Tag Archives: How To Be a Successful Actor

Stupid Things People Write In Acting Casting Breakdowns

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Stupid Things People Write In Acting Casting Breakdowns, acting, auditions, castings, acting advice, acting book, casting breakdowns Ah, casting breakdowns, audition notices. Whatever you want to call them, they sure can frustrate. An actor will generally spend more time applying for acting roles than acting or even attending auditions. Acting is a game of numbers and applying to casting calls can be soul destroying indeed. Especially when they include any of the criteria below. Luckily I can find the humour in it. Like my dad says, ‘If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.’

 

Must be able to convey emotion. Jeez, that will be hard, it’s not that actors are trained in conveying emotion or anything.

We want real people, not actors. Really? Then why advertise on an ACTING JOB SITE. Idiot.

Nudity is required. All of the time but generally only for women.

Payment for lead actor only. Great, everyone else can just live on fresh air and pay their rent with fairy dust. That’ll work.

Female wanted. Character name: “The Girl”. Because in real life women are not known by their names, only by their gender. Oh, and they are ‘girl’ no matter how old they are apparently. Which is fine, because most of the people behind these castings want an 18-year-old. I wrote an article on this problem in the acting industry here.

Must be able to act. Really?

For women: Must be slim. Because a persons body mass impacts directly on their acting talent apparently.

For women: Must have long hair: Read: must be fuckable. So many castings just suit a stereotypical male ideal of female beauty. It is so sad

No acting experience needed. Because why hire actual actors when you can just hire someone off the street? It is not like we are trained professionals or anything.

 

These came just off the top of my head. I will continue to write about silly things in casting breakdowns in the hope that they improve somehow. Please add your own casting breakdown fails below or email them to frost magazine@gmail.com and I will include them in the next post. Let’s try and change the industry, even if we have to use tiny baby steps.

 

If you are an actor then check out my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is available in print and in all eBook formats on both Smashwords and Amazon. 

 

 

 

 

Russell Crowe: Female Actors Should Act Their Age. Meryl Streep Responds

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There has been some uproar after Russell Crowe said that female actors should act their age. Meryl Streep came out in support of him and The Guardian did a great quiz on actors and playing age.

Russell said in an interview with the Australian Women’s Weekly: “To be honest, I think you’ll find that the woman who is saying that [the roles have dried up] is the woman who at 40, 45, 48, still wants to play the ingenue, and can’t understand why she’s not being cast as the 21-year-old, Meryl Streep will give you 10,000 examples and arguments as to why that’s bullshit, so will Helen Mirren, or whoever it happens to be. If you are willing to live in your own skin, you can work as an actor. If you are trying to pretend that you’re still the young buck when you’re my age, it just doesn’t work. I have heard of an actress, part of her fee negotiation was getting the number of children she was supposed to have lessened. Can you believe this? This (character) was a woman with four children, and there were reasons why she had to have four children – mainly, she lived in a cold climate and there was nothing to do but fornicate all day – so quit arguing, just play the role!”

Russell_Crowe female actors should act their age

Unfortunately that is not right at all. While some women will not want to play older, I have met a few, the roles for women are usually terrible when under 40: girlfriend, stripper, ‘the girl‘, a whore or merely window-dressing. When a women is over 40 the roles do not realistically reflect women’s lives. We are usually the mother, grandmother, crone or witch.

Jezebel blogger Rebecca Rose had this to say: “ALERT: Hollywood movie actor person Russell Crowe is fed up with all the old ladies who dare to want to be cast as something other than old spinsters or whatnot. Quit complaining that you’re cast in a role where your character has ‘nothing to do but fornicate all day’ and make a bunch of babies. Stop demanding that film-makers try to expand the depth of your character beyond ‘broodmare’. Just play the role, OK? Funny how Crowe doesn’t bother to offer any opinion about the mind-boggling legacy of Hollywood men playing romantic leads to women 10, 20, 30, and sometimes 40 (!!!!!) years younger than them,” Rose added. “Because it’s clearly the sad old women daring to pretend they are outside their actual birth ages that are ruining Hollywood … Thanks Crowe for reminding us, yet again, that women are always held in contempt for doing anything remotely similar to what their male counterparts do without reproach.” Very good points. Men do not tend to ‘play their age’ and their on-screen wives are usually significantly younger than them.

