2021
2020
Performing Arts Industry and Personal Development
This year I learned a lot about Performing Arts and Theatre. In the start of the year when I joined the group, I did not know anything about Physical Theatre or Devising. But studying it, experimenting with different techniques and in few months our group create great interactive show. Confusing and educational, people were crying after the performance. For me personally, this project taught me how to create a show from scratch. I know in the future I could use this skill for creating my own project or create a project if someone asked me to.
At the same time, I had experience of preparing physical and vocal workshop for my classmates. I experienced a role of the teacher. The feedback was good and I enjoyed it. Again, it is another skill what I can use in the future while I am working freelance or for the theatre company. Also, I worked with Steve from Music Department and he kindly agreed to help me with voiceover. I learnt how my voice could express different feelings and emotions, even though my face is not seen.
In the middle of the year I learnt a lot about Acting techniques on the stage and on the camera. I worked with Matt and Kieran on the play “The Bear”. Together we have tried Stanislavski techniques and other acting exercise, such as improvisation and hot sitting. I have discovered how important is time management and learning the lines. This part of the year was my favourite. In Acting for camera unit, I learnt about the difference between acting on the stage and on the screen. I learnt about jobs which are involved in movie making, camera angles, camera shots, acting techniques, movie genres and details, such as hitting marks or working with camera operator. Together with my classmates we recreated some scenes from famous movies and during the quarantine we made a short-improvised video about actors being auditioned for the new part of Twilight.
During lockdown, I self-taped myself doing monologues and post videos on my YouTube channel. I am going to make more videos during the summer, because it is important for an actor to have examples of the work, so casting director could have additional information about me. Or it helps me to find an agent.
It was a long year with a lot of studying and practice on the stage, but I am sure that skills which I have learnt help me in my future career. Under this post there are my CV for applications for jobs on the stage and Acting Audit.
Health Safety and Well-being for an Actor
Working as an actor is difficult physically and mentally, whether it is on the stage or on the movie set. Long hours of rehearsing process, emotional involvement, regular travelling, distancing from home and family, chaotic schedule, poor diet, injuries etc. On top of that, there are 8 shows a week. In this presentation I will talk about why health safety is important for an actor and how to look after yourself to prevent injuries and mental exhaustion.
To start with, according to research by Randolph W Evans, Richard I Evans, and Scott Carvajal dated 1998 Survey of injuries among West End performers 46% of all performers suffered with at least one injury per production. The most common injury for dancers were Lower extremity injuries (52.2% of injuries) and for actors were neck and back injuries (43.2%). (Stress and tension usually cause these injuries for actors; in addition, it might be poor posture or use of wrong technique.) Sprains and strains were the most common diagnoses. 61% of all performers thought that their injuries were preventable (1). As well as physical injuries, there might be vocal injuries too. For instance, vocal haemorrhage and vocal nodules causing by overusing the voice or pushing it too hard, too loud. For example, when soprano hit high notes, her vocal cords are thwacking together 1,000 times per second, transforming a burst of air from her lungs into music powerful enough to shatter glass. Beautiful singing requires lithe cords, but all that slapping together can wear down their fine, spongy surface and lead to tiny contusions. Over years of heavy use, nodules, polyps or cysts form on the vocal folds, distorting the sound they create and cause injuries. (2) To prevent injuries mentioned earlier, one of the options should be a series of warmups before every rehearsal (an example of warmups could be found on the page with my vocal and movement workshops). Also, regular stretching or yoga helps to prevent sprains and strains, as well as make the body stronger and more flexible. For keeping the voice safe it should be treated gently with paying attention to any throat ache during rehearsals or afterwards. In addition, during the performance or movie set it is important to keep the body warmed up, while actor is waiting for going on the stage or enter the scene the body might cool down and cause injuries. Bad habits, such as smoking, fast food, drinking alcohol over the limit might cause serious problems with lungs, heart, liver and overall health.
In addition to this, Health and safety law applies to theatres as it does to other businesses. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and related legislation places duties on employers, employees, the self-employed and those in control of premises.
As a part of overall health, it is important to look after BMI (body mass index). BMI uses the height and weight to work out if someone has a healthy weight, underweight or overweight. BMI calculator is available at NHS website. My index is 21.5 which is healthy for a person my age. However, it cannot tell the amount of fat or muscle in my body. So, I can use it as an approximate figure and if I become underweight or overweight it would be a sign to go to GP and talk about changing diet or start special exercises.
Most of the everyday diet should contain vegetables and fruits (5 portions per day). It is good source for vitamins and minerals. Starchy food should make up just over a third of the food we eat. Starchy foods are a good source of energy and the main source of a range of nutrients in the diet. Milk, cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais are good sources of protein and some vitamins, and they're also an important source of calcium, which helps keep the bones strong. These foods are good sources of protein, vitamins and minerals. Pulses, such as beans, peas and lentils, are good alternatives to meat because they're lower in fat and higher in fibre and protein, too. Fish should be eaten 2 portions every week, 1 of which should be oily, such as salmon or mackerel. Everyone needs to drink plenty of water about 6-8 glasses per day.
This diet is the best-case scenario for having meals every day. However, as I mentioned before actors have a chaotic schedule, so it does mean skipping a meal or eating food too late due to the end of performance. But better have a schedule and try to stick to it. In addition, a lot of performers whom I know are vegetarians or vegans, so it would be a different diet too. For having energy during the day, it is useful to have a breakfast (bowl of oat or smoothie if breakfast is skipped) and carry snacks, such as nuts, energy bar or an apple.
