Tag Archives: Actor

Actresses Deserve Much More Than Being ‘The Girl’ And a Naked One At That

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film characters - anna paquinIn my other life as an actress I have noticed a worrying trend. Well, I say ‘trend’ but actually it has been going on for years: female parts in films were the character has no name and is called ‘The girl’. The girl is usually the only female part in the film and will also have at least one nude scene. Just because it is not humiliating enough to be offered a script where all of the men have names and you don’t, you also have to get your tits out. Nameless and objectified: actresses deserve better than this. WOMEN KIND deserves better than this.

It is hard to describe just how depressing it is to work in an industry where women are reduced constantly to the sum of their parts and not even named. the worrying thing is that this is a common practice. Upon complaining about this on my Facebook, prominent film maker and casting director Rory O’Donnell said: “This is incredibly common. I made fun of it when I wrote The Landlady and gave all the female characters first, last and nicknames and called the only male character ‘The Boyfriend’….but he did get a name during shooting.” If only there were more people like Rory. 

But what is to be done? Well we need more female filmmakers for a start. Here are some highlights from an amazing survey done by Stephen Follows on his must-read blog.

 

  • Between 2009-13, women made up 26.2% of crew members on British films.
  • This compares favourably with top US films over the same period (22.2%)
  • Of all the departments, the Transportation department is the most male, with only 7.7% women.
  • The only departments to have a majority of women are Make-up, Casting, Costume and Production.
  • Visual Effects is the largest department on most major movies and yet only has 16.5% women.
  • 6.4% of composers on UK films were women.
  • 14% of UK films had a female director, compared with 3% of top US films.
  • The percentage of women on British films has barely changed in the past five years.

 

Read more about his survey here. It was in all of the papers so Stephen is truly doing his part for equality.  I often get asked why I don’t leave the industry. The truth is I did take a little break. Of course if my agent had called during that period I would have not said no, but it was a quiet period and I took the moment to reflect on my chosen path. One of them anyway. I often think that if I did not have this magazine and did not make my own projects I might go slightly mad. Luckily I do and I can fight instead. I made Prose & Cons which had a strong female cast and I am making more films with my filmmaking partner Steve McAleavy. The way forward is not to quit the industry, not to let these men give our breasts the starring role while our actual talent is just a nameless supporting character: the key is to raise awareness and FIGHT. Get men to join the battle and equal the playing field. Women deserve more and we won’t stop until we get it. The fightback starts here.

 

Catherine Balavage is a writer, film director, actress and the owner and editor of this magazine. She is also a published author and wrote the book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur which has received rave reviews and is a must for actors everywhere.

 

 

How To Be A Successful Actor: Become A Triple Threat

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Acting is a hard business. Don’t get me wrong, doing the actual job isn’t hard, it is a brilliant career, but the industry is a tough one and many actors remain out of work and in poverty. That is why I wrote my book, How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is possible to have a good career, get your name out there and tell the stories that you want: you just have to become one of the new triple threats.

Back in the day a triple threat was someone who could sing, dance and act. These skills will still help your career but not as much as being a new triple threat, and that is someone who acts, writes and directs. I have written a lot about this in my book and included tips and advice as I am one of the new triple threats myself and I love the freedom it gives my career. Why wait for someone else to hire you when you can write the stories you want? I have interviewed two of the most promising new triple threats in the UK today, Vanessa Bailey, a wonderful actress who’s film Three Days is going to be a corker, and Jason Croot who I have worked with many times. He is an outstandingly talented actor, writer and director. His IMDB speaks volumes about his amazing talent and I really cannot wait to see Le Fear, Le Sequel on the big screen and not just because I am in it. Read on and learn….

acting, acting advice, how to be an actor, how to be a successful actor, hollywood, castings, auditions, casting directors.

Vanessa Bailey

Tell us about your films

This is my first public foray into writing and my first stab at pulling together a short film. It’s not my film at all – it’s much more down to the talent of the other people involved that it’s as good as it is. The story concept was my idea, but the final script has been co-written by myself and Richard Perryman. It’s our script, not mine. In fact the whole film is very collaboprative – a lot of the comedy and the details in the dialogued teasers are from our director Darren and our DOP Huw. They took it by the scruff of the neck and stamped their personality on it. I love that.

