Monthly Archives: August 2010

Google Alerts, Market Research for Actors | The Film Set

Posted on by

There, I said it…market research.

It’s not called Showbusiness for nothing, there are plenty of amazing Actors out there who are incredibly talented but have never had a paid acting job and there’s nothing wrong with that but if you want to make a career from Acting it makes sense to treat it as a business…That means doing all the boring stuff like tax returns, PR and market research.

(yeh yeh Gen, what about this Google Alerts thing) Chill out inner monologue, I’m getting to it.

What is Google Alerts?

Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) You enter the topic you want to keep tabs on and they send you an email when there’s a new result.

The alerts get emailed to you at a frequency you chose or you could opt to receive it via an RSS feed if you have a Google account. Users with Google Accounts can also view, create, edit and delete their alerts using the “Manage your Alerts” page.

What can it be used for?

You can have an alert for yourself (err, it’s not vain), any competitors, any productions that you are really keen on, open auditions in your town, casting directors, that TV show you’re owed repeat fees for, your mates, your mum…the list is endless. (Actually I just learnt the list is limited to 1000 per email address but that’s still a fair few)

Let’s take this scenario for example…there’s a Hypothetical Theatre down the road in the town of Blah where you live. They put their castings up on their website but checking their website everyday is absurd. So, you set up a Google Alert for [“Hypothetical Theatre” Blah Casting] and hooray! When they announce their next casting on their website you’ll be the first to know.

That’s a bit sly isn’t it?

You might think it’s a bit sly but PR companies get paid tons to collect clippings for companies and Google themselves suggest using Alerts for the following things:

” – monitoring a developing news story

– keeping current on a competitor or industry

– getting the latest on a celebrity or event”

What about if there’s more than one person with the same name…

There are folk in the world who have completely unique names…Google Alerts for them are simple and straightforward. However, if you’re searching for a person that has a common name and you don’t want updates on everyone with that particular name, Google have thought of this too and have help guides with some advanced tips.

So for example if you’re searching for someone called thingymabob, and there’s another thingymabob who’s a high profile baker, all you need to do is put a minus (-) sign in front of a keyword attached to the other thingymabob you don’t want to know about. Your search would look like this [“thingymabob” -baker]

My top tip

If you haven’t already got a Google account then head on down and get one. Then instead of choosing to have the alerts sent to you vie email you can receive them to your Google Reader as an RSS feed.

[Google Alerts]

Genevieve Sibayan is a London based Actress, you can find Genevieve’s blog here and get updates by clicking on her rss feed. If you’d like to subscribe to The Film Set on Frost Magazine then click here.

Advice Blogs for Actors {The Film Set | Genevieve Sibayan}

Posted on by

Like every actor out there, I have a stack of books sitting on a shelf gathering dust becoming more and more irrelevant by the minute. There are some good informative books, but they’re becoming the exception rather than the norm. Sometimes I look at my stack of irrelevant books and resent them for costing me (taunting me with their perfect spines) especially as there is so much fantastic advice and information out there on the internet. Here’s a few below, these are just the ones I subscribe to so there may be tons more. Let me know if you find any.

 

Bonnie Gilespie’s Blog – The Actor’s Voice

There is so much amazing info here, all for free. Everything here is positive, inspiring and useful. Casting Director Bonnie Gilespie has clearly put a lot of time into this column on Showfax and even though she’s US based, it’s relevant internationally.

rss feed: http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/index.xml

The Actor’s Voice – POV

Showfax, wiz all zis information your are really spoiling uz. This time it’s Bonnie Gilespie and friends. Friends being people in the biz, and there’s quite a few. By a few I mean tons.

rss feed: http://more.showfax.com/plus/pov/index.xml

The Casting Corner

Another column on Showfax, this time from Casting Director Mark Sikes. Mark posts some great advice on a weekly basis…he’s there every week.