Not only healthy diet, but regular exercising is good for keeping healthy weight. NHS recommends doing at least one activity per day, strengthen activities 2 days a week (yoga, pilates, lifting weights, doing exercise which lift the body weight, for example push ups or sit ups), 150 mins of moderate intensity activity (walking, swimming, dancing, playing tennis and etc) or 75 mins of vigorous intensity activity (jogging or running, swimming fast, riding a bike, sports, aerobics, gymnastics). As much important, as exercise it is also important to give the body rest and give muscles time to recover, so it should be at least few days between strengthen activities, enough sleep and balance meals full of protein and carbs.
Having a lot of stamina is principal for an actor. It would be tiring for a person to give 8 performances a week or spend on a movie set up to 16 hours without preparation to it. Running and exercising even when body is tired help to develop stamina.
The key of being effective is being positive and energetic. The opposite of it is being sad, exhausted or tired. These symptoms might be a signal of having mental health problems or luck of sleep. Both affect personal productive, concentration and life happiness. Too many late nights, long hours spent at work might cause professional burnout. Here are some tips, how to look after mental health and wellbeing:
Connect to other people – friends, colleagues, classmates. If there are no relatives or friends, due to changing a place of living it might be useful to do a Skype, Face Time conversation face to face or try to find new places for communication in local community, for example volunteering or trying new hobbies.
Be active, doing physical exercise helps brain to develop dopamine, the hormones of happiness. Being active does not mean to start running or going to gym. For some of us, it might be yoga classes or dance activities at home using YouTube or another website.
Learn something new every day, it helps to rise self-esteem and communicate with others. It might be new skill or new language, or it might be a conversation with someone unexpected.
Give to others, it might be volunteering or giving goods, food to a foodbank or charity shop, it might be helping to relatives or elderly.
Paying attention to present moments (mindfulness), going to a new place for a lunch or taking different route to the work, trying everyday meditation.
The mental health is a one of the major problems for performers. It is relevant to being rejected too often. It is always difficult to read the letter after audition about another actor having a role what you were dreaming about, but it is a part of actor job, being rejected. And it does not mean that I am not talented if I get rejected, but it might be because casting director cast someone for this role already or sees a person with different accent or maybe older, or blonde, or taller. So, each audition is a new experience and chance to meet new people in the industry who might be a new contact for the future jobs.
Another problem which might cause stress is uncertainty about the money. It might be a good solution to have another job to cover expenses between auditions in the start of career. In this article more information which jobs might be suitable for actors - https://www.stagemilk.com/good-jobs-for-actors/
Many actors technique or tools might affect person’s mental health, such as transforming yourself into different person (different accent, close, psychology, behaviour, physicality), losing weight or increase it for a role, use body memory to activate one emotion or another. As a human being it might be difficult not to take a role of the character in the real life. Few suggestions how to de-role after performance are get physical and shake everything off, stretch the muscles or maybe go swimming or running (not suitable for evening shows). In addition, there might be created a special ritual or gesture which signal to brain that you are off role. Furthermore, it is recommended to wash off make up and taking off costume, even if there is a second performance later. Keeping the attributes of role separate helps to disconnect your true yourself from the character you are playing. Also, it might be helpful to de-role after performance together with other actors and share each other experience.
Social media is influential on all Performing Art industry. On the one hand there are benefits, such as free marketing, opportunity to connect and meet other people from the industry, get cast, find a casting, follow trends and build community where people feel more freedom to express themselves. On the other hand, it might affect mental health, make someone feels jealousy or anger, reduce time offline in real world and even destroy career.
According to Benton Whitley, casting director, good social image and updated show rill increase chances of getting part. Also, it helps to know an actor better. The main websites using for actor’s portfolio are YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. It is recommended to have an account on all platforms which I listed before. The main rule to follow is media account helps to build personal brand. In addition, it might be good idea to add pictures or posts once a week with balance of all posts between 20% professional topics and 80% personal life, such as pictures from events or day to day life. Also, it is advised to stay social and active while being online (in a positive way).
The major problem of social media whether you are an actor, or not is comparing yourself with someone else. And it might be damaging for mental health and self-esteem. Especially, if there are much less likes and hearts, than it was expected. The top advice is not to concentrate how many likes are there or how beautiful someone is comparing to you, concentrate on what can be created or written what might help or make someone smile.
There is also other danger in social media. Stalking. Many actors, sportsmen, public faces and usual people are familiar with this too. In the internet you never aware who is on the other side of the screen. That’s why it is always important to bare it in mind, when you send a portfolio with all details, such as address, mobile phone and email.
Another issue for public people is a context of posts. Anything what is enter the internet stay there forever. Furthermore, when celebrities write something offensive or intolerant and deleting the post minutes or hours later screenshots were taken, and situation goes viral. What might cost someone a career.
One of the best things about social media it allowed people to build a supportive tribe or movement. It gives people power of speech; it gives people possibility to be heard. #MeToo movement was founded by Tarana Burke in 2006 to help survivors of sexual violence, especially black girls. But in 2017 there was discovered that Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed a lot of female actors and they started to use #MeToo hashtag for this purpose. In a short time in the internet a lot of women share their experience and 3 years later, in the end of February he proved to be guilty.