 

Amy Gray wrote on Junkee.com,  “The ‘ingenue’ roles Crowe refers to are the only ones readily available for women; on the flip side, the majority of male characters in film and TV are aged between their 30s (27%) and 40s (31%). That could be because we’re more likely to want to watch lead characters based on their fuckability – and the older a woman gets, as any executive will tell you, the less faceable she becomes.” Crowe is 50 and also said “The point is, you do have to be prepared to accept that there are stages in life. So I can’t be the Gladiator forever,”

 

What do you think?

If you are an actor then check out my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is available in print and in all eBook formats on both Smashwords and Amazon. It has had 5 five star reviews. 

 

 

Sienna Miller: ‘Having a Baby Saved My Career’

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SiennaSienna Miller, Outhouse , NecklaceWhile some people say having a child ruins your career Sienna Miller has told the Observer magazine that having a child improved hers. A combination of showing up for meetings with executives underprepared and an affair with married actor Balthazar Getty in 2008, which was reported in the tabloids in excruciating detail, all affected her career.  “Quite chaotic,” is how Miller sums up her 20s. 

Studio decision-makers read papers and care about how actors come across to the public. The article says: ‘The thinking among certain casting agents, Miller once said, is that “People don’t want to see films with people they don’t approve of in them.” She took a break from screen work, performing in plays in London and New York.”

She was the heroine of hackgate and then hooked up with actor Tom Sturridge. In 2012 the couple had a daughter, Marlowe.

“And I think having a baby really changed everything, if I’m honest, I think that’s where it began.” Miller says. “The stakes are higher. You have someone that you want to be proud of you eventually.” And on the other hand she says: “You’re aware of your own mortality. For me, as soon as I had a baby I had a vision of my life – and what was left of it.”

Miller also says that executives and casting directors think differently of her now “I’m sure that factors. People who read the negative things [about me], the people who need persuading, are probably ignorant enough to assume, ‘Well she’s got a kid so she’s serious now.’ Which, of course, isn’t the case. I’m still whoever I was. Maybe more mature, but the same. So amongst that ignorant, ridiculous area of my industry, I’m sure opinions of me have changed because I’m a mother now.”

 

What do you think? Do you agree with Sienna Miller?

 

If you are an actor then check out my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is available in print and in all eBook formats on both Smashwords and Amazon.

 

 

Jon Hamm Interview For Black Mirror Christmas Special

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jonhamm

Black Mirror : White Christmas is on C4 at 9pm on 16th December. 

For a generation of Mad Men fans, actor Jon Hamm will forever be known as Don Draper. But this Christmas, they will see him in a new role – starring in a feature-length special of Charlie Brooker’s gloriously dark comedy drama Black Mirror. Here, Jon reveals his love for both Black Mirror and cricket, and recalls a life when he had just $150 dollars to his name.

 

You’re in the feature-length Black Mirror Christmas special. You must get offered so many roles – what was it about this relatively modest British drama that made you want to do it?

Well, let me disabuse you of the notion that I get offered so many roles. The jobs that are out there are scarce, and as with almost every actor, it can be hard to get good stuff. I had been a fan of Black Mirror, and Charlie Brooker, because I have a strange predilection for offbeat British things, and this was no exception. It came about in this very odd way, with me asking my agent if I could meet Mr Brooker. I didn’t know he was even working on a third series or a Christmas special or anything, it was simply that I really liked his work and really wanted to meet the guy.

 

So how had you encountered Black Mirror before?

