Good teachers Teach...
Great teachers Inspire
The Teachers
A skilled teacher wields the power to ignite curiosity and shape futures. The faculty at The Loft comprehends this significance profoundly. Their commitment transcends mere instruction; they cultivate a dynamic learning environment where minds flourish. Beyond imparting knowledge, they serve as mentors, guiding students to explore, question, and innovate.
The value of The Loft’s faculty rests not just in their expertise, but in their ability to connect, inspire, and kindle a lifelong love for learning. These educators embrace each student’s uniqueness, fostering holistic growth. In a world where education shapes destinies, The Loft’s faculty stands as a beacon of enlightenment and empowerment.
Tom McSweeney
Tom McSweeney, of Tom McSweeney Casting, Los Angeles moved with his family to the Gold Coast, Australia in 1999. With a career spanning forty years, Tom McSweeney is an Emmy Award nominee as well as a four time Artios Award nominee for his work in casting for feature film and television. To date, he has cast over two hundred feature film, mini-series and episodic television productions internationally.
Since coming to Australia, Tom has continued teaching Master Classes in Audition Technique and Script Interpretation at his acting school on the Gold Coast.
Grant Brown
An Australian television director with a large body of critically acclaimed work to his credit, Grant has been working in the television drama industry for over 25 years. Grant has been nominated 3 times for Best Direction in a Television Series at the AACTA awards for his episodes of Stingers, Underbelly and Rush. Stingers & Rush went on to win Best Drama Series.
He has been nominated 3 times for an Australian Directors Guild Award for his work on Dirt Game, Underbelly and The Bureau of Magical Things.
Jovita O'Shaughnessy
Director Jovita O’Shaughnessy has a long track record in television drama and most recently wrapped My Life is Murder starring Lucy Lawless, for CJZ Productions and Network Ten where it screened in 2019.
She previously directed the Fremantle Media drama Wonderland for the same Network. Jovita has directed hundreds of hours of fast turn around television and one-hour dramas, building a strong foundation of production experience along the way. She is the proud recipient of an ADG award for Best Direction in a Serial 2012.
Stevie Ray
Stevie Ray has worked as a Casting Director for the multi-award winning McGregor Casting for 11 years.
Some of Stevie’s film and TV credits include: (Oscar nominated) The Eleven O’Clock (Short film), Here Come the Habibs! (TV Series), High Life, (TV Series), Roman Empire (TV Series), The Moodys (TV Series), Down Under (FF), along with many MANY Television Commercials.
Miranda Harcourt
Miranda’s approach is based on years of writing and performing Verbatim theatre in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, as well as her work as an on-set acting coach with renowned actors and directors on films all over the world. Miranda has coached Oscar, Golden Globe, Emmy and BAFTA-award nominated and winning performances in films and TV shows from Lion, Bridge to Terabithia, Big Little Lies to Being the Ricardos.
She was the dedicated coach for Sunny Pawar (young Saroo) in Lion and was Director: Background Action on Garth Davis’ Mary Magdalene, starring Rooney Mara and Joachim Phoenix. Her first feature film The Changeover, co-directed with Stuart McKenzie, was released to acclaim in NZ, the UK and the US. Miranda’s daughter is the winner of the NBR award for Breakout Talent 2018, Thomasin McKenzie.
Mairi Cameron
Queensland-based director Mairi Cameron has just released her first feature film, The Second in cinemas nationally and on streaming platform Stan. The Second is one of eight feature films nominated for Best Australia Feature Film for the Screen Producers of Australia Awards. Mairi’s career spans over a decade of experience directing short films, music videos and television commercials.
Her short film Milk was selected for official competition at Cannes, won prizes at Palm Springs and Bilbao and was pre-selected for an Academy Award. She’s directed clips for some of Australiaʼs premier music artists, including Washingtonʼs Sunday Best which won Triple Jʼs ʻMusic Video of the Yearʼ.
Stephen Lance
Taxi Film Production logo Writer & DirectorWriter & Director Taxi FilmTaxi Film 2019 · Less than a year2019 · Less than a year Stephen Lance is an award-winning writer and director of internationally renowned films, music videos and commercials. Stephen wrote the screenplay for THE SECOND which won the Stan fully funded feature competition in 2017, which he went on to co-produce with Leanne Tonkes with Mairi Cameron directing.
He was nominated for an Australian Writer’s Guild Award in 2015 for MY MISTRESS, his directorial debut feature film, which he co-wrote (with Gerard Lee) and which premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival in 2014.
Evan Clarry
Evan Clarry is an award-winning television director and screenwriter with over 20 years’ experience. He is well-known for his creativity, resourcefulness, and passion in bringing stories to life on screen.
As a screenwriter, Evan has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the AACTA and Awgie awards. Some of his most notable credits as writer include The Bureau of Magical Things and Mako Mermaids (for Netflix), which he also directed.
As a director, Evan has helmed two feature films, Blurred and Under the Radar, alongside many hours of television. His expertise in the technical aspects of filmmaking, especially with high end visual effects, combined with his unique creative vision and calm, respectful approach, have made him a sought-after director in the field of kid’s fantasy Television. His work with young people in particular has earned him a reputation as an inclusive, respectful director, helping guide less experienced actors towards compelling performances.