In 2017 Australia's Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance made an infographic based on research in Australia. Shocking, at least 40% of all performers experienced at least one sexual harassment by another cast member, director, a member of crew or other people, such as teachers, photographers, conductors. The most common forms of sexual harassment are spread on 4 groups: sexual comments or jokes, unwelcome physical familiarity, questions about their private life or inappropriate staring. The most common reason of not reporting is a fear to lose job or situation might get worse. However, in the UK a lot of actors are part of different unions. One of the famous is Equity. This union protects actors from unfair wages, sexual harassment, unfair castings, humiliating at work and creating their public movement, such as Safe Space which is based on #MeToo movement.
Another example of collective challenge is BBC. In April 2018 Tony Hall, BBC Director-General set up a challenge to rise women representatives on BBC up to 50%, the project was called 50:50. The goal was set for 12 month and it is started with one TV programme, Outside Source. 12 month later 500 BBC teams join the project and 74% of them reached the goal of 50% of female representatives or above. This outstanding example shows how fast and rapidly everything can change.
Now female performers are taking further question to discuss - pay gap. According to statistics by National theatre women earn 96p for every £1 that men earn when comparing median hourly wages. Their median hourly wage is 4.4% lower than men’s (the median hourly rate is calculated by ranking all employees from the highest paid to the lowest paid, and taking the hourly wage of the person in the middle; so the median gender pay gap is the difference between women’s median hourly wage (the middle paid woman) and men’s median hourly wage (the middle paid man). When comparing mean hourly wages, women’s mean hourly wage is 2.2% lower than men’s (the mean hourly rate is the average hourly wage across the entire organisation, so the mean gender pay gap is a measure of the difference between women’s mean hourly wage and men’s mean hourly wage). But in relation to the same resource in average in the UK pay gap is 14.3% in benefit to men.
In Hollywood the pay gap is even bigger about 38%. According to The Guardian research: male Hollywood stars earn $1.1m more per film than their similarly experienced female co-stars. Surprisingly, the inequality is presented in all genres of movie. Furthermore, actors both gender above 50 years old earn about $4m per film. There was an outcry when Vanity Fair reported that, on the film American Hustle, the three main stars, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Amy Adams, each worked for similar amounts of time – about 45 days’ filming. But while Bale and Cooper earned $2.5m each and commanded 9% of the profits, Adams earned $1.25m and 7% of the profits. The Forbes list of 2019’s highest paid stars reveals Scarlett Johansson was paid $56m while Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was paid $89.4m.
To conclude with, after I have done all research, I would use it for keeping myself healthy physically and mentally. The additional information about #MeToo movement make me feel safer. I am not alone, and I can always ask for help Equity or Performing Arts Community.
https://oem.bmj.com/content/oemed/55/9/585.full.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/aug/10/adele-vocal-cord-surgery-why-stars-keep-losing-their-voices
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-eatwell-guide/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/
https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/self-care-actors-secret-weapon-2929/
https://www.spotlight.com/news-and-advice/parting-with-a-part-how-to-de-role/
https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/social-media-actor-need-3993/
https://www.equity.org.uk/getting-involved/campaigns/safe-spaces/
https://hbr.org/2019/06/tackling-the-underrepresentation-of-women-in-media
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/reports/reports/5050-may-2019.pdf
https://gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk/Employer/J1rjsAIs/2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/15/hollywoods-gender-pay-gap-revealed-male-stars-earn-1m-more-per-film-than-women
https://theconversation.com/exploring-the-data-on-hollywoods-gender-pay-gap-127414
https://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/theatre-tv/theatre.htm
Ethnic Diversity in the Arts
In 2011, Arts Council launched the Creative Case for Diversity. The main goal is to ensure that diversity of people in Art Industry is becoming a norm, instead of exception. And the data is shown that in the last year this campaign made success, the number of Black and Minority Ethnic people and people with disabilities is increasing in Performing Arts Industry. According to the report by Arts Council “The total percentage of the NPO workforce with a Black and Minority Ethnic background (BME) is 11%. The total percentage of disabled workers across the National Portfolio is 6%. The total percentage of female workers across the National Portfolio is 47%. The total percentage of LGBT people in the Portfolio’s workforce is 6%.”. When I saw statistic being separate by disciplines in Performing Arts industry the number of BAME was the highest in Theatre (15%) and Dance (18%), at the same time the percentage of people with disabilities involving in Dance discipline is one of the lowest (less than 3%) and about average in Theatre (6%). Speaking about workface and leadership only 14% of people from BAME background is holding a position of director and 10% as a manager. In my opinion it is important topic to talk about, because if people watch theatre or any other form of art and do not see anyone with whom they could associate themselves with it might feel frustrating. Or it might stop them to visit theatre, museums, galleries at all. According to the same report only 3% of all audience are Black or Black British, even though 13,8% of the UK population is from BAME background.
In this article https://www.rifemagazine.co.uk/2016/02/where-are-all-the-black-people-in-theatre/ by Olivia Corbin-Philip she is discussing the worrying topic about the black audience in the theatre. There is an interview on the page with a man, who shares his opinion of representation of black people in media (playing maids, servants, slaves etc.). Recently, I saw few movies and theatre performances where in family children were multicoloured (The Personal History of David Copperfield and Frankenstein). And I think it is a good change.
While I was browsing in the internet about this topic, I saw an article in The Guardian about black drama students sharing their experience in the top drama schools in the UK.
