide, Blue Heelers, Canal Road and Stingers. Sarah recently filmed the lead role in The Funeral which won all the awards at the One Shot International Film Festival in Florida.

On stage, Sarah has toured with Arena Theatre Company and recently performed in A Jubilee, Killer Joe, The Centenarian and The Truth is Longer Than a Lie.

Sarah also worked for many years as a professional Casting Director, with credits in numerous Australian film and TV projects.

Sarah’s trained extensively with world renowned acting coaches Howard Fine, Kim Farrant, Ivana Chubbuck, Kim Krejus; trained in Alexander Technique with Penny McDonald & Jean-Louis Rodrigue, Voice with Stephen Costan and Singing and Speech for Actors with LA Vocal Expert David Coury.

STEPHEN LOPEZ

Stephen ‘Stevie’ Lopez is a versatile actor with over 20 years experience in Film, Television and Theatre. As well as being a professional performer, He has been part of the faculty at the Centrestage Performing Arts School for the past 15 years teaching both Drama and Musical Theatre classes as well as running his own private coaching and self tape studio.

Stevie began his training at Centrestage Performing Arts School under the tutorship of Ian & Leanne White, before becoming an inaugural member of their full time musical theatre program Showfit. Stevie then continued his studies at the Howard Fine Acting Studio in both Melbourne & Los Angeles, learning from world renowned acting coach Howard Fine.

His Film credits include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales where he worked along side Johnny Depp & Javier Bardem, as well as the Australian drama Tom White.

His Television credits include roles in productions such as: Utopia, Gold Diggers, La Brea, Fisk, With Intent, Harrow, Here Come the Habibs, Fat Tony and Co, Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS, City Homicide, Underbelly Flies: Infiltration, Neighbours, Underbelly, Kick, Scooter Secret Agent and many more.

On stage, Stevie was cast as the original Australian “Usnavi” in the Australian premiere of the musical In the Heights, as well as appearances in productions of Cafe Rebetika, Oklahoma! and West Side Story.

SASS PINCI

Sass Pinci is a Melbourne based Actor, Singer, Voice Over Artist, Musician and Vocal Coach and a graduate of the Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia full time program.

With wide-ranging credits in theatre, film, voice over and live performance, including singing the opening theme for The Disney Channel’s Squeak & Boo, as well as regular voice over work and working in Melbourne radio for the Austero Network, she is a trained and versatile performer and composer.

After studying classical voice with Brian Hansford at The University of Melbourne, Sass spent many years teaching vocal technique and is a passionate advocate for vocal health.

After her work with him as part of her training at HFAS, LA’s leading voice coach, David Coury, took Sass under his mentorship to teach his world class vocal program at Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia, where she is currently on faculty.

To us, Sass is best known for her numerous roles in Incognita projects, both in front of and behind the scenes – playing “Abbey” in the moved reading of Chasing Pegasus (a play in ten chords) in 2019 and “Mark Antony” in Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles) in 2020, as well as being the Sound Designer for the Walking Shadows series. Sass also played “Elizabeth Grey” in Dark Arcadia, as well as taking on the roles of Producer and Sound Editor, and is also composing and performing the main song for the series.

CLASS DETAILS:

TEACHERS: Sarah Hallam, Stephen Lopez & Sass Pinci

AGE GROUP FOR PARTICIPANTS:
14-17 years old

DATE/S:
Thursday, April 4, 2024

HOURS:
10am-3pm
(1 day, 5 hours total)

COST:
$210+BF in totaL

Full Information about the Incognita@Montsalvat program: https://events.incognitaenterprises.com

*The rear of the Barn Gallery at Montsalvat. Photo by Sally McLean*

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

WELCOME TO INCOGNITA@MONTSALVAT

Incognita Enterprises is delighted to be partnering with the prestigious and historically significant Arts venue, Montsalvat, located in breath-taking surrounds in Eltham, Victoria, just 37 mins drive from the Melbourne CBD, where we will be offering a program of workshops, masterclasses and live theatrical events across the year.

Come join us for writing workshops, acting masterclasses, Shakespeare classes and other Performing Arts educational offerings for teenagers and adults. Attend entertainment industry Q&A sessions each month with experienced actors, directors and others to learn more about the film, television and theatre industries. Come along to our monthly play readings, where professional actors will read new plays from emerging and experienced playwrights.

Later in the year, we are excited to be offering two theatrical events that you won’t want to miss. A very special theatrical production, written for Montsalvat’s 90th Anniversary celebrations and a large scale immersive promenade Shakespeare theatre installation – both featuring professional actors and showcasing the Montsalvat Resident Artists’ talents and works. More information to come on both these events, so make sure you subscribe to our mailing list, so you don’t miss out!

We look forward to seeing you at beautiful Montsalvat in person!

MAIN HEADER PHOTO: Meerna Yousif as "Hero" on set of Dark Arcadia, created & directed by Sally McLean. Photo by Allena Tran.