He rivets your attention while he's on screen, yet you might walk past him in the supermarket and vaguely wonder where you've seen that man before. How do actors manage to be right in your face in your own home one minute and barely recognisable the next?
Peter Feeney is a man of convincingly many parts and, like good actors do, leaves you with impressions of the character, not the person behind that actor's mask.
Feeney teaches others how to act in film and television, where often what's needed are nuances, contained responses and flickers of expression, not the big, dramatic gestures the stage demands. He'll be in Whangarei in April taking a two-day workshop called Working with Camera; one which he hopes will appeal to youngsters as well as more experienced actors.
Northland has a vibrant theatre scene for actors of all ages, but there is very little offered in the way of acting to camera, says Shelly Matiu, director of Whangarei-based talent agency, Taitokerau Talent.
Feeney's two-day workshop in the specialist area of "working with the camera" will open a whole new area to the local arts talent community, she says.
Ms Matiu has worked extensively in the New Zealand film and television industry. Having developed a love for acting, and committed to living in Northland, she knew that in order for an actor to be recognised by casting agents, they had to travel or get skilled-up at home.
Seeing a local need, she set up her casting agency Taitokerau Talent in 2011, has already held two casting sessions in Whangarei for film projects, and also worked with local actor Michael Rewiri-Thorsen on an Audition for Camera workshop.
Feeney will introduce participants to the essential principles of camera work - how to prepare and present so that the acting is engaging and truthful. Participants will be taken through script interpretation, including preparation for spontaneous delivery, listening and engaging, methods of physical action and professionalism on set. The workshop will also cover monologue work, scene work, audition technique and how to survive and thrive in the profession.
When the workshop ends, participants will receive private Youtube links to their work and valuable feedback.
Feeney has performed in television, film and theatre in New Zealand and Australia since 1994. Recent screen credits include 30 Days of Night, Legend of the Seeker and Spartacus (US); Rude Awakenings and This is not your Life (NZ). His New Zealand films include Toy Love, Black Sheep, the acclaimed short film The Platform and most recently the telemovie Siege which will screen in April on TVNZ.
He has directed and played in various stage productions, including one-man shows, has adapted theatre scripts to screenplays, is a published author, magazine writer, casting director for television and has worked as a presenter trainer at TVNZ.
The Working to Camera workshop for those over 13 is on April 14-15. Email shellymatiu@gmail.com for more information.