The Astro-Nida Short courses are now over. The whole thing lasted for two weeks and I didn’t write much updates on the process on it, but I will now. It was a fantastic time and a wonderful experience being apart of this educational workshop. Even more so in the field which you love and want to try to excel as much as you can in.

Here is the first day. As I went rushing up the floor of The Central Market, I met up with Calvin who also managed to get into Astro-Nida but under the script writing course. There we were running up the staircase of the Annexe Gallery to get to the opening launch. 

Daphne Iking was hosting the opening launch also happened to be part of the Screen Acting course.

The first week was learning some basic stuff on acting such as how to breathe and some vocal warmups. As well as learning about how to do characterization for a role using the Uta Hagen 6 steps - you can read it at that link. Then a small bit on how to use the Laban method (you can read that here) which is sort of a physical perparation to get into character. From there we then moved into some actual screen work. We were given scripts to memorise and work on for characterization, from seriously dramatic stuff like siblings fighting on who should take their mother of life support system to a simple script from Grey’s Anatomy.

This was where we did our screenshots and that was the setup for Grey’s Anatomy.. Boooyah man!!! I got to act in that script! But I was hopping for Christina instead i got Meredith – not complaining hehe just telling.

After doing some scene study and shooting, all the writers, directors and actors sat down for a reading session. See we had 16 writers meaning 16 scripts. Out of those 16 scripts, originally 4 were supposed to be picked so that could turn them into short films. But all the scripts were really good, so the tutors – after about nearly two hours of arguing it out – they picked 5 instead. Woots!! Great for the actors and the 5 scriptwriters, terrible for the directors. lol. Long editing process. Yves, the screen direction tutor sure had a long two days. 

We had some time to shoot pictures in class for a bit.

What I like the most about these two pictures at the staircase. I’ve always wanted to be in an art school and this was the closest I got to one. Imagine doing for a whole one year or three years of just purely interacting with the same people who have the same passion as you. We all spoke the same kind of lingo. We knew what were “eyelines” meant, what were the different kinds of shots called, what it meant to do characterization homework before a shoot. We all just understood what it was all about. Just that time of education where everyone wanted to learn a craft was just…. wow!

Who would’ve thunk that I would be working on Calvin’s script again along with MinLi’s boyfriend, Prakash who is also in the course but he was in the Screen Direction workshop. I was working with Laura and Kelvin in a love triangle. It was a situation where my character Linda had a huge crush on her old friend John -played by Kelvin. While John had a major crush on Vicki played by Laura. Felt quite Korean drama in a way lol. Here we are in the wardrobe department… our own version la. 

 That’s Laura over there putting on her makeup. 

We had about two days to rehearse and work on the characters. Discussing possible camera angles with the directors. Finding out the back story about the characters from the writer.  Then another two days to shoot the two minute film. 

This was what our set look like. I have to say my three directors – Raymond, Prakash and Adrian did a fab job on making the plain room look into a cozy office for an ad agency. 

The thing about shoots.. anything to do with the word shoot. Means you have quite a fair bit of waiting to do. That’s Raymond, giving some feedback I think. Prakash on the camera – our director of photography (DOP) and Adrian our sound man. 

Prakash and Adrian hard at the editing process. The end result was gorgeous guys. I don’t think I could’ve asked for any better directors, who understood the actors and did nothing else but try to make the story look good. Two thumbs ups! Raymand wasn’t around cause the poor guy had an asthma attack the day just before the finale. 

Friday night was the only time we got to party with everyone cause our tutors were to leave on Saturday night itself. It was a weird party, since we were all left standing not knowing where to go. I think we hung around for about 3 hours till finally someone made the decision that we were to go to Quattro.

 Here are nearly all the actors, directors and a couple of lone writers (that’s one of them right there in the blue sleeveless top – her name is Charlene) all waiting in front of Quattro. Cause at first we didn’t know we had a table booked for us, so we ended up walking to klcc after some of us paid a RM20 valet parking in front of Avenue K straight to The Apartment. 

Hanging at The Apartment first. 

At The Apartment, we had beers all around. i have to say I don’t think I’ve drunk that much beer in a week. Aiii calories calories. It’s a party la give us a break.

 This is Yves Stenning the screen direction tutor who is a real happening dad. 

 And the sweet script writing tutor Nicholas Parsons. He reminds me a tadbit of Hugh Laurie. 

 Last but not least, Tahnee Mcguire a real sweetheart who was our course supervisor. Right behind me is the other lone writer, Sophia Goh. 

And final of the final. A picture had to be taken with the three chicas that I totally enjoyed hanging out with at nights after classes.

By the way out of respect for my tutor Mr Nicholas Bishop, I’ve not put up any pictures. We all had a nice discussion of what it means to be a celebrity and he is a well known one, especially in Australia with his own bunch of whacky fans. So just not to give them the satisfaction, no pictures  

Nicholas Bishop is a fantastic actor and tutor. He did nothing else but guide us on the journey of acting. Giving us the right technique and tips squeezed in just two weeks. He also happens to be the person who started ‘The Screen Actor‘ course at NIDA in Sydney

I have to say, with the hard work from everyone along with his great directions, we all surprised ourselves with the results. Some have found this a new joy and I sincerely hope that they will continue acting for a long time more as there are untapped potential talent. All the 14 actors – me included – you know who you are!

Saturday was the day of the finale, where we showcased everyone’s work. Directors and actors who made the five short films, along with 2 minutes pitches from all 16 of the writers. Time for everyone to get their ceritifcations and say their goodbyes..for now. I hope I get to work with all them again. That for certain we shall.