rss feed: http://more.showfax.com/columns/corner/index.xml

The Actor Cast Blog

Yet more great advice. ActorCast is a US based web service allowing Actors to submit directly to Casting Directors existing services. Their blog has articles, How to guides, Q&A’s and Open calls.

rss feed: http://actorcastblog.com/blog/?feed=rss2

Backstage Magazine

A US trade journal for Actors proving just how much of an industry this actually is. They have a regular advice column.

rss: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Backstage-Columns

Playbills vs. Paying Bills

Advice and insight from three actors from across the pond. Ben Whitehair, Joe Von Bokern and Emily Beuchat share their stories, resources, recommendations and stuff from their respective acting scenes in LA, Chicago and New York. Read it, you will be entertained and you will learn things!

rss feed: http://playbillsvspayingbills.com/?feed=rss2

The Film Set – Frost Magazine

Brought to you by a couple of London actresses…Catherine Balavage and Genevieve Sibayan. Ok! ok, you caught me, this suggestion’s a little biased but we do have some interviews with fantastic casting directors and people involved in Film and TV.

rss: http://feeds.feedburner.com/FrostMagazineTheFilmSet

Know any more blogs that I’ve missed out? Leave me a comment below and I’ll update the post.

Update:

Minimum Wage Actors [Thanks Pete Jenkinson for this one]

News about National Minimum Wage stories affecting or having affected Actors and Performers.

rss: http://actorsminimumwage.wordpress.com/feed/


.

Genevieve Sibayan is a London based Actress, you can find Genevieve’s blog here and get updates by clicking on her rss feed. If you’d like to subscribe to The Film Set on Frost Magazine then click here.

JEMMA KIDD joins 30,000 racegoers flood into Newbury Racecourse for Ladies day.

Posted on by

Joined by celebrity make-up artist Jemma Kidd, the changeable weather didn’t stop the 30,000 strong racegoers flood in for Ladies Day at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday.

The 105 year old racecourse, one of the most popular tracks for the serious racegoer, recently launched a major new initiative called the Inside Track enabling racing newcomers to get a flavour of the joys and thrills of a day at the races. Through a number of expert masterclasses from learning how to place a bet to how to spot a winner, as well as a series of behind the scenes tours, racegoers were shown how to walk the walk and talk the talk in the racing world.

Jemma Kidd said, “It’s fantastic to see that the great British tradition of spending a day at the races is being revived by Newbury Racecourse, I love going to the races as it’s always such a fun day out to spend with friends and family.”
Stephen Higgins, Managing Director of Newbury Racecourse whose brainchild The Inside Track is, said “Ladies Day is one of our largest racedays and with visitor numbers exceeding last year’s this is the perfect platform on which to launch this novice racegoer campaign.”

The Newbury Inside Track campaign includes:
· A Racegoers Guide to Newbury with useful jargon, details on the runners and riders and an insiders knowledge to some of the best places to visit around the course
· On course Masterclasses and Behind the Scenes tours to get to the heart of the racing action.
· Advice from the experts on how to spot a winner
· Tips on what to do if you fancy a flutter but don’t know your pony from your monkey

Thousands of racegoers were treated to a performance from Westlife. The four Irish boys took to the stage for the first time at Newbury Racecourse as the finale of a trilogy of ‘Party in the Paddock’ events, an initiative aimed at appealing to a new generation of racegoers by fusing popular music with racing. Night Owls then gathered for some apres -racing as Newbury Racecourse became a Hawaiian hotspot at the Hula Bar.

What is an RSS feed? And some (probably) useful feeds for Actors {The Film Set | Genevieve Sibayan}

Posted on by

I don’t want to patronise you…so if you already know all this then scroll down for some (probably) useful feeds…if you think “hmm, feed, omnomnom” then keep reading.

What is an RSS feed?

RSS stands for Rich Site Summary Really Simple Syndication. It’s basically a way of subscribing to a blog or website or any number of things that publish content on a regular basis.

