KIMBERLEY CAINES | FAIRFIELD ADVANCE | NOVEMBER 20, 2013 1:07PM

R-L Master Trung Ly, Maria Tran, Thien Nguyen and Joe Le demonstrate what you can learn if you take part in the Screen Acting Essentials program. Source: News Corp Australia

EVERYBODY is kung fu fighting - during exclusive workshops for budding actors in the leadup to auditions for the new ABC series Maximum Choppage.
Australia's first kung fu series will be filmed in Cabramatta next year and emerging actors of Asian descent, aged 16 to 70, are urged to attend auditions at the Fairfield School of Arts on November 30. Acting, comedy, fight choreography and drop-in classes are being held to prepare interested participants for the audition process and headshots will be taken. "The workshops are designed for beginners in the field to those who are emerging actors in our region," project co ordinator Maria Tran said. "The workshops are preferable for people with an Asian background due to the series' casting purposes, however, everyone is still invited to join the workshops." Joe Le, from Carramar, is hoping that learning the basics of fight scenes will land him a lead role in the comedy martial arts series. "I have been on film sets before and acted in films, but it is a good idea to keep your acting up to topnotch to help with landing a role, and the workshops are a good way to do this," Mr Le, 30, said. During the workshops, participants will learn from industry professionals, including co-director and writer Craig Anderson and fight choreographer Trung Ly. "Cabramatta is rich with cultural diversity and obviously shooting in the area will make the series feel authentic and true to the style and feel of the show," casting director Anousha Zarkesh said.