Employment
Theatres are closed, it is expected for theatre venues to be open at least in the start of 2021, 70% of theatres and theatre companies in England are going to be closed till the end of the year, theatre practitioners are experiencing luck of work, growing competition between performers. Would I have a job in the future?
To start with, according to graphic made by Art Council in England in 2016 Art and Culture contributes more than £10,8bn to the UK economy (more than agriculture) and pays £2,8bn in taxes per year (dah, sounds a lot of money to me). As well, as keep employed about 137 thousand people in the UK about 0,2% of the UK population (does it include foreign performers?). Most theatres are publicly funded. What does it mean? It means that part of the money is funded by National Lottery (for example National Theatre is funded by National Lottery on 16%), part from private donations, sale box office and sales in the bar/souvenir's shops (about 70% of income). Without this income, it would be difficult not only create new shows, but also invest money in New Work Department, which prepares plays for Studio Theatre. National Lottery created a special fund of £1,6 millions to help people, theatres and theatre companies f affected by coronavirus.
Talking about people, it is common for Performing Arts Industry to be self-employed, because the work is temporary. In quarantine case it means that no contracts, no money and no compensation. For employees the government created a payment up to 2500£ a month which is started earliest in June. The self-employed, it was later announced, can apply for a grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits to help them cope with the financial impact of the virus.
Anyway, National Theatre is a huge company with a lot of support and followers. Theatres further from London are going to have harder time and even might be closed. For me as a student it means, that it might be less job offers in the future. There is demand at the moment on audio drama, voice over or self-tape home videos for advertisement. And even some organisation offer payment for doing challenge (such as shaving head, doing haircut, dancing and etc) on smartphone at home. But it is a temporary job which does not fulfil my personal ambitions. It is possible that it would be a very slow recovery for Performing Arts Industry after coronavirus. And as an option there might be a new way of making theatre online.
On TV, on shows such as Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale closed last month to help combat the spread of coronavirus. Now cast members under contract on affected shows will get a monthly payment while filming is suspended.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52227634
https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2020/april/feu-writes-to-chancellor-for-greater-protective-measures-for-creative-workers/
https://www.creativeindustriesfederation.com/sites/default/files/2019-05/Public%20Investment,%20Public%20Gain%20-%20Creative%20Industries%20Federation%20and%20Arts%20Council%20England.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/may/04/cameron-mackintosh-coronavirus-west-end-theatres-closed-till-2021
https://www.soniafriedman.com/news-press/theatre-stands-on-the-brink-of-ruin
Tax and National Insurance
Most of the people in Entertaining industry are self-employed. It means that Tax and National insurance are not paid by employee. Performers should pay it by themselves.
https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-rates-letters
https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/the-essential-actors-guide-to-paying-tax-in-the-uk-67583/ in this article I read about Tax system in the UK. I wrote down the most important bits for me, so I can use this knowledge in the future:
Most actors pay tax through either Self-Assessment, where it’s up to you to pay the tax you owe, or via Pay As You Earn (PAYE), where your employer takes the tax off your earnings at source so you don’t have to.
It’s important to register as self-employed with HMRC within six months of the end of the tax year in which you began working
Expenses are costs incurred in doing your job, like paying for headshots, which you can offset against your tax bill.
If the income less than £12500 it is tax-free
At the moment, I am international student with Tier4 Visa. I cannot be self-employed with this type of Visa.
Workng Abroad
If Theatre Company goes on tour or artist is invited for particular project to another country (movie or theatre, advertisement), then artist would likely need to apply for Working Visa. In big international productions there likely to be a person responsible for Visas (when I was in Russia and applied for my Visa, I saw a member of the Theatre who applied visa for whole group of ballet dancers without them visiting visa center), but in small productions it might be on the actor’s shoulder. For working visa, the documents inquired are contract or proof of engagement, have enough money to support yourself.
For me working in England is same as working abroad. On my visa condition I could work 20 hours per week maximum, but cannot be self-employed.
In my future I want to be an actor, but as I mentioned before it might be difficult to find a job and in current situation it would be almost impossible.
This is my list of jobs what I can do in future.
Acting or related to it:
Theatre Director
Script reader
Role playing jobs (focus group, hospitals, law firms)
Production Assistant
Assistant Director
Hotel Animator
Children Entertainment
Radio Presenter/Broadcast Presenter
Panto
Commercial
Modelling
YouTube Blogger
Voiceover:
Audiobooks
Video Games
Relevant jobs to Performing Arts degree:
Stage Manager
Drama Teacher
Agent’s Assistant
Film Director
Script Writer
Jobs and their desciption
Actor/Performer
https://www.americasjobexchange.com/job-descriptions
Job Summary
Responsible for Portraying role in production to interpret character or present characterization to audience. Must read scripts, take cues, and rehearse with others when preparing for and acting out a role.
Primary responsibilities
Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience for stage, motion picture, television, radio, or other media production.
Rehearse and memorize lines.
Entertain, convey characters and express emotions in front of a live audience.
Take cues from director.
Use body language and movement to bring out character.
Interpret the work of a writer under the instruction and support of a director.
Improvise the reactions of a character to a situation.
Work in live stage performances of the classics and community theatre, soap operas, radio work and film parts.
Prepare for and attend numerous auditions.
Do voice-overs for advertisements or recording 'talking books' for CDs.
Research for a part by reading material or shadowing a person similar to the character being portrayed.
Work as a walk-on or extra in television or film.
