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Top reasons to take our actor workshops

You may have noticed that we’ve expanded our “training” style actor workshops over the past months. We have a few reasons why and we thought we’d share.

First of all, The Actors Company was originally started in L.A., and if there’s one thing in that they know in L.A., it’s that an actor never stops training. We don’t just go to drama school or take a few classes, then, that’s it, we’re perfect actors. Acting is called a craft for a reason- it’s something that requires skill, takes ongoing practice, can be built upon, and is a lifelong journey. So we’re offering workshops that aim to increase your skills, make you more cast-able and will help you to be more well-rounded as an actor (or writer or director or overall human). In other words, we’re going back to our roots! 

Anytime I’ve felt stuck, I just go take a class. I was still in class when I was doing “Gilmore Girls.” You have to go looking for growth and guidance, because the more you work, the less anybody tells you anything. ” – Lauren Graham, actor

It also seems like now is a great time to work on your skills. Yes, things are opening back up (slowly), but wouldn’t you rather go back having learned a new accent or with additional skills to try directing or immersive theatre or knowing more about how Spotlight works? When it comes down to it, we all want to be working, but if there’s less work available then ever, you may as well have the best and most well-rounded skills possible to help get you that work.

Finally, we’re a company run by actors (who love workshops), so we don’t bring in just anyone to lead them. We offer workshops that we ourselves would love to take, with qualified creatives who know what they’re doing. And we keep numbers small so that you have the chance for questions and the opportunity to perform or contribute to the session if that’s relevant. We also keep everything as affordable as possible, because we know that times aren’t exactly easy at the moment.

Even online, we want to keep people connected, build a strong community and have fun. 

So let us know- what type of workshops are you looking for and finding useful at the moment? Is there a skill that you’d love to hone? How can we provide a community for our creatives beyond workshops? Any feedback is always welcome and we love hearing from you.

New Year, Same Fabulous You!

New Year, Same Fabulous You!

It only took until 2020, but it seems that finally, FINALLY there is a healthy amount of backlash to the “new year, new me” phenomenon. What’s wrong with good old 2019 you? We’re guessing nothing- you were fab then, and you’re fab now. 

Of course, the new year is a great time to look at goals, dreams, bad habits (and to create new, better ones).

So let’s refresh our 2019 tips and see how they- and a couple of new ideas- can serve you best in 2020.

Top 6 tips:

  1. Create your vision
  2. Think big
  3. Set deadlines 
  4. Expand your resources
  5. Put the negative behind you
  6. You do you

Create your vision

What do you want your career to look like? What are you going to do to get there? If you are getting self-tape requests but don’t feel like your self-tape game is up to scratch, maybe it’s time you learn a bit more from a self-tape expert. Manuel Puro can give you top advice literally from the casting director’s mouth in his Self-Tape Workshop on 23rd January. Want to act better on camera? We can help there, too. If you’re aiming for more TV and film work, one of our casting director workshops might help you to understand the process a bit better and help to land you the next job.

Think big

You will need to work hard, and chances are, smaller steps will be required before you reach your biggest goals. But shouldn’t you set goals that are as big as your dreams? One successful actress maps out her acting career for the year, including the number of plays (or films or commercials) she plans to do and when. And, for the most part, it works for her, even with the uncertainty of the acting industry. We’re convinced that’s because she knows exactly what she wants, when she wants it- and she does the behind the scenes work to go out and make it happen.

Start small, but think BIG!

Set deadlines

You know what makes things happen? A looming deadline. And accountability, so let someone close to you know your goals (and deadlines), so they can-lovingly!- follow up on your progress.

Expand your resources

Meet new people. Try new classes. If you’re not working, why not take the opportunity to add something valuable to your Spotlight CV? Or learn something new out of pure lovely or interest. Not everything that you do has to have the motivation of forwarding your acting career, but sometimes those skills that you least expect become amazingly valuable!

Put the negative behind you

Maybe 2019 didn’t go the way you hoped. In the same way that you can’t rest on your laurels, you most certainly can’t rest on your defeats. You CAN turn mistakes into opportunities (maybe growing a little while you’re at it) and set a new path for success. A great way to get started is taking a workshop like The Audition Mindset with Charlotte Thornton. Charlotte will help you with tricks to build positivity and confidence and strategise the best path going forward.

You do you

An annoying expression? Maybe. But the point is, don’t pursue someone else’s dreams. You’ve chosen to be an actor- which can be a very brave choice, but only if you do it your way. If relatives can’t recognise your success because you haven’t been on Eastenders yet, but what you want is to be on stage, don’t let them discourage you. Working towards someone else’s dream is much harder than doing what you love, even if you are lucky enough to find success.

You’re all stars- make this year your brightest yet.

