Category: The Industry
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Meet the Makers: The Founders of Sisters Grimm Theatre Company
Ella Spira MBE and Pietra Mello-Pittman MBE talk about launching a theatre company, the importance of collaboration and what they look for in their cast. Grammy-nominated composer Ella Spira MBE and former ballerina Pietra Mello-Pittman joined together in 2009 to launch the UK theatre company, Sisters Grimm. While Spira had produced music for Bruno Mars and…
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8 Films and TV Shows Shooting in the UK and Ireland This Winter
We take a look at the productions currently being filmed in the UK and Ireland. Festival season is sadly behind us, but awards season is just around the corner and some of the biggest films of the year are still to be released. UK and Irish film studios are busy working to meet deadlines and actors…
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Meet the Maker: Writer, Director and Producer Vanessa Alexander
Vanessa Alexander talks to us about her career journey to becoming a director, producer and award-winning writer. Vanessa Alexander defies categorisation. An award-winning writer, director, and producer, Alexander has worked on projects as wide-ranging as Power Rangers, Love Child, The Great, and Vikings: Valhalla. Her citizenship status follows suit. Born in New York to a New Zealand father and…
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Family Relationships Emerge as Key Theme at London Film Festival 2022
Looking at the key themes filmmakers are showcasing in their work at the BFI London Film Festival 2022. The BFI London Film Festival provides a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work from all corners of the world. Films are categorised into over 15 strands, from the ‘Experimental strand’ which features new ways of experiencing productions…
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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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‘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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Transitioning from Theatre to TV
Making the change from performing at the theatre to on-camera is not always an easy transition. Actress Karen Johal writes about the differences and difficulties when making the move from stage to the small screen. I’ve worked on several shows over the years both off-broadway in New York and at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre – my…
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Performer Parent Online Coffee Mornings
We’ve partnered with Parents and Carers in Performing Arts to run a new wellbeing initiative for Spotlight members who are also parents, guardians or carers. Coffee & Connect is a great way to meet other performer parents, ask questions, learn new things, share experiences, and of course to have coffee (bring your own!). We’ve put together some FAQs…
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Meet the Casting Directors: Rosie and James Pearson
Get to know more about husband and wife team James and Rosie Pearson, founders of the award-winning Pearson Casting. When you cast a show that you truly love, it never feels like work to sit and watch extraordinarily talented people singing or reading scenes from the musical. Can you explain a little bit about your background…