Discuss interpretation and delivery with other members of the company and the director.
Improve performance based on feedback from the director.
Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
Promote productions using means such as interviews about plays or movies.
Write original or adapted material for dramas, comedies, puppet shows, narration, or other performances.
Prepare and perform action stunts for motion picture, television, or stage productions.
Director
https://www.americasjobexchange.com/job-descriptions
Job Summary
Responsible for directing the activities of a specific department or departments within an organization. Manages other employees and ensures all business goals and objectives are reached.
Primary responsibilities
Direct the activities and productivity of a department or entire organization.
Provide training and guidance.
Delegate duties such as typing, copying, and scanning.
Hire, terminate, and train staff.
Create schedules.
Work with the Assistant Director to sustain and grow programs and service.
Manage administrative functions to ensure smooth and efficient operations of the organization.
Support the organization's strategic alliances and partnership.
Ensure performance goals are met and set.
Fulfill duties delegated by C-suite staff.
Attend and preside over meetings.
Participate in strategic planning.
Represent the organization to the public, key stakeholders and business partner.
Plan and implement the annual calendar of activities including fundraising initiatives, special events and the official administrative acts.
Help create budgets and track expenditures.
Create presentations for meetings.
Director of Photography
https://www.betterteam.com/director-of-photography-job-description
Responsibilities:
Developing a film's visual style.
Determining lighting requirements on set.
Deciding on the best camera angles and frames for scenes.
Ordering and testing lighting and camera equipment.
Supervising a camera crew and directing camera movement.
Selecting the appropriate film stock.
Determining camera aperture settings.
Controlling natural or artificial lighting conditions.
Liaising with electricians to ensure adequate electrical supply.
Determining elements such as filters, shutter angles, focus, depth of field and camera distance.
Editing visual elements in post-production.
Director of Photography Requirements:
Degree in Film, Art or Photography advantageous.
A reel of visual work.
Creative visual thinking.
Excellent written and verbal communication.
Exceptional interpersonal skills.
Attention to detail.
Good organizational skills.
Good technical camera operating skills.
Unit Still Photographer
https://www.media-match.com/usa/media/jobtypes/still-photographer-jobs-402791.php
Unit Stills Photographers take the vitally important photographs of film sets or studio shoots that are used to create the press and publicity for feature films. These arresting images, if they are used well, can genuinely contribute to a film's box office and international sales success. Unit Stills Photographers usually work on set, recording scenes from the film; alternatively, they may be required to set up photographs in the style of the film in a studio environment.
Unit Stills Photographers are employed, on a freelance basis, by producers, film PR companies, film sales agents, or distributors, and usually combine unit stills work with a variety of other professional stills photography (portraiture, travel, beauty, editorial, film festivals and special events). The hours are long and they often spend considerable periods of time away from base.
What is the job?
The number of days Stills Photographers work on set depends on the budget and scale of each film. On medium sized films, they are usually employed for at least 15 days; on big budget films with A-List casts, they may be required to be on set every day of the shoot. Their first responsibility is to run through the shooting schedule with the film PR and decide on the best days for them to visit the set.
Once these days have been approved, Unit Stills Photographers make their own way to the set or studio with their equipment, including 4 or 5 different cameras (both manual and digital) which enable them to shoot concurrently on different kind of film stocks, lenses, tripods, etc. Unit Stills Photographers must be patient and sensitive when working on set, because actors may feel that having another camera pointing at them could adversely affect their performance. In these circumstances, Unit Stills Photographers use the morning blocking rehearsal to attempt to capture some good shots.
Unit Stills Photographers send the exposed film to processing laboratories every 3-4 days and continuously choose the best shots and mark up contact sheets. If a studio shoot is planned, they work with the actors to create the desired shots, usually based on a brief from the poster artwork designers. Once their work is completed, all the images are sent to the sales company, distributor, film PR or publicist, who use them for the P&A (Press and Adverting) campaign.
Production Assistant
https://resources.workable.com/production-assistant-job-description
Responsibilities
Help prepare the set with lights, props, equipment etc.
Assist costume designers, directors, camerapeople and other crew members
Print and distribute daily paperwork (e.g. scripts, call sheets)
Escort actors around the filming area and coordinate extras
Conduct crowd control by putting up signs, directing pedestrians away from filming, lock down sets etc.
Act as a runner distributing messages or items within film crew and cast
Perform administrative work (answering phones, paperwork etc.)
Undertake errands as assigned
Requirements
Proven experience as production assistant or a passion for the industry
Knowledge of terminology will be appreciated
Computer savvy
Excellent organizational and multi-tasking ability
Resourcefulness and problem-solving
A team player with great communication skills
Physical strength and stamina
A valid driver’s license
High school diploma; Relevant training (e.g. production courses) will be an advantage
Script Reader
https://www.productionbase.co.uk/blog/2019/04/05/become-script-reader/
The main aim of the Script Reader’s job is to evaluate a script and the possibility of it becoming a successful production. This means that the story has to be interesting, the characters well defined and appealing to audiences, and the themes have to match, or at least be coherent with, the current trends in the industry. In short, the Script Reader is the middleman between the Script Writer and the Development Executive. They decide which scripts have the potential to make it.