The Actors Company wishes you the very best for 2020 and we hope to see you in a workshop soon! x

Inspiration for Actors

Inspiration for Actors- The Sherling Backstage Walkway at the NT

As actors, we’re always seeking inspiration. Whether it’s attending a workshop to learn something new or to connect with other industry professionals, seeing a heralded actor work on stage or screen, or reading a recommended play, even when we’re not working, we’re working.

Luckily for us, London and the rest of the UK is rich with opportunities to learn. There are historic sites to visit before acting in a period drama. There is our brilliant range of theatre, ranging from the opulence of the West End to the unique tradition of pub theatre. And throughout the country, the range of accents alone is enough to keep an actor busy learning something new for months, or more likely years!

Another inspirational learning opportunity that I discovered recently is the Sherling Backstage Walkway at the National Theatre. The Sherling Backstage Walkway offers visitors views into the busy production NT workshops for set construction and assembly, scenic painting and prop-making. It is a behind-the-scenes look at how a large-scale theatre like the National really functions and it’s pretty amazing! Access is from the Gallery Level in the Dorfman Theatre Foyer and it’s absolutely free, just walk up!

You’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the workshops, in one, a massive house set being built for When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other, starring Martin Crimp and Cate Blanchett (in her National Theatre debut!) The props workshop houses everything from thrones to flowers to old-fashioned telephones… anything and everything that might be used in an NT play. Along the walkway, there are examples of set pieces and costumes, with more information about, for example, how they achieve a burnt look to wood or how the wigs and costumes are created.

Drum revolve stage and set from 2014’s Treasure Island

While you’re there and in a behind-the-scenes frame of mind, check out the (again, free) exhibition Playing with Scale: How Designers Use Set Models. Production models include those from Exit the King, Antony and Cleopatra, The Life of Galileo, Antigoneand The Comedy of Errors, each of which went through many iterations, taking into account the designer’s vision, the director’s vision, and how the set actually functions with getting actor on and off stage. Also included in the exhibition is a history and video of the famous five-story Drum Revolve stage, located in the National’s Olivier Theatre, another unique and integral part of how plays are presented in that space.

Seeing the sheer scale and production value of everything that happens at the National is inspirational for anyone, but as an actor, it really reinforced my goal to work there. It also reinforced the excellence that goes into everything that they do- and the continued work that actors need to do to achieve those heights.

Go and be inspired!!

 

Top Five Tips for Actors in the New Year

Top Five Tips for Actors in the New Year (aka Acting Goal-Setting)

I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. Just the word resolution makes me think of wasted gym memberships and broken dreams. That’s not to say that the new year isn’t a great time to re-evaluate. It is! But instead of coming with a vague list of “new you” ideas you’ll likely not keep, why not set some honest goals to truly make this year exactly what you want it to be?

Here are my tips:
  1. Create your vision
  2. Think big
  3. Set deadlines 
  4. Expand your resources
  5. Pick your passion

Choose your goals for you… and you’ll love working towards them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Create your vision

What do you want your career to look like? I suffer from “I want to do everything” syndrome. Theatre? Absolutely! Film? Bring it! Commercials? Sure! Voiceover? Yes, please! Corporate?… well, you get the idea. This year, I’ve decided to make Theatre (with a capital “T”) my focus. Yes, that probably means I’ll get called in to castings for everything else, but at least I know where to focus my energy.

Think big

This is where I take issue with so-called “SMART” goals. The R is for realistic, and admittedly, there’s no use setting a goal to be an Olympic gymnast at my height (5’10”) and my age (none of your business!)
But shouldn’t you set goals that are as big as your dreams? One successful actress I know told me that she maps out her acting career for the year, including the number of plays (or films or commercials) she plans to do and when. And, for the most part, it works for her. I’m convinced that’s because she knows exactly what she wants, when she wants it- and she does the behind the scenes work to go out and make it happen.

Set deadlines

Whatever your goals, give them a deadline date. If you just decide you’d like to be in your first feature (at some point), or for that matter, lose five kilos (eventually), there is NO sense of urgency. You know what makes things happen? A looming deadline. And accountability, so let someone close to you know your goals (and deadlines), so they can-lovingly!- follow up on your progress.

Expand your resources

What’s the definition of madness? It’s not actually repeating the same thing and expecting a different result, though there is a reason people say that! If you want to achieve new things, you have to expand your reach and your knowledge, meet new people and keep your mind open to unexpected possibilities. Might we suggest a workshop with us to do all of these things?

Pick your passion

Finally, don’t set goals you don’t want to do. The trend this year, at least in advertising, seems to be Veganuary. But what if you love meat? You’ll give up after a week!*
Choose goals that fit you, whether for your acting career, your fitness or your life goals, so that you’re excited about working on them and achieving them. Success isn’t the same for everyone as your goals shouldn’t be either.

We wish you the very best for the new year and know that you can live your goals and dreams- hopefully these tips will be one step toward them!

* Please note: I fully believe in the benefits of being a vegan, especially for the environment- I just know it’s not for everyone! There is a really cute pig if you follow the link, though.