Faculty
Philip Hayden is the Director of the Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia. Philip is extremely proud to champion the work of Howard Fine and the HFAS faculty, having led the organisation (in conjunction with his business partner Patrick Constantinou) since it began in 2011.
Philip graduated from drama school in 1999. Since which time he has been a career actor, theatre maker, producer and director. Amongst many television, film and theatre appearances Philip has performed leading roles on London's West End and in numerous national tours, in the hit Stan show Romper Stomper, been a semi regular on children's television for the BBC and for award-winning Australian theatre company Red Stitch.
Outside of performing Philip is also one of the founders and Directors of the Poppy Seed Theatre Festival. A pioneering festival designed specifically to support mid-career and emerging theatre makers in Melbourne.
PHILIP HAYDEN - STUDIO DIRECTOR
Technique, Scene Study, Monologues, Industry Lecture & On-Camera
As the Artistic Director of the Howard Fine Acting Studio, Howard Fine has built an unshakeable reputation as the most gifted acting teacher in the business today.
Beginning his career in Los Angeles in 1985 by privately coaching students in his living room, Howard has gone on to receive recognition for his teaching when, in 2006, he was named ‘Best Acting Teacher in Los Angeles’ by BackStage Magazine in a one time only poll. Since then, Howard has established studio in both Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia.
During his 30-year teaching career, Howard has personally coached Hollywood stars including Oscar winners Jennifer Connelly and Jared Leto, Oscar nominees Brad Pitt, Michelle Williams, Bradley Cooper and Selma Hayek, Golden Globe nominees Simon Baker, Rosanna Arquette, Brooke Shields and Mark Harmon and Emmy winners Kim Delaney, Sela Ward and Michael Chiklis. In addition to this, Howard has also worked with literally hundreds of actors including Chris Pine, Carla Gugino, Malin Akerman, Gerard Butler, Will Smith, Justin Timberlake, Dwayne Johnson, Val Kilmer and Amy Smart.
As a lover of the craft of acting, Howard is one of the few elite acting experts who have devoted their primary career to perfecting the teaching and coaching of professional actors and his outstanding reputation is the product of his remarkable expertise. In 2008, Howard published his book ‘Fine on Acting: A Vision of the Craft’ in which he outlines his approach to and philosophies on acting, which closely reflect those of his mentor and close colleague Uta Hagen. ‘Fine on Acting’ is now taught in many leading colleges and universities.
HOWARD FINE - CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Technique Lectures & Auditions
Sarah Hallam is an established actor, director, teacher and acting coach.
Sarah is based in Melbourne and holds Canadian, British and New Zealand citizenships and is available internationally. She graduated from the Howard Fine Acting Studio full-time course in 2012 and was handpicked by Howard Fine to become the first Australian teacher of his technique.
As an actor, Sarah has worked consistently in film and television for over twenty years, appearing in shows such as Foxtel’s Wentworth (Season 5, 6 & 7), Neighbours, Rush, City Homicide, Blue Heelers, Canal Road and Stingers. Sarah recently shot the lead role in the award winning film “The Funeral” which is currently circulating the international film festivals and just won all the awards at the One Shot International Film Festival in Florida. On stage, Sarah has toured with Arena Theatre Company and most recently performed in Tea With Chekhov – A Jubilee, Killer Joe, The Centenarian and The Truth is Longer Than a Lie.
Sarah has also worked behind the scenes in Casting for over two decades with Australia’s top casting directors and across all the mediums (TV/Films/Pilots/TVCs/Reality Shows) including casting Neighbours, Blue Heelers, Canal Road and international productions such as Spartacus and The Pacific.
She also loves working as a director and completed her director’s attachment on Southern Star’s Rush (10 Network) and then was contracted to direct the Webisodes for the show. Other directing credits include an award winning short film, the Australian Premiere Stage Show of TOYER by Gardner McKay, Brendan Cowell’s first play MEN, Australian Premiere Stage Show BIG AL by Brian Goluboff and BLACKROCK by Nick Enright. Sarah also worked on the Music Video with band 'Speed Orange' (nominated for Best Music Video Award at the Atom Awards) on the “Ballard of You, Me & Donnie McGee”.
“To say Sarah Hallam owns the stage is an understatement; she chews it up, spits it out, knocks it out of the ballpark and then runs a home run all in time for the half time show. Not a look, gesture or nuance is wasted.”
~ Darby Turnbull – TheatrePeople.com.au
“The play moves very quickly, is suffused with violent energy and is directed tightly but brilliantly by Sarah Hallam, a young theatrical veteran whose done it all; Acting, Teaching, Casting Director, Film, TV, Stage Theatre Production and Film Directing - and evidenced from her handling of MEN (Stage Play by Brendan Cowell) - a thorough professional”
- 3MBS, Theatre Arts Weekly, Peter Green
SARAH HALLAM - ACTING COACH
Technique & Scene Study
Jessica is a Melbourne based theatre maker who works as an actor and director. She is a graduate of the Howard Fine Acting Studio Full-Time Program, and holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama and Dance) from Deakin University.
JESS MARTIN - YOUTH PROGRAM
Technique & Scene Study
David Coury is the vocal director at the Howard Fine Acting Studio, where he specialises in teaching his self devised Singing and Speech for Actors and Vocal Lab programs, which are designed to empower actors through speech and voice work.