Oddly enough, here in the States there is a channel on Direct TV called The Audience Network. They have some original programming and some stuff that they purchase from other sources. And Black Mirror was one of those acquisitions. My friend Bill Hader, of Saturday Night Live fame, told me I had to watch this show. So I watched it, and I thought it was really, really good. And that’s how it all came together. So I got a meeting with Charlie, and about three days later I flew back to LA, and a couple of days after that I got an email from him, and he said he’d really enjoyed our meeting and he had this character who was meant to be English but didn’t necessarily have to be, and why didn’t we have a go at putting me in this thing? And I said “Why not indeed?” It was a totally serendipitous situation. He couldn’t be a nicer guy, for someone who writes such dark stuff, and it’s a project that I thought was so interesting and unlike anything else I’d come across. And I love working over in the UK. It’s something that I’ve done for the last four years in a row, whether it’s been Todd Margaret or Young Doctors’ Notebook. It’s been lovely. I consider myself very fortunate to have been given these opportunities to come over there.

 

What can you tell us about the story?

Very little. Charlie’s written a very specific story that unfolds at its own pace, and you don’t want to spoil anything for anybody. But I think what I can say, for those people that are fans of the show, is that it delivers on the central, dystopian, Twilight-zoney unsettling situation that Black Mirror has delivered in the past. There’s always a deeply unsettling aspect to Black Mirror, and we definitely deliver on that. It’s not a mistake that they were able to get actors like Rafe Spall and Oona Chaplin to be a part of this. They are quite wonderful in this. It’s an excellent way to waste an hour-and-a-half over Christmas and not talk to your family.

 

Did you enjoy the shoot, and working with Oona and Rafe?

I did, I loved it. I didn’t work a tremendous amount with Oona, as will be made clear when people see the show. But I did work with Rafe, and I hung out with Rafe and his wife and had dinner. It was great. I’d only seen him on stage in New York, in Betrayal, with Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig. He was wonderful in it. I got a chance to meet him after the show and say as much, but that was the only time I’d met him. So it was great to get a chance to actually work with him and meet him and his lovely family.

 

Can you tell, when you’re shooting something, how good it’s going to be? If so, what are your expectations for Black Mirror?

You can only hope. There are so many steps between here and there, it’s a situation where you hope something will be good, and if it’s not, you start pointing fingers! You can believe in the material – no-one sets out to make a terrible TV show, and yet we have quite a few of them out there – so everyone sets off with the best of intentions. But sometimes things happen. There are a lot of moving parts to a television show, especially one that’s very ambitious. That’s why I was so blown away when I first watched Black Mirror. I found it so ambitious, it was trying to achieve so much, and it succeeds. When we shot the pilot of Mad Men, I thought “Well, this is a very good pilot. Let’s hope that everybody that gets their hands on it between here and it going on air doesn’t mess it up.” And thankfully they didn’t.

 

Speaking of Mad Men, what are the roles that have meant the most to you over the years? I assume Don Draper looms fairly large in that?

Yeah, that’s the career-defining role for me, as it stands. But I can look back at every part I’ve ever played and think it was meaningful in some way, shape or form. It sounds cheesy, but I think every part that an actor takes has the opportunity to make them a better actor. Don Draper was certainly that for me, because it was about showing up and being prepared and being aware and being good in a lot of aspects. It was a very challenging role. At times it was funny, at times it was heartbreaking, at times it was violent, at times it was pathetic. I got to show a lot of colours. But I can also look at something as silly and as seemingly throwaway as the character in Bridesmaids, whose name I believe was Ted, and it came with its own set of challenges. Working in comedy isn’t exactly in my comfort zone, especially when you work with somebody as ridiculously talented as Kristen Wiig and the director Paul Feig. You’re terrified you won’t be able to pull your own weight. There’s a movie that Jen [Westfeldt , Hamm’s longtime partner and actress and screenwriter] wrote and directed and starred in, Friends with Kids, where you’re playing with people that are outside their comfort zones. It’s all a challenge, and it’s all something that you can look at and ay “I hope I got better because of it.”

 

How has your life changed in the last seven years? [Since the advent of Mad Men].

