| OSA Staff |
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John A. Givins | Linda Cartwright | Louise Britzman | Ben Crowder | Matt Denny | Maya Dalziel
John A. Givins - OSA Drama Supervising Tutor and FTV Directing Tutor
 John is one of the industry's most colourful and energetic stage and screen directors.
After initially training as a stage actor and director, he joined the TVNZ Avalon Production department in 1982 and worked on a wide variety of studio productions.
In 1985 he directed a number of Country GP and Seeker drama series episodes, and gained a Best Drama Director nomination in that year’s GOFTA awards. In subsequent years, he directed many episodes of the pioneering Open Home drama series and became producer of the successful Kaleidoscope arts documentary series.
He also produced and/or directed numerous productions such as the 1989 Benson & Hedges Fashion Design Awards, RTR Countdown, Laughinz and 3.45 Live children’s show.
Since leaving TVNZ in 1989, John has worked on contract for various production companies and broadcasters including Communicado, Kids TV, VIDCOM, TV3 and South Pacific Television. He has built up formidable experience in all aspects of television production including directing the successful Shortland Street television soap series.
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Linda Cartwright - OSA Voice Teacher
Linda Cartwright acted at Theatre Corporate and the Mercury Theatre during their respective heydays. She was then Head of Voice at Unitec's School of Performing & Screen Arts for fifteen years.
During her career Linda has been given Creative New Zealand grants on two occasions to study Voice with well-known teachers both in England and the United States. She has worked as dialogue/dialect coach on films such as The Lord of the Rings, No. 2 and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and on television shows including Shortland St and Terry and the Gunrunners.
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Louise Britzman - OSA Singing Coach
After Graduating from Drama Studio Sydney in 1988, Louise worked in Sydney and Tasmania as an actor and singer.
Inspired by a love of African American Gospel music and acappella she became a founding member of Sydney’s world renowned choir The Café of the Gates of Salvation. She went on to sing with a number of Sydney- and Auckland-based acappella groups. This culminated in a National Radio recording of her own compositions with a group called The Seven Sisters that she formed with Debbie Harwood.
Louise trained as a spoken word vocal tutor under Linda Cartwright and worked as a voice tutor alongside Linda on the Unitec acting degree programme, which later became the Performing and Screen Arts Degree programme. Remaining in the voice department at Unitec for the next 16 years, she went on to specialise in teaching the “actors singing voice”.
During this time Louise also worked as vocal tutor on a number of other leading Auckland-based acting courses. These included time at South Seas Film and Television School, the Selwyn College performing Arts Course, and Auckland University diploma in drama.
Louise was the founding Musical director and conductor of Auckland-based Gospel Choir, Heaven Bent. She has also been vocal coach, and on occasion Musical Director for numerous Musical Theatre productions (from Big River to Happy End).
During this time Louise has maintained a role as a private tutor from her home studio for 15 years, training scores of young singers in contemporary singing craft. She is also a professional singer in her own right and presently sings with a functions band called After Dark.
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Ben Crowder - OSA Theatre Skills Tutor
Ben Crowder is the director of Auckland’s independent company Theatre Stampede.
He studied drama and playwriting at The University of Otago, went on to complete a post-graduate diploma in drama at the University of Auckland, and continued his professional training at The John Bolton Theatre School in Melbourne.
His theatrical work is hallmarked by a lightness and joy in performance; coupled with dramatic integrity and a demand for innovation.
Currently Ben works predominantly as a professional director with a bit of acting and teaching thrown in.
As a teacher he is much sought after – recent teaching engagements include Auckland Theatre Company, AYA, The University of Auckland and the acting programme at Unitec.
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Matt Denny - OSA Yoga Tutor
Matt Denny is a qualified yoga teacher, who brings the skills and disciplines of yoga practice to South Seas OSA students.
He has 14 years of teaching and practical experience with a good understanding of beginner to advanced practice. His focus is to tailor the practice to suit the individual needs of the student, educate and build awareness of yoga as a tool in daily life.
Matt's teaching is dynamic, motivating and creative. With Matt's guidance, South Seas On Screen Acting students will learn to integrate yoga into their creative development and lifestyle.
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Maya Dalziel - OSA ActingTutor
 Maya Dalziel has a background in teaching and performing arts. She has had a 30-year career in professional theatre, film and television as an actor, theatre director, casting director and child actor coach on location in New Zealand and overseas.
Her recent credits include casting director and acting coach on the acclaimed short films Ra and Lily and Swansong. She has also worked on the feature films The Strength of Water and Sunshine Cleaning.
In addition to her performances on stage and screen, Maya also uses her skills as an actor within the medical profession, as a role-player for the teaching and examining of communication skills.
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Student Profile
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ZANE HOLMES | 1997
Since graduating from South Seas Zane has been at the forefront of television and film drama production in New Zealand and now works as a SPFX Producer. He says “I give credit to South Seas for much of my success. I keep in contact still and try to employ as many students as I can. If someone has come out of South Seas I can rely on a high level of work quality and professionalism from that person.” |