Script Readers are usually required to write a Report, which serves both as a summary and as an assessment for the script. The typical Report is made up of seven sections:
Logline (one line summary of the main concept)
Premise (analysis of the commercial potential and originality of the script)
Synopsis (breakdown of the plot)
Tone and Genre (analysis of the writing compared to the communicative intentions)
Comments (details of strength and weaknesses of the script)
Summary
Verdict
If the reading is linked to a funding competition or contest, the Script Reader may be asked whether it should receive funding or be rejected.
Roleplay
https://www.mba-roleplay.co.uk/service-categories/roleplay/
Role-players for assessment centres – bringing realism to an artificial situation, for training – to demonstrate, practice, illustrate, promote discussion, try-out different approaches and observe / experience impact, for projects such as benchmarking performance, developing skills, exploring alternative behaviours and identifying management styles, for Recruitment and Selection – For Internal and External participants, a level playing field for all applicants using a transparent, open process.
To be considered for inclusion onto the MBA Ltd associate database, actor must be an experienced professional actor, trained at an accredited Drama School and preferably a member of Equity, who has worked in the profession for at least a year. And have business experience in at least one of the sectors we operate in.
Assistant Director
https://www.screenskills.com/careers/job-profiles/film-and-tv-drama/production-management/assistant-director/
The first assistant director (AD) is the director’s right hand. First ADs plan the filming schedule, working with the director, director of photography and other heads of department to ensure an efficient shoot.
In pre-production, they break down the script, analysing it for what will be needed in terms of cast, locations, equipment and crew. They lead recces, going off to locations to assess their suitability for filming.
Then they input the scripts into Movie Magic software, which helps them work out what to film and when, depending on the availability of cast and locations. They write the shooting schedule and work out how long each scene will take to film.
During filming first ADs manage the set, which leaves the directors free to focus on the actors and framing the shots.
Visualising the script: read the script and know what this means in terms of cameras, locations and cast, understand the director’s vision
Planning: analyse what is needed for a shoot, and co-ordinate the schedules of various departments including camera, make-up, hair, costume, design and visual effects, think ahead
Multi-tasking: pay close attention to what is happening in one shot while getting ready for the next one
Innovation: think of creative solutions under pressure when the unexpected happens
Communication: able to let a wide range of people know exactly what is required of them and get them to work together, ability to listen to the director
Hotel animator
https://www.careeraddict.com/become-a-hotel-animator
To create an animation/entertainment programme for the hotel
To be responsible to the hotel management and holiday company or agency
To communicate and perform duties and activities on their own and as part of a team
To encourage guest participation in activities
To maintain eye catching information boards at hotels
To perform all production material
To maintain costumes or props
To provide good customer service
To be a great public relations representative
To interact with guests and have a friendly relationship with hotel staff
Some tasks that you may be required to do are:
Translate at events/activities
Perform in shows and dancing, acting and games
Communicate with head animator
Promote and sell merchandise
Complete sales reports or administration as appropriate
Good qualities and skills that a Hotel Animator should have are:
Motivation
Creativity
Energy
Self Confidence
Sense of humour
Enthusiasm
Be organised
Cultural awareness
Be able to work on own and as part of the team
Children Entertainment
https://www.nonstopkids.co.uk/jobs
Being an actor on children parties.
Experience working with children
UK Driving license
ABLE TO WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITHOUT ANY SUPERVISION
ENJOY WORKING WITH CHILDREN
HARD WORKING!
FUN & OUTGOING
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
ENGAGING CHILDREN WITH PARTY GAMES
AND DANCES
PERFORMING OUR AWARD WINNING MAGIC SHOW
SETTING UP & RUNNING A MINI DISCO
BALLOON MODELLING
LIAISING PROFESSIONALLY WITH THE CLIENTS
MANAGING CUSTOMERS EXPECTATIONS
Radio/Broadcast Presenter
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/actor
A broadcast presenter is the face or voice of programmes broadcast via television, radio and the internet. You'll work on a variety of platforms including national, regional, satellite and cable television, local and national radio and online.
As a broadcast presenter, you'll need to:
research topics and background information for items to be featured on the programme
plan and rehearse shows
write and sometimes memorise scripts
liaise with other members of the production and technical teams
introduce and host programmes
interview guests in the studio, by telephone or on location
play music
read short news, traffic, sport or weather reports
provide links between programmes
read from a script or autocue, or improvise
in radio, 'drive' the desk and operate some of the technical equipment for recording and playback, using computers to cue up and play music and jingles
keep the programme running to schedule, responding positively and quickly to problems or changes and improvising where necessary
in television, keep in contact with the director and production team in the studio gallery, via ear-piece link
meet with the production crew to assess or review a broadcast, and to plan the next one.
You'll need to have:
excellent communication and presentation skills
performance skills and a clear voice
the ability to generate original ideas
a personable and confident manner
a broad range of interests, including current affairs
good research and interviewing skills
the confidence and the ability to sell yourself
an awareness of media law
the ability to take initiative and make quick decisions under pressure
team-working skills
creativity and problem-solving skills.
Any actor should have an agent, someone who represents actors interest and help to find job. To get an agent actor from what I have read should send a showreel or invite agent on the show. In this part I am going to talk what steps I am going to take for getting an agent.