Oddly, not that much. It’s a strange thing, celebrity and fame and all that nonsense, it can be a millstone around your neck, but only if you let it. It’s only as powerful and as meaningful as you make it in your life. I’ve never really assigned that much meaning to it, so therefore it’s never really affected me. I mean, it’s weird when you’re walking down the street and people stop and point, or try to take your picture surreptitiously in a restaurant, which is never as surreptitious as you think it is. Nobody checks their email with a phone pointed directly at someone else. I appreciate that people appreciate my work, and I hope that it’s because of the work and it’s not because of some other dumb thing that doesn’t mean anything.

 

Do you think the fact that you didn’t become this famous until you were in your mid-30s was in many ways, a good thing?

Yes, is the short answer. I don’t even understand how young people operate today in a world dominated by social media. How do people manage anything? It’s so overwhelming. People wake up in the morning, and the first thing they do is check their Instagram account, their Twitter account, their Facebook account, their Vine account, their Tinder account. You do that, and then I guess you make coffee. I have enough problems managing all of my Words with Friends games. I can’t imagine maintaining this online virtual existence. That’s one of the things Charlie is digging into in this world of Black Mirror – you see what happens when social media goes sideways.

 

Is it true that you moved to LA in 1995 with just $150? What was it like living hand-to-mouth?

Well, it didn’t kill me, so I suppose it made me stronger. It seems apocryphal at this point, but it is in fact true. That’s what I had. Fortunately, I was 25 years old, and your capacity to deal with difficulty is considerably higher. You have a higher tolerance. You don’t mind sleeping on a broken futon, or sharing a house with five other broke idiots. That’s just what you do when you move to a new city to make it as an actor. There’s no version of it where you just jump to the head of the class. It just doesn’t happen. So you pay your dues. And, that isn’t the worst thing in the world. You learn a lot about yourself, and about the business, from paying your dues. And where you go from there is often to do with luck. It’s a massive component of it. I’ve been lucky. And I’ve also put the work in that enabled me to be lucky at the right time.

 

Your first ever role was as Winnie the Pooh in first grade. Where does that rank on your list of performances?

Well, as I said, every role helps you be a better actor!

 

You were able to really ‘become the bear’?

Oh yeah. My mother sewed the costume, which was essentially a really comfortable pair of pyjamas. And I strapped a pillow around my stomach, with a belt, and that was my Winnie the Pooh. Oddly enough, there is some Super-8 recorded footage of this out there in the ether, but I don’t think anyone’s ever going to see it!

 

Is it also true that you are that great rarity, an American who likes cricket?

Yeah. I’m not sure I’m a fully-fledged fan, because I haven’t spent the time on it, but at one point, when I was over shooting A Young Doctor’s Notebook, it was during the Ashes. And this somehow became really exciting to me. We’d finish shooting pretty early, because Dan [Daniel Radcliffe] was doing The Cripple of Inishmaan on stage in the West End. So we’d wrap by 5:30pm, and I’d go home and watch the highlights, which is, I found, an excellent way to watch cricket. So I really got into it. And England were playing very well, I think they trounced Australia. And then I went off and did Million Dollar Arm, and was in India when the IPL was happening, and every night there was cricket on TV in primetime. It was very easily digestible, the two-hour version, and fast-paced and very exciting. Watching it in India, where people are mad for cricket, was great fun as well. You’d go to the bar, and people would just be losing their minds.

 

The Black Mirror Christmas special, ‘White Christmas’, starring Jon Hamm, Rafe Spall and Oona Chaplin airs on Channel 4 on 16th December at 9pm. 

If you are an actor then check out my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is available in print and in all eBook formats on both Smashwords and Amazon.

 

 

Christmas Gift List For Book Lovers

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Who doesn’t love a good book? Not many people and why the hell would you be friends with anyone who didn’t? Good question. Here are our picks.

christmasgiftsforbooklover

The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Guillebeau

This book is perfect not only because it is a great idea brilliantly executed, but also because after Christmas comes New Year and we all need a little bit of help and motivation then. Written by Chris Guillebeau, the New York Times bestselling author of $100 Startup. The book helps you to find purpose in work and life by committing to a life-changing quest.

