Category: News & Advice
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7 Headshot Tips from Casting Directors
Casting directors explain what makes for a good headshot and what they look for in a photo. As a professional performer, your headshots are vitally important. They’re how you’re represented on Spotlight and are the first thing a casting director sees when selecting performers to audition so it’s essential that your photo looks like you and truly…
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10 Ones to Watch from the London Film Festival 2022
As this year’s BFI London Film Festival comes to a close, we look at the stand-out films and performances from this year’s line-up. Boasting over 160 feature-length films, short subject animations, documentaries and much more from Europe, North and South America and Asia, the mix of talent and cultures at the London Film Festival 2022 is…
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A Guide to Working in the EU If You’re a UK National
What you need to know if you’re a UK citizen who is auditioning or working in the EU. Updated on 17 October 2022. The UK has officially left the European Union and as you’d expect, this has caused changes to the rules and regulations around travel and work on the continent. Whilst the Brexit deal…
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‘Into the Spotlight’ Monologue Competition Winner and Finalists
We are excited to announce the winner and our other finalists for the first-ever ‘Into The Spotlight’ competition! We were completely overwhelmed by the response for our first round and the team here at Spotlight were blown away by the entries we received. The team watched every monologue performance and we genuinely struggled to narrow the…
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How Lighting Affects Actors
How the world of lighting impacts actors, the characters they play and the scenes they’re in. The magic is rarely under the spotlight, it’s in the mystery surrounding it. Lighting is a powerful tool I always pay attention to, not only when watching a play or a film but also as something I can harness…
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What to Do Between Acting Jobs
Four ways to stay active as an actor between roles. For years, I’ve been struck by how actors grapple with the period between acting jobs. When we’re looking for our next job, we can be plagued by self-doubt, loss of confidence and sometimes all-out depression. More than a few actors start to feel so low that…
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Powerful Pause Meditation: Energy
In this guided meditation we tap into the energy of our senses. This mindfulness practice is all about pointing our attention towards different senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, and our thoughts. This practice can really help us to find some calm and relaxation during our day. This guided meditation was written for one of…
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Five Ways Actors Can Use Twitter for Networking
How actors can use Twitter to network and build professional relationships online. Whilst plenty of actors have run with the idea of using social media to promote their acting business, for many of us, it can feel deeply uncomfortable. Self-promotion may even feel wrong, as if it goes against who we are, but what if your…
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Comedy and Social Media: Jonny Weldon’s Acting Story
In this episode of the Spotlight Podcast, we chat to actor and comedian Jonny Weldon about auditions, comedy, making your own work and social media. Spotlight member Jonny Weldon is an actor, writer, comedian, and content creator who has performed on stage and screen from a young age. He can be seen in Sneakerhead, Stath Lets Flats,…
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Life Lessons from Drama School
We asked the graduate finalists at this year’s Spotlight Prize what is the most important thing they’ll take away from drama school. The Spotlight Prize finalists come from some of the most prestigious drama schools in the country where they’ve spent years learning their craft and honing their skills. Fresh from their impressive performances at…