Virtually any TAFE course you study could potentially prepare you for a showbiz gig

You don't have to get into NIDA to make it to Hollywood – there are plenty of courses available at TAFE NSW that can prepare you well for work in the theatre, television and film industries. Here are just a few options you might want to consider.

A class act

TAFE offers everything from workshops that teach techniques for calming audition nerves to courses that show you how to perform a Shakespearean monologue in iambic pentameter. You might even be able to find a class that will teach you how to train your dog to behave while doing film and TV work.

Roll cameras

More interested in being behind the camera? No problem – TAFE NSW offers a selection of courses that explain everything from how to operate a film camera to video editing using programs such as Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro CC in the Diploma of Screen and Media.

Hair and makeup

Hair and makeup artists might not have the profile of some others working in showbiz, but good ones are highly valued. They often get to travel the world as part of the entourage of big-name actors, as well as work on the sets of Hollywood blockbusters.

The skills taught in TAFE's standard hairdressing and makeup courses offer a solid foundation for work in the theatre, television and film industries. It's also possible to undertake specialist courses to acquire skills such as applying special effects makeup in the Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Makeup Services).

Love music?

A good soundtrack can make or break a film, TV show or play. TAFE has a number of music courses that can provide you with a skill set that includes music theory and a working knowledge of the software programs typically used in composition.

These are just a handful of the TAFE courses available that can prepare you for a career in the entertainment industry. Everyone from bookkeepers and caterers to IT experts and public relations professionals are needed to produce plays, TV shows and films, so virtually any TAFE course you study could potentially prepare you for a showbiz gig.