Meet our tutors: Angela Blake!

Class Location: online

What has surprised you so far about your classes? What are your favourite moments? 

I have just loved my Saturdays, logging in to Zoom and seeing my class and starting off with a small chat is just one of the best parts of my week. I have been surprised by the level of incredible creativity already that my class is sharing and the generosity each student has for their fellow classmates and for me, their teacher.

Each of my students has joined my class with a body of work they have been working on before this year; one makes shorts already, one is a drone filmmaker and yet another has his own YouTube channel for fan animations. They are bringing these different experiences to class, along with a wonderful sense of fun, adventure and dedication and I am excited to see what the year holds for us.

What drew you to work for Bus Stop? What past experiences led you here?

Oh wow, I have always wanted to work for Bus Stop, this is my dream job. I am soo passionate about inclusive filmmaking for all and I love teaching and being around creative like-minded people, Bus Stop is my home.

I have been teaching since I was 13 years old, first ballet, dancing and acrobatics and in more recent years acting and filmmaking, especially smartphone filmmaking. I have worked as a performer since I was 16 touring the world in stage shows as a dancer, singer, acrobat and actor. These days I work as an actor, director, writer, indie filmmaker and film festival director.

Two of the best jobs I have ever had have been for two other NFPs: the Starlight Childrens’ Foundation, where I entertained seriously ill children and their families in hospitals across the state, and the Wayside Chapel, where I teach weekly drama and smartphone filmmaking classes to the visitors there who include the homeless, drug and alcohol addicts, people living with mental health disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community and community members from the local Kings Cross area. I love it!

What are your hopes for the class this year? 

To make a kick arse film, despite our geographic differences and get it into festivals the world over. But most importantly, for all my class to be proud of their film, to feel empowered to follow a career in the film industry and to go on and make their own films for years to come.

Tell me about what you’re working on outside of Bus Stop. What makes you feel excited to be working on it?

I co-founded a film festival called SF3 – SmartFone Flick Fest and I am just about to launch our 7th season. We are a festival where all films must be shot on smartphones or tablets and our aim is to make filmmaking affordable and accessible to all. We are open to filmmakers of all ages and abilities. Over the past 6 years have had thousands of entries form over 50 countries. It is a lot of fun and a lot of work, so this is what I do most of the time.

I also act, direct and write and I have a short play I’m directing coming up, I’m writing many screenplays and poems and I am auditioning, so fingers crossed I land a new role soon!

I absolutely love working in this industry. I have done it forever, and will continue to do so. I feel very privileged to be able to do what I love and be creative every day.