So, Richard and I wrote it and I got the team together in partnership with our Executive
Producer Suzie. Suzie is responsible for encouraging me to make the film and has been part of the film from the very first moment the story popped into my head. But Gareth Gatrell our stills and behind-the-scenes guy found our Director for us! He recommended Darren after seeing the script and said he’d be perfect. He was right. One of the film’s strongest elements is the chemistry between the team. We’re like family when we work together.
You produce, write and act. What do you think of the new triple threats? Is it possible to just do one thing now?

Again, I feel very much under-qualified to comment as this is my first film and it’s not even finished yet! Acting is my first love – I come alive when I’m acting. It’s in my blood, I simply can’t imagine not doing it. I think my stories stem from the same emotional heartbeat. The production side – well, that’s pretty chaotic. Just ask any of the other Three Days team!
As far as being a triple threat – if this is the only story I ever tell that will be fine. I’d rather tell one well than a hundred badly. But I think as an actor it’s important to seek out opportunities and if you can’t find them then create them. This may well mean stepping outside of your perceived skillset and trying something new. This part was never going to come to me. I had to bring Sophie to life. No one else was writing her. And if they had I certainly wouldn’t have got to play her!

But know your limitations – surround yourself with people who are far more talented than you – people who have skills you don’t have. Use them, let them work their magic. Watch and learn from them. Having someone with amazing gifts bring them to your film is an incredible thing.

What kind of stories do you like telling?

The ones that gnaw at my heart. If they don’t stop me sleeping at night until they’re told then they’re not worth bothering with.

What made you get into the film industry?

It started with acting. I’m obsessed with acting. Completely obsessed. I have no training and was told I’d never make it. But it was chewing away at me and wouldn’t go away. So I just had to make it happen. The day I was directed by Sean Durkin on the set of Southcliffe in a dialogued scene with three named TV actors (one of whom I’d had a crush on as a teenager!) was a real moment of personal triumph. And now it’s the same with the film process generally. It beguiles me – it’s like a lover. It makes my heart skip a beat. If I’m not on set orfiddling with a script I spend my time pining to be with it again.

What do you think of the British Film industry?

Jury’s out ;) I need more time to make friends with it. I would love to see cinema rejuvenated and less films with unnecessarily massive budgets when there are filmmakers trying to get amazing projects off the ground with absolutely no funding. It’s hard. There’s a lot of untapped talent out there. And not just in the younger age bracket. Think beyond that – there are some of us who only find our feet after we’ve paddled around in the wrong puddle for a while.

Do you think it is more of a democracy now?

No, probably not.

How do people make a living in the industry?

People make a living?! I have absolutely no idea. As an actor I earn my money doing commercials and fairly undemanding stuff. The good stuff, the stuff that grows me. That all costs money – it never pays. This is a contentious issue for many very, very good reasons. Personally, I’d rather work unpaid on one fabulous project which grows me as an actor and brings joy than work for £20 a day on some awful film that means nothing and doesn’t develop me in any way. But then I do need the commercials to pay the bills!

How do people make it in the industry?

It depends how you define “make it”. We all know there are lots of people out there working regularly and you just throw your hands up and say “Why?!”

If you want to keep going, to survive, to be able to continue to chase your dream it has to come from restless passion. The need to create, the need to be with other people who create. To produce work of integrity it can’t be for the pursuit of fame (hideous) or the love of money (fat chance). And it’s too painful a process for it to be something you could actually walk away from. If you feel you can walk away from the film industry I would recommend you do. You have to be addicted to it. Or at least, that’s how it seems to me.

Favourite film

Before Sunrise

Favourite actors/directors

Tilda Swinton. Anthony Perkins (huge crush since seeing Psycho). Kate Winslet. Emma Thompson.

I’m rubbish with directors – I’ll be like “Oh I remember – I REALLY like them” later on!
What and who inspires you?

People who are unselfish to work with. People who draw you in and draw you out and help you produce your best work. People who laugh and cry and are honest. People with passion.
I absolutely love the Three Days team because I see those qualities in all the people involved. I love that our director Darren stepped out of his comfort zone to direct his first romantic film. He does it brilliantly. I love that Richard was so open to co-writing with me. Taking risks coupled with passion – now that’s a journey waiting to happen!

