Dim lights

Mercury News: Underbelly star plays mentor

KANE YOUNG   |   July 19, 2010 09.09am

HE may not be a household name just yet, but observant TV fans will certainly recognise respected Australian actor Jeremy Kewley.

Kewley has been a familiar face on Australian TV screens since the mid-1970s, with recurring roles on everything from The Sullivans and Prisoner to Blue Heelers and McLeod's Daughters, to City Homicide, Stingers and The Secret Life of Us.

Now his profile is set to skyrocket thanks to a lead role in the telemovie The Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here, which depicts the 1998 murders of Victorian policemen Rod Miller and Gary Silk.

Kewley was at the Goodwood Film Studios outside Hobart yesterday to share his knowledge with students at the new Cooper Screen Academy, where 36 young local actors are enrolled in an eight-week course in basic screen acting.

The course teaches acting techniques and gives students advice about auditions, showreels, and the TV and film industries in which Kewley has 35 years' experience.

"This is a terrific opportunity for local actors to gain valuable insight into the screen industry," Academy director Sara Cooper said.

"Jeremy has a wealth of experience and the students are very excited about being able to engage with such a seasoned professional."

Kewley taught students that to maximise their acting potential, they must go beyond the script and delve deep into the history and motivations of their character.

"Acting is very simple, but then again it's very, very, very complicated," he said.

"Acting can be fun. It's like sport kicking a footy is fun, but if you really want to be serious about playing football, you've got to dig a bit deeper.

"I want the kids to scratch the surface, look at what's under the rock. Sure, that's a nice rock, but let's look at what's under the rock, rather than just at the rock."

For more information on the course go to our information pages

COOPER SCREEN ACADEMY'S MEDIA RELEASE re: Jeremy Kewley's visit:

Respected Australian actor and the lead of Channel Nine’s new Underbelly telemovie (currently in production), Jeremy Kewley, is visiting students at COOPER SCREEN ACADEMY on Sunday 18th July.

 Jeremy will be speaking about his 35 year career and answering students’ industry questions. 

Academy Director, Sara Cooper says: “This is a terrific opportunity for local actors to gain valuable insight into the screen industry.  Jeremy has a wealth of experience and the students are very excited about being able to engage with such a seasoned professional.” 36 local actors from the age of 13 up are currently undertaking the eight week part time course in basic screen acting technique.  

The course covers the technical requirements of acting for the screen, performance to camera, industry and audition advice and gives assistance with show reel, CV and headshot development.  The course runs in Goodwood Film Studios thanks to assistance from Screen Tasmania. 

Cooper’s aim in starting the Academy is to open doors for Tasmanian actors to both local and mainland casting opportunities,.  “At the moment Tasmanian is rarely considered as part of the nationwide casting map.  There are currently numerous television shows casting a nationwide net for actors, but they do not think to look in Tasmania.  By training up performers and linking them in with established casting agents I hope to see a change in the way Tasmania and it’s talent is perceived and an increase in career opportunities for local actors.” 

Jeremy will also be attending the monthly T.A.G. (Tassie Actors Gathering) on the evening of Sunday the 18th.  T.A.G. is a facebook group which meets at 6:30pm on the third Sunday of every month upstairs Queen’s Head Bar and Cafe, North Hobart.  All performers welcome.

Watch showreels right now at: http://www.vimeo.com/videos/search:jeremy%20kewley/a984c370

Watch the trailer for FRANK & JERRY right now at: www.frankandjerrythemovie.com

Watch the trailer for THESE EMPTY STREETS at: http://www.jarrahgurrie.com/work/hymn

 IMDB: www.imdb.com/name/nm0450714

Showcast: www.showcast.com.au/showcast/jkewley60

StarNow: www.starnow.com/jeremykewley

AT2: www.at2.com.au/jeremy.kewley

Full CV: www.actorsaustralia.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1145