Category: News & Advice
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Tips for Auditioning on Zoom
10 tips to help you nail your audition on Zoom. It might feel strange auditioning from home, but the more confident you are in your tech setup and the more prepared you are with the material, the more enjoyable the experience will be. Whether you love them or hate them, Zoom auditions may well be…
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How to Manage Days on Set as a Young Performer
Advice to all young performers, for their first time on set… Spending our days on a film set is the ultimate goal for many aspiring performers. You are able to witness first-hand the high level of craftsmanship required to make a production. You can enjoy creating while watching others do so too. From working on…
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Casting and Acting on Screen
Actor Billy Barratt, his mum Carolyn Owlett and casting director Daniel Edwards CDG join us for a chat about working on screen. In this episode, we speak to Billy Barratt, a 13-year-old performer who won the International Emmy for Best Performance by an Actor for his role as Ray in Responsible Child, a factual drama about…
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The Spotlight Guide to Idents
Demystify the audition process with our guide to filming professional idents and full-length shots. An ident – sometimes called a slate – is a purely technical part of the audition process in which you state your name, your agent (or that you’re self-represented) and occasionally a few other details. It’s used by casting directors to…
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How to Start a Writing Routine
Seven tips for creating a routine if you’re struggling to complete your writing project. While you’re not at the desk, you’re still working on your writing. Everything you do each day can inspire what you bring to the page tomorrow. In this endless lockdown, and with all that extra time indoors, there’s one thing many…
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Dealing with Jealousy
Richard Sutton has been acting for 20 years and has had his fair share of career envy. Here he shares some techniques for how he deals with moments of jealousy. Do you remember the Roadrunner cartoons? A scabby coyote feverishly trying to kill a cocky little emu thing in all manner of sadistic and imaginative…
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Mental Health and Self-care
In this episode of The Spotlight Podcast, we focus on self-care including tips for managing anxiety and stress. We’re joined by Bea Grist, Spotlight’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager who shares practical self-care tips and information about how you can sign up for The Wellbeing Series, which is available to members. 45 minute listen or…
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10 Tips for Managing Stress and Anxiety
Tips to help actors manage stress and anxiety from mental health and wellbeing coach to performers, Bea Grist. Things like work, home life, family situations etc. can all contribute to feelings of stress or anxiety. Of course, the problem happens when the stress becomes too much so we asked wellbeing coach Bea Grist for some…
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The Waiting Game
Actors are used to waiting. Be it waiting to hear back from an audition or a call from your agent, but what we’re less used to is waiting to hear when we can get back to work again. Forget Boris, I’m expecting to hear about the end of this pandemic via a statement by Lord…
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A Reading List to Inspire Young Performers
Books young performers of all ages can read to inspire a love of drama, performing and the arts. Actor, theatre-maker and facilitator, Sam Hardie, performer and teacher Mercy Ojelade’s and some of us Spotlighters put our heads together to come up with a book list for children who are interested in being performers. Whether it’s ideas for…