What’s next?

Fundraising to be able to complete the Three Days shoot. We have an ongoing crowdfund on our website. This is really key! Then the shoot, then festival entry.

And then, well – there’s more story developing in my head, but I think I need to get the short finished first! I certainly hope it won’t be the last time we all work together. Let’s just put it like that.

And probably a commercial.

 

Jason Croot

Tell us about your films.

I have made 5 feature films, all improvised, only one has been released: Le Fear, a horror comedy film which I made a sequel to named Le Fear 2: Le Sequel. This film has become my main focus because I believe it is my strongest film yet, It has a lot going for it comedy, horror, sci- fi, spoof and a very good cast. My other 3 films are all joint productions and I will tackle then one at a time then hopefully move on to my new stuff.

You direct, write and act. What do you think of the new triple threats? Is it possible to just do one thing now?

There are many talented people out there. A lot of undiscovered actors, but lets face it; as an actor having small parts on TV and feature films or lead roles on low budget feature films won’t make you an household name, only constant big roles in big budgets will do that, the same is said with writing and directing but it’s a long journey. As long as you are creating something you never know.

I believe where people fail is by not continuing to create. If you are a good actor then find some work even if it’s not a lead role in Hollywood, then you are still doing, with writing you can always do this generally with solitude and directing you can always create stuff whilst waiting for your next gig. If you believe you’ve got talent use, it don’t waste it. In a nutshell: some well known actors can carve out a career in one field and the same is said with writing and directing. Some do all plus more like Vincent Gallo, a very talented dude and there are many more like him really doing it such as Larry David and hats off to the elite 1% for the 99% the rest of us we must keep on batting and creating in the hope that one day it all clicks. If it doesn’t, so what? What would you prefer to do? Work in an office or act, write and direct? You know where I’ll be!

What kind of stories do you like telling?

I’m not really a great screen writer but believe my strengths lay in creating plots and scenes without words since all my films are improvised but that’s not the only reason I love improv, I don’t believe you can create the same magic from the script that you can from improvisation, I like to tell stories about filmmaking and the film industry like my films Le Fear 1,2 and Roberto. I know this is not the best genre to get known but I love doing it and some people like it so it’s not a lost cause

What made you get into the film industry?

My love of acting I guess, filmmaking came many years afterwards
What do you think of the British Film industry?

There is some very talented folk out there but very few can make a good living in Britain. It’s really tough but it’s not the toughest place in the world and there are a lot of people supporting others and that’s really cool. Why not? We are all trying to climb that mountain but won’t get there alone, I don’t want to get into politics but no government will really spend money in the film industry nor will they support young people trying to break into it, so it is down to people with experience to give these new guys support and guidance

Do you think it is more of a democracy now?

I believe in the past 15 years there are many more actors, writers and directors out there and everyone can make a career out of what they are doing but this won’t happen over night and there is no guarantee it will happen at all, but I believe there is less snobbery now and with the indie films becoming evermore closer to the big budget ones filmmakers can make a greater impact i.e getting there films on the same platforms, for example: Netflix, Amazon and iTunes etc. So yes, I would say it is much more democratic these days.

How do people make a living in the industry?

In England as an actor, unless you’re a regular on a soap, you may struggle but it’s possible generally people have daytime jobs and go to castings and hopefully land a few roles. The casting directors I meet are all really nice folk and want you to do well but it is difficult. You have to zone in on yourself and spend 5 hours or more a day 365 days trying to find work and have a agent batting for you as well.

How to people make it in the industry?

A lot of hard work, time, effort and energy. There are still no guarantees, but I guess it’s an individuals take on making it that can be anything, if you’d have asked me 10 years ago that I’d have acted and directed in over 100 productions I’d have said from were I was with one acting diploma and one VHS copy of a short film and not knowing anyone in London at the time: I’ve made it, but the next 10 years have to be greater so I guess, keep pushing ,never give in and keep smiling through thick and thin. Most importantly, respect rejection. the minute you make it your enemy is the minute you fail.

