Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Department
of
Performance & Media
2010
Programme: Diploma in Performing Arts
Department: Performance & Media
Vision
To nurture creative people capable of contributing
to the development of original, relevant and socially
resonant work of good quality for their societies.
YEAR 1
Video Tools Thought & Writing Play & Screen Writing
How to use the tools of digital video Teaches essay-writing skills and related skills Covers all the stages involved in the
production and post-production – camera, in reading and critical thinking. An essential process of writing a short stage play
lighting, sound and editing equipment. subject needed for reading and writing for and screenplay, from germinating ideas
other subjects in the curriculum. to the gathering of material for writing,
Media & Communication developing synopses and treatments,
Covers the human faculties of perception, Cinema, Modernity & Montage writing drafts, readings and critiques,
cognition and sign systems, and the Looks at early development of cinema, re-writing, formatting and formal
electronic analogue and digital information covers early 20th Century films. submissions.
technologies.
Sound & Image Theatre Project
Acting & Improvisation Introduces the basics of filmmaking, Led by a lecturer-director, students
Teaches basic acting skills for the actor, resulting in a short original video. create a theatrical production and
including improvisation and analysis. perform it for a public audience by
Acting & Characterisation
Stage Management Teaches the know-how to approach and using minimal technical resources.
Covers the knowledge, practical skills and perform a character. A foundational subject Traditional Malaysian Theatre
management techniques needed to run a for both stage and screen acting. The theory component covers the
theatrical production. different types of traditional performing
Script Analysis
Theatre Theory, History & Practice Teaches a systematic approach to reading arts which are found in Malaysia,
Introduces essential terms and concepts and analyzing a script, for the actor, director while the practical component provides
needed to understand and appreciate the and designer. performance training in one of
theatre’s unique functions and qualities. these forms.
FINALYEAR
CAREER ENTRY IN
Theatre Film & Television Media & Advertising, etc
Actor Actor Voice-over talent
Stage manager Production assistant Commercial actor
Producer Editor Administrator
Production crew Assistant producer Production assistant
Production assistant Administrator Editor
Director Line producer Event Management
Educator
Administrator
YEAR 2
Acting & Text 1 Stage Directing Career Management
Requires students to call on skills already Covers the history, theories and principles Taught by professionals in the field who
learnt, such as script analysis, locating of stage directing. A foundational subject impart up-to-date information and skills
character’s objectives, and interaction for stage and screen directing. required for a career in theatre, film and
with other characters in a scene. television.
Relevant to stage and screen acting. Music & Dance for Actors
Introduces performance in musical theatre.
Production Design
Introduces the theory, techniques and Audio-Video Post-Production 1
elements of stage production design – Introduces editing on Final Cut Pro
set, costumes, lighting and sound. system – equipment, running platforms,
Relevant to screen production design. components, specifications, capabilities,
methods used for different programmes,
Modern Theatre and audio/graphics/effects capabilities.
Looks at the beginnings of modern This is a technical course.
drama and theatre in Europe and traces
their development to present-day Audio-Video Post-Production 2
Europe and Asia. Provides additional technical training in
the Final Cut Pro and introduces audio
World Cinema production and post-production and its
Covers modern cinema from mid-20th integration into the advanced video
Century to the present, including the post-production environment.
rise of the auteur and post-colonial and
post-modern concerns with ethnic and Acting & Directing For The Camera
national identity, the family, gender, and Teaches acting and directing for film
sexuality. and television.
Performance Studies
Expands the focus on stage and screen
performance to include ritual, play,
games, the formation of social and
digital networks and organisations,
and the great variety of behaviours
and performances of daily life, among
humans and other species.
TRANSFER TO A
DEGREE PROGRAMME
With credit waivers of 2 years:
Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama), Bachelor of Contemporary Arts,
Deakin University, Melbourne, University of Tasmania, Australia
Australia
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dramatic Arts),
Bachelor of Film and Digital Media, University of Lethbridge, Alberta,
Deakin University, Melbourne, Canada
Australia
Apply to other universities & request for credit transfers.
Scene from Lao Jiu, The Ninth Born (Final-Year Stage Project, 2007)
ACADEMIC STAFF
Lecturers at the Department of Performance & Media come from many backgrounds in film, theatre and academia. They
include award-winning directors, actors, writers and academics who are actively engaged in creative practice as well as
research. Their combined qualifications, experience and accomplishments makes them a truly outstanding team in the
field of arts education in the country.
ZAHIM ALBAKRI directed the ZALFIAN FUZI is an actor PUAY TIN, LEOW is a
multiple awarding-winning and director with an MA published playwright whose
musicals Puteri Gunung Ledang in Theatre Directing from major plays Three Children,
The Musical and P. Ramlee The Middlesex University. An Ang Tau Mui and Family have
Musical. He has produced a associate director of the been produced in Malaysia,
string of outstanding works Instant Café Theatre Company, Singapore, Tokyo, Berlin, Cairo,
as a stage director and actor he jointly runs its FIRSTWoRKS Adelaide, Melbourne, and New
whose talent is sought after programme with its founding York. Her theatre experiments
and celebrated in both Malaysia and Singapore. member and artistic director Jo Kukathas to centre around writing and performance, and
He is a founding member and artistic director develop new writing for the Malaysian stage. include the use of modular texts from diverse
and executive producer of the theatre company sources. She graduated with an MFA in Theatre
Dramalab. He trained as an actor at the Academy DR. NILOUFER HARBEN from the University of Hawaii, and currently heads
of Live and Recorded Arts in London, and holds an holds a PhD from Royal the Department of Performance & Media.
