Help please.. especially WAAPA< NIDA< CPA students

My daughter is currently studying year 10 (year 11 drama)
She is working a lot in amateur theatre (musical theatre and drama)and is getting paid to sing solo at al festivals carols etc...
She currently takes private dance, singing and music theory lessons
She has won acting and singing scholarships

However...

we feel we have reached a watershed and need to decide some things NOW to assist in possible entry to WAAPA, NIDA or CPA

The school she is at provides dance, drama and music to year twelve..
but lately has had trouble keeping teachers.... this of course varies the quality of her education a lot...

we are trying to decide;

whether to attend a recognised PA school (which would mean a lot more travelling and cut down on productions and private lessons)

remain where we are and pursue the same avenue

do a 2 year PA course in Adelaide (but subjects other than dance/drama have to be open access study)

switch to a recognised private school (which again cuts down time for productions and private training)

soooooo

if there is an answer to this

which carries the most weight??

Examination certificates ie level 4 music theory / voice

Experience in large productions with large roles

A recognised school

or a fulltime performing arts course


We need to make the switch soon

any advice gratefully appreciated

Clint

Hi,

Two things:

Firstly, what does your DAUGHTER want to do? She is the best person to make the decision; she will know what feels right.

Secondly, and I know opinions vary on this, but I think that all the special courses and PA schools and private colleges and voice lessons in the world are irrelevant, if you've got talent. Two people are at the auditions for WAAPA, NIDA, Whatever. One has done several courses, went to the "right" school blah blah blah. The other one is actually just more talented.

Choose secondary schools for what they can offer students in terms of expanding their knowledge and rounding them as a person, not due to their name or location or reputation. WAAPA (where I am) will be far more impressed and concerned with talent, knowledge, personality, committment, passion and intelligence than with what school you went to.

Also keep in mind its a very special student who gets accepted into a drama school first year out of high school. They normally wait till you have a couple of years of "life experience". Makes sense, really...

Good luck...

Cheers.



Thou droning doghearted flirt-gill!

Thanks

That pretty well verifires what we were thinking

Danni auditions well which is a good start

The decision is Danni's.... trouble is that a lot of people she talks to have a vested interest... better to chat to people like you...

Did you get straight in?... if not what did you do between high school and WAAPA?

No worries.

Vested interest, fair enough; pity about that.

I got straight in, but thats not necessarily the best thing. Plus, I'm a performer, but am studying Arts Management: although I could have auditioned (and was expected to), I prefered to concentrate on Arts Man'gt. Arts Man'gt also has a fairly high academic-score based component, along with the interviews and application process and the like, so thats where my 'well rounded' comments were stemming from.

Where are you based?

We're in Adelaide

So far Danni has done well academically (As and occasional B in advanced math)

Can you switch courses once your in??

Not without (re)auditioning for the prefered course and getting accepted.

Good luck

Hiya,

I went to WAAPA and I've recently done a 3mth course at NIDA. It is her decision of course, but I know that VCA, NIDA & WAAPA prefer people to have life experience before applying; I know of only one friend who gained entry straight out of Yr12.

I didn't finish my course at WAAPA and I was extremely disappointed with the NIDA course (I should mention Im not an actor), but I'm glad I applied for both and now I know what is out there and what is better suited to me.

Good luck!

heyall since we're on the subject I was just curious which is easier to get into, music or PA? also do you need yr 12 tee to get in?

thanx in advance, blu :p

hey guys,
I am currently in yr 11 and sound exactly like danni. I have attended waapa workshops, masterclasses etc and loved it all but decided that while those things are fantastic and great fun at the end of the day, it is how ur audition goes and if u actually have talent.

There is also the element of being too young, like all u guys have mentioned which is so true. Experience is great and of course neccessary so she should keep up with all the classes etc and productions but at the end of it all, its what the panel want and r looking for, no one can prepare you for that.
What is the CPA?

Hey Alison,

My name is spike levy, and i was actually surfing the net in search of some information on the monologues that i am required to do for my auditions.

I've read some of the conversations that you have been having with Clint i think, i don't know if that's invasion of provacy or something :) hehehe but it all seemed relevant and interesting....
What i was wondering was if you could possibly write back to me at hotmail....