Favourite film

Too many to list but if I was to pick one it would be the classic French Film within a film Day For Night
Favourite actors/directors

I have a few but really rate Larry Charles and Jim Jarmusch

What and who inspires you?

Watching a great film inspires me. alongside stories I read of actors who struggled like De Niro, Pacino and Nicholson. Three of the greatest film actors all really battled to get there.

What’s next?

I’ve been under the weather for a while but hopefully on the mend now, so on the filmmaking sides of things, once my films are out of post production I have 3 more films I want to make: Le Fear 3 is one and the other 2 are top secret for now, I’m always open to direct other peoples films too, on the acting front I have 3 films by Lorenzo Raveggi filming on location in Italy, I’m looking forward to acting in and I have a few other films in the pipeline but nothing set in stone. Once again, I’m always open to offers so I’ll keep batting away and hopefully create some good cinema this year.

What do you think?

 

How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur is out now.

Follow Catherine Balavage on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Balavage

 

 

Editor Catherine Balavage’s Radio Interview With Orla Barry

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Frost editor Catherine Balavage was interviewed on The Green Room with Orla Barry. Catherine was talking about her new book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. The interview is below and has lots of great acting advice. Have a listen and let us know what you think.

 

 

Are you an actor? If you have any acting questions then comment below and Catherine will answer them.

 

How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur is out now and available here.

 

 

Darren Errol Clarke Obituary

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Frost Magazine was in shock when our writer and friend Darren Errol Clarke died on Friday, 15 August. Darren was only 45 and always very fit and healthy. Unfortunately, Darren had a stroke and later died of complications. 

Darren Errol Clarke

Darren was one of the most wonderful people you could ever meet. Charismatic, smart, gentle, kind: he was all the best of humanity in one big loveable giant of a man. His death has been widely felt not just at Frost, but also in the acting community, the RAF where  he was an aircraft engineering technician and in the Judo community. An outpouring of grief was all over social media after he died and many are still in shock. Darren was an outstanding individual. His intelligence was on another level and he was an actor who had been in many popular TV shows and films. I asked some of his friends to send their memories along. Here they are:

 

Nina Meecham:

I met Darren about 12 years ago, he was amazing, truthful and the best guy a woman could ask for. As time flew past our relationship, though long distance. moved away but having him as a best friend was amazing. Our love for each other was strong and he always talked me out of the blue days. I still can’t get my head around not hearing your voice seeing your smile, never talking to you again. I found a white feather on my floor today out of nowhere could this have came from… so i believe it was from you… showing me your ok and you’re still around me … thank you for loving me . I will miss you always x

 
Darren Errol Clarke

Colin David Reese: 

I first met Darren at an evening organised by our common agent – Miles whom I have known for many years. As I don’t live in the UK and had come over partly for this social evening, I knew nobody else in the room. Feeling a bit shy and awkward as everybody knew everybody else, I was somewhat left out. Darren came over to me and introduced himself. Nobody else had. We had, in fact, exchanged a couple of banters on FB and so there was a previous contact. Darren then took me round the room and introduced me to many people – which Miles was rather too occupied to be able to do. Our friendship was born at that moment as he broke the ice for me. Since then we became constant friends on FB and nearly every time I was in London we would meet over a pint …

 

These lovely memories came from Amanda Caffry-Hughes:

 

Darren was just 19 years old, serving in the RAF (at Locking, Weston Super Mare), when we first met at a nightclub. He was that confident, cool, well dressed guy who was breaking some moves on the dance floor: Grabbing the limelight – as his presence always did!

 

Just a short time spent in his company, I soon discovered what an amazing individual he was.  We hit it off immediately and within weeks became very close. Smart, good hearted, a gentle man, Daz was always compassionate, kind and considerate to others. My parents adored him! We didn’t always share the same opinion or see eye to eye – Daz could be stubborn at times, but was always very forgiving of my indifference and ignorance (!)

 

With time we went our separate ways but we never lost touch and stayed in regular contact, communicating most weeks. Throughout the last 26 years, we’ve shared personal tragedies – as well as our successes.  Always there for me, Darren was the most generous, loyal, trustworthy, honourable friend whom I miss today and will miss forever.  Losing one of my best friends is pain beyond belief but I know I was blessed to have known Darren’s love and friendship.

