blog

ip dramaturg

2010-07-18T03:48:08Z

I've just returned from Adelaide where I spent the last week with my good friend and dramaturg on my book Individual Performance, Nicholas Garsden. Nick and I studied acting at NIDA and have remained great friends since. We spent the week working through the IP scripts and I have to say, bringing Nick on board was a stroke of genius. Nick's insight to the characters and how best to increase the drama in each of their stories was exceptional. Those who buy the book will benefit greatly from his input. Thanks Nick.

tick, tick, tick

2010-06-12T12:02:59Z

Last night, the first episode 30 Seconds aired on the ABC. 30 Seconds was produced for Foxtel's Comedy Channel and the ABC picked it up and are playing all six episodes over the next six weeks. 30 Second's executive producer is Andrew Denton and I met him on the set when filming my guest role in the first episode.
Image by 30 Seconds. Links by 30 Seconds and IMDb.

ip @ drama nsw

2010-05-28T00:49:07Z

IP is coming! That is, my book Individual Performance, 20 Original Scripts for HSC Drama. Today was not so much the launch but the first public announcement that the book is coming. I attended Drama NSW's Annual Conference with a stall promoting the book and my drama workshop services for schools. The book will be available in October, at the beginning of fourth term, just in time for the new HSC students in search for great stories to perform in their IP assessments.

12 scripts are being written as female characters and 8 as males but some are easily adapted to the opposite gender. The response to the book was overwhelming - everyone who saw it put their name down to be informed of its release. It seems teachers are desperate for good scripts to pass on to their students.

To be notified of its release in October, email me with your details at paul@creativestate.com.au

vca

2010-03-01T23:32:08Z

Congratulations to Olivia Monticciolo who is continuing her acting journey as a student at Melbourne's prestigious Victorian College of the Arts, VCA. I coached Olivia in preparation for her auditions and I'm thrilled to say she got into her school of choice. Olivia has taken the leap, as many of us have, and relocated to pursue her dreams. I wish you every success Olivia and hope it's everything you want it to be. x

"Paul Caesar's ability to understand an actor and their 'own' method when working with a piece is amazing. He works with the tools the actor instinctively uses, rather than implanting his own methods as a base. In doing this he is quick to discover key blockages the actor may have. He certainly did with me when we were preparing my drama school auditions. Once discovering these blocks he did not shy away from the problem, but attacked them carefully and tactfully so I was able to feel comfortable, and work through any difficulties. He really goes out of his way to support his students and nurture their growth as an actor. Not only was working with Paul a resourceful experience for the audition process, but also his knowledge of current productions and theatre history takes the worth of his coaching to the ultimate level. I am very thankful that I met Paul Caesar and look forward to working with him in the future." Olivia Monticciolo VCA 2010
Links by VCA. Images - recent VCA productions.

beth success

2010-01-27T11:52:46Z

My short play Beth premiered at NIDA on the 13th December with two performances that day, it was a great success. My anti-bullying script hit home with audiences - we got multiple reports of people actually crying in the audience. I knew we would have an impact on the audience, reducing them to tears?, great! One lady came up to me after the show and said, "I'm in education. That was extraordinary, you have to get that out there!" And so I will. In 2010 I'm writing a book targeting HSC students and also hope to publish and sell the two scripts I've written especially for school student: Beth is one and Redemption the other. Both have been produced and performed at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. If you're interested in more information about the scripts, don't hesitate to contact me. Happy 2010 to all.

beth

2009-11-12T10:42:40Z

Over the last couple of months I've written a short play, Beth, for my NIDA Drama Studio students (I head up the Drama Studio, a one year course of Sundays for 15-17 year olds). With a class of 1 male and 7 females I decided to set the play in an all girls school, with our only male playing the teachers and parents of the female students. The play deals with bullying and the ramifications that result. I was horrified by the true stories I found when researching the piece so decided I wouldn't hold back - it has ended up quite dark. I'm directing the production which will perform on Sunday 13th December in NIDA's Parade Studio.

country nsw

2009-10-14T14:18:52Z

I've just returned after a great week in the country. Firstly I went to Griffith for NIDA to run a 2 day acting workshop for high school students, as a part of the local Xposed Program. There were 18 teens in the group including Bonnie Owen, a local student I saw play Juliet in an amateur production of Romeo and Juliet. She is very talented and I'm sure we'll be seeing her at one of Australia's top drama schools some time soon.

I then drove 3 hours across our beautiful country (pictured) to Albury and met up with 4 other NIDA tutors. We ran three days of workshops at Walla Walla with about 70 primary and secondary school students from the region. It was a great 3 days, partly class work and partly devising theatre performances which were presented to a large audience on the last day. It was a great experience for students and tutors alike. I felt privileged to take my knowledge and experience to a group of students who don't have the kind of access to classes etc that local Sydney kids do.

my place

2009-05-05T12:04:07Z

A gorgeous little book has become ABC TV's new 13-part children's drama series. My Place, based on the award-winning book by Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins, is a captivating series telling the story of one house in South Sydney as told by the children who have lived there for over 130 years.

The series is being produced by the award-winning Australian filmmaker, Penny Chapman (Blue Murder and Brides of Christ). Joining the line up of child actors in My Place is a stellar cast that includes: Susie Porter (East of Everything and Little Fish), Dan Wyllie (Love My Way and Underbelly), Sacha Horler (Love My Way and Grass Roots), Dan Spielman (Mary Bryant and Tom White), Russell Dykstra (Clubland and Romulus, My Father), Leon Ford (All Saints and Changi) and Hayley McElhinney (Blue Heelers and Young Lions).

The series features a line-up of prominent Australian directors that includes: Jessica Hobbs (Curtin and Love My Way), Samantha Lang (L’idole and The Monkey’s Mask - I appeared in her feature The Well), Catriona McKenzie (RAN: Remote Area Nurse and The Circuit), Shirley Barrett (Love My Way and Walk the Talk) and Shawn Seet (Underbelly and Two Fists One Heart - I worked with him recently on 30:Seconds.)

I was thrilled to be asked to play a small role in the series, donning a wig for the first time ever. Jessica Hobbs directed the episode I'm in and I was very happy to play husband to Sacha Horler, a friend who studied at NIDA when I did many years ago.
Image by Books Illustrated and links by IMDB.

30 seconds

2009-03-25T11:18:00Z

Today I met Andrew Denton on the set of 30 Seconds. Andrew is Co-Executive Producer of the new satire which looks closely at the crazy workings of the advertising industry.

'The six part series is the creation of real-life advertising insiders Tim Bullock of Prodigy Films, Justin Drape and Scott Nowell of Sydney agency, Three Drunk Monkeys – the team behind FOXTEL’s recently-successful value-oriented marketing campaign.
A stellar line-up of Australian talent has been assembled for the four-week shoot which is currently taking place in Sydney. The who’s who of the Australian acting industry include, Stephen Curry, Peter O’Brien, Joel Tobeck, Gyton Grantley and Kat Stewart.' Foxtel (More)

I play the marketing manager for a beer manufacturer in the very first episode of the series. This is a must see production. It's not often that it happens but I laughed out loud when reading the episode I appear in. If all six are this good, it's going to be great!
Image by Foxtel. Links by Foxtel and IMDb.

square dvd

2009-03-16T08:18:36Z

'The Square' - available on dvd.
'Some things can't be buried.'
"The Edgerton brother's thriller will have you on the edge of your seat." - OK! Magazine.
"Not since Fight Club has a thriller thrilled like The Square." - Movie Juice.
"The brothers Coen just got stiff competition Aussie-style." - City Search.
Official website.