ActorWize
Three courses of Professional Acting for Film and TV
Classes by Rajesh Gopie
12 June – 8 July & school vac course: 3 – 13 July 2017
Three acting courses running back to back! How will you cope?
I love teaching and i teach four days a week, which is what I do pretty much in JHB. It’s a passion and I love working with actors.
In a nutshell, to those who haven’t attended your course before, what can they expect?
My teaching will make young and old fall in love with acting. They enjoy the physical and psychological changes that take place within them and find it life changing. One can get a very detailed and realistic orientation about the industry and its demands on actors.
How does your course differ from other acting courses?
I don’t just teach acting, I get the student to understand how the body and mind work together to serve both the individual and the performer. It is personally empowering and whilst I work with major acting methodologies, which are often over intellectualised at universities, in the actorwize course, this is broken down and absorbed by the actor in simple and practical ways. Only afterwards when we talk about theory, do the actors realise how much they already absorbed through the physical process in the course.
Who should attend?
I am running a foundation course which is aimed at the novice, beginner or moonlighting actor wanting to learn the craft and its fundamentals. It is largely orientation of the actors body and mind towards the demands of working in front of camera. The intermediate course is for those who completed the beginners course which concluded in March 2017. This is more advanced and makes for an intensive and progressive building process for those I have worked with before.
The Reach for the Stars course is aimed at a younger student between the age of 11 and 17. Here I work with talented young people wanting to explore their talent in film.
Tell us a bit about your school vac course for high school learners?
This is a intensive two week course aimed at younger talent wanting to explore and work in the magical world of film. More and more demands are made by film makers looking for younger actors. I have often been asked by parents to come up with a course for a younger group. So naturally, I wanted to give them something as well. I love working with young people but am aware of their school commitments. Therefore the July vac is the best time to work with them.
You have been busy with films yourself over the last few months – what have you been busy with?
I have had a very busy 18 months and it gets crazier as the year winds on. I just completed playing a lead in a new Sara Bletcher film about a mafia family in JHB. Earlier this year Keeping up with the Kandasammys opened and that was huge. I was pleased the movie did so well, and to have been a part of it. I worked last year with the great Lawrence Fishburne on the Madiba series. I have another local KZN film in August.
How does Durban fare as a film location?
It is one of the best in Africa. More films are being shot in this wonderful province. We just have to improve the technical skills of crew etc. to match the demand of producers. We are very privileged here and I will give my best to helping people in KZN
How does SA fare compared to other international film locations and industry infrastructures?
I know the DFO is doing its best to develop and promote film in the province, but we are behind CT and JHB in technical expertise. Whilst we have fantastic talent, actors in the province need a higher skill level to meet the national standard. This can be overcome in time and is one of the reasons I am so passionate about training younger people in KZN.
What is your favourite SA movie in the past few years, and why?
My favourite SA movie is “Fanie se Trein”. A wonderful and moving afrikaans film. It’s a must see I tell you.
What is your favourite international movie in the past few years, and why?
This is more difficult, but let’s see…I loved, “LION” with Dev Patel. The indian story broke my heart and made me weep copiously in the movie house. “Moonlight”, the Oscar winning film is also amazing and moved me.
Which actor / actress do you most want to work with and why?
I would love to work with Irfaan khan, an Indian actor who is just phenomenal. I would also like to work with Tom Hanks, my favourite actor in the whole world. He is so relaxed and honest. He never makes a false move. So, easy to watch and read. Females…I would love to work with Marissa Tomei and Cate Blanchette.
Which director do you most want to work with and why?
Gosh, if he was alive, DAVID LEAN of “Doctor Zivago” and “Laurence of Arabia”. Living, I would like to work with Mike Leigh who directed “another year”.
Another director I love is Clint Eastwood. That would be a treat.
What kind of role do you like playing the most?
I am fairly malleable as an actor. I think I secretly love villains. So much more interesting to play.
What role do you most want to play before you die?
Help me lord! I think I am grateful for all my roles. But I can’t list a single role. Perhaps, something closer to home, a local hero.
Anything else you want to share with us!
I train actors with the same care and attention I demand or myself as an actor. It is a caring and fun process. We must love the things we do, and acting should be filled with passion, love and deep willingness to accept that the craft of acting is much bigger than serving an individual ego. I take my students and their ambitions very seriously. I take my role as their guide and mentor even more seriously. Nothing makes me more happier than watching the talent in others bloom.
