Advanced Acting

For those looking towards a career in acting for stage or screen or wanting to prepare for tertiary training auditions. This class will work with scripts and narrative works focusing on performance skills, the ability to work with a director, additional skills actors can use to do their best work, as well as demystifying the industry for those looking at a career as an actor. The class will challenge each individual in skill workshops and with the Directing class on scene work and connection with a scene partner.

Students will need to prepare one 2-minute monologue – from any medium they’re drawn to: theatre, film, television, or even poetry. It’s recommended this is a piece new to the student. Students may receive further work to be completed prior to the week’s start. 

Prerequisite: This is an advanced class designed for older, more experienced students. Applicants should be 16+ and provide a CV of experience or a letter of recommendation.

TUTOR: SEMU FILIPO

Semu, of Samoan and Tokelauan descent, graduated from Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in 2004 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Acting. His career took off immediately as he collaborated with renowned theatre companies across New Zealand, such as Downstage in Wellington, Silo in Auckland, The Court in Dunedin, Auckland’s Pop-Up Globe Theatre where he showcased his talents in successive seasons of Othello and Much Ado About Nothing and most recently Auckland Theatre Company’s Things That Matter.

Semu has also worked on many well-known New Zealand series, including Orange Roughies, Harry, Kura and Shortland Street. In 2021, Semu landed his first big international role in the highly successful series Young Rock for NBC America based on the early life of The Rock. This was followed by the NZFC feature The Justice for Bunny King and the film Next Goal Wins, directed by Taika Waititi.