Excelsia College’s OZ to LA Program
Excelsia College’s Oz to LA program gives students a once in a lifetime opportunity to study in Los Angeles, rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in showbiz. Throughout the program, students will study five days a week at a Los Angeles renowned school in an intense and concentrated manner, testing their commitment, passion and suitability for life as an actor. FEE-HELP is available for the training and course-related costs of the Oz to LA program. Students are required to cover the upfront costs of approximately $11,500. This includes accommodation, flights, living and other expenses.
What Does It Include?
10 weeks intensive actor training
Audition/casting sessions
Exclusive meetings
Industry conferences
Networking opportunities
Studio tours
Excelsia College’s OZ to LA program is exclusive to the Bachelor of Dramatic Art
This program gives students the unique opportunity to spend three months in Hollywood training at prestigious Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory.
The OZ to LA allows students to take their training to the next level, with ten weeks extensive training, audition/casting sessions, exclusive meetings and industry conferences. The program allows Excelsia’s students to immerse themselves in the heart of entertainment and live and study in one of the most dynamic cities in the world.
Excelsia alumni and former Bachelor of Art student Joss Chalmers participated in OZ to LA. She says experiencing the program complimented what was taught at Excelsia, with lecturers who were experienced professionals invested in helping participants grow as artists and as people.
‘Studying and training screen acting in Hollywood was a super inspiring experience as it can be daunting thinking about starting a career in the industry and the OZ to LA program put us right in the middle of it,’ says Joss. ‘We also learnt about the audition process, SAG (the US union), and what a career in screen acting would look like. During our Auditioning for Film class, we had the opportunity to film scenes and watch them back for immediate feedback.’
The Bachelor of Dramatic Art is three years full time and offers three specialist strands: Performance, Production and Theatre Practice. This allows students to take classes unique to their chosen career path, whether as an actor, director, stage manager, prop-master or technician.
‘I chose to study the Bachelor of Dramatic Art at Excelsia College because it was important to me to learn my craft with teachers and mentors who are active in the industry,’ says Joss. ‘I also wanted to grow and be challenged as an artist in an environment where I would be supported with strong values and a strong sense of community.’
Student story: Amy Lawler (Bachelor of Dramatic Art Student)
Interview Drama Student Amy Lawler
Are you curious about what it is like to study acting in the heart of Hollywood? Have you ever imagined yourself training in one of the most dynamic cities in the world? We asked Bachelor of Dramatic Art student Amy Lawler to share about her experience of Excelsia’s exclusive OZ to LA program.
Amy talks about student life at Excelsia College, her experience of studying in Los Angeles, and shares her advice for students who are thinking about participating in the OZ to LA Program.
1. Why did you choose to study the Bachelor of Dramatic Art at Excelsia College?
I chose to study at Excelsia because of the quality of classes they offered. I like that each year is limited to a small number of students, meaning that we can really get hands on experience and quality time with each lecturer. I also chose to study here in part, because of the OZ to LA program. As an emerging actor and writer, I was very interested in living in LA and experiencing what it had to offer.
2. What was your experience with the OZ to LA program?
My experience with the program was a highly positive one. The school we studied at (Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory) not only offered a good education, but they were extremely helpful and accommodative to our needs.
However, the school was only a small part of the overall experience. I found that just living in LA offered a myriad of exciting and new experiences. I enjoyed attending the events that Excelsia College set up, particularly the film festival, as it was an amazing networking experience and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour where we got to see firsthand how and where many films and shows are brought to life.
We were also lucky enough to attend G ’Day USA, a massive event where prominent American and Australian talent gather to celebrate the relationship between Australia and the US. This event was an amazing networking opportunity as we were able to mingle with industry professionals.
3. What was it like studying and training screen acting in the heart of Hollywood?
Studying acting in LA is eye opening and creatively invigorating; there is nothing better than having your career as an artist taken seriously. Its inspiring being around so many creative minds everywhere you go.
Studying in Santa Monica was a beautiful experience. All the classes were useful, particularly when learning about the technical aspect of the film industry in America. The instructors were also amazing. They’re all currently working in the industry and so were able to give current and insightful information.
4. What was the biggest benefit of participating in the OZ to LA program?
I found that being in LA made me realise how achievable working in this industry is and this trip re-ignited my drive to do so. Living in another country, even for a short time, gave me a new sense of independence and determination. Living in LA particularly inspired me to find and create my own work.
5. What is one piece of advice you would offer students who want to partake in the OZ to LA program?
Be independent and make your own experience. Whilst the events that the college provided are amazing, I found some of the highlights were the experiences we found and created ourselves.
Excelsia College’s OZ to LA program is exclusive to the Bachelor of Dramatic Art.
This program gives students the unique opportunity to spend three months in Hollywood training at prestigious Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory. Throughout the program, students will study five days a week at the Los Angeles renowned school in an intense and concentrated manner, testing student’s commitment, passion and suitability for life as an actor.
For more enquiries, please visit our enquiries page or call us on 02 9819 8811 or email Tihana Vulcik tihana.vulcik@excelsia.edu.au.