 

I’ve cried a thousand tears over the last few weeks…I know I’ll cry thousands more over Darren in the future: But today I’ve cried tears of laughter as I reminisce about the times we spent together. Always special times, we had so much fun: So many laughs – like the time Daz persuaded me to buy a state of the art car stereo system with the promise that he’d install it.. “Trust me Mand? I’m an aircraft technician: I work on Harrier Jump Jets all the time” he said, “It will …be a doddle and the sound will be quality!” Well he was right on that one. Driving to our chosen nightclub that night we certainly had fine tunes booming out at a million decibels BUT what Daz had failed to check was when the stereo was turned ON, the headlights turned to high beam AND the hazard lights flashed constantly! We had our very own mobile disco down the M5! How we made the entire journey from Chard to Exeter (and back) without being pulled over by the cops is beyond me! Well Darren returned to RAF Bruggen without fixing the fault (!) and I spent the following month driving at night in silence. Maybe that was his intention because my thoughts always turned to him… as they do now. Bless you Darling. Xxxx

 

That beautiful smile is etched on my memory forever. (Along with the sulky expression with the puppy dog eyes and bottom lip: Melted my heart and made me smile and laugh every time!) Gonna miss my dear friend but weren’t we the lucky ones to have known such a beautiful soul. Forever in my heart. R.I.P darling Daz.

 

I can see Darren now….Sunday morning in front of the hall mirror, plucking white cat fur from his afro!  My fluffy persian “Gizmo” so loved to sleep on Darren’s pillow! I remember one evening at our favourite night club – the strobe and ultraviolet lights lit up the white fur around Darren’s head like an angel’s halo. I did laugh.  Daz didn’t.  He didn’t call my cat by his name “Gizmo” ever again!

 

Darren Errol Clarke 29 April 1969 – 15 August 2014. Rest in Peace.

 

Darren’s articles on Frost are below.

 

Zen Sai review

Dr David R Hamilton… Self Love at BAFTA

Female Superheroes… Why has Hollywood gotten it wrong?

Online gambling, its rise and fall.

Diabetes… It’s Not Too Late To Take Control

MH 370… A Conspiracy?

Patricia Byrne Dies Aged 80

Stephanie Kwolek: A Biography

Matsuri dining experience.

Racism… What exactly is it?

Ageing isn’t just skin deep – Muscular Ageing

In love With Death in a “Secret Garden”

Frost meets Paddy Power and Professor Hawking: How England can win the world cup

The Moratorium: Homeless Veterans

Back Pain: How Low Can You Go?

Fire In Babylon: Facing Devon Malcolm

 

 

 

American Actors Can Get How To Be a Successful Actor For $1.99: One More Day Only

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acting, acting advice, how to be an actor, how to be a successful actor, hollywood, castings, auditions, casting directors.American Actors Can Get How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur For $1.99: One More Day Only

Fresh from a Kindle Countdown Deal for British actors which was very successful, now American actors can get my book for only $1.99 for a limited time only. How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur has been getting rave reviews in America and it has already been selling stateside.

This is what American actor Tom Shafer had to say about my book: “An excellent guide for the entertainment professional

I found this book to be an excellent companion to Bonnie Gillespie’s ‘Self-Management for Actors’, which I am also currently reading. The first half of Catherine’s book does a excellent job of distilling a seminar’s-worth of material into a manageable bit. The second half, the interviews, felt more conversational. What was clear, the recommendations made in the first half came, in part, from these interviews. This is an excellent technique, since it reinforces the validity of the recommendations as having come from entertainment professionals who have achieved a perceived level of success. (I like that the definition of “success” was open for discussion, since it can mean different things to different people.)

As an American reading this book, I did find some UK-centric resources and references. But, in this era of global Internet access, I found just as many that were valid for US readers. I was able to take this in stride and see this as a valuable tool in my self-management as a working actor.

Thanks, Catherine, for writing this excellent guide.”

 

What are you waiting for? Get your copy now.

