Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016

22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

22307VIC Certificate III in

Acting (Screen)
Year One

CUSMPF302A Prepare for

performance
This UOC needs the students to research for a
contemporary (their age range) script. A
duologue may be used if the script is of equal
parts. Students must rehearse, design
costumes and props and keep folio notes (not
which must be tidy and accurate).

Australian College of Dramatic Arts

STUDENT WORKBOOK
Name: …………………………………….
School:……………………………………..

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

Workbook developed by Merilyn Brend © 2016

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

WELCOME TO CUSMPF04A
Prepare self for performance

This is a practical unit of competency and

you will be marked on your approach,
preparation, rehearsal, performance and
folio

What This Unit Is About

Some information about the Film and Television Industry
This unit covers the knowledge and skills that are to be developed through
rehearsal and private practice. It helps organise your planning and with
evaluating your performance, extending your knowledge and performance
repertoire, working safely and learning strategies to overcome performance
anxiety.

In this industry it’s very easy to say “I will” and “I’ll get it done”, but it’s a much
harder job to be responsible for yourself and not let anything else get in the
way of learning or in setting deadlines for yourself.

Imagine getting a call from your agent one day at 4pm requesting that you
attend a screen-test the following day. Your agent e-mails you a script that
night, so now not only do you have to go to work at your part-time job, phone
friends, do your home jobs and have homework assignments; you also have
the added job of learning a script for a most important screen-test. Taking on
this task also means preparing your back story and background information to
the scene and grooming yourself.

So what are your priorities, what do you do, how do you manage?
This unit of competency will help you organise yourself.

Competency based learning and assessment

This unit is competency-based. Competency-based learning is not only about
gaining knowledge but also about being able to put what you know into
practice – to perform a task or demonstrate a skill.

How this unit is structured

Elements: these provide a very brief statement of the skills and knowledge
you are required to develop.

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

Performance criteria: There are a number of performance criteria for each

element. To satisfactorily complete the unit you must successfully
demonstrate your competence in very performance criterion.
ASSESSMENT
Competency based assessment has no pass or fail. You are assessed as
either competent or not yet competent. Being assessed as not yet competent
simply means you need to spend more time working on the unit.

Due dates for work will have one date and then only one date for
resubmission – after that date if work is not handed in Merilyn Brend and
(office) must be notified. After that it will got to VET Coordinator and parents
for intervention.

RESOURCES
Anthony Sher -newspaper (Shakespeare – King John)
In order to prepare for this role – the hunchback King had to
perform on stage for 3 and a half hours in the character which
included a deformed posture – Anthony Sher had to go to the gym
every day in order to manipulate his body and stay fit.

Tempany Deckert ‘Away’ Michael Gow Perth Tour 2003)

The set design for this production was a stage full of large rakes
that the actors had to climb over. Near the end of the rehearsals
Tempany suffered from backache and had to visit a chiropractor.
He told her that she had to start exercising in order to be able to
maintain the fitness required for the role and amount of
performances.

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

ASSESSMENT TASK
Certificate and level Certificate II in Acting (Screen)
UOC PREPARE SELF FOR UOC Code CUSMPF04A
PERFORMANCES

Learning Outcomes to be Assessed By This Task

See Marking guides
Target Group
VETis – 15 to 18 year olds
Method/s of Assessment
Workbook, folio and performance
Instructions to Students
Workbook and folio. Filming component for evidence of work, role play, warming up, improvising and acing on
front of camera with performance piece – duologue or monologue
List of Tasks
Workbooks questions, questioning, observation, warming up, improvising and acting in front of camera,
working in studio and on location, filming
Materials / Equipment Required to Conduct Assessment
Workbook, camera equipment
Student name Date

Validated by - MB Date

Teacher Assessor Name:

Date/Time of Assessment:

Candidate Declaration 
I fully understand the context and purpose of this assessment 
I am fully aware of the criteria against which I will be assessed 
I have been given fair notice of the date, time and venue for the assessment 
I am aware of the resources I need and how the assessment will be conducted 
I agree that any written work submitted is my own 
I understand the appeal process 

Candidate Signature: _____________________________________________

Date: _____________________________________________

Element 1: Plan for performance

Practical

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

You will be preparing for a performance that is due in Act 12 and 13.
The performance must be in keeping with screen acting.
It should be treated as screen-test assessment.
The performance will be filmed.
The performance that you present must be taken from an Australian Film or
Television series. It must be contemporary and you must play your age range.
The scene may be taken from anywhere within the script and must include
one or two characters. If you find a script from a book, as long as the script
has been produced for Film or Television then you may use it, e.g. Looking for
Albrandi.
The scene must be no shorter than 3 minutes in duration with a maximum of 4
minutes.
Preparing for a performance means that you must think laterally about the
research, rehearsal and performance elements – a check list is given within
the following elements that will help you achieve this.
If your scene includes another actor then you must choose that actor and
rehearse with them in your own time.