The RSS feed tells your RSS Reader that you’d like to receive updates as and when they happen. By subscribing to a site’s feed in Reader, you will automatically be notified when that website contains new posts or entries. Instead of checking sites repeatedly for updates, RSS feeds bring your favorite websites to you.

This means that you can be kept up to date with a web site and you don’t need to use your bookmarks or clutter up your email inbox with newsletters. Those of us who are Blackberry owners know the feeling of newsletter-overload-itis.

Err…what’s an RSS Reader?

An RSS Reader works a little like an email account. You can subscribe to all the feeds from different sites or sources you like and star, label or organise them into folders just like you can your email account. If you have a Google account then you are already set up for Google Reader, you just need to click on the text link at the top of your Google account page.

If you don’t want to use Google Reader then there are loads of readers out there (here’s a short list) and you can also get them in app form.

Right, got my Feed Reader…now what?

Go to the website you want to receive updates for and look for the feed icon…

When you see it on a website, clicking will usually direct you to that site’s feed. From there, you can either copy and paste the link to subscribe to the feed in Reader, or in the case of many browsers, click a button to subscribe directly.

If that doesn’t happen then right click on the icon and copy the link address. You can then use that address in your reader if you look for the Add Subscription link.

What’s the point again?

Ok, yes you have Twitter and Facebook and email newsletters and people telling you Eastenders spoilers over BBM (yeh, er thanks for that) but with social media and time differences you can miss things and a huge amount of the info isn’t relevant. Cue distraction and reading about peoples lunches and kittens. Readwriteweb.com has a great post on why feed readers rock.

Yeh but…what’s the point again?

You can use RSS feeds to get updates from Casting Directors blogs, updates for productions that are casting, industry news, Google Alerts (which I will go into in more detail about in the future), advice columns and even Youtube Channels.

If you want to follow a youtube channel the feed address is as follows: http://gdata.youtube.com/feeds/base/users/[insert username here]/uploads

You can also use feeds to publicise your own stuff, your blogs, news updates on your website, your webseries channel etc.

Can you give us some examples?

Firstly I have to point out that these question headers are coming from my inner monologue who has just refered to itself as “us”. Should I be worried?

And yes, I can give you some examples…

The Stage – News Headlines and Features

UK pride and joy of the theatrical society The Stagehas almost 600 subscribers via rss alone proving it’s still relevant.

News rss: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheStageNews

Features rss: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheStageFeatures

ScreenTerrier

A great new UK blog with news on young british actors. Breaks the occasional story about castings. The feed isn’t even publicised on their site but already has plenty of followers.

rss: http://screenterrier.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

The Casting Scoop

USA based with lotsa info and insight but how else would I know that Twilight CD Lana Veenker is holding a workshop in London…

rss: http://castingscoop.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Nancy Bishop’s Blog

Casting director Nancy Bishop’s blog mostly contains updates about events, seminars, links to webinars and projects she’s casting all in THE BIGGEST FONT EVER. I picked up her book recently and I recommend it to any screen actor. Nancy is based in Prague but works internationally.

rss: http://nancybishopcasting.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Bafta Events Feed

Even if you’re not a member you can still go to some of the Bafta events. If you do go…remember to ring the doorbell. Or just hang around outside for a few minutes and giggle at people tugging at the door handles in vain. Not that I do that…honestly!

rss: http://www.bafta.org/events.xml

The Film Set – Frost Magazine

Subscribe to this feed…this actual feed that you’re reading now. A UK based column with interviews with Casting Directors actors etc…run by a couple of Actresses that go by the names of Catherine Balavage and Genevieve Sibayan. Errr…yeh that’s us.

rss: http://feeds.feedburner.com/FrostMagazineTheFilmSet

 

Genevieve’s Feed

That’s me! I’m the one writing this. Subscribe to it…if you like.

rss feeeeeed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/GenevieveSibayan

I don’t wanna overwhelm you so I will stop but rest assured you WILL be getting more suggestions on ace blogs to follow wether you like it or not. Blogs from people who have much better advice than little old me! Tata for now folks!

