A well-connected family

The Actors College of Theatre and Television (ACTT) and the International Film School Sydney (IFSS) have been a part of the creative industries tertiary institution, JMC Academy, since 2011.

CEO of JMC Academy, George Markakis, is enthusiastic about the collaboration. ‘ACTT and IFSS are both well-respected brands with strong reputations in the Creative Industries. They each complemented the offerings already provided by JMC Academy and enhance the opportunities for student collaboration across all of the colleges,’ he said.

ACTT is a vocational actor training college that offers Advanced Diplomas and Certificate IV qualifications in courses relating to acting, music theatre, and stage management. IFSS provides training and assessment in filmmaking and offers an Advanced Diploma in Screen and Media – with streams specialising in Screenwriting, Directing, Producing and Cinematography. Both schools share a location in the cafe-lined streets of Surry Hills.

According to Markakis, ‘There are great synergies between the three schools, especially between ACTT and IFSS who are co-located offering both Actors and Filmmakers an opportunity for organic and structured collaboration.’  

IFSS delivers five fully funded student film productions per course and opportunities to work and crew on many more. ACCT students are encouraged to collaborate with IFSS students on these works, sharing acting and technical production skills. Further opportunities for collaboration are available from the higher education programs that JMC Academy offers, with students from JMC Academy commissioning work to support their Contemporary Music Performance, Audio and Sound Engineering, Film and Television Production, Entertainment and Business Management, Game Design and 3D Animation projects.

‘JMC Academy is also able to collaborate with ACTT actors for films and uniquely, for animation work – especially with JMC Academy’s new motion capture technology. IFSS are also able to collaborate with JMC Academy’s Music students for film scoring and music production for their films,’ said Markakis.

JMC Academy is unique in its integrated approach, with courses structured to allow for inter-disciplinary collaborations on assessable creative works. Access to ACTT and IFSS students will provide more opportunities for creative teamwork.

Although the three schools have been related for only a few short years, inter-school alliances have already expanded students’ industry connections and opportunities for securing work beyond graduation. According to JMC Academy Founder and Managing Director Martin Cass, ‘The opportunities for networking both during and beyond graduation for all of our students are creatively charged and limitless!’