Well its been absolutely ages since I wrote about my acting journey and quite a bit has happened since I last posted anything on here, which is well over a year ago. I had to take this down for a while but I believe its time for it to go back up and its time for me to continue sharing my journey as an actress. The first thing I want to do is to share my new showreel so it gives you a better feel for where I am, or what I have been doing. I also forgot how much I enjoy sharing my experience with others too.
Showreel 2017
I actually did not realise that it has taken me 3 years to have a new showreel, which is not good. I will need to get one ready for 2018, well at least towards the end of 2018.
I will write another post soon, which will give you my journey since I last wrote a post.
Yes I have been away from my blog for over 2 years. A lot of things has happened since then. I have learned a lot more and I have done a lot more filming. I have stayed focused on my journey and loved every single moment of it. If you don't know then you need to know, staying focused and being committed is the key.
There will be many distractions along the way. It will be up to you to stay on track. Don't get me wrong, of course you will fall off the track every so often, but you have to remember to get back on the track towards your goal of becoming an actress/actor.
When I started this journey 4 years ago, I was determined, that I would get the roles, I was determined that I would stay focus and committed. Especially as I came into this at an older age, I was not about to waste any more of my precious time. I have had to say a few no's to social gatherings, due to learning lines and creating my character in specific roles.
Your probably asking what have I been up to since my last post. Well Ill give you a bit of an insight,
I have done, a few commercials, online and tv ones, I have done a web series, a few corporate videos, and more. I have done a workshop here and there. I have had many lines and monologues to learn, lots of scripts to read. It has all been so much fun.
I have and will continue to follow my dream. I am happy in what I am doing. With more lines and scripts I am now able to retain the information a lot quicker. I am learning my lines a lot faster than before. I have developed my own learning style to retain information and learn my lines. I meditate more and I do my best to eat well and exercise.
Along your journey you will find what works well for you too.
This time of year is the best time. People are always so much more happier, unless of course its xmas!
We all love the sun and when you live in the uk, you cherish it more when it comes, as it does not come out with the heat that often. What does that mean for us Actors? Well well it means we could potentially get more work. The sun is shining and film makers want to film. Directors are more happier so there are more castings for us all.
This is when we need to make sure we are really up to speed with our marketing. We need to be seen.
I am filming my last scenes this week in Slovakia. Where I am playing a social worker. Its a Tv Drama Series called, Thieves of Children. It is based on a true story, about a Slovakian couple who had their children taken from them, by the British Social Service whilst living in the uk. Its a very interesting story. When I read the script I cried. Its very touching.
I'm new to the acting world and so far I'm loving it. Being on the Set for Thieves of Children made me feel like a child in the play ground. I felt so alive. when Im acting and the cameras are rolling I believe I go into a place of ME. I know I could do this forever. I get all excited. When a scene is all over I really wish it wasn't. I want to work 16 hours a day acting. 6 day a week, travelling all over the world.
I got looked after very well in Slovakia, Im looking forward to going back next week. Its only for one more days shooting then my scenes are all over. Its funny, I had so much fun that when I came back home, it was like, oh nooooo, is this it!! haha I know that this is the perfect career for me. I know it wont be all plain sailing. Ive heard how hard this industry can be. Right now I'm having fun. I do know that when Im not working on set, I will have to make sure whatever it is I'm doing is related to the industry in some way.
I'm meditating daily for me to be able to work consistently and be in the place I love. Doing what I love.
Just waiting for this to be added to my IMDb profile now.
Happy New Year to you all. Well what does 2013 have in store for all of us. Well lots and lots of marketing of our product, which as an actor, that would be ourselves.
We have to stay on top of things. There is so much to do, what with looking for work, learning lines, remember monologues, sense memory, reading scripts, watching films, drama series, rehearsing, auditioning the list goes on. Marketing is a very very important factor of our acting experience. I have a facebook fan page which I must keep on top of and manage, This blog, my facebook which I need to keep updated, Twitter also linkedin. There are so many other sites which need to be managed especially sites like Imbd There are so many sites and updates and information we need to continue with.
Many people will look at what we are doing and start saying that we love ourselves too much or we are showing all our business out there. For those who understand the business will understand that you are your business. We need to get as much exposure as possible so we can get the work. we can not leave it all up to our agents and chance. That is not enough. we have to work as much as we can to get the work and that includes marketing ourselves, so Casting Directors can come across us and use us in their next projects, therefore, market, market market as much as possible.
Im still in the process of working on my showreel. I have done some short films in 2012 which are not ready as yet, but as soon as they are I will be adding them to my showreel. Once that is done, I will be posting it all over facebook and all over my twitter and linkedin pages, and any other pages I can find to market myself.
