actingclassof1977.com

Mel Gibson, Judy Davis, Steve Bisley and 12 others all graduated from acting school, NIDA, in 1977. What was their experience and where are they now?

As a class member clicks through the fictitious Acting Class of 1977 website, we gain insights into the shared experiences of this stand out year, the industry they entered and an actor-training method that stripped them of their defences to make them emotionally accessible.

“I like the fact that they almost kicked me out. I managed to pull my fat out of the fire. Just… I was a squeaker. I only just got back in”. - Mel Gibson, Acting Class of 1977.

“They said ‘You’re a hopeless year – you’re one of the worst years we’ve ever had’. Pretty ironic…" -  Linda Newton, Acting Class of 1977

“George Miller arrived and he gave me the script of Mad Max and Mel Gibson the script of Mad Max and asked me if I’d look at the role of Jim the Goose – the motor cycle cop”. - Steve Bisley, Acting Class of 1977.

“They stripped us bare emotionally in order to make us ‘better actors’. They didn’t tell us that’s what they were doing, so I just thought I was going mad!" - Debra Lawrance, Acting Class of 1977.

With:

Steve Bisley

Annie Byron

John Francis

Mel Gibson

Debra Lawrance

Sally McKenzie

Aubrey Mellor

Robert Menzies

Linda Newton

Monroe Reimers 

Producer Director Writer: Sally McKenzie

Editor: Ben Ambrose

Music: Nick Stewart

Sound design: John Willsteed and T’fer Newsome

Developed with the assistance of the Australian Film Commission and the Pacific Film & Television Commission. an @theCoalface production. 

The Australian Article: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/youth-with-stars-in-their-eyes/story-e6frg8n6-1111116425862