VCA?

Mon, 21 Sept 2009, 03:44 pm

Pokey16 posts in thread

Hi everybody, Like many, I'm planning to try out for acting schools this year. I currently live in Adelaide, and have my Nida audition on the 14th of Nov and my Waapa audition on the 25th of Nov. I wasn't planning to try out for VCA this year, as they are not auditioning in Adelaide, but I've been told that I should. Now I'm conflicted, because in order to audition in Melbourne I'd have to fly to Melbourne the day following my Waapa audition for the last days of VCA auditions. It's not that I'm unwilling, but I question why VCA are not auditioning in all capital cities this year. Nida and Waapa are willing to come to Adelaide, so why not VCA? In addition, I've heard things in the past, from this message board too, about VCA 'culling' a lot of students from their acting courses. Now, granted, that post ( http://www.theatre.asn.au/node/1908 ) was referring to Lindy Davies in particular, who has now resigned from her post. But I wondered if anyone on this board knows whether it's still a common practice? Also, VCA is becoming part of Melbourne University next year. Do you think that will change things? As I said above, I will make the effort to fly to Melbourne, but I'm not sure if I'd want to spend a year at VCA only to be failed or forced to quit without any understanding of why I'm not making the grade. So what do people in the know think about VCA? Is it changing with the removal of Lindy Davies and the connection to Melbourne University?

Thread (16 posts)

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PokeyMon, 21 Sept 2009, 03:44 pm

NaMon, 21 Sept 2009, 03:53 pm

Um, I highly recommend

Um, I highly recommend visiting www.savevca.org. They will have up to date info on what's happening with the courses. Frankly, from what I've heard, the changes are NOT small, but will impact the way the courses are taught and what you're taught. (Ie. the acting course sounds like it is becoming more 'academic' and theory based, rather than practical. I'm not sure what that will mean about the quality of the course - academic doesn't mean bad quality necessarily - but it certainly will change what you learn and how you learn it) It's not just the students that are being culled, but staff, courses being shut down, funding reduced, and a lot more... I'm not surprised they're not auditioning in every state, given that it appears that Melb. Uni. is trying to kill off VCA/VCA courses for good. From your comments, it sounds like you haven't read much about it, and the situation is far worse than you think. Frankly, I would do a LOT of research about the changes before considering moving to another state; especially given the good - or perhaps now, better - courses elsewhere. Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

LabrugMon, 21 Sept 2009, 04:00 pm

Affordability

The future of VCA is currently being hotly debated back and forth. The school wants to reduce it's effectiveness while current and past students are demanding it remain unchanged. Where this will lead to is still open.

As for auditioning, while auditioning for as many schools as you can can increase your chances, my personal feeling is that it won't substantially increase them. Most of the schools have a "similar" mindset. I use that term lightly here however.

At the end of the day, what can you afford? Can you easily accomodate a trip to Melbourne financially? To a school who's future is a little uncertain? If you can easily afford a trip out there, then do it. If not, do what you can where you are.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
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Walter PlingeWed, 23 Sept 2009, 08:04 am

The problem is call backs.

The problem is call backs. IF you get through to the advanced stages of WAAPA's auditions you won't be able to make it the next day to Melbourne methinks. I seriously recommend forgetting VCA this year - hopefully next year things will be more clear and maybe it will remain a really good school. But it's not looking good. Focus on NIDA and WAAPA this year. Good luck.

PokeyWed, 23 Sept 2009, 09:49 am

Thanks everyone for your

Thanks everyone for your advice. I've chosen to forget VCA this year, as WAAPA grad suggested. It may be clearer next year what is happening there, but if the school is becoming chiefly academic then I have no interest in going there. I think every aspiring actor would prefer to go to a school that focuses foremost on practical work. It's an absolute shame that this is happening to VCA. It's extremely sad that such a great school is changing in such a way. It's also disappointing that it's happening in Melbourne, a beautiful city and long considered one of the most artistic and cultural cities in Australia. Oh well, hopefully they won't go down this path, although it looks likely that they will.

Walter PlingeFri, 25 Sept 2009, 08:52 am

Ballarat?