Spike_wants_fish@hotmail.com

Just to let me know as to what kind of thing they look for exactly in an audition and so forth.
I've studied my high school at victorian college of the arts secondary school currently enrolled in year12, and it's very much like a performing arts school. We do half a day music and half a day academic. I originally got in as a drummer, but moved onto my passion as a singer, dancer, actor.
Would love to hear from you and a brief background about yourself, just to know what kind of people the accept over there.
That would be really appreciated. Hope to hear from you.
Regards Spike Levy, (If you write i'll tell you why my parents called me spike) THANX!!!

Hey Alison,

My name is spike levy, and i was actually surfing the net in search of some information on the monologues that i am required to do for my auditions.

I've read some of the conversations that you have been having with Clint i think, i don't know if that's invasion of privacy or something :) hehehe but it all seemed relevant and interesting....
What i was wondering was if you could possibly write back to me at hotmail....

Spike_wants_fish@hotmail.com

Just to let me know as to what kind of thing they look for exactly in an audition and so forth.
I've studied my high school at victorian college of the arts secondary school currently enrolled in year12, and it's very much like a performing arts school. We do half a day music and half a day academic. I originally got in as a drummer, but moved onto my passion as a singer, dancer, actor.
Would love to hear from you and a brief background about yourself, just to know what kind of people the accept over there.
That would be really appreciated. Hope to hear from you.
Regards Spike Levy, (If you write i'll tell you why my parents called me spike) THANX!!!

Hey everyone,

You know what all you Year 10/11/12 students who have answered this post should do? Exchange email addresses and chat to each other about your preparation, experience, questions etc

You will probably find that its a huge help having other people in the same position to chat to and ease any worries or queries

Also, chat to your drama teachers about ex-students of theirs/your school who have been accepted into drama schools. They might be able to help your preparation also.

Just some ideas,
Cheers,
A.

I wouldn't actually mind getting some tips from students of these prestigious drama schools like NIDA, WAPAA, QUT, VCA etc on what they did in their audition, especially since auditions for these schools are coming up.

Anyone out there wants to give their advice?

yeah i wouldn't mind getting in touch wiv peeps from years 9/10/11/12 that want to discuss upcoming auditions, drama and tv schools etc. My email is da_cutie_is_in_da_house@hotmail.com. Hope to talk to u all.
-Lauren

IMHO nothing you do or don't do will help you to get into one of these institutions. I can only speak of WAAPA but I know people who are astonishingly talented but were never accepted and those who worked their butts off for years to be "the package that the panel wanted" but never found out what that was. I also know people who got into the course and were laughed at by their peers for three years because they were so bad but, hey, they still graduated. I know people who got into the course straight from high school and people who were qualified doctors before they began. I know people who were exceptionally talented but never got a chorus role in a show after they graduated and people who were terribly average who went on to have great careers in the performing arts. I know a man who got kicked out of the Musical Theatre course at WAAPA and went on to do so well in the industry that they decided to 'graduate' him anyway. Be the best you can be and if they don't like it.... well, that's up to you.

I can't put it any better than Gill did in her excellent and informed post 'My Thoughts'. There is NOTHING you can do to improve your chances. If you still want to seek advice, you will do just as well getting advice from someone who HASN'T got in, as someone who is in already. In fact, I find that the ones who think they know the 'winning formula' best for how to get into a drama school are those that got in on their first attempt - when in fact they probably know the absolute least, as they haven't had nearly as much 'practice' as their multiply-auditioned counterparts. The only thing that was in their favour was blind, immesurable, unquantifiable luck and nothing else.

If you DON'T get in remember this:
- Rachel Griffiths auditioned THREE TIMES for NIDA, and was never accepted
- David Whenam never got past the first round for NIDA
- Michael Caine never went to drama school
- I have just returned from London and of the dozens of shows I saw I probably saw 20-odd ex-pat Aussie performers up on stage. Only ONE was a drama school graduate, but perhaps the most notable performer I saw, who is currently playing the lead in Bombay Dreams, was a proud Aussie from Tasmania - and had never set foot in NIDA, WAAPA or VCA.

Your be-all-and-end-all should be to be the best performer that you can be. Maybe drama school lies in your future and good for you if it does - it might (but only might) fast track your career slighly, but that is all. Concentrating on your long term career, not short term success at a drama school audition that nothing you can do or say will improve your chances at, is the most important thing.

