Category: The Industry
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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…
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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…
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Casting Around the World
International casting directors share their processes and tips for getting cast in different countries around the world. We hosted a webinar which gave attendees the chance to understand how the casting process varies in the UK, US and Europe. Whether you’re a British actor with your sights set overseas or an international actor looking to…
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Q&A with the Casting Director and Director of Normal People
We talk to Casting Director Louise Kiely and Director Lenny Abrahamson about the phenomenon that is Normal People. We hosted a webinar (with Spotlight’s Clare McGinley chairing) where we explored the process of casting from beginning to end and the relationship between the director and the casting director. So, who better to speak on the subject than Casting…
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Both Not Half: We Need to Change How We Think about Mixed Heritage Casting
In early 2019 I improvised a comedy video in Punjabi. I shot a few angles and cut it together on my phone. I had zero expectations but, inspired by the likes of JusReign and Guz Khan, I was aware that under the right circumstances it might create opportunity. I tapped ‘post’. It went viral. While the…
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What You Need to Know About Nudity and Intimacy on Set
Advice from intimacy coordinators Ita O’Brien and Marci Liroff for actors considering roles that require nudity or intimate scenes. More than ever before, roles may ask actors to expose themselves and perform intimate scenes so it’s important you’re aware of your rights and set your boundaries. We hosted a seminar with Ita O’Brien and Marci Liroff,…
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ALBERT Launches the Green Rider
The Green Rider aims to help actors, their agents and casting directors encourage positive, environmental changes on set. In an effort to help the TV and Film industry transition towards a carbon neutral future, albert, supported by Spotlight, has launched the Green Rider. Designed to champion climate action through an actor’s contract, the Green Rider helps…
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How to Have a More Sustainable Set Life
Performer and eco-activist Lauren McCrostie shares tips for changes you can make to ensure your set life is more sustainable. By Lauren McCrostie our industry is hugely carbon exhaustive […] as players within the field, we should make it our duty to minimise our impact wherever and however we can Whether it’s been good old…
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12 Pieces of Advice for Actors From Actors
Performers attending the Casting Directors’ Guild Awards share the best advice they’ve ever been given We asked David Morrissey, Naomi Ackie, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Daniel Mays, Daniel Monks and Jonah Hauer-King why they pursued a career in acting and what advice they could offer to performers. Watch the video: Here are their 12 pearls of wisdom…
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Ready Player One: Voicing Video Game Characters
The world of video games is a flourishing industry. Tahlia Norrish shares her experience voicing a video game character and why you should give it a go. For me, gaming work is so attractive because the storytelling possibilities feel almost infinite. The realm of potential exceeds that of stage or screen. As someone who grew…