 

 

How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur Only £1.99 For One More Day

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acting, acting advice, how to be an actor, how to be a successful actor, hollywood, castings, auditions, casting directors.How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur has been included in Amazon’s Kindle Countdown Deals and for one more day is only £1.99. How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur, written by Frost Magazine’s editor Catherine Balavage, has received a number of good reviews including three five-star reviews on Amazon UK and another brilliant four-star review on Amazon US, even though it has only been out for two months. The below review is from acclaimed author Margaret Graham:

A triumph for Balavage, and a necessary tool for anyone considering an acting career. By Margaret Graham

Balavage has written a well balanced exploration of how to succeed as an actor. I am an author, not an actor, but having read How to be a Successful Actor, I feel the two precessions are closely allied. Balavage clarifies the positives and negatives of the profession, and then proceeds to walk us through the ups and downs, giving anyone interested in becoming an actor the tools to maximise their chances.

The basic ingredients, it seems to me, are to utilise common sense and good manners. After all, you will be meeting the the same people on the way up, and then, when times are hard, to be nice out there..

But more than that, we are led by the hand through the nitty gritty of whether to train, or not to train, the virtues of hard work in the face of lack of progress, the need to be glad of any chance to gain experience, and exposure. She explains the need to acquire the necessary skills through classes, and the value of networking.

As I also advise my writing students, Balavage advises actors to watch and analyse their craft, on stage, radio and screen. She emphasises the need for actors to BE their characters, to acquire accents, to keep fit. She moves on to marketing, to the virtues of mobile phones and the internet for spreading the word about YOU,

There is humour: remember to avoid the stunt co-ordinator’s elbows, there are detailed tips: what to do if your mouth dries up (read the book and find out) , there are a forest of useful addresses.

No wonder it took Balavage 4 years to write this book, because she includes a plethora of interviews with experts in the field. What comes across is that Catherine Balavage considers an acting career to be a project, one that needs to have: a firm foundation, on-going development, marketing skills, research, realistic self-belief, and a hell of a lot of luck. This book needed to be written. It was Catherine Balavage with her clear sighted view of the profession who needed to write it. Bravo!

This one is from actor and casting associate Clea Myers:

Fantastic & Essential Guide By Ms. C. Myers

This really is an excellent guide book into the terribly difficult, but potentially rewarding life of an actor. Balavage tackles the often ignored questions that surround the inexperienced and/or young person who wonders what the best road to take is? She starts with the basics that encompass questions about whether to train at drama school (and thereby find the money to do so), or go another route by getting involved with fringe theatre and/or film school films. Throughout she weighs up the pros and cons in a highly informative and intelligent manner that are also highly credible as she is writing from first-hand experience. Her own entrepreneurship into film-making is included and offers fantastic tips and empowerment, to what is often a dis-empowering profession. She also demystifies the perceived ‘glamour’ of working as an actor and says it how it is. A good wake-up call for those out there that crave instant fame!

Her approach is wholly professional and fundamentally knowledgeable: she interviews working actors, alongside well-known casting directors who give an insider-view into what is required to get ‘ a foot in the door’. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming an actor.

Crime writer Penny Deacon called it the ‘Best advice available’ in her review and American actor Tom Shafer gave it a wonderful review and said it was a great companion piece to Bonnie Gillespie’s acting bible, Self Management For Actors in his review below.

An excellent guide for the entertainment professional By Thomas Shafer

I found this book to be an excellent companion to Bonnie Gillespie’s ‘Self-Management for Actors’, which I am also currently reading. The first half of Catherine’s book does a excellent job of distilling a seminar’s-worth of material into a manageable bit. The second half, the interviews, felt more conversational. What was clear, the recommendations made in the first half came, in part, from these interviews. This is an excellent technique, since it reinforces the validity of the recommendations as having come from entertainment professionals who have achieved a perceived level of success. (I like that the definition of “success” was open for discussion, since it can mean different things to different people.)

As an American reading this book, I did find some UK-centric resources and references. But, in this era of global Internet access, I found just as many that were valid for US readers. I was able to take this in stride and see this as a valuable tool in my self-management as a working actor.

Thanks, Catherine, for writing this excellent guide.

What are you waiting for? We are not biased, it is an excellent guide and an essential for any actor.

How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur is available here.

