The Carmen Duncan Scholarship
We spoke with Jessica Orcsik, CEO and Academy Director of the American Arts, Film & TV Academy (AAFTA), about the 2021 Carmen Duncan Scholarship - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for two Australian actors to take their career to Hollywood.
What is the Carmen Duncan Scholarship?
I grew up in a well-known family in Australia and my aunt (Carmen Duncan) was always a really significant role model in my life. When I was 20, I first moved overseas to LA and she was a really big part of that. Having two parents so famous in the Australian film industry, they couldn’t understand why I had such a passion and drive for coming overseas, but it was a thing for me - I always felt this affinity that there was something bigger and beyond Australia that I had to do and there was something that I had to be a part of.
My Aunt came to LA in the 80’s, but she had spent the better half of her time here building an incredible career and which was completely unheard of. She got nominated for an Emmy, and she actually replaced a leading character on a daytime show - which back in the 90’s was huge. We’re talking the Days of Our Lives era, where she was part of a show called Another World, and it was massive and watched by millions of people all over the world. She basically came in to help me, and help me move over here at 20.
She had a very tough time in her later years, and she died of gynaecological cancer, and in the last couple of months of her life I was sitting by her bedside, and I was talking about her career and her impact on me. I said to her I would really love to start a scholarship in your name, and would love that scholarship to represent everything that you did; you know, this ability to go after the big dreams and the big goals. Sometimes as Australians I feel we too often try to keep things simple and humble, and are a little afraid to go after those big dreams. Tears came to her eyes and it’s probably a moment I won’t ever forget. And that’s how the scholarship was born.
I’m about new talent, which I think is a rarity for us. We have a lot of things that are looking for people who are established, or for people who have worked, or for X amount of credits, whereas the Carmen Duncan scholarship isn’t looking for that - it’s looking for anyone with a passion, with a drive, who is willing to step outside the status quo and wants to push boundaries, and really go out there and chase their dreams on a big scale.
What do the applicants win?
The prize is over $16,000 USD, so it’s quite extensive. Within that, they get a full 6 months training program over in LA next year in June, and that course is 5 days a week, working with some of the best coaches, casting directors and talent agents. They are trained in production, will actually get to do a theatre performance here and create their own short film. In addition to that we have a number of online training programs, there’s a headshot package with one of the top headshot photographers in Australia, and there is a mentoring package. Effectively giving them all the tools to set themselves up and hit the ground running internationally. They’ll also receive $5,000 worth of immigration services, supporting in legal fees and getting O1’s together.
We also have a youth package, which is a smaller version of the adult package. They receive a 3 week course in LA, and a number of online programs.
One of our winners from the 2019 year, Chloe Guy, is currently wrapping up filming on a Nick Cassavettes film God Is A Bullet, with an amazing cast including Jamie Foxx, January Jones and Nikolai Coster-Waldau. One of the casting directors was a judge on our previous scholarship in 2019, and he saw her work and put her forward. We’re incredibly proud of her, and we’ve been involved with her the whole way - not just the audition process but also the callbacks, the director group sessions, and coaching her throughout the film.
Who should apply, and what are you looking for in applicants for the scholarship?
We’re asking everyone to apply, but really the actors who want the big career. If you’re happy with what you’re doing, then maybe continue with that, but if you’re the kind of person who wants to be overseas, wants to travel, wants to do big films anywhere, then you should apply.
We are really supporting diversity this year, and when I say diversity I mean on all scales - people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ communities, different races and sexes - as much as possible, we want people to be part of this.
And then also, you have to be really brave to do this. You really have to want it. It is hard, and it is a lot of work. It will be a big change in their lives, but it will also be a really exciting one. So new talent, fresh faces, diverse faces, people with something to say. Regardless of whether you win, the best thing of the Carmen Duncan scholarship is the ability to be seen and we have had many applicants who were unsuccessful but have gone on to gain representation or work from being seen during this process by producers, directors, casting directors, agents, etc. That’s really exciting.
Why do you think it is such an important opportunity for young, up and coming talent in Australia?
I would love to say that Australia has moved ahead, and I think we are trying and I think we are focussed on it; but I don’t know if we are quite as ahead as we need to be when it comes to taking risks on new talent, developing new faces, etc. At the end of the day, those familiar faces are always going to get those opportunities, more so than the newer ones. The thing about Carmen Duncan is that this is an opportunity to push beyond those boundaries, and get an opportunity that wouldn’t have otherwise been available to you. Unless people know you and can really see your work, it’s really hard to break through.
Do you have any final parting words of advice for those thinking of applying?
You’ve got to be in it to actually have a shot. Fear gets in the way of a lot of mindsets, and this myth that we have to do things a certain way or a right way. The beautiful thing about the Carmen Duncan scholarship is that we aren’t just finding a right way, we’re finding your way. I’ve seen the positive effect that this has had on the people in the last few years that we have been able to do this, and it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, people tend to feel that this propels them into a different place - gives them a confidence they didn’t have, and allows the an opportunity they wouldn’t have otherwise had. With that, artists grow, and it’s such an important part of this industry to continue to grow, progress and learn. And that was one of the most beautiful qualities of my aunt really - she just always kept finding something new to challenge herself in. That’s what she represents, just that bravery to do something unknown and just go for it and challenge yourself, regardless of the result.
The Carmen Duncan Scholarship closes for submissions on July 24 2021. You can find out more about the scholarship here, and apply for the scholarship here.