Category: The Essentials
-
How to Handle Stress on a Film Set
A film set can be a stressful place to work. Writer and performer Kit Pascoe offers practical tips and advice to help ease the pressure. You are not alone if you’re stressed or suffering An actor’s life is so uncertain it makes Brexit seem predictable. We spend so much time training, auditioning and crossing our…
-
Acting With Dyslexia
Tips for navigating the stage as a dyslexic performer and advice for industry professionals when working with neurodiverse actors. It’s estimated that around 10% of the British population are dyslexic. But that figure leaps dramatically to around a third within the performing arts! Acting, dancing and singing often appeal to those who struggle to express themselves or…
-
Personal Branding for Actors
Speaking at a Spotlight Open House session, Charlotte Thornton gives tips for refreshing your personal brand as an actor. Firstly know that you are brilliant! Always hold on to that thought. But there’s no point being brilliant if no one knows you exist and you don’t get to show it. Marketing and promotion are vital for performers looking for…
-
Six Tips for Keeping Your Cool During Tech Rehearsal Week
Necessary though it is, tech rehearsal week has accrued a somewhat intimidating reputation. It’s an important part of the process – but how can you make it less gruelling? Tom Baker offers his top tips for keeping your cool during tech week. Being part of a theatre production is a magical thing. A group collaborate to…
-
Parting with a Part: How to de-role
Tips for taking care of your mental health when playing intense parts and how to let go of a role and wind down As actors, we spend years learning how to become different people, but how do you leave a character behind when a show is over? Exploring the dark side of humanity is an actor’s…
-
How to Deal With Career Envy
Whilst we are (usually) almost always happy for fellow performers to land a job, it’s still perfectly natural to feel a little envious. Here are some tips for dealing with career envy. Resilience in the face of repeated rejection is one of the most vital skills an actor can learn , which is why it’s hammered home from…
-
Audition Dos and Don’ts
When an audition comes in at the last minute, you might feel unprepared – but actually, the short notice can be a blessing. Instead of your nerves keeping you awake all night, you can be at your rested best when you step inside the audition room. Just remember these simple Dos and Don’ts… DO Breathe:…
-
How Open-Air Theatre Differs from Conventional Theatre
New to performing open-air theatre? Here are some things you should know There are few theatrical experiences more atmospheric than open-air theatre. The feeling you get standing centre stage in the balmy evening sun, speaking lines from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, surrounded by real trees and birdsong is nigh-on impossible to recreate in a conventional theatre.…
-
How to Read A Call Sheet
The essentials you need to know about reading the call sheet for set! Call sheets contain all the vital information you need for a smooth day of production on set. But if this is your first TV or film job, deciphering the call sheet can be a fine art in itself. Here are some basic…
-
How to Pick a Photo for Your Spotlight Profile
Tips to help you pick the right photos for your acting profile. You might be swimming in headshots, production stills, and Instagram selfies, but what photos should you include in your acting CV? In this video, we’ll cover: How to choose a good headshot Production stills What we definitely can’t let you upload Some very…