Category: News & Advice
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In the Director’s Chair with Paulette Randall MBE
How director and producer Paulette Randall’s career flourished, from Rose Bruford and Theatre of Black Women to ‘Tin Star’, the Spotlight Prize and the 2012 Olympic Games. Not many directors can say they’ve worked on an opening ceremony for the Olympics, but this is just one feather in the fascinating and colourful cap that Paulette…
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The Spotlight Prize 2024 Judges Revealed
We’re thrilled to announce this year’s esteemed panel of judges for the Stage and Screen performances at the Spotlight Prize. It’s time for our annual showcase, the Spotlight Prize. This event lets drama school and university graduates show their talents to industry professionals. This is a great chance to impress casting professionals or attract an…
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6 Simple Tips to Make Your Self-Tape Sizzle
Six simple ways to avoid the most common self-tape pitfalls to ensure you’re sending off your best work every time. Self-taping has become a permanent fixture of a performer’s life, but it doesn’t have to be a source of stress. Whether you’re submitting for a commercial or a lead in a feature film, the goal…
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What You Need to Know About Acting on a Cruise Ship
Everything you need to be aware of before you set sail as a cruise ship performer, including contract details, how you’ll be taxed and life on board. Cruise performer jobs are a great way to see the world, meet new people and do what you love – all while getting paid. However, it’s a unique…
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An Update From Our Managing Director
On my desk in the Spotlight office proudly sits a bound collection of the first editions of the ‘Spotlight Bulletin’, the predecessor of our current newsletter. Published just two years after Spotlight was founded, the editions date from 1929-1931 and cover, in some detail, the events leading up to the founding of the British Actors’…
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The History of the Spotlight Prize
A look back at past Spotlight Prize winners and nominees, and how the Rodney Millington Award evolved into the celebration of talent we continue to host today. Not many companies can boast about having the history and reputation for quality that Spotlight has, and normally we’re modest to a fault about our prestigious past. But…
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The Evolution of Pilot Season
What is pilot season, how has the process changed with the rise of streaming services and why adapting to these changes is important for actors. Most actors may have heard the term ‘pilot season’ at some point during their career. It was once known as the busiest time of the year for auditions and many…
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July Direct Debit Update
Published: 3 July 2024 In light of the current economic climate, which has seen a global increase in operating expenses and the rising cost of living, Spotlight has endeavoured to implement only the most essential adjustments to our membership fees. We have kept our fee increases 9% below the rate of inflation for over a…
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My Casting Story: Lee Mead’s ‘Sister Act’
Lee Mead shares his acting experience, from ‘Joseph’ to jumping into his new ‘Sister Act’ role, plus his vocal care tips. As a nation, we first got to know Lee Mead through the TV show phenomenon Any Dream Will Do, which saw Andrew Lloyd Webber searching for the perfect actor to play ‘Joseph’ in Joseph…
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Meet the Casting Director: Catherine Willis on ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’
How ‘Detectorists’ and ‘The Gathering’ casting director Catherine Willis solved the casting for BBC’s ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ and her top tips for a successful self-tape. In the latest BBC mystery series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, we may not know who the killer is, but we definitely know who cast it.…