Chris himself has undertaken a successful quest of his own, having visited nearly every country in the world by age 35. The Happiness of Pursuit offers inspirational and practical advice to help you bridge the gap between ‘impossible dream’ and ‘everyday reality’. But a quest doesn’t need to involve travel at all; what’s needed is commitment and progressive accomplishment, losing oneself in a task – whether it be a physical journey, an artistic enterprise or a philanthropic feat. Chris has surveyed thousands who’ve undertaken such pursuits, (from going on 50 dates in all 50 states, becoming fluent in five languages, to cooking a meal from every country in the world), and has recorded 50 case studies in his new book. Excellent stuff.

The Happiness of Pursuit: Find the Quest that will Bring Purpose to Your Life

 

Dark Witch By Nora Roberts

Book one of the cousins of O’Dwyer trilogy. Bestselling writer Nora Roberts sold 1.2 million copies in 2013 alone. Very impressive. The author of over 200 novels and the third bestselling author of the 21st century, you can’t go wrong with a Nora Roberts book.

Iona Sheehan has always felt a powerful connection to Ireland. So when her beloved grandmother confesses an extraordinary family secret, she can’t resist visiting County Mayo to discover the truth for herself. Arriving at the atmospheric Castle Ashford, Iona is excited to meet her enigmatic cousins, Connor and Branna O’Dwyer. And when she lands a job at the local riding school she is soon drawn to its owner – the charismatic, fiercely independent Boyle McGrath. Perhaps she has found her true home at last…

But Iona’s arrival is no accident. The three cousins have each inherited a dangerous gift from an ancestor known as the Dark Witch. And they are about to discover that some old legends can return to haunt the present.

Dark Witch (The Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy Book 1)

 

Circle of Blood. A Witch Hunt Novel by Debbie Viguié

Grippin, intellectual and scary. Buffy The Vampire Slayer meets Charmed. Perfect for lovers of horror or thrillers.

Samantha Ryan—cop by choice, witch hunter by necessity—is about to confront the witch who has been secretly manipulating her life. But her search for the truth about her past may end in her death.…

All her life, Samantha Ryan has been haunted by a circle of blood, which she has tried to keep at bay—ever since she escaped a vicious Salem coven of witches as a child. But now her carefully constructed life has given way to the darkness she might have embraced, had she not run away.

Angry, focused, and more than willing to use her powers on anyone who gets in her way, Samantha travels to New Orleans to confront Lilit.

Circle of Blood: A Witch Hunt Novel (Witch Hunt Trilogy 3)

 

A Nightingale Christmas Wish By Donna Douglas

More from the bestselling Nightingale series. This time to put you in the festive spirit. Perfect for Call The Midwife fans.

As Christmas 1938 approaches, the staff at the Nightingale Hospital have their own wishes for the festive season.

Ward sister Frannie Wallace is hoping she won’t have to live through another war like the one that claimed her beloved fiance. But with bomb defences going up all around London, it seems as if her hopes are in vain.

Staff Nurse Helen Dawson wants to find happiness again after the death of her husband Charlie. A handsome stranger seems to offer the chance she wants. But is she looking for love in the wrong place?

Matron Kathleen Fox struggles to keep up morale amongst her nurses as the hospital faces the threat of evacuation. But while everyone else worries about the future of the Nightingale, it’s for her own future that Kathleen truly fears.

As the country prepares itself for war, one thing is for sure – by the time next Christmas comes, nothing at the Nightingale Hospital will be the same again…

A Nightingale Christmas Wish

 

Cat Out of Hell by Lynne Truss

Funny, entertaining and addictive. From the author of the brilliant Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

The mesmerising tale of a cat with nine lives, and a relationship as ancient as time itself and just as powerful.

The scene: a cottage on the coast on a windy evening. Inside, a room with curtains drawn. Tea has just been made. A kettle still steams.

Under a pool of yellow light, two figures face each other across a kitchen table. A man and a cat.