Just a further thought: The Arts Academy, Ballarat (BAPA) is also a really good option. I have some friends who graduated the music theatre course there and they loved it - and are getting good work. So, maybe consider that as well.

Walter PlingeSat, 26 Sept 2009, 10:50 am

Just remember though that

Just remember though that NIDA also has strict rules about attendance and passing units. There is every chance that you could spend two and a half years there, only to be kicked out. Mel Gibson, case in point

Walter PlingeSun, 27 Sept 2009, 12:27 pm

the changes at VCA

Please do check out the SAVEVCA website: www.savevca.org The proposed changes, although worrisome, are being fought tooth and nail by current VCA students, alumni and practically all of Melbourne's Arts industry. For those who want to audition for VCA, there are no changes happening in 2011. Through negotiations, Melbourne uni has pulled the date back to 2012, meaning that for next year's intake there won't be any major changes happening to the courses (except the Bachelor of Music course, but that's another story). Concerning whether or not to audition, I can only ask that you read all the information about the school and what Melbourne University are proposing to do before you decide whether or not to give it a shot. All the best for your auditions.

Walter PlingeSun, 27 Sept 2009, 03:34 pm

I disagree with Labrug's

I disagree with Labrug's comment about all schools having the same mindset. I auditioned for NIDA and VCA last year, didn't even get a call back for NIDA but got into VCA. They both have very different styles of training and look for completely different things in applicants; at the end of the day it depends on the training you're seeking. The changes that are occuring at the VCA, implemented by the University of Melbourne, won't affect students until 2011/2012 (the introduction of the Melbourne Model). So if you audition for next year you will receive the training outlined on the website. That's not to go without saying that the changes leading up to the major changes aren't being felt already (i.e. staff cuts). Everything is being done to stop these changes, currently the climate at the VCA isn't great, but there's a great feeling of unity among all the schools here and it makes you realise what a truly special place it is to go. One of the changes that we were, and are, disgusted about is that they're not auditioning in all capital cities any more. They saw it as financially flippant which is a sign of the University of Melbourne's ignorance. A lot of students are from interstate and to me it seems ridiculous to lump costs onto prospective students, especially to a course which is so competitive. In the grand scheme of things it's not a lot of money for them. I'd highly recommend not ruling the VCA out as an option IF you believe the training suits you. All major acting schools in Australia are SO different in their teaching methods and it boils down what kind of actor you want to be. The last thing we want, that is the people fighting these changes, are people being turned off coming to the VCA because they are afraid they won't be receiving the training that the VCA are, and always have been, renowned for. And if you end up here you'll realise it's worth saving for the people post-2012! Good luck!

Walter PlingeSun, 27 Sept 2009, 08:38 pm

The VCA has lost its ways

The VCA has lost its ways and lost it's leading practitioners in John Bolton and Lindy Davies. Essentially the school is directionless and unable to cope with the impending changes that have been in the making for the past ten years or more. Just stick with your original thought in auditioning for NIDA...then consider WAAPA. May the best school win!

NaSun, 27 Sept 2009, 10:06 pm

I'm not familiar with VCA

I'm not familiar with VCA or its staff, but this is hardly just about the direction of the school. When running a theatre course costs millions of dollars and takes in only 15 students per course per year, that's hardly cost effective. (I know Swinburne redid its theatre foyer for several tens of thousands of dollars, because of various safety updates. A lighting rig broke - completely randomly - away from the wall one day, and that cost thousands to replace too. A venue is expensive; likewise, the insurance for teaching in a dangerous work environment, where kids are expected to be doing physical things... etc etc. VCA's costs would be similar, if not higher) It appears that the changes to VCA come not because of lack of direction or because the staff have 'lost their aims', but because Melb Uni can no longer afford to pay out on a losing college. NIDA, WAAPA and other universities who offer acting/tech courses suffer from the same budgetary issues, with one difference: VCA can not receive similar government funding. This leaves Melb Uni picking up the tab, and at a certain point, the budget crunchers have decided that VCA needs to shape up or ship out. It should be made clear that the STAFF THEMSELVES at VCA have also condemnded the changes, and have made numerous loud protests over it. That says the opposite of them having 'lost direction', since they too do not support the changes and would like to keep things the way they are - and not reduce the quality of the courses provided. As for being 'unable' to cope, I think you'll find you can't do much to fight for the courses you teach (and to fight for the curriculum that you've developed) if you've been fired, or have had your hours or pay reduced. You'd have a tough time convincing the people who don't want to pay for your time or knowledge to also convince them (not just to hire you, but) not to kill off the course that is losing the school money. You underestimate greatly the politics that occur within a university, and how even lecturers and course coordinators can be undercut by their superiors and those who are worred about bottom lines. Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