.

.

Genevieve Sibayan is a London based Actress, you can find Genevieve’s blog here and get updates by clicking on her rss feed. If you’d like to subscribe to The Film Set on Frost Magazine then click here.

Coffin Helps Screw Your Dead Relatives, into the Ground {R&D and Inventions}

Posted on by

Californian inventor Donald Scruggs has been granted a patent on the most morbid gadget you might ever not experience. As burial space in cemeteries runs thin with all the horizontal resters, Donald wants you to remain on your feet to conserve precious burial space.

Scruggs’ has been granted a patent on a giant, screw-shaped coffin into which is loaded your inanimate corpse, ready to be twisted into the ground. The patent application was filed back in 2006, you probably don’t need to read it to get the idea but take a look at the drawings.

One of the main problems was making a shell that could withstand the twisting forces involved. While the patent has been granted, Scruggs is still working on prototypes to overcome this. No digging is needed as the coffin displaces dirt as it is screwed into the ground. This might even be a comfort to those with a fear of being buried alive as the lid could be made with an emergency exit, this also ruins many movie plot devices.

Easy Inter Burial Container [Google Patents]

Screw It, You’re Dead Anyway [Discovery News]

Inventor Donald Scruggs and the Screw-in Coffin [Discover]

Feeling Sheepish | Best of the Shearling Trend AW10 {Style}

Posted on by

Ok, it’s still technically summer but it feels more like winter. Let’s blame the jet stream. Still it gives us an excuse to shop the transitional trends a little earlier than expected and here’s some of the best of the shearling trend available at the moment.

.

<<< TopShop Sheep Skin Sleeveless Gillet, £195

Sheepskin jackets are flying off the rails at Top Shop so be quick if you’re buying into this look. 100% Sheepskin and bound to keep you toasty.

.

.

.

.

Warehouse Faux Fur Aviator Jacket, £65 >>>

Want the look but prefer to go faux? Grey Faux Fur Aviator Jacket at Warehouse is perfect.

.

.

.

.

.

<<< Oasis Drape Aspen Jacket, £80

Oasis have plumped for a chic silhouette with this suedette jacket. The lining is faux shearling and it also comes in ivory and dark cocoa.

.

.

.

.

Oasis Drape Gilet, £60 >>>

Another one from Oasis is their drape gilet. Suedette and faux shearling but looks toasty.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Asos Faux Shearling Slouch Bag, £36 >>>

Not stopping at jackets, Asos are selling the prettiest shearling slouch bag. Oooohhhh.

.

.

.

.

<<< Asos Trecker Lace Up Shearling Boots, £55

Probably not the most practical boots there are but Asos are also keeping toes warm with faux shearling lace up boots.

IF IT’S A PIG’NIC, THEN IT SHOULD BE FROM OUTDOOR PRODUCED PORK, SAYS MARCHIONESS

Posted on by

It’s the start of National Picnic Week today, but campaigners at Pig Business have noticed that Britain’s pig industry leaders have been trying to hog the headlines by with their attempts to change “picnics” to “PIG’nics”.

Fair enough if the nation were being encouraged to add “free range produced pork” to their picnic hampers as they head for the great outdoors, but the sad reality is that this campaign centres its support on pork producing schemes called Red Tractor where most of the pigs are denied straw let alone the outdoor experience, instead being reared under indoor, barren, factory farmed conditions.

‘Pig Business’ is all for a good picnic and is hugely supportive of Britain’s high welfare pig farmers, so why not use this opportunity to encourage shoppers to look for high welfare labels. And, when they discover that most products don’t explain how the pig has been raised, exert pressure on the government to introduce mandatory method of production labelling.

Pig Business is calling on Britain’s picnickers to use their consumer power to shun factory farmed pork this week and support high welfare farmers by ensuring their hampers only contain pork from high welfare systems from the basic RSPCA freedom food standard to the gold standard such as free range or organic.

