I have been to my fair share of talks and workshops with industry experts - with my handbag stuffed full of headshots and pen and paper at the ready, hoping to jot down an acting epiphany. To be honest, I have always been dubious of the companies that take our hard earned, out-of-work-actor, dead end job money for such events. I always imagine they have been set up by some fat cat who smokes cigars and lounges in swivel chairs, cashing in on our vulnerability and 'keen to be seen' mentality...
Luckily, this was not the case or my experience at the Actor Attainment
Society's (www.actorattainment.com) interactive seminar with Ilenka
Jelowicki of Mad Dog Casting this week.
In an unusual night off as an 'actor', I was there to observe the seminar on Casting for Commercials and it made for great viewing. It felt strange to be on the other side and I had to literally stop myself at one point from jumping up and mock selling car insurance or weight loss plans. Often the environment at events like this can be quite daunting and competitive but the relaxed and intimate set-up was very encouraging for the actors. I felt witness to a little supportive actor haven which was inspiring improvement rather than bitterness and "I'm going to out-act you" battles amongst its ranks.
I have to admit to feeling secretly quite relieved that for once I would escape the section in which everyone tells the group about their latest work and the dread when the word 'improvisation' is first mentioned. However, if I had of been in that magic circle of actors I don't think I would have felt as much horror as I usually do when these occasions invariably occur. There was a genuinely positive atmosphere and the tea and biscuits galore complimented this perfectly!
My personal experience of commercial castings is minimal but memorable for all the wrong reasons. You can only learn so much about castings during training, the real training kicks in once you're let loose into the real life cattle market. Ilenka Jelowicki was like the Queen of commercial casting knowledge and I felt I wanted to curtsey in appreciation on my way out...
It was refreshing to hear very honest and constructive feedback after the actors script-work and to hear about the realities of the particular area of the industry. The minor point about actors possibly having to do thirty to forty commercial auditions before landing a job is something I would be quite happy to deny ever hearing mind...
With the highs and lows of the profession and the everyday uncertainty, I love all these 'actors communities' that are being created that soothe the pain and keep everyone running on the actor hamster wheel. The Actor Attainment Society seems like a great way to stay pro-active and I look forward to their new website, which is currently undergoing some construction, promising a very reassuring 'community' of its own.
In an unusual night off as an 'actor', I was there to observe the seminar on Casting for Commercials and it made for great viewing. It felt strange to be on the other side and I had to literally stop myself at one point from jumping up and mock selling car insurance or weight loss plans. Often the environment at events like this can be quite daunting and competitive but the relaxed and intimate set-up was very encouraging for the actors. I felt witness to a little supportive actor haven which was inspiring improvement rather than bitterness and "I'm going to out-act you" battles amongst its ranks.
I have to admit to feeling secretly quite relieved that for once I would escape the section in which everyone tells the group about their latest work and the dread when the word 'improvisation' is first mentioned. However, if I had of been in that magic circle of actors I don't think I would have felt as much horror as I usually do when these occasions invariably occur. There was a genuinely positive atmosphere and the tea and biscuits galore complimented this perfectly!
My personal experience of commercial castings is minimal but memorable for all the wrong reasons. You can only learn so much about castings during training, the real training kicks in once you're let loose into the real life cattle market. Ilenka Jelowicki was like the Queen of commercial casting knowledge and I felt I wanted to curtsey in appreciation on my way out...
It was refreshing to hear very honest and constructive feedback after the actors script-work and to hear about the realities of the particular area of the industry. The minor point about actors possibly having to do thirty to forty commercial auditions before landing a job is something I would be quite happy to deny ever hearing mind...
With the highs and lows of the profession and the everyday uncertainty, I love all these 'actors communities' that are being created that soothe the pain and keep everyone running on the actor hamster wheel. The Actor Attainment Society seems like a great way to stay pro-active and I look forward to their new website, which is currently undergoing some construction, promising a very reassuring 'community' of its own.