Walter PlingeMon, 28 Sept 2009, 05:00 pm

Keiran - the VCA website

Keiran - the VCA website specifically says... There will be no intake to the Bachelor of Music Theatre in 2010. Has this changed recently?

Walter PlingeMon, 28 Sept 2009, 10:14 pm

I don't think I really need

I don't think I really need to justify this with a response - but I will. As I said before, all schools have different teaching methods and end up training very different actors. I'd challenge you to back up that VCA no longer has "leading practitioners". This comment is completely unfounded and quite frankly offensive. And I'm not sure what you're referring to when you say "May the best school win!". Are you referring to the annual game of Quidditch we play? I'm not sure what other competition we partake in with one another...

Walter PlingeMon, 28 Sept 2009, 10:20 pm

The University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne have unfortunately suspended intake into the Music Theatre and Puppetry courses for 2010. So far there is no change to this decision.

NaMon, 28 Sept 2009, 11:43 pm

Just wanted to add, in

Just wanted to add, in addition to my comments above about 'direction', and reminded by the comments of Kieran: VCA runs (ran) the ONLY puppetry course in the Southern hemisphere. Those who teach it are considered the best in the country in the field, and have brought numerous international puppetry megastars to do sessional teaching. I believe it took some good decades to convince anyone to support such a course; Swinburne, who hold the only other puppetry component in the country, have also likewise been struggling to develop more support for puppetry. Anyone who thinks that convincing a bunch of course administrators to fund and create a new course - in a field not even recognised by most pro actors and techies as existing in this country - is in my book, a bloody hero. That's not the sign of being directionless, that's a sign of having the guts to do something for the potential artists of this country. Furthermore, many of the graduates have gone on to create award winning puppetry shows and further develop the interest in puppetry by the general public; who by and large are completely f*ing ignorant when it comes to puppets as a real and vibrant industry. The fact that Melb Uni is choosing to close it means a lot of hopeful puppeteers are back to scrounging up what little internships they can and learning on their own. Although I would not attend VCA's course myself (I'm tired of assignments now and just want to get on with it), I would support anyone's right to study puppetry to the death. I would like to see which school would 'win' this so-called battle, seeing as how no other university or college in Australia runs a Postgrad/Masters in Puppetry. (Fingers crossed Swinburne can fill the niche in the future, or that VCA/Melb Uni has a change of heart) Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

LabrugTue, 29 Sept 2009, 09:14 am

Clarification

I did wonder if my comment would be misunderstood. It was rather simplified. - I acknowledge that different schools have different teaching practises and policies. I acknowledge that the internal cultural mindset will differ dependant very much on who is teaching and the specific requirements.

My implication that they all have a similar mindset was more to do with the process of auditioning. Each school will have an agenda (and I do not mean this is a negative way) that they hope to achieve. To a very large extent, those who get call-backs and may even be accepted into the school are those hopefuls who at audition best fill the needs of the school at the time. These needs are directed by several factors that may differ from school to school, yet the approach to auditioning is similar in nature.

Some students will be rejected because they are too green, others because they are too ripe. Once you have weened out those you can work with, then you can makes choices based upon more detailed criteria, such as the type of shows they plan to produce.

Why do they do this? Because they, in a real sense, have to. There are so many hopeful applicants that audition for each of these schools every year, thousands, that in order to cull the list down to something they can manage, they will need to get very particular with their selection criteria. It is the nature of the industry itself.

I hope this helps to clarify my comments.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
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