MA in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University. Holloway College, University
of London and was a RAYMOND MIRANDA
SOW YEE, AU is an recipient of the American writes and directs musicals.
experimental film/video Council of Learned Societies/ His thesis musical, the comfort
artist whose works and film Fullbright Fellowship and women, was staged in New
performances have been Harvard/Yenching Fellowship. York City in 2001. He has
shown in Malaysia, Taiwan, Italy Specialising in English drama history and literary an MFA in Musical Theatre
and USA. Her work is noted for criticism, she is the author of Twentieth Century Writing from New York
its range and includes film and English History Plays: From Shaw to Bond. University, Tisch School of the
video performances, single- Arts, USA. He taught at the Communication and
channel experimental film/video and multimedia ANNE JAMES was trained Theatre Department of Seton Hall University, USA
design for contemporary theatre performances. in theatre at Universiti Sains from 2004-2008. He joined Sunway University
An MFA holder from the San Francisco Art Institute, Malaysia and Northwestern College in early 2009, and directed the senior
her creations explore light and projected images University (USA). A much students’ theatre project Pygmalion at the Roof
as organic elements in space and time, besides respected and award- Top Theatre in May of that year.
revealing the abstract quality of everyday life. winning actor who has
She was a recipient of the inaugural Krishen Jit performed both locally and IMRI NASUTION is a versatile
Astro Fund award in 2006. In 2009, she curated a internationally, she has had filmmaker. His skills include
Malaysian experimental film/video programme for the privilege of working with a number of famous cinematography, sound
the Experimental Film Festival in Seoul. directors and theatre companies including recording, editing, and even
Krishen Jit, Richard Schechner, Ong Keng Sen acting, but it is directing that
MARION D’CRUZ is a (TheatreWorks, Singapore), Joe Hasham (The has always been his core
founder member of Five Actors Studio), William Gluth, Hiroshi Koike, strength. Graduated with
Arts Centre. She graduated Ivan Heng (WildRice, Singapore), Zahim Albakri a diploma in filmmaking,
with a BA in Performing Arts (Dramalab), Edwin Sumun, Jo Kukathas (Instant Imri has been directing documentaries, music
and an MA in Dance from Café Theatre Company) and Natalie Hennedige videos, business programmes and TV series
Universiti Sains Malaysia and (Cake Theatre, Singapore). since 1999. He is also a co-founder of Kino-i,
has studied classical, modern a production company that has been playing
and contemporary dance ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR a key role in nurturing talents by conducting
in Malaysia, Indonesia, London and New York. RAY LANGENBACH certified trainings and workshops on new film
Marion’s focus as an artist has been to create a (PhD, Western Sydney techniques for young people. Together with his
contemporary Malaysian identity in dance and to University) is a performance team in Kino-i, Imri believes in productive growth
make works that speak of what she is passionate artist, documentary filmmaker through effective knowledge-sharing.
about. A pioneering dancemaker in Malaysia, and art critic. His installations
Marion now teaches, produces and choreographs – and performance art works
concentrating more on working with young people have been presented in
in multi-arts work. At the 2006 Boh Cameronian the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific. He
Arts Awards, Marion was awarded the Cross- serves on the board of directors of Performance
Cultural Champion of the Arts Award. Studies International and is vice-president of the
International Association of Art Critics (Singapore).
He periodically serves as Adjunct Professor of
Post-Graduate Studies at the Finnish Academy of
Fine Art and the Finnish Theatre Academy.
The Kidnapping of Princess Siti Dewi, 2007, dir: Pak Nasir Yusof Atomic Jaya, 2008, dir: Chee Sek Thim 3 Fat Virgins Unassembled, 2006, dir: Zahim Albakri
MARK TEH is one of the
busiest and most versatile
talents in contemporary It takes perseverance and a lot of hard work to
Malaysian theatre. His projects
are particularly concerned finish this programme as the lecturers, who are
with the issues of Malaysian
history, education and also industry practitioners, are passionate and
participation. Starting out
in college as a member of the ARTicle 19 and
Akshen youth theatre collectives, he has since
take their job very seriously.
Adrian Teh, graduate, 2008
been engaged in a range of collaborative projects
which include facilitating community arts
workshops, directing documentary performances,
researching and teaching. He was the inaugural GUEST LECTURERS
recipient of the Most Promising Artist Award at
the 2002 Boh Cameronian Arts Awards and is a Rafidah Abdullah Dr. Susan Philip
member of Five Arts Centre. Mark is the creative Screenwriter and TV presenter (3R); MA in Academician specialising in teaching drama and
producer for new media projects such as the Scriptwriting from Goldsmiths College, University active researcher of Malaysian and Singaporean
PopIN information network for Malaysian youth, of London, UK. theatres; PhD from Australian National University.