In addition to his private practice in LA, David has established himself as a world leader in the field, having worked with many leading professionals in the entertainment industry and corporate world, including actors, broadcasters and Top 40 recording artists such as Leona Lewis. David demonstrated his transformative techniques on ABC’s ‘Extreme Makeover’, when he helped a rapper with a cleft palate overcome a speech impediment that had plagued him for twenty years. As well as this, he has appeared on ‘American Idol’, and worked with MTV, NBC, Fox, TV Guide Network and ‘E!’.
DAVID COURY - SINGING AND SPEECH FOR ACTORS
Voice & Personalisation Lecture
Sass is a Melbourne based Actor, Singer, Musician and Vocal Coach. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist and trained classical and contemporary singer, she has worked as a Soloist, Session Musician, Composer, Voice Over Artist and actor for over 20 years.
After studying classical voice with Brian Hansford at The University of Melbourne, Sass spent many years teaching vocal technique and is a passionate advocate for vocal health. Performing recording and touring from a young age, Sass understands the demands placed on a performing artist and believes in cultivating a strong and healthy instrument that is geared to work with authenticity and flexibility.
On completion of our Full Time Program in 2017, Sass was handpicked by David Coury under his mentorship to join the faculty of Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia.
SASS PINCI - VOICE COACH
Vocal Work
As a member of the Howard Fine Acting Studio faculty, Marilyn McIntyre specialises in teaching Scene Study, Foundation and Personalisation. Marilyn developed the Personalisation program at Howard Fine’s request, as a way of helping actors harness their personal experiences to bring their most authentic selves to their work.
Marilyn studied at HB Studio in New York, with Michael Shurtleff and was also a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Actors Workshop. In Los Angeles, Marilyn had the privilege of studying with Uta Hagen, and is featured on Uta Hagen’s ‘Acting Class’ DVD, performing Hagen’s tenth object exercise: Historical Imagination, in which she plays Charlotta from the Cherry Orchard. She has also trained with esteemed director Anna Bogart and leading members of the SITI Company, as well as holding a Master of Fine Arts (Penn State University) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (University of North Carolina School of the Arts).
Marilyn is a multi-award-winning actor, whose credits include leading roles on and off Broadway as well as in Los Angeles, where she garnered multiple Ovation, LA Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly and BackStage Garland awards, and several nominations for her work with companies such as Rogue Machine Theatre, VS. Theatre Company, Matrix, Open Fist, Deaf West and Interact among others. Most recently she made her fourth appearance in Rogue Machine’s ‘Around-the-Clock’ play festival. Her film and television credits include ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Cold Case’, ‘Watch Over Me’ (series regular), ‘Judging Amy’, ‘LA Law’ ‘X-Files’, ‘Shuffle’, ‘Heaven’s Rain’, ‘On Holiday’, ‘The Ring Two’, the hit short ‘George Lucas in Love’ and many more. Most recently she worked opposite Brenda Vaccaro in the independent feature ‘30-Love’.
In addition to the Howard Fine Acting Studio, Marilyn also teaches at the Los Angeles SAG-AFTRA Conservatory at AFI, and is the coordinator of the acting program for Elon in LA: ‘Climbing the LAdder’ at Elon University. She has taught at California State University-Northridge (CSUN), the Old Globe/University of San Diego MFA Program, University of Southern California, University of Texas-Austin and Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy, among others.
MARILYN MCINTYRE
On-Camera & Personalisation Lecture
Lliam is an actor, improviser, director and graphic artist.
Involved in Melbourne’s theatre and television industry, performance highlights include his one man improv show: The Ronin, Samuel Beckett’s All That Fall, Theatresports, The Big Hoo-Haa, The Increasingly Handsome Adventures of Earl Bircher, The Jazz Age, The Rule of Three, It’s a Dad Thing, Late Night Impro and more. He was a founding member of Impro Melbourne and directed the award-winning sketch group The Wizard Sandwiches and Rob Lloyd’s The Heart Awakens. He has won the National Theatresports Competition twice as well as the Maestro Championship at the 4th International Improvisation Theatre Festival in Belgium.
On television, he has appeared in Fresh Blood, Neighbours, Underbelly, Thank God You're Here, Hawke, The Micallef Program, Micro Nation, You’re Skitting Me and many TV commercials.
LLIAM AMOR
Improvisation
Karen is an accredited Alexander Technique Teacher & AUSTAT member.
Karen Anderson is an Alexander Technique teacher, graduated from the School for F.M. Alexander Studies, Melbourne and is registered with the Australian Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (AUSTAT).
Born and raised in Ireland, Karen draws on years of movement experience in martial arts, yoga, and performing to her teaching, bringing awareness, respect, wit, and a playful energy. Before arriving in Australia, Karen was a professional circus artist, teacher, co - founder & director of the award winning Dublin based PaperDolls aerial performance company. She trained aerial, acrobatics, clowning, hand-balancing and contortion throughout Europe.
To her, the Alexander Technique is a quiet and profound life changer. Practicing it opens students to choice, autonomy and freedom and it provides actors a practical method for embodiment and presence to deliver captivating performances.
KAREN ANDERSON
Alexander Technique
For over a decade, Abbe’s built a reputation as the top voiceover coach in Australia, working with those wanting to build a career, as well as Pro’s working who want to develop their career further.
ABBE HOLMES - VOICE
Voice Acting
Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia is pleased to be working with Australia’s leading Shakespeare Company to provide our students with the best education on Shakespeare. The Australian Shakespeare Company has been presenting exciting, accessible, contemporary productions of Shakespeare, Children's Classics, Musicals, and other plays across across Australia for almost forty years.
Visit their website for more info: www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au
AUSTRALIAN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Shakespeare