Why I started YAS Studio
A creative home for young actors, filmmakers & artists in Melbourne.
A Creative Space I Wish I Had When I Was Young
Growing up, I was one of those kids who lived inside stories — performing, imagining, making things, dreaming in colour. But there wasn’t a place where I could explore all of that after school. There was nowhere that felt like a studio: a place where creativity wasn’t just encouraged — it was taken seriously.
For years, I’ve carried the belief that young people deserve a space that honours their talent, nurtures their imagination and gives them room to grow. Not just a “fun after-school activity,” but a creative home where their voices matter.
YAS Studio exists because I wanted to build the space I wish I had when I was eleven.
“Creativity changes young people. I’ve seen it again and again — it builds confidence, resilience, identity and expression.”
Where This Vision Began
For the last decade, I’ve worked in creative education — leading engagement programs, industry partnerships and youth initiatives across film, media and performing arts. I’ve spent years in classrooms, workshops, festivals, and with parents and teachers at events.
Over and over again, parents kept asking the same thing: “Where can young creatives train regularly across different disciplines?”
The honest answer was…they couldn’t. There was nowhere in Victoria.
Most youth programs offer dance, drama or singing lessons, but there was nowhere in Victoria where young people could explore animation, filmmaking and photography through regular classes.
There are places like this in Perth and Sydney, but not in Melbourne (the Arts capital of Australia). So, I decided to build it.
Why Screen? Why Now?
Screen literacy is one of the most powerful creative skills a young person can develop. It teaches:
Confidence in front of the camera
Visual storytelling
Communication
Emotional expression
Collaboration
Creative problem-solving
Technical awareness
And the courage to be seen
Screen is where young people already live — YouTube, TikTok, streaming, film, series, animation. When you give them a space to channel that passion intentionally, it becomes transformative.
I wanted YAS Studio to be a place where screen wasn’t an afterthought — it was the heart.
“We tell young people to ‘follow their dreams’, but how can they when they’ve never even had a place to discover what those dreams are?”
What YAS Studio Stands For
Every part of YAS Studio is built around three core values:
ALWAYS GROWING
We don’t expect perfection — we celebrate progress. Young people learn by doing, trying, failing, exploring, and trying again.
CREATIVITY FIRST
Technique matters — but not at the expense of imagination. We meet students where they are and encourage them to stretch beyond where they’ve been.
COURAGE TO BE SEEN
Whether acting, filmmaking, animating or photographing, we help young artists build the confidence to share their voice with the world.
The Team Behind YAS Studio
I am incredibly proud of our teaching team. Every one of them is a trained, working artist with real industry experience — filmmakers, photographers, animators and actors — who genuinely love mentoring young people.
We’re lucky to have Adrian, whose second feature film Westgate premiered at this year’s Melbourne International Film Festival. Then there’s Oscar — an exceptional young animation artist who trained under one of the creators of K-Pop Demon Hunters and is currently working alongside a lead artist from Spider-Verse. And Casey, an extraordinary photographer with a decade of professional experience and a background in early childhood education.
We didn’t just hire teachers.
We built a creative community of mentors who care deeply about young people finding their voice.
And the growing list of industry professionals wanting to teach our holiday workshops is incredible. These are people at the top of their fields, and they’re putting their hands up because they want to pass on their craft to the next generation.
What Young Creatives Will Find Here
At YAS Studio, students discover:
Small classes (max 16)
Industry-level training
Real screen technique (not just drama games)
Practical filmmaking
Animation fundamentals
Hands-on photography
Collaboration
A space that feels like theirs
Most importantly: They find belonging, identity, and creative confidence.
Ready to explore classes?
We offer Acting, Filmmaking, Photography & Animation for ages 8–18.
You can now secure your child’s place with just 50% upfront (remaining balance due in January).
👉 View Term 1 Classes (browse by age group)
A Final Note
Starting YAS Studio has been the most meaningful thing I’ve ever worked on. It’s my way of giving young people the space I needed — a place to create, be challenged, be supported and be seen.
If your child is a storyteller, a dreamer, an experimenter, a performer, a behind-the-camera thinker, or someone who just wants to develop confidence — they belong here.
And we’d love to welcome them.
If you need help finding the right class for your child, or you just want to find out more, then please email us at hello@yasstudio.com.au. I would be happy to set up a time for us to chat.
Daniel Fischer
Founder & Director, YAS Studio
About the Author
Daniel Fischer is an actor and creative educator with over 15 years of experience across stage and screen. His screen credits include Love Me, Summer Love and the upcoming Dear Life, and he has spent the last decade leading youth engagement and industry partnerships in creative arts education. Daniel founded YAS Studio to create a space where young people can develop real screen craft, confidence and creative identity. Read more about Daniel and the rest of the team here.