Talent agent responsibilities
Represents interests of the performer
Organise auditions
Communicate with casting directors/employers
Looking for jobs for performer
Marketing their clients
List of agencies
Top 10 agencies UK
https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/10-london-talent-agencies-all-working-actors-need-to-know-69175/
Recommended list of agencies
https://www.reddit.com/r/acting/comments/7kta3d/agents_in_the_uk_my_comprehensive_list/
Spotlight agencies
https://www.spotlight.com/contacts/listing/search?Category=Contacts%5CAgents
Agencies which I would go first
https://www.spotlight.com/contacts/listing/db71e70d-dc6d-4e0e-b1f0-084ad7211ad6
https://www.spotlight.com/contacts/listing/0f82fc56-ee8b-4f2d-8dc8-e42a6501389d
https://www.spotlight.com/contacts/listing/7f10cff3-e3b8-4343-8b9b-bf3687685c29
Agencies for foreign actors
https://www.ialagency.com/about/
https://www.nikiwinterson.com/
What to include in showreel?
Put name in the start, no more than 3 sec (+headshot)
First scene – recent, clear who you are, nice speaking work, close up, THE BEST
Make yourself a scene, write it and act it. Strong
Stage plays are not good for show reels, if its only for film showreel. You can have separate stage showreel, voiceover, commercial
Keep it landscape
3-4 mins max (the best 1-2 mins), 45 sec per scene
MP4 file H264 ACC Audio, 400 mb
No music on background
Lookup how to make showreel by yourself
Rode Microphone VideoMic GO
Soft Lighting, VIDEO SOFTBOX, Grey Background (Grey Bedsheet)
Shoulders to top up of your head
Another actor sits just behind the camera
Do 3 times, watch over and if it does not go well, take some time and remake it again
Program DaVinci Resolve Light
Name then role for project then send it to casting director. Send one take for one scene, unless it is required. WeTransfer or Vimeo for sending. Not YouTube
https://www.spotlight.com/news-and-advice/tips-and-advice/editing-and-sharing-self-tapes/
Do not use famous scene, so you will not be compared
Letter to agencies
1. Don’t send hundreds of copies of the same letter to lots of agents. Target individual agents and tell them why you want to be with them. Who are the clients they already have? No one who clashes with you, hopefully.
2. “Don’t send emails at 2am, regardless of how in the zone you feel. They will almost always be totally indecipherable. Starting an email with ‘To Linfy King’ isn’t going to do you any favours.” – Shanahan
3. If the agent does show any interest in you at your showcase, what do you have for them to see you in afterwards? If nothing is planned, then start to sort something out. It is unlikely that an agent will take you on as the result of a two-minute showcase speech.
4. Ask questions. Just like any relationship in your life, talk about what you like. If the agent just expects you to sit at the end of the phone and wait, will that work for you? How do they feel about your part-time job to feed yourself? Some can be remarkably unrealistic about your need to earn money.
5. Take advice. Not just from your drama school, but from colleagues, peers, alumni and professionals you have contact with. Remember, it must work for you. As Rawlins says: “In the end, you need to oversee the actual decision. It’s your career, after all.”
https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/ways-find-best-agent-13164/
https://www.spotlight.com/news-and-advice/tips-for-foreign-actors-in-london/
Theatre Companies I am interested to work as an actor
The original Theatre Company http://www.originaltheatre.com/
Bristol Old Vic https://bristololdvic.org.uk/
Headlong https://headlong.co.uk/
Playhouse Theatre Company Cheltenham https://www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk/
National Theatre https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/
Meeting Ground Theatre Company http://www.meetinggroundtheatrecompany.co.uk/
Red Ladder Theatre Company http://www.redladder.co.uk/
The Red Room Theatre Company https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Red-Room-Theatre-Company/111203162265660
Ridiculusmus https://www.ridiculusmus.com/
Royal Shakespear Theatre Company https://www.rsc.org.uk/
Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory http://stf-theatre.org.uk/
Show of Strength Theatre Company https://showofstrength.org.uk/
Up in Arms Theatre Company https://www.upinarms.org.uk/
Young Vic Theatre https://www.youngvic.org/
Marketing
There are several social networks what will be useful for different purposes in Performing Arts Industry. Here is my list how I am going to use the social media for building my personal brand:
YouTube, great place to show talent, such as acting/singing/dancing, interact with other creators, build personal brand, share life and opinion, review; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk_1Q_7DOkPvEwtZlkHrwDA?view_as=subscriber
TikTok, follow and create trends, have fun, fast and free way to build audience
Twitter, communicate with people from the industry, find job, share personal view on different topics; https://twitter.com/Tanya01791442
Instagram, pictures portfolio, share personal life, share news about career, build personal brand; https://www.instagram.com/tatiana_lebedeva_actor/
Facebook, share news professional updates, socialise, find a job, interact with another performers, post your credits in film/theatre/TV, build personal brand; https://www.facebook.com/tanya.lebedeva123?ref=bookmarks
LinkedIn place professional resume, demo reel, headshots, talk about acting with another actors. This network more for professional use than others.
Personal Web page, upload actual CV, headshots, information about me, news, credits, agent contacts, links to other social media pages; https://ltsbjrbank.wixsite.com/tatianalebedeva
Offline activities – taking part in student projects, low paid or no paid film productions, taking part in local theatre groups, community theatre, organising workshops
Websites where actors jobs are posted:
Audition Types
Open call – anyone could try out, for big productions it might be an advertisement set up in newspaper or online. People turn up and stand in a live que with the number
Closed call – type of audition where actors are invited by casting director from professional circles, such as unions, theatre companies, recommendations
Interview – type of audition organised by agent or casting director might invite an actor for particular part after seeing them in the show
Online audition – more likely to be the second round of auditioning, for example employee saw showreel or self-tape for particular role got interested and invited for an interview online. This type of audition suddenly got popular because of lockdown. But even before lockdown actors got casted for parts in international movies/theatre projects
For the year I studied in college I had offline and online auditions. Surprisingly on professional websites I had smaller respond from employees. It might be because the standard of applications is higher. The biggest respond I had on Facebook in professional groups, such as Actors UK or Acting for Camera UK. Also, I had auditions in few local theatre projects and they were more like open call, where everyone could come and try out. With online auditions, I sent my self-tape of the script which I was provided or I sent examples of monologues which I did on my YouTube Channel. Personally, I prefer online auditions over offline. I feel more relaxed and more concentrated.