The Pignic project is part of a larger campaign initiative that Britain’s pig industry leaders have launched this summer called ‘Love Summer, Love Pork’ http://www.lovepork.co.uk/.The campaign is run by BPEX, who represent the pig industry in England and campaign to increase demand for UK pork.

Their campaign encourages consumers to look for the Red Tractor pork logo, run by Assured Food Standards. Yet this is a scheme to be aware of, as it claims to promote good farming practices, but in reality often offers little assurance to consumers beyond simple compliance with minimum legal requirements. Though UK standards are higher than on the continent, where sows have spent 90% of their lives confined to crates that they can’t even turn around in, they may be closely confined in farrowing (when suckling piglets) crates and piglets may be reared indoors in intensive systems without any bedding. Their relentless boredom in such barren conditions results in tail docking to prevent their biting each other’s tails.

The Pig Business team has spent the last 5 years campaigning for radical reform of the world’s pig industry, calling for legislation and public procurement that moves away from intensive factory farm systems to more extensive, welfare friendly pig systems which protect public health and the environment. With over 40% of Britain’s pig farmers operating outdoor systems why not take this outdoor experience to support them.

The Marchioness of Worcester says,“National Picnic Week provides the ideal opportunity to taste outdoor produced pork in the great outdoors! Ham up your hampers with some free range or organic pork but spare a thought for the thousands of factory farmed pigs in this country who won’t get to taste fresh air this week. Also make sure you check the label to ensure it’s British outdoor produced pork so you can give your support to our great British farmers who choose to farm by putting animals on the land and not in factories”.

Just split up? It’ll cost you £5k to get over your ex

Posted on by

Every year millions of Brits find themselves single again with the failure of the relationship taking its toll on their bank balance as well as their emotions.

A survey by borro.com, the UK’s leading online pawnbroker, has found that 88% of people spend up to £5,000 to get over an ex; splashing out on nights out, holidays and even new cars to make themselves feel better. Surprisingly, men spend more than women, with 36% shelling out between £1,000 and £5,000 post break-up. Women seem to opt for cheaper ‘pick-me-ups’ with up to £100 going on a new look or pampering.

And the length of time you have been with your partner also has an effect on how much you’ll spend getting over him / her. A massive 43% of relationships in the North West last less than two years and only £100 or less is spent getting over the end of the relationship for two in five people. Relationships in the East Midlands last longer, with 39% surviving three to five years, and 51% spending between £1,000 and £5,000 when they end.

It also seems that men are more sentimental than women, with four out of five men unwilling to use an item given by their ex to fund a post-breakup spending spree. In stark contrast, more than 30 percent of women would happily sell or pawn a present from an ex partner to raise some fast cash. A massive 57% of Scots are happy to say goodbye to a once cherished present, while sentimental souls in the North East would never consider this.

Paul Aitken, Founder and CEO of borro.com says: “We often see people use our service to free up cash to treat themselves after a break up. It’s the ideal option, as if they change their mind and get back together with their ex, they can get their jewellery or watch back and their ex will be none the wiser!”

Dr Pam Spurr, relationship expert and author of The Breakup Survival Kit said, “Although people will find these statistics surprising, I find one of the first things people do after a breakup is look for a quick-fix to feeling better. Often that means treating themselves to a luxury item or for women a makeover where it’s a case of ‘out with the old and in with the new look’!

“Sometimes an element of revenge goes hand-in-hand with this expenditure and a broken-hearted person feels justified pawning a present their ex gave them to use the money as they please.

“What some will find most surprising is that men appear to be more sentimental about hanging on to a present from their ex. In my experience, though, men can be very good at covering up their heartache but will take a breakup every bit as hard as women.

“Challenge yourself to try something new so you break free of ‘ex-related thinking’ – the faulty belief that your new life can ever be as good as your old life with your ex.”