Tag: auditions

  • 5 Audition Tips for Young Performers

    5 Audition Tips for Young Performers

    Emma Coleman’s top tips for success at your next audition Spotlight’s recent Young Performer Workshops included a session with Emma Coleman, who has worked in drama education and television for 25 years. Her workshop aimed to provide young actors with practical tips on how to develop an organic, relaxed performance in a pressurised casting environment. Here…

  • How to Cast International Actors

    How to Cast International Actors

    Casting directors Tusse Lande, Nathalie Cheron and Maureen Hughes on how they source international performers, what they look for in a headshot, and what not to do at an audition.

  • Casting Director Jerry Knight-Smith on: How to Audition Well

    Casting Director Jerry Knight-Smith on: How to Audition Well

    Casting director Jerry Knight-Smith shares his top tips for auditioning. As part of Spotlight’s range of Q&A sessions for graduates, we held a session in Manchester at The Royal Exchange with casting director Jerry Knight-Smith. Here’s his thoughts on showreels, whether he casts unrepresented performers, and how to audition well. 

  • Top Tips from Leading Commercial Casting Director

    Top Tips from Leading Commercial Casting Director

    We recently spoke to leading casting director Martin Gibbons, as part of the Spotlight Graduate Programme. Held in Manchester, the events were tailored to students graduating from drama school in the North West. Martin Gibbons Casting is an independent casting company experienced in casting TV commercials, television, theatre and film.  Martin has been a casting director…

  • How to Self-Tape at Home

    How to Self-Tape at Home

    Our tips on how you can self-tape from home! So you’ve received that email from your agent asking you to put yourself on tape for a casting, and they need the audition WeTransferred across by tomorrow. With our ‘how to’ video, this process need never feel rushed or stressful again! If you’re able to start…

  • Your Top 5 Questions Answered

    Your Top 5 Questions Answered

    We’re always looking out for ways to help new members settle in at Spotlight, making our recent Welcome Evening the perfect opportunity to find out what questions our new members have. Here are just a few popular questions we get asked about how to make the most of your Spotlight membership: How do I self-submit?…

  • BBC Casting Director John Cannon on: The Audition Room

    BBC Casting Director John Cannon on: The Audition Room

    John Cannon has been working in casting since 1989 with the National Theatre, having headed up the casting department at the RSC, cast several independent films and television, he now works at the BBC. He spoke to actress and blogger Domenique Fragale, to talk about his past work, life experience, and casting today. What made you want to go…

  • Skyfall Casting Director Debbie McWilliams on: How to Audition

    Skyfall Casting Director Debbie McWilliams on: How to Audition

    Casting director Debbie McWilliams of Casino Royale, Skyfall, GoldenEye, and more on how to audition well, the best self-tapes, and what she wants from your showreel.

  • Aidan Turner on: How to Get Cast

    Aidan Turner on: How to Get Cast

    Aidan Turner, star of Poldark and The Hobbit talked to Spotlight at the Subtitle Film Festival in Kilkenny about how to get started in the industry, his best audition, advice for actors, and more. Header photo credit: BBC Store ©

  • How to: Audition for Drama School

    How to: Audition for Drama School

    Deciding to audition for drama school is a great show of someone’s determination and passion to begin the path of following your dream but (and this is a big but) getting in to drama school is not the only path you could take to follow desire to become a successful actor. When I started auditioning for drama schools…