Thinking about applying to one of NIDA’s Master of Fine Arts programs and wondering if you have what it takes? You’re not alone. This is a place for bold ideas, collaboration, creative risks and learning by doing (and sometimes even by failing). If you’re looking for advice from people who have stood where you’re standing, read on:
“Unfortunately, Cate Blanchett doesn’t wander the halls as much as I thought she might. But earnestly, it took me four tries to get into the course. It’s competitive and you might not get in the first time. But what it really boils down to is perseverance. To exist in this industry is to weather constant uncertainty but persevere in the face of that uncertainty.” – Kurtis Laing (Directing, 2024)
“I would say – you should do it. NIDA affords many amazing opportunities, and you just have to dive into them all headfirst. There are of course things to figure out along the way but collaborating and learning new skills with other creatives and developing your craft at NIDA is incredibly rewarding.” – Mehhma Malhi (Directing, 2024)
“Mehhma is right. Delusion and ignorance (in moderation) are superpowers; if you want to do it – do it. You’ll never become a writer or a director by sitting there quietly and agonising over whether you should or shouldn’t, or if you’re good or not good enough. Just try. Enjoy getting things wrong. Enjoy getting things not quite right. Let go of your preciousness and embrace the joy of messiness and the community that comes with collaboration. Get serious about failing, making mistakes, and learning. And be nice to people. The rest will come. Truly, truly it will.” – Xavier Hazard (Writing, 2024)
“My advice for anyone considering applying for the writing course is to actually experience as many other areas of the performing arts as you can. My main focus as a writer has always been theatre, and my past experiences of acting, directing and stage managing for student productions has helped immensely with writing works in a way that I know can be performed and staged. And now that I am producing my own work, having a basic understanding of at least some of the roles of the other members of my team has meant that I’m not totally in the dark when it comes to their part in the production. And if you do decide to do the course, use every day as a chance to meet people in these different courses and areas of the building, because you may one day be relying on them to help you get up a piece of your work!” – Karina Young (Writing for Performance, 2024)
“It’s the simplest advice, yet the hardest to put into practice and it is: just write. Write every day. Even if it’s just half a page of stream of consciousness. Read things. Watch things. Absorb from the best, but don’t get disheartened or try and compare yourself or your voice to other writers (this is almost always impossible, but try). Make things. Film things. Always celebrate completing a first draft, but know that it is just the first step in the life of a project and the work is just beginning. Know that you will almost always question yourself and your path, but never doubt your voice or your gut instinct. And most importantly to survive as a writer, to survive the film and television industry, you must get comfortable with failing! You will fail more than you will succeed and that’s just part of the process.” – Jess Marshall (Writing, 2015)
For Ben Sheen (Directing, 2017) whose work has taken him to Broadway, we asked: What advice would you give to current NIDA students or emerging theatre makers who are interested in pursuing work internationally?
“I feel extraordinarily lucky to be here and it is amazing to see so many Australian creatives overseas. I think there is a real hunger for the creativity and bold experimentation of Australian work. I really was able to sink my teeth into experimentation at NIDA and take advantage of as many of the amazing resources available to me. I first played with video theatre in a project with the A3 (third-year Acting) students – adapting a Pinter play into a video work using the rehearsal room webcams. One of my favourite experiments was on an optional project with the props students, recreating famous film scenes with puppetry. I just encourage everyone to experiment and play as much as you can!” – Benjamin Sheen (Directing, 2017)
If you’re excited to learn more about NIDA’s Master of Fine Arts programs, click here.
Header image: Graduand Nelson Blake directing the music video No Regrets by artist Nathan Hui-Yi, 2024. Photo by Phil Erbacher.