 

 

How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur Book Review

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The daughter of a friend of mine is in her second year at drama school. She’s good: can sing, can dance, can act – particularly in comedy. So, she has it all? Trouble is, so do so many of the rest of her year group. And so do all of those other aspiring actors in all those drama schools across the country. She’s beginning to ask how she can show she’s different, that she deserves to be remembered from one audition to the next. How she can avoid annoying someone whose off hand influence can close as well as open doors for her?

howtobeasuccessful_actor_book become How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an ActorpreneurI’m going to give her a copy of this book. It may be the single most useful thing I ever do for her. How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur by Catherine Balavage is one of those practical, down-to-earth guides which doesn’t try to hide the obstacles and difficulties of choosing an actor’s life but does give solid and sensible, practical, advice on making the best impression and avoiding the worst pitfalls. Equally valuably, Balavage makes suggestions for networking, for working with others to help each other through teamwork (e.g. helping film each other’s showreels), working for nothing except getting your name out there, remembering names, and never, never, never forgetting to say thank you – even when you don’t land the part. She is upfront about the chances of success in acting: ‘Only act if you cannot do anything else. It is the hardest and most competitive industry you can go into. Your chances of success at making a full-time living for the rest of your life are small.’ And then she offers clear and straightforward, practical advice about how to shift the odds just slightly in your favour.

 

This book seems, at first glance, rather plain, with no images and most chapters simply divided into paragraphs with explanatory headings, or questions followed by responses. I like this format. It’s no-frills and underlines the fact that this is a handbook. A ready reference tool which will be highlighted and annotated by anyone who uses it regularly. The pages of useful contacts and Top Tips are invaluable. I also liked the interviews with others in the profession: the replies to questions overlap with each other in ways which reinforce what Balavage has already said. This reinforces my conviction that this author really is writing from experience and passing on advice distilled from her own hard work. Which I really hope my young friend will take.

 

[Editorial note: Catherine Balavage is an editor of this magazine]

 

Five Mistakes Actors Make That Stop Them Getting Work

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Getting work as an actor is hard. With long periods of unemployment and vast competition. This was the main reason I wrote my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming An Actorpreneur. The odds are not good but you can tip them in your favour. You can make your own work, work on your skills, get your name out there. They say success is opportunity meets preparation. So here are my top five tips to make sure you are prepared and stop making the mistakes that stop you having the best career you can. Here are five mistakes actors make in their career that stop them being successful.

 

howtobeasuccessful_actor_book become How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur

Arrogance

Far too many actors are arrogant. Especially just after they have left drama school. Thinking you are the best actor that ever walked the earth is not going to convince anyone else to hire you. No one likes arrogance. Always under-promise and over-deliver. Be humble and modest. The traits that make a good human being also make a good actor.

 

Marketing Yourself Wrong

Yes, you are an artist but you are also a product. You have to brand yourself correctly so people know what you are ‘selling’. If you are Irish and want to market yourself as an Irish actor you must be prepared for only getting Irish roles. People will try to put you into a box but you can do yourself a favour by making yourself versatile. If you don’t want to be known as a certain type of actor, (like Australian, Irish, etc) don’t market yourself that way. Play up to your strengths and downplay what will limit you getting mainstream work.

You must also update your head shots, CV and showreel at least yearly. Don’t forget to update the various online acting sites you may be on every time you get a job.

 

Not Continuously Working On Your Skills

Actors can go months, and even years without working. If you do not work on your skills when unemployed not only will you be rusty when it comes to audition and getting work, but you will also not be as confident. Your CV will also be lacking. You are a business, invest in yourself. Even if it is getting a camera and making some short films with friends.

 

Thinking The World Owes You a Living

You are not special. You do not deserve to be a super-successful world famous actor. The world does not owe you anything. A sense of entitlement is not going to do you any favours. This was the main piece of advice American casting director Daryl Eisenberg gave me for my book on becoming a successful actor. Don’t think you are better than anyone else.

 

Being a Jerk

No one wants to work with horrible people. The film industry is tiny, as is the theatre and TV industry. If you are rude, horrible and difficult to work with then you will have a pretty short career. Be nice. Manners cost nothing.

 

Catherine Balavage is an actor and writer with over ten years of experience in the industry. Her book, How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur, came out in June this year. She also co-directed and wrote her own feature-length film, Prose & Cons, which will be out later this year.