About Acting Essentials
A Six-Part Course (held on Sunday afternoons in Brighton, Victoria) that looks at all aspects of Working as an Actor in Melbourne – with particular emphasis on film, television & television commercials, and agents
– Understanding Scripts and Making Choices
– Auditioning Techniques and Character Development
– Understanding how the business “works” and On-Set Etiquette
– Screen Test Preparation for Television Commercials
– Screen Test Preparation for Film and Television Series
– Understanding Agents, Casting Directors, Call Sheets, Contracts & Deal Memos
Having made his living by working in the entertainment industry full-time for the last 38 years, Kewley has gained invaluable knowledge in almost every area of the industry, not just as a performer but also as a writer, producer, designer, and so on.
Although not trained as a teacher (or as an actor for that matter!) Kewley has been in demand for many years as an audition and screentest coach, preparing young (and old) Melbourne actors with scene and character work.
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He is also regularly employed as a Script Editor and Consultant on scripts and development of Student Films at VCA, Rusden and Swinburne, and has lectured film students about the process of working with actors.
He has also been the MC and/or Guest Speaker at a number of functions and seminars run by Equity (MEAA), including Make Your Own Fun and the annual Equity Graduates Days, held at the Malthouse Theatre, for the graduating students of WAAPA, the National, the VCA as well as Ballarat, Flinders and Tasmanian Universities.
Since 2004 Kewley has run a number of his short courses for actors as an “introduction to the industry” known as ACTING ESSENTIALS, covering everything from scene work and auditions, to on-set etiquette and understanding the complex Agent / Casting Consultant / Actor triangle.
Recent students include:
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After taking the Acting Essentials course in 2011, MITCHELL HOPE worked opposite Kewley in the short films WHEEL, THE KEY TO CASTING and CLYDE’S TRACK, 
and was cast by Kewley in YES MUM, the 2 minute cinema commercial for the TAC.
He played the younger version of Tim Farris in the INXS: NEVER TEAR US APART mini-series for the Seven Network.
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At the end of 2013 he signed with Disney in the US to play the lead role of Prince Ben in their upcoming DESCENDANTS trilogy. He began shooting the film in Vancouver in May 2014 opposite Dove Cameron (pictured), Kristin Chenoweth, Kathy Najimy and “Twilight” star Booboo Stewart.
He is now represented by United Talent Agency in the US, who also represent Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford and many others!
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ANDREW MORLEY played one of the lead roles in the 2012 Network Ten/Nickelodeon television series LIGHTNING POINT which he shot at the Warner Studios in Queensland (left), and in 2013 he joined the cast of HOME & AWAY – one of Australia’s most popular television series – signing a three year contract to play Spencer Harrington.
Morley also starred in the short films ICE (right), CLEAN, and SHEPHERD’S HILL – all opposite Jeremy Kewley.
In the US he is represented by leading Hollywood Talent Management Consultants ‘Management 360‘. 
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Since taking his first tentative steps with Jeremy Kewley’s ACTING ESSENTIALS in 2009, AARON JAKUBENKO has gone on to build up an impressive list of credits. After appearing in UNDERBELLY FILES: THE MAN WHO GOT AWAY, featured in AUSTRALIA ON TRIAL, played one of the leads in the feature film THE BALLAD OF DES & MO and starred as ‘Yuri’ in CONSPIRACY 365 on FMC on Foxtel.
Just 3 months after completing the November-December 2012 Acting Essentials course, student NED NAPIER scored the lead role of Alex King in the BBC/ABC-TV co-production THE WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE, AGAIN for the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Kewley also has a role in the series.
The 13 part television series commenced filming in Melbourne in April 2013. Kewley worked closely with 17 year old Ned in his preparation for the grueling auditions for the series.
Kewley also worked closely with Ned on his screen test for the US feature film THE MAZE RUNNER in March 2013. At the end of 2013 he was cast in the pilot of Channel Seven’s HARTMAN’S SOLUTION, and in 2014 he scored the lead guest role in the first episode of the Season 3 of THE DOCTOR BLAKE MYSTERIES on ABC-TV.
In October 2014 Ned performed the monologue “Awkward” at the highly regarded MILAWA MONOLOGUES.