[%sig%]

Amanda Chesterton wrote:

> Maybe drama school lies in your future and
> good for you if it does - it might (but only might) fast
> track your career slighly, but that is all.

I'll just qualify that statement slightly - yes, you may also learn invaluable skills and have the luxury of three years' study of your craft, but, as Gill said in her post, how well you do there, how well you're able to apply it, and how much better an actor you are when you come out, may still have very little impact on the trajectory of your career.

That's all.

[%sig%]

Those sounds like words of wisdom, which I am very grateful.

But one thing I've noticed - practically every actor who has made it big in America doing films has graduated from NIDA. Mel Gibson, Geoffrey Rush, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Simon Russell-Baker. Rachel Griffiths I recall came from VCA, Hugh Jackman was from WAPAA.

The only ones I know who haven't hailed from those prestigious schools are Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Heath Ledger, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce, and the former two had many years of training, and the others just practically got picked up from the street.


So it does show that getting a degree at these places does help chances of making it big, and getting steady work, which is what I'm aiming for, and I assume most of the others are too

If i was given a dollar for everytime I read a post about this topic....

The problem is - everyone is right. The arguments FOR and AGAINST dramatic institutions are valid.

It really depends on the person you are.

Julianne - You've named 5-8 people who've graduated from NIDA/WAAPA/VCA. But how about the other 14-18 people in the same class of those people? NIDA/WAAPA/VCA may get you an agent in the eastern states but it doesn't guarantee steady work.

I've actually met a lot of those graduates and you'll find most are involved in other aspects of theatre/film. Many are great directors and writers. Peter Kingston, Reg Cribb, Bill McCluskey and Jeremy Sims come immediately to mind. Annie-Murtagh Monks also is a NIDA graduate.

What I love about Perth's theatre scene is that you'll find many of our artists are involved in not just one aspect of theatre - they're not all just actors. I know I am making a general assumption that all the people on this thread are aspiring to be JUST actors but I'd still would like to mention that if you truly want to immerse yourself in theatre....maybe go out and write material...or learn to rig lights or take up some work experience in arts marketing....learn, learn learn.

I'm an Asian actor in Perth and I probably know first-hand how difficult it is to get regular paid work as an actor but I'm finding it just as fulfilling creatively AND financially helping out as a stage manager on a show or doing publicity for another.

Anyways...thats my two cents.

Oh, one way to improve your craft as an actor...go out to a cafe, buy a coffee, read a play you haven't read before and WATCH PEOPLE as they go by. You've got all your DRAMA and CHARACTERISATION that you need in front of you.

.... ok so it sounds a bit naff and a bit idealistic and stuff but its nice to think of LIFE that way.

But isn't that what THEATRE is generally all about?


Crispy :)

Hi,
I just wanted to say that I agree with Amanda and Gill.
I have just finished school and I'm auditioning for NIDA and VCA this year. Though I haven't got my hopes up on getting in as I'm planning to keep on acting whether I get into a drama school or not.
I don't think that by graduating from a drama school necessarily means you'll have a great career, sure Mel Gibson, Cate Blanchett etc. have, but those are a minority. Look at the past 100s of graduates that can barely met work, and I know a few them - they are working at my school.
By the way I went to a performing arts high school, but that doesn't improve my chances.
Well that was my two cents.
Good luck for everyones audition!

Thanks for all the replies guys

Talking to LOTS of people in the industry we seem to be on the right track

Danni's getting in lots of good productions and occasionally paid to sing

WAPAA ... great if she gets in but she can make it without them

julianne wrote:
>
> But one thing I've noticed - practically every actor who has
> made it big in America doing films has graduated from NIDA.
> Mel Gibson, Geoffrey Rush, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett,
> Simon Russell-Baker. Rachel Griffiths I recall came from VCA,
> Hugh Jackman was from WAPAA.

> The only ones I know who haven't hailed from those
> prestigious schools are Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Heath
> Ledger, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce, and the former two had
> many years of training, and the others just practically got
> picked up from the street.