Please record your work in a FOLIO in an organised

way

1. Prepare and write a timeline/plan for research, rehearsal and

performance. You may use diagram form.
Wed Thurs Fri Sun Tues Thur Sat
May 5 May 6 May 7 May 9 May 11 May 13 May15
Read Interpret Google Read Decide Block Costume and
workbook workbook scripts scripts on script script prop script
and
start
learning
Sun May Mon May Tues Wed May
16 17 May 18 19
Rehearse Rehearse Rehearse
and
prepare
all
elements
for filming

OR RECORD THIS WAY

May 5 read workbook

May 7 find script
May 10 rehearse
May 12 sort props and costumes
May 15 write character backstory

2. Include the script.

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

3. Write the character backstory.

4. Write about the performance location and how you will block your
scene. Please include a diagram of the blocking.

5. Write down your grooming, furniture, prop and any other and
presentational requirements.
List all the things you will be using

6. Write down the warm ups that you will do for the preparation of this
piece.
Either group or individual exercises are acceptable

7. Write how you will achieve heightened levels of concentration and

focus just before filming time.
 by doing warm up exercises
 by preparing set/props/costumes/hair and make-up
 by knowing your lines
 by knowing your blocking
 by not talking to friends just before a take
 if instructions are not clear – ask
 by enjoying your work – stress causes problems
 by working to alleviate performance anxiety through
exercise/meditation/relaxation exercises/thorough preparation

8. Include your CV and photo for your teacher.

Include a hard copy in folio

Element 2: Practice your scene

2.1 Write down a list of your weakness (es) that you have found when working
on this Unit of Competency.
2.2 What is an acting technique? How have you developed yours?
2.3 Describe your interpretation of the script.
2.4 Did your peers give you any helpful advice for the development of
character and scene
Students’ own reflective comments

Element 3: Monitor technical and artistic development

to meet rehearsal and performance requirements

3.1 Time your performance. Edit it. Record your timings.

3.2 If necessary, change any grooming and presentational requirements for
the assessment such as:
props

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

furniture
location of filming
make-up

Please record these changes – and draw/add photos to your folio

Element 4: Observe OHS principles in private practice

4.1 Be aware of hazards when filming.
Write a safety report – use report from OHS UOC and ACT 15.

ADVICE: maintain your timeline, get enough rest and relaxation so that this
performance does not become arduous

Element 5: Use body effectively and safely

ADVICE
 Within certain scenes there are safety concerns; make sure that you
are using your body and voice safely
Breathing and relaxation exercises before performance, no over use of
the voice, opening the mouth and not screaming will help protect voice.
Monitor the blocking of the scene for safe physical work.

 It is important to remember that on set and on location there are

characters that you might be taking on that do not have good posture
or easy voices – using your expressive skills safely (physical, vocal and
gesture) is an awareness that must be learnt and rehearsed

5.1 In your folio write down any hazards or concerns that occur within the
rehearsal or performance
Students’ own comments

Element 6: Develop and use strategies to overcome

the effects of performance anxiety
Please read this with the students. Check their folios for evidence of this
research.

ADVICE: By being prepared you will naturally overcome performance anxiety

and nerves. If you leave things to the last minute, no wonder you worry about
them. This is not professional behaviour and should never be used.
Researching the internet for performance anxiety will help you.
If you have a learning disability or weakness then you need to address this
with your teacher who will in turn help you to resource strategies to help you
manage this identified weakness.
There are two phrases that come to mind when planning - getting the monkey
off your back and getting rid of baggage.

Prepared planning will help rid you of these.

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

Learning lines is like doing assignments; sometime we love to do them, other

times they become arduous (hard work). From your experience you will know
that if you are prepared you will generally succeed.
If you have had past success with ‘winging’ your acting work, please
remember that there will come a time when you will fail with this method. As
actors we often have the capacity to be spontaneous actors. That’s great for
on stage improvisationary work but not for audition and screen-tests where
you are meant to be showing your best work.

This will be shown in the way you are assessed with your performance.

GOOD LUCK

Write down the hours it took you to complete this workbook

………………………………………………………………………….