Category: News & Advice
-
Learning an Instrument to Increase Your Employability
It takes time and dedication but playing an instrument can help boost your career opportunities. Michaela Bennison shares her advice if you want to become an actor-musician. Playing an instrument can not only open up a range of job opportunities but can also be an enriching journey in itself. In the last few years, both…
-
The Spotlight Prize Winner 2020
Nimshi Kongolo, a graduate of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, has been named Best Screen Actor for this year’s Spotlight Prize and will receive the £2000 award. Nimshi was one of 20 students nominated from the UK’s leading drama schools who competed for the Spotlight Prize 2020. Huge congratulations to Nimshi – we look forward to seeing…
-
Putting the Spotlight on Mental Health
Raffaella Covino, actress and Founder and Director of triple award-winning organisation Applause for thought, talks about mental health awareness, support and training as a mental health first aider. Mental health should be at the forefront as we navigate our way out of the turbulent waters of 2020 Back in December 2017, after four years working…
-
Casting Young Performers
Ruth O’Dowd, Daniel Edwards and Catherine Willis discuss their approaches to casting children and the best way to make an impression in the room. As part of our Digital Summer School, we hosted a panel with casting directors Ruth O’Dowd, Daniel Edwards and Catherine Willis. They shared their advice about self-taping, dealing with rejection and…
-
Working with British Sign Language Consultants
Demystifying the role of a British Sign Language Consultant and how they support the creative process of performances that involve deaf characters or sign language. Having a BSL consultant on your production will truly make a positive change to the attitudes towards deaf people by including BSL and deaf characters authentically Since the launch of…
-
Casting Directors on Diversity, Self-Taping and Auditions
Read what Aisha Bywaters, Lauren Evans and Kelly Valentine Hendry had to say about diversity in casting, what to do (and not do) in self-tapes and how they prefer to be contacted. We hosted a Zoom event for Spotlight members to hear from casting directors Aisha Bywaters, Lauren Evans and Kelly Valentine Hendry. Here’s a…
-
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…
-
Practical Tips for Making a Move to Hollywood
LA-based British performer Julia Farino shares five things you should know if you’re thinking of taking your career Stateside. If it’s your dream to work in the oldest and highest-grossing film industry in the world, then give yourself the best chance to realise your dream – do your research and prepare before you come. Have…
-
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…
-
Role Play and How to Succeed at it
What you need to know if you’re considering working in the world of corporate acting. if you think corporate role play is just a substitute acting job, think again. This work requires dedication, commitment and preparation. The beauty of being an actor is that there are a variety of areas to work in: theatre and…