Join the Crime Scene Screen Actor's Workshop with Perform Australia

Next intake starts October 16 -
​taking bookings till October 9 unless sold out prior

Details

When: 7.30pm-9.30pm, Wednesday nights for 8 weeks, from October 16 to December 4
Where: Perform Australia studios, 11 Whyalla St, Fyshwick, ACT
​Cost: $350
Love CSI, Agatha Christie, and cop shows? In this 8-week acting workshop, you'll develop your acting skills for the camera by working on scripts from the crime, thriller and detective genres. 

Your tutor will lead you on a discovery through the 'police procedural drama', and you'll examine the significant elements of this genre.

Each week you'll examine scripts from different film and TV classics, such as Murder on the Orient Express, Sherlock, New Tricks, Criminal Minds, and workshop them in class, taking different roles. Many of these script contain stock characters that are great fun to play: the criminal, the victim, the investigator, the police, the family, and the suspects.

A number of other exercises will teach you the key skills of actors working in this genre, such as ducking for cover, drawing a weapon, facing off an opponent, creating suspense while acting, and using micro-expressions to let the audience know your character is lying.

Why you should do this course right now

Reason #1: Your tutor knows what he's talking about

Brendan Kelly is an actor, writer, director and producer in film and theatre.

So he knows what he's talking about. He received his training at the Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art, now known as Perform Australia, gaining his Advanced Diploma of Performance. Since then he’s been active in the Canberra theatre and film community, achieving accolades for short films written and produced in the ACT, most notably his short, Dying Art, which has been shown in festivals around the world. His film Punctured appeared in the New York City Independent Film Festival in 2019, while his film Social Media Duel  was the winner of the Best Two-Minute Film in the Canberra Short Film Festival in 2015, to name only a few of his works. He's also been seen on Canberra's stages professionally as an actor, having appeared in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Honest Puck Theatre, 2015), Henry Five (Honest Puck Theatre, 2016), and as the lead role of The Actor in The Woman In Black in May 2019.  Brendan's going to be drawing on his own skills and techniques in teaching you about acting in the crime genre. 

Reason #2: You'll improve your skills as an actor

​Whether this is your first time acting for the camera, or you're an old hand, you'll be able to develop your skills as a screen actor. You'll be able to work with your scene partners to workshop a range of scripts while also working on some skills that are particular to the crime actor. Need to know how to show a police badge for your role? You'll even practice in this course! But the crime/police/detective genre is not only about the paraphernalia. So many of these movies and TV shows have in-depth, dramatic and comedic roles for actors. You'll look at some of these and improve your skills as an actor through that experience. 

Reason #3: It'll be fun and challenging

Our courses at Perform Australia are designed to both educate and entertain. So you'll have fun as you meet and work with other actors, and you'll also have fun learning the actor's craft. That's not to say there won't be challenges - because not everyone's seen themselves on screen before. There's a vulnerability when you act for the camera... and again when you watch the footage back. This can be daunting for the most seasoned of actors. But truth be told, it's a great way to learn. Acting on stage, you rarely have the chance to see what you look like - but the camera sees all. So while it might be challenging to watch yourself on screen, you'll also be able to see how to improve your performance with every take. Our classes are conducted in a good-natured and supportive atmosphere, so you'll have fun but also feel like you're learning. 

More reasons to join this course

#5: You get to work in a fully-equipped studio

Perform Australia has a fantastic screen studio with state-of-the-art equipment at our premises in Fyshwick. You get to experience it when you do this course. So if you are thinking about professional acting, or you already are one, you'll become familiar with the equipment and expectations when working in film. 

#6: You'll join the Perform Australia community

When you do a course at Perform Australia, you meet your "tribe". You'll meet other actors - people to network with, to work on projects with, and simply to dialogue with. Our students say they enjoy being a part of our artistic community.

​What Our Students Say

I have never really done acting/drama before, but have always wanted to give it a go. Now that I have, I am in love - so I will be looking to continue learning."
​- Alexandria

Ready to enrol?