Visiting Neighbours in Summer Bay? Drop by the VCA first

What do Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce have in common? Or Chris Hemsworth and Naomi Watts? As much as Melissa George doesn't want to talk about it, they all got their break on an Australian soapy.

"Landing a role on the small screen is a well-trodden path to a paid career in acting," according to Loraine Little from the Victorian College of the Arts' School of Performing Arts.

There's an old saying in the performing arts that there are no small roles, just small actors. And even the smallest part can springboard a performer into a recurring role or a part elsewhere – if they work hard.

It's why the VCA runs intensive 'Soap Up' and 'Acting to Camera' subjects as part of its wider Summer and Winter Short Course programs each year, and similar courses as part of regular studies year-round.

"These are among our most popular courses," Ms Little says.

The courses are designed to provide a basic introduction to 'screen acting', which can often intimidate young actors with a set of demands very different from those encountered in the traditional training ground of amateur theatre.

"Graduates know the more 'strings to their bows', the more likely they are to have a sustainable career as an actor," she says.

The aspirational actors read film and TV scripts (including from Neighbours) and explore the often subtle differences between performing for commercials, TV shows and films.

"They're walked through the basics of screen performance, including finding marks and key lights, acting for different shot sizes, continuity and developing an ease and comfort in front of the camera," Ms Little said.

Matt Scholten is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and the VCA Director's course, and has taught at the College since 2007 in addition to being Head of Theatre Arts at the GOTAFE Regional Academy of Dramatic Arts.

He made his main stage directorial debut for the Melbourne Theatre Company in 2012 with the critically acclaimed The Heretic, starring Noni Hazlehurst (who, for the record, got her big break in the 1975 Australian soap opera, The Box).

"Hopefully students take away new, practical skills, a sense of possibility and the idea that they have a personal responsibility to create and put their work out there for people to see," he says of the acting short courses.

"I teach using scenes and monologues as a basis, therefore many students find that at the end of a course of study they organically have a piece they can use for an audition."

But Mr Scholten stresses that when actors are preparing for an audition they should familiarise themselves with the whole text. 

It's part of a wider work ethic that's impressed upon the students; that there are no shortcuts. Performers must work hard, and constantly strive to broaden their skill sets. 

"In my professional life I work with actors who traverse both film and theatre, and the best ones are those who understand the need to listen and to truly affect an audience," Mr Scholten says.

Loraine Little believes course tutors are the 'backbone' of the program.

"We look for people who are both industry practitioners and skilled teachers. They usually have a strong connection to the VCA's School of Performing Arts, be it as professional colleagues, alumni or as sessional or full-time teaching staff during the regular courses.

"This ensures synergy with the teaching processes and philosophy of the undergraduate program."

The VCA short courses – like the Acting Studio – have developed a strong reputation over recent years with alumni regularly gaining undergraduate places at VCA, NIDA and WAAPA. 

Several groups of alumni have gone on to form small independent theatre groups, such as GRIT Theatre (winners of the 2010 Fringe Festival Best Production), Mutations Theatre and Studio Eleven Theatre.

"It's a unique opportunity to get a taste of life as a VCA student," Ms Little says.

More information: 

www.vca.unimelb.edu.au/performingarts/shortcourses

vca-perfartshortcourses@unimelb.edu.au 

+61 3 9035 9229