Author: Spotlight Admin
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Rachel Shenton on Short Films, Academy Award Wins and Audition Nerves
By Samantha Rea “I get so nervous. I’m still just as nervous now as I was years ago.” With an Academy Award under her belt and a back-catalogue of ultra-confident characters on her acting CV, it’s surprising to hear that Rachel Shenton still suffers from the same audition anxiety as everyone else. “I do yoga…
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How to Finance Your Training and Acting Career
Performer Michaela Bennison gives practical advice and tips for financing your training and acting career. Let’s not sugarcoat it: the acting profession is tough. And when you’re a working-class actor with no money or connections, it can feel even more daunting. But there are ways to overcome the hurdles we face in our profession. From…
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Managing your Spotlight Media Library FAQs
Uploading a showreel or voice clip to your Spotlight profile allows casting directors to see and hear you perform giving an instantly more rounded picture of you as a performer. Below are some commonly asked questions about how to manage your Spotlight media library. Copyright and Content Clearances What are my copyright responsibilities for images,…
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Alexander Technique and Connecting with Your Body
Performer John Tate shares his experience of using the Alexander Technique and other tips for actors to connect with their body. As an actor, your body is your tool. Your body encases your voice and takes you from one side of the stage to the other and the whole time the audience is watching. But…
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Eva O’Connor on Writing Your Own Work
Performer and writer Eva O’Connor shares her experience writing award-winning plays and developing one of her works into a BBC Three drama. People often ask me whether I prefer acting or writing. They’re always dying to know when I’m going to choose between the two of them. Both questions are up there with the classic: “how…
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Why Did I Choose to Be a Swing?
Performer Jaye Elster shares her experience performing in a role that is often misunderstood, that of a swing. when the unpredictable nature of live theatre strikes, a swing’s priority automatically falls to the show’s function above their own performance. What Is A Swing? In theatre, the most literal translation of the saying “the show must…
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Q&A with the Casting Director and Director of Normal People
We talk to Casting Director Louise Kiely and Director Lenny Abrahamson about the phenomenon that is Normal People. We hosted a webinar (with Spotlight’s Clare McGinley chairing) where we explored the process of casting from beginning to end and the relationship between the director and the casting director. So, who better to speak on the subject than Casting…
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Promoting diversity, equality, inclusion and accessibility in theatre, tv, and film
We believe that our industry is in a powerful position to shape people’s perception by featuring a broad range of talent on our stages and screens, and through the stories that get told. At Spotlight, we believe that people of all ages, ethnicity, races, gender, sexual orientation, abilities and socioeconomic statuses should be able to…
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Both Not Half: We Need to Change How We Think about Mixed Heritage Casting
In early 2019 I improvised a comedy video in Punjabi. I shot a few angles and cut it together on my phone. I had zero expectations but, inspired by the likes of JusReign and Guz Khan, I was aware that under the right circumstances it might create opportunity. I tapped ‘post’. It went viral. While the…
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Helpful resources for Spotlight Agent and Casting members
We’ve compiled a handy list of resources for our agent and casting members. This list includes guidelines on language and inclusivity, codes of conduct, child employment resources and much more. Agency Resources Personal Managers’ Association (PMA) Co-operative Personal Management Association (CPMA) Tagmin Best Practice Guidelines for Meeting and Offering Representation to New Graduates Employment Agencies Act 1973 Agent…