> So it does show that getting a degree at these places does
> help chances of making it big, and getting steady work, which
> is what I'm aiming for, and I assume most of the others are too



You have almost as many examples on your 'not drama schooled' list as on your 'schooled' list....it doesn't really illustrate anything for the purpose of this argument.

Actually, what your examples show are: if you are damn GOOD at what you do, you will succeed.

Those actors had to be damn good to get into the drama schools. They then had to be damn good to go on to an illustrious career.
The ones who didn't attend any schools had to be damn good to make it out there on their own.

If you're the sort of person who can be improved and instructed by an institution, then that's a step towards improving your 'damn goodness'. Otherwise, learn it elsewhere.

The only pre-requisite to longevity in this career to become damn good, and then to stay that way.

We're all always learning, wherever you seek it.


Good luck

Craig

hi,
Everyone keeps saying that NIDA takes ppl With life experince. I am 15 and i have just been accepted.. They start from a very young age there is like 5-19 and the other is 20 to like 29 or somthing. It is not that hard. i found that i just showed them the talents i had and they took there time to finally ring me and tell i was accepted i waited for bout 8 months and i am going there next year. I still believ that you dont need to ttent a drama school to become famous. im going to see if it helps. From SKye

Skye wrote:
>
> hi,
> Everyone keeps saying that NIDA takes ppl With life
> experince. I am 15 and i have just been accepted.. They start
> from a very young age there is like 5-19 and the other is 20
> to like 29 or somthing. It is not that hard. i found that i
> just showed them the talents i had and they took there time
> to finally ring me and tell i was accepted i waited for bout
> 8 months and i am going there next year. I still believ that
> you dont need to ttent a drama school to become famous. im
> going to see if it helps.



"Life experience" doesn't necessarily have anything to do with age.

Of course, the more life you've experienced, the more you'll have to draw upon as an actor, so age is often an advantage. But someone in their late 20's-early 30's who has always been a student, lived at home, and never travelled is probably not going to be as experienced as an 18 year old who has lived, loved, worked, suffered and observed life in different places.

When they turn young people away because of not enough 'life experience' it may sometimes seem like a glib excuse, but really they are looking for a quality of understanding, a sense of being able to take risks, and a sense that as an actor you can draw from a deep well of observation.


Congratulations, Skye, on being accepted into the course. Remember though that getting in isn't the same as getting out...you'll have your work cut out for you before you graduate.

All the best

Craig

[%sig%]

Hi! all talented people!!
We have a talented metso suprano daughter aged 18 and we are in a quandry as to where to go for her career!!!
She is in the process of applying to WAPPA but know that this is a dream for a lot of talented people.
Can anybody please give us any info of other institutions for her to apply to preferrably in Queensland, or any other state of OZ.
She has the talent just needs the break!!!
Hope to hear positive vibes soon
Jen

Go for the major institutes in capital cities, they will have the major teachers and the most contacts you can forge. The courses are only what you make them to be by being involved to the maximum and working towards your best at all times.

While living in a major city there are more work opportunities too. No small venue recitals or brief appearances should ever by shunned and always perform like it is your debut on a famous stage. I discovered that a former conductor of the SSO was in the audience once! Imagine where that can lead you.

the important things are:

SET and work towards worthy attainable GOALS

STRIVE for EXCELLENCE in your craft,

GET EXPERIENCE
Say yes to everything you can and then make it work for you
Make your own performing opportunities, dont just wait by the phone or the email inbox!

BE PROFESSIONAL
- be prepared for a gig - music, dress, invoice and transport
- be early,and
- be easy to work with at all times! Your goal here is to be remembered and asked to do another gig! Know the difference between self-confidence and having ego and attitude and practise self-confidence alone

and

CONTACTS, CONTACTS, CONTACTS
And not just the teachers. It may be the students sitting next to you in performance practice and those valuable three or four years of networking that are going to be your greatest assets.

SUCCESS
passion+hard work + persistence = success

everything else is secondary including talent and the institute at which you studied.
and
Success is how you deal with life's setbacks

ON ADVICE
free advice is worth it's cost price!

ON CRITICS
"Noone has every erected a monument to a critic." (Hector Berlioz)



THE MOST IMPORTANT AXIOM I USE
Only ever compete with yourself!

best wishes for a bright prosperous and long future in your chosen endeavours
Cath Lukin