Class #1: Serving the Story
Coming Soon
First classes in Melbourne
We are currently gathering expressions of interest and locking in dates.
Please click the link below if you’d like us to email you with the full details when they’re ready.
Welcome to The Acting Dept, a series of classes devised and taught by Luke Arnold and Laura Brent to prepare you for a lifelong career in the arts.
There can be a chasm between what actors expect life on set to be and what the job truly demands, and Luke and Laura are passionate about training actors to become informed, prepared and generous members of the crew.
These classes will encourage you to invest in the work of being an actor, rather than the dream. Many actors struggle to find success and happiness in this career because they focus on the elements they cannot control rather than the simple but profound task of how best to serve the story.
8 hours
$350
Max class number: 12
Laura Brent has worked on some of the biggest international sets in Australia including Mortal Kombat and Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, along with home-grown productions such as Anzac Girls, Upright, Secret City and Winchester.
She is a dedicated teacher, tutoring at NIDA: Melbourne as well as privately coaching actors at various stages of their career.
Luke Arnold has worked in Australia and around the world on productions such as Black Sails, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, The End, Nautilus, Scrublands, Salvation, Preppers and True Colours, and has long felt that many actors arrive on set without a clear understanding of what their role truly entails.
After teaching his first series of classes with ‘The Film and Television Studio International’ he is excited to prepare more actors to enter the industry feeling empowered and confident in their skills.
Class #1 - Serving the Story.
This is the foundational class for what we intend to be an ongoing series. We’ll be focusing on breaking down the basics so that you can approach any audition or job as a problem-solver and collaborator. We want you to be able to discern and understand your function before getting lost in the weeds of your character’s internal world.
In short exercises - both with and without text - we will practice clarity, intention and economy of performance. Many acting courses focus on leading roles where the story revolves around your character’s emotional journey, but there are plenty of other characters in every story that often require a different set of skill. So, we’ll be looking at how to effectively convey exposition, how to be a great support, and how to employ your craft within any of the varied roles that you will encounter as a jobbing actor.
We will be packing in as many exercises as we can so please arrive on time and ready to play.
There will be voice and body warm ups so please wear comfortable clothing that you can lie down and stretch in.
No scene preparation will be required. Any text will be short, easily-memorised pieces you will learn on the day. This class isn’t about perfecting a particular piece or showing off your best work, but rather learning the skills and the mindset to identify your function and serve your role without overcomplicating the process.
In the spirit of getting as much practical work done as possible, we will not be filming or rewatching any work on this day. A camera may used to discuss and reinforce camera technique, but you won’t be walking away with any footage.
If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out.