Im no longer in a business or doing a 9 to 5, I am the business and the 9 to 5 all in one. I have to keep on top of things. We all have to keep on top of things if we want this to work.
I will be putting myself out there as much as possible. I may even get on some peoples nerves, but I don't care. This is my time now. My biggest fans are my 3 children , they love what im doing and im so glad they do. As I raised them and now they have set me free heheee. Im as free as a bird and I love it.
A small glimpse of a short film which I did which will be ready to be shown soon. I played the mother of a depressed 16 year old.
What's in store for me for 2013. Well i've already done a short film last week, where I played a complaining neighbor, at the end January, I play a grandmother in lincon, and at the end of February I star as Rose Blake in Reasons. There will be many more projects for this year. 2013 will be a great year for me. I will keep doing what im doing, thanks to all those that have supported me so far.
Message to my fellow actors and actress, Market, Market Market!!!!
I absolutley love the auditioning process. Its so much fun, you get to show who you can be and who you are. Elia Kazan said: "The best and most human parts of me are those, I have inhabited and hidden from the world. I will work on it, I will raise my voice I will be heard" I love that and thats what I am about. I will do what I want and need to do for my acting career. So far Im loving every process of it.
I got the role which I thought I had not got. I will be doing a live production of a caribbean mother on the 19th of December. Then March next year I will be filming The Tv Drama series for 6 months. I feel very blessed and thank God for my blessings. I do work hard and im also willing to help others and enjoy the process too.
Saturday gone I went to 2 more auditions. Again I enjoyed them both. The first one I realised that I would not get that role as, I believe they were looking for a young wife to play the role. This was for a short film, the director and producer were really nice people, as are all of the people I have auditioned for so far. The 2nd audition was for me to play a mother role. This is a very heart felt Short Drama. This morning I got a phone call and was offered the role. I start filming this Saturday. Im very pleased as I really wanted this role. Its about mental health in a teenager. I read the script and had tears in my eyes.
This week I will concentrate on my scripts and prepare for my roles.
Well for the past 2 weeks I have been constantly looking for work. I have been applying for all types of roles. At first I felt a bit out of place not sure what was going to come back. When you first go out into the big wide world of acting, after coming off a course you get this feeling of, yeah but can I really act though! Well those are my feelings anyway. I was desperate to get out there and do the auditions just to see if I really had what it takes. Also to see if I could cope in an audition. Would my nerves over take me, would I dry, would I run out of the audition. I really had no idea, so I was so desperate to find out what I would be like.
After a few days of solid searching, the auditions started to come through. I got excited everytime I saw an email with an audition request.
My very first one was to actually do the part. I didn't have to do an audition. I got a call and they guy said to me, I really liked your showreel, and would love you to play a small part for me. It was nothing massive as it was for a film competition. I was still very excited and chuffed that I got the role from my Showreel. The filming was on a saturday, when I got there, I was excited and slightly nervous, but I think more excited. It was improvisation, so I had no idea what part of me I would be divulging. It was at Channel 5 Studios and I was in and out in 5 mins. It was not for Channel 5. I believe the guy worked there so had full use of the facilities. It was fun and I enjoyed the short process. Im not sure if he will use what he did, but he said he liked it!
I had another audition which was improv too. This one was to play a caribbean mother. I was in that role for over an hour. The director, had me playing the role to around 8 others actors including himself. I really enjoyed it. I had to do some research and watch some jamaican films to get my tongue back into the full swing of things. I will admit it was the longest I had ever spoken like that in my life hahaha. I really enjoyed it. I will also admit I expected a call back as he said he really enjoyed it, but I didn't get a call back, I know that is the name of the game. The most important thing for me, was that I came out feeling I had given it 110%. I did not hold back at all. I was just not right for that part.
I got another call for a meeting for a short film. I was told to come in and read a part and do a monologue for them. I said yes great. Then they said to me, oh yes by the way we have given you the part. We loved your showreel, and just know that this is for you. This is a leading role as an evil school teacher, we would just like you to come in and meet us. I went and met them and they have ordered my uniform and will be sending me the script. I was very chuffed and shocked. 2 roles from my showreel and an agent.
Saturday just gone was the best audition ever! I got to the location and the director didn't show up looool. I got there and rang him as I could not see anywhere, where there would be an audition. He said he is in a meeting and will be with me in 2 hours or so. I thought ok ill wait. Well me being miss persistent, after waiting for 2 and half hours, I rang him and left 2 text messages. His phone went to voice mail. You know I was really looking forward to the audition. I love giving what I got, and see for myself what I can give. Its not all over as I spoke with him this morning. He apologised, I forgive him hehe! Its not over until the fat lady sings!
Now I am in the process of building as much work as possible so I have things to add to my showreel.