The story about to be related is so unusual yet so terrifyingly plausible that it demands to be told in a single sitting.

The man clears his throat, and leans forward, expectant.

‘Shall we begin?’ says the cat …

Cat out of Hell 

 

The Wolves of Midwinter By Anne Rice

Anne Rice is the bestselling author of The Vampire Chronicles. She has written over 30 best-selling books. This is a splendid and creepy read. A great present that will give hours of pleasure.

It is the beginning of December and it is cold and grey outside. In the stately flickering hearths of the grand mansion of Nideck Point, oak fires are burning. The Morphenkinder are busy getting ready for the ancient pagan feast of midwinter. Everyone is invited, including some of their own who do not wish them well…

Reuben Golding, the newest of the Morphenkinder, is struggling with his new existence as a Man Wolf, struggling to learn to control his desires and bloodthirsty urges. His pure, luminous girlfriend Laura seems all set to join him in this new way of life, but Reuben is not at all certain he will love her if she becomes as he is. Beyond the mansion, the forest echoes with howling winds, which carry with them tales of a strange nether world, and of spirits – centuries old – who possess their own fantastical ancient histories and taunt with their dark, magical powers.

As preparations for the feast gather pace, destiny continues to hound Reuben, not least in the form of a strange, tormented ghost who appears at the window, unable to speak. But he is not alone: before the festivities are over, choices must be made – choices which will decide the fate of the Morphenkinder for ever.

The Wolves of Midwinter (The Wolf Gift Chronicles)

 

Easterleigh Hall by Margaret Graham

easterleigh hall book review

An excellent book from best-selling author Margaret Graham. Reviewed here. Two more are on their way. Even more fun than Downton Abbey.

A compelling new series set in County Durham just before the First World War. Perfect for fans of Longbourn and Downton Abbey.

When Evie Forbes starts as an assistant cook at Easterleigh Hall, she goes against her family’s wishes. For ruthless Lord Brampton also owns the mine where Evie’s father and brothers work and there is animosity between the two families.

But Evie is determined to better herself. And her training at the hall offers her a way out of a life below stairs.

Evie works hard and gains a valued place in the household. And her dream of running a small hotel grows ever closer.

Then War is declared and all their lives are thrown into turmoil.

Easterleigh Hall

 

Last but not least:

How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur

How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur By Catherine Balavage

Our editors book is perfect for all of the actors or budding actors in your family. It has had good reviews and is selling well on both sides of the pond. We’re not being biased. Honest.

A book that cuts to the truth of the acting industry- written from an outsider’s point of view. Catherine Balavage grew up in a small Scottish town without either the proper training, or industry contacts prior to her career. The book includes advice from casting directors Amy Hubbard and Richard Evans, actor Andrew Tiernan and an exclusive interview with Spotlight amongst interviews with countless other industry professionals. It is an essential for anyone who wants to be an actor.

How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur

 

What will you choose?

 

 

Olivia Colman Calls For More Diversity In The Film Industry

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Olivia ColmanThe amazing British actress Olivia Colman has said that diversity is not just about race and that there must be more opportunities for all in the film and TV industries. Colman told her views as she was appointed as a judge for the TriForce Short Film Festival. She said that it was important that a wide range of people had a chance to tell their stories.

Colman said: “This is not just about race, it’s about diversity in all its forms. TV and films are fundamentally about storytelling and it is important that as many voices as possible have the opportunity to tell their stories.”

The TriForce Short Film Festival will be held at BAFTA on November 22nd. TriForce is a networking firm which has been set up to raise diversity in the industry. Colman said it has been working for years to improve opportunities for people from “truly diverse” backgrounds. Which can only be a good thing. We see the same people over and over again on the TV.  We should also hear more different accents. I have been told many times to pretend I am not Scottish to help my career. I understand changing my accent for a role but denying I am who I am? It is just not right. So lets hope for more people from all walks of life.

What do you think?

 

If you are an actor then check out my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is available in print and in all eBook formats on both Smashwords and Amazon.

 

 

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.

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