Category: News & Advice

  • Books about the Acting Industry to Add to Your Reading List

    Books about the Acting Industry to Add to Your Reading List

    Books about acting and the industry recommended by Spotlight staff. Time spent sitting with a book is never wasted. It’s a chance to relax, contemplate, and absorb information entirely at your own pace. When we have time on our hands it’s also an opportunity to branch out and learn more about any number of topics. There is a…

  • New Voice Skills Added to Spotlight Search

    New Voice Skills Added to Spotlight Search

    How to Update Your Voice Skills and Home Studio Specs We’ve been in touch with a number of audio producers and voice casting directors in recent weeks as we continue to find ways to keep our members working during this period. The feedback we have received has led to us to make some key changes…

  • Exercises to Stay Creative at Home

    Exercises to Stay Creative at Home

    Are you the kind of person whose creative energy is stimulated by being out and about with others? Struggling to find inspiration? You’re not the only one. Ilayda Arden offers up lockdown-friendly exercises to kickstart your creativity. Removing the pressure of having to share your creative endeavours with anyone allows you to be totally free. If you…

  • Spotlight’s Digital Self-Tape Casting Service

    Spotlight’s Digital Self-Tape Casting Service

    We’re thrilled to be offering our casting subscribers access to remote self-tape casting services. How does it work? It’s simple! We provide you with a self-tape submission link. You pass this link on to any performers you want to see for your casting. This link opens up a headsheet and Artist’s Declaration form that they…

  • Spotlight’s Open House Round Up

    Spotlight’s Open House Round Up

    Open House is a programme of workshops, one-to-ones and panel discussions that our events team put together for Spotlight members. The sessions provide an opportunity for members to get insights from industry professionals, helping you to develop your skills and knowledge. They’re also an excellent opportunity for you to expand your network. The events are…

  • Editing and Sharing Self-Tapes

    Editing and Sharing Self-Tapes

    A guide to editing and sending self-tapes from Spotlight’s Audio Visual Specialist, Nicholas Peel. You’ve set up and filmed a self-tape, made sure the lighting and sound are on point and now it’s time to share your video with the casting director, but how should you do that? Nicholas Peel gives his tips for basic video editing, converting your file into one that casting directors…

  • Dare to Dream

    Dare to Dream

    We need dreamers now more than ever, but how can you make those dreams become a reality? Actor and Spotlight adviser Justin McDonald offers his advice. Now more than ever we need the dreamers to step forward. I’ll share my dream. I see a roaring twenties; a healthier, happier, closely connected planet and a booming…

  • A Young Performers Guide to Keeping Creative

    A Young Performers Guide to Keeping Creative

    Verity Naughton’s young performer’s guide to keeping creative through COVID-19. With classes closing and uncertainty about when they will begin again, Verity Naughton took to Twitter to share her ideas about how young performers can keep creative. With her kind permission, we’ve published her list to help inspire Spotlight members. Read a play. Jump on video chat…

  • Lighting and Sound for Self-Tapes

    Lighting and Sound for Self-Tapes

    A guide to lighting and sound for performer self-tapes from Spotlight’s Audio Visual Specialist, Nicholas Peel. If you’ve read our article about setting up and filming self-tapes and are ready to learn more about lighting and recording sound, then this is the guide for you! Nicholas gives his tips and kit recommendations if you’re ready to take…

  • Setting Up and Filming Young Performer Self-Tapes

    Setting Up and Filming Young Performer Self-Tapes

    A guide from Audio Visual Specialist, Nicholas Peel, on the basics of preparing and filming young performer self-tapes. The idea of self-taping can be a little intimidating if a young performer has never done one before or if they’re more used to traditional casting room auditions. But fear not! We’ve put together this practical guide…