The Fairly Current Show and MP3. Afandy Alias a.k.a. Andy Alias Dr Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof
Audio engineer, educator, owner of Distinguished scholar and specialist in traditional
MELISSA TEOH holds a BA
Runningscript, an audio-video-film creative Southeast Asian theatre, founder-director of the
in Theatre (Directing and
and technical consultancy company; Asian Cultural Heritage Centre; PhD, University of
Production Design) from
BFA in Motion Picture & Video, Academy Hawaii.
Pepperdine University, USA.
of Art College, San Francisco, USA. Sandra Sodhy
She was an active theatre
practitioner in Los Angeles, Bernard Chauly Stage producer, publicist, writer, performer;
working as a production Film director (Gol & Gincu, Goodbye Boys) and Master of Economics and Bachelor of Economics,
stage manager, designer, and lecturer; MA in TV Drama , Goldsmiths College, University of Malaya.
in theatre operations before relocating home University of London, UK. Michael Voon
to Malaysia. Melissa now lectures and works
Bernice Chauly Educator, choreographer, TV and stage performer,
freelance both locally, with theatre companies
Writer, actor, filmmaker, publisher and director, digital print publisher, visual artist;
such as Instant Café Theatre Company and Dama
photographer; BEd in TESL and English Literature, BA degrees in Performing Arts and Graphic
Orchestra, and abroad.
University of Winnipeg, Canada. Communications & Fine Arts, Messa State College,
AZMYL MD YUSOF a.k.a. USA.
Sek Thim, Chee
AZMYL YUNOR holds a Theatre director (In 1969, Encore, The Coffin Is Too Joe Yan
MA (Communication) from Big For The Hole, That Was The Year), performer Lecturer in film studies and video
RMIT University, Australia. A and artist; Master of Fine Arts, University of Notre production, with special interests in film form
singer-songwriter, musician, Dame, USA. experimentation, editing, music videos and
and academic in the area of narrative films; BA in Film Studies, University of
media and cultural studies, Eddin Khoo
Pittsburgh, USA.
he has shared the stage Writer, journalist, translator and director of the
with acts as diverse as underground punk Centre for the Study and Documentation of Pak Nasir Yusof
luminaries Carburator Dung and sound artist Traditional Performance. Wayang kulit master practitioner and teacher (tok
Goh Lee Kwang and mainstream icons M. Nasir dalang and guru), well-versed also in makyong,
James Lee
and Khatijah Ibrahim. He is a co-artistic director menora, tok peteri and dikir barat.
Film director (The Beautiful Washing Machine,
of Troubadours Enterprise (which organizes Waiting for Love, Call If You Need Me), theatre
the annual KL Sing Song music showcase and director, photographer, performer, trained
promotes local original music) and a co-founder graphic designer.
of the Experimental Musicians and Artists
Co-operative Malaysia (EMACM). He is also a Hassan Muthalib
member of Projek Wayang with theatre actor and Film historian, critic, educator, director, creator
writer Fahmi Fadzil. of several much-loved animations aired on
Malaysian television, including the memorable
Sang Kancil stories. DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT
Sharmila Subramaniam
The Abandoned Space, 2007, dir: Leow Puay Tin & Mark Teh Equus, 2008, dir: Melissa Teoh Pygmalion, 2009, dir: Raymond Miranda
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
I personally think` that I want to do a degree in film or theatre eventually. Where can I go?
this programme will help We have formal agreements with three reputable institutions abroad for transferring to a
you build self-confidence, first-degree course. Students with good results are eligible for credit waivers of two years.
independent and creative Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama), Bachelor of Contemporary Arts,
thinking, presentation skills, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia University of Tasmania, Australia
discipline, time management Bachelor of Film and Digital Media, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dramatic Arts),
and all these will be essential Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
to any career you pursue.
Students can apply to other universities of their choice. Transcripts and referral letters
Aaron Teoh, graduate, 2008 are provided upon request for this purpose.
SNAPSHOTS OF GRADUATES…
Out in the creative industries and furthering their studies
After graduation, I had immediately got I am working with Five Arts Centre as a full-time
back to work. TV3 hit series Sindarella production manager and in my free time, I am an
was the first job I worked on both acting assistant director for the Creative Arts Ministry of
Full Gospel Assembly, Sungai Buloh. I intend to
and production. After Sindarella, other
seek opportunities to manage touring productions
jobs came in as well – and fast – which abroad to expand my horizon. This will eventually
I had never expected, including film, lead to a greater dream of mine, which is to
drama and commercials. establish a production company of my own.
Sharifah Sofia, graduate, 2008 Adrian Teh, graduate, 2009
Post-Production 1)
Scene from Trojan Women, (Final-Year Stage Project)
POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES
• Masters in Management
• Masters in Management with Law
• Masters in Money, Banking & Finance
• MSc in Computer Science (by research)
• MSc in Mobile Systems