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JOSH GEARY gained representation with Catherine Poulton Management after appearing opposite Lincoln Younes (‘Home & Away’ and ‘Tangle’) and Jeremy Kewley in the film LOCKER.
Josh went on to win a Best Actor Award for his performance in the short film IN DARK TREES and appeared in the Network Ten series RUSH and the ABC-TV series DEAD GORGEOUS.
He appeared opposite Kewley again in the short films THE KEY TO CASTING and PENELOPE STRING NOODLE.
He plays in the lead role of Alex (below) in the science fiction film QUEEN OF THE BEES (2014) and reprises his role of Noel Naylor in REDEMPTION: SINS OF THE FATHER (2014), the sequel to his 2009 Tropfest Finalist ONE IN A MILLION.
2010 student BLESSING MOKGOHLOA spent 2012 in New Zealand starring as Castus in series 3 of the hit US cable network series SPARTACUS: WAR OF THE
DAMNED.
Although he is based in Melbourne (and has a Melbourne-based agent), Blessing is also represented in New Zealand by Auckland & Wellington agent Sharon Power Management.
Since completing the Acting Essentials course, Blessing has performed on stage at the Loft Theatre at Chapel off Chapel in ALL THAT I WILL EVER BE for Fly-On-The-Wall Theatre, and BAD BLOOD BLUES for Manilla Street Productions – for which he was nominated for the 2012 Green Room Award for Best Male Performer in Theatre (Independent). He played Dale Kovak in NEIGHBOURS and also appeared opposite Kewley in two short films – the award-winning DIT IS EK, set in South Africa, and THE KEY TO CASTING. Most recently he guest starred in the ABC-TV series THE TIME OF OUR LIVES.
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One of the very first ACTING ESSENTIALS students, JAKE RYAN moved to Sydney to further his studies at the Actors Centre, then went on to play Constable Ray ‘The Blizzard’ Blissett in Channel Nine’s UNDERBELY: RAZOR in 2011 (right). He went on to play guest roles in the Nine Network’s HOUSE HUSBANDS, and Network Ten’s MR & MRS MURDER.
On the big screen Jake appears in THE SAPPHIRES and Buz Luhrmann’s THE GREAT GATSBY.
Ryan was reunited with Kewley when they played Uncle and Nephew in the new Nine Network/Screentime series FAT TONY & CO. (20140 and currently plays Bea Smith’s husband Harry Smith in WENTWORTH (2013-2014) on Foxtel.
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After taking part in ACTING ESSENTIALS in 2009 CLAUDIA HRUSCHKA went on to shoot two motion pictures in 2011 – SCUMBUS and the Working Dog film ANY QUESTIONS FOR BEN? (right) opposite Josh Lawson and Rachael Taylor.
On television she guest starred in Foxtel’s CONSPIRACY 365 and THE LIBRARIANS on ABC-TV.
After appearing opposite Kewley in the short film BEAT, LUCAS LINEHAN went on the receive great reviews for his starring role in the feature film MONSTER PIES, which won Best Film at the 2013 Melbourne Queer Film Festival. The film was released on DVD in the US through TLA Releasing.
NATHAN O’ROURKE starred in the award-winning film SHOPLIFTING (right) and played the lead in the comedy/zombie short film DEEP PURPLE opposite Jeremy Kewley.* Jeremy Kewley has a “Working With Children” check card, issued by the Department of Justice, Victoria.
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As well as those mentioned above, a number of other ACTING ESSENTIALS students have gone on to appear opposite Jeremy Kewley in a range of short films including MITCHELL HOPE in COMING HOME, LUCAS LINEHAN in BEAT, ISAAC BROWN in SERVES FOUR, OLIVER EDWIN in CUSTOMER SERVICE, TOM CARMODY in ON TRACK, DANIEL HILL in HOMOSEXUALITY KILLS, STEVE SHEERAN in DEAD BEATS, DEAN KIRKRIGHT in COMING HOME, WILL WEATHERITT in HAVE ANOTHER, GENYA MIK in THE KEY TO CASTING … and the list goes on!
For a comprehensive list of ALL the actors who have taken part in ACTING ESSENTIALS, click on the “List Of Former Students” page
(c) 2018 Jeremy Kewley. All rights reserved.