I do not have an agent at the moment and it seems easy to find and attend to open call auditions, student projects, no pay projects. However, now it seems more difficult to be part of more professional or paid projects without an agent.
Meryl Streep
The Actress I am inspired of
In spite of Meryl Streep successful career, the number of awards (she has a record of 21 Oscar nomination), incredible talent she is also a person who set a great example for me. Meryl Streep publicly stand against intolerance, support #MeToo movement and emphasis woman position in the society.
1949 Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep was born 22nd of June
1969 Appealed in a stage performance at Vassar college
Meryl Streep graduated from Vassar college and then Master degree at Yale Drama School
1977 Acted on the stage in Anton Chekhov play The Cherry Orchard and stared as a supportive actress in movie Julia
1978 Stared in the movie The Deer Hunter with Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken, for which she received a nomination for an Oscar, as The Best Supporting Actress. Also, she won her first Primetime Emmy for her role in the film Holocaust
1979 Won an Oscar as The Best Supporting Actress for the role in Kramer vs Kramer
1982 In Sophie's Choice, she convincingly played a Polish woman traumatized by her experiences during the Holocaust. Streep won her second Academy Award—her first for best actress—for her work on the film
1985 Meryl Streep was nominated for another Academy Award in film Out of Africa, where she played a Danish plantation owner in Kenya
1990 Stared in movie Postcards from the Edge one of Carrie Fisher’s novel and was nominated for Oscar as Best Actress and for Golden Globe in the same category
1995 She stared with Clint Estwood in Robert James Waller's romantic drama The Bridges of Madison County and was nominated again for Oscar as The Best Actress
1999 Meryl Streep was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance in the movie Music of the Heart. Which tells the true story of a teacher who brings music into the lives of kids in New York's Harlem neighbourhood by teaching them how to play the violin
2002 She was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of author Susan Orlean in Adaptation. At the same year she performed in film The Hours
2003 Meryl Streep won her second Emmy Award for role in the television adaptation of the award-winning play Angels in America
2004 Streep got a chance to show some of her comic skills as a villain in the political thriller The Manchurian Candidate
2005 Meryl Streep starred in Prime, a romantic comedy with Uma Thurman and Bryan Greenberg. Streep played psychoanalyst Lisa Metzger, whose client falls in love with her son
2006 Meryl nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe for the role of the inimitable magazine editor Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. That same year, she was cast as country music singer Yolanda Johnson in Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion
2008 She played Donna in the film adaptation of the ABBA musical Mamma Mia! And was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe again as The Best Actress for the role of a nun who becomes suspicious of a priest's behaviour (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) toward a young student in the film Doubt
2009 She played the famous chef in the film Julie & Julia, based on the bestselling nonfiction book of the same title. For this role, she won the Golden Globe Award for lead actress in a comedy or musical and received an Academy Award nomination. She then starred in Nancy Meyers' romantic comedy It's Complicated, with co-stars Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, which earned her another Golden Globe nomination
2011 Film The Iron Lady brought the 3rd Academy Award and Golden Globe to Meryl Streep. She portrayed former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, a dynamic and forceful politician who was both admired by some and detested by others. While Thatcher was called cold and unfeeling, Streep believed that Thatcher "was canny about the fact that in order to be taken seriously, she wasn't able to show certain emotions because she was a woman."
2012 Meryl Streep played in the volatile family drama August: Osage County. She was nominated for an Oscar again.
2014 Meryl Streep played a witch in in the screen adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods, for which she earned additional Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. Same year she had a leading role in the dystopic sci-fi film The Giver
2015 Streep starred opposite her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer in the Jonathan Demme and Diablo Cody film Ricki and the Flash, playing an aging rock star who returns home to reconcile with her family. Same year she portrayed real-world British voting activist Emmeline Pankhurst in Suffragette.
2016 she received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of 1940s New York heiress Florence Foster Jenkins in the film by the same name, and a Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes
2017 Streep garnered a record 20th Academy Award nomination, for her performance in Florence Foster Jenkins. Later that year, Streep took on the role of the Washington Post's first female publisher, Kay Graham, in Steven Spielberg’s The Post, a movie about the paper’s attempts to publish the Pentagon Papers—a political cover-up about the Vietnam War. The film paired Streep and Tom Hanks together on the big screen for the first time, leading Golden Globe nominations for both of them and another Oscar nomination for Streep
2019 Meryl Streep took part in the 2nd season of TV show Big Little Lies. Same year she starred in a comedy drama Steven Soderbergh's film The Laundromat. Based on Jake Bernstein's reporting of the secretive financial transactions and offshore tax havens of celebrities and world leaders that were revealed in the Panama Papers leak of 2016. Same year she played Aunt March in Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Little Women
https://www.biography.com/actor/meryl-streep