This year’s Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards saw Australia’s biggest music industry movers and shakers get together to toast the crème de la crème of both rising and iconic Australian music talent.
Tones and I, Dom Dolla and The Teskey Brothers were amongst some of the biggest winners on the night, with Crowded House winning the Rolling Stone Icon Award.
It all went down at iconic Sydney venue The Ivy, with host Alex Dyson keeping things ticking in between featured live performances from Angus & Julia Stone and Crowded House’s Neil Finn.
JMC Academy’s Entertainment Business Management students took their own places amongst the fresh faces and industry newcomers, with Pablo Aguilera Campusano, Jordan Quiroz, Scout Dures, SJ Hain, Sophie O’Neill and Monica Chalmers collaborating with the Brag Media production team to run the event.
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Film & Television students Billy Rollston, Jerome Hager, Zach Greer and Kai Le Roux were also part of the Red Carpet Team, capturing content of the nominees and industry pros, behind-the-scenes exclusives, interviews and award presentations.
JMC students were both behind and in front of the camera, with Acting students Charlotte Savva and Nickolas McGrory interviewing some of Australia’s most celebrated musical acts. It was a massive night of wins for all involved – not just for the award recipients!
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“For lead up and preparation we researched which guests were attending the awards, learning a bit about them and getting excited for the event,” says Charlotte about her and Nickolas’s event preparation.
“Nick and I went through the list and printed out photos of the artists as well. Whilst we mostly knew all the artists attending, it can sometimes be hard to recognise them all when they’re in groups or out of their usual context. Together we prepared a short list of fun questions to ask the artists and took a deep breath to calm the nerves.”
“The whole experience was incredible,” adds Nickolas. “It was a positive, exciting environment where we were able to witness the whole night unfold. The red carpet was busy and chaotic in the best way, the awards and party were just as enjoyable. Being in a room with artists who have been the soundtracks to our lives was quite surreal. Being acting students and having a firsthand glimpse of an event like this, as well as being able to talk to leaders in the industry, was an unforgettable experience.”
JMC students were front and centre on the red carpet, interviewing some of Australia’s most well-known artists including Budjerah, Peach PRC, Neil Finn, Tash Sultana, Teen Jesus & the Jean Teasers and Kevin Parker (Tame Impala). The artists congratulated JMC for the professionalism and skill of the students, who worked like seasoned industry professionals.
“At JMC we have very diverse classes,” Charlotte explains. “Each one has helped us develop a wide variety of skills. From our improvisation classes to film classes, acting technique classes etc. We were able to use the skills we’ve secured to help us interview, speak formally and work off the interviewee.”
“JMC has provided us with the tools required to become great actors,” says Nickolas. “We were well equipped for the environment like the one we were in. Although we were ready, nothing could quite prepare us for such an exciting event!”
If you’re considering an enrolment at JMC Academy, Charlotte has some quickfire advice.
“Do it!” she says. “I know so many other students that responded to an ad on Instagram and now my whole life is here at JMC. I have met the most important people in my life here and I can’t wait to treasure the friends I have made for life. There are so many opportunities, like this one at Rolling Stone, that JMC Academy can get you involved in.”
“To work with such a big name like Rolling Stone and Brag was beyond our wildest dreams as first year acting students,” concludes Nickolas. “To be a part of a night that was run with so much professionalism was such a cool insight into the industry.
“It was both a great honour and unforgettable experience to be able to attend an event of the magnitude of the Rolling Stone Australia Awards.”
To find out more about JMC’s full list of creative courses and how to apply to study at Australia’s premiere academy for creatives, head to JMC’s website jmcacademy.edu.au.
