Hello all!
So today we celebrate the birthdate of one of the most marvellous thinkers that ever walked the planet (in my opinion)... William Shakespeare!
So to celebrate I'm going to be plopping down the revision and cosy down to watch some of my favourite Shakespeare productions including:
Josie Rourke's Much Ado About Nothing (Staring David Tennant and Catherine Tate.)
Trevor Nunn's Twelfth Night or what you will (Staring Imogen Stubbs, Toby Stephens and Helena Bonham Carter)
Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (Staring the beautiful Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes)
Enjoy,
Terri ;D
Wednesday 23 April 2014
Friday 18 April 2014
If I don't get into Drama School Re-post
Hi there again!
Hope everyone is enjoying the b-e-a-utiful weather that we are having here this Easter weekend.
Sorry for not posting in a while, I'm having to revise like mad so have had no time in writing for a while.
Anyway this is post a re-posting from the brilliant blog Acting Coach Scotland, which is headed up by a guy called Mark Westbrook (who claims to be a massive guru in all acting woes).
And I was reading through it recently and this particular article caught my eye.
A word of caution - Although this guy is rather convincing with his arguments, keep in mind that this is just one guy's opinion and you can (like I have done in the past) disagree with such advice.
Hope you enjoy it,
Terri ;D x
If I don’t get into Drama School
Hope everyone is enjoying the b-e-a-utiful weather that we are having here this Easter weekend.
Sorry for not posting in a while, I'm having to revise like mad so have had no time in writing for a while.
Anyway this is post a re-posting from the brilliant blog Acting Coach Scotland, which is headed up by a guy called Mark Westbrook (who claims to be a massive guru in all acting woes).
And I was reading through it recently and this particular article caught my eye.
A word of caution - Although this guy is rather convincing with his arguments, keep in mind that this is just one guy's opinion and you can (like I have done in the past) disagree with such advice.
Hope you enjoy it,
Terri ;D x
If I don’t get into Drama School
If you want to be a professional actor, the most common entry point into the profession is by attending a high quality accredited acting school.
But what if you failed to secure your place on one of these acting courses this year? What can you do?
ONE: GET REAL – Give yourself a reality check about just how hard it is to get a place at drama school. It’s harder than ever to get a coveted place at a prestigious UK drama school. Recent studies show that it’s harder to get into a British drama school (1 in 7) than it is to enter Oxbridge (Oxford/Cambridge is 1 in 4). If you want to get a place at drama school, you have to accept that the competition is painful intense.
TWO: GIVE IN NOW - If failing to get into drama school on your first attempt puts you off, give up and go do something else. It may take you FIVE attempts, and if the first failing puts you off, you won’t stand a chance in this profession.
THREE: SPREAD THE NET - Obviously if you only apply to ONE school, you’re dramatically reducing your chance of studying acting at a Drama UK approved course. Next year, apply to as many schools as you can. Each school has a unique personality, and are looking for different qualities. If you only apply to those schools that you’ve fetishized for no good reason, you will probably miss out on your chance of getting into drama school. You have a year to save up for audition fees and transport/accommodation costs, how bad do you want to get in?FOUR: GROW UP – The most common quality that I perceive in those that I know have achieved a place at drama school is a mature outlook. Go out to work, travel Australia, work for a charity, but even if you feel like a mature person for your age, getting out into the world will bring you a new maturity that will be highly attractive to audition panels..
FIVE: GET EXPERIENCE - You now have the best part of a year to gain more experience. Go be an extra, go take some acting classes where you live, attend drama school audition coaching or courses lead by the leading schools.
SIX: Â MAKE A LIST - Make a list of 20 things that you can do to improve your chances of getting into drama school. Then start ticking them off as you achieve them. This will bring your 20 STEPS closer to obtaining your goal.
SEVEN: GIVE UP - Yes, I’ve said this for the second time. If you can live without going to drama school, you probably don’t want a place bad enough.
You will probably notice that I haven’t included ‘going off to University’ or ‘doing an acting course at a local college’, these may be ways that some people become actors, but as your goal is to get into drama school, these would be considered a failure to achieve your goal.Mark Westbrook is the Senior Coach and Studio Director at Acting Coach Scotland.
Original article webpage - http://actingcoachscotland.co.uk/2014/04/if-i-dont-get-into-drama-school/Friday 11 April 2014
The Drama School Audition Advice.
Hey everyone again!
Now that all my auditions are over, I thought that it would be an excellent idea to compile a list of all the tips I have learnt about audition over the course of the year.
I Wanna be an Actor.com's Top Tips for auditioning to Drama School...
1. Research, Research, Research
If I was redoing this year again, I would of so done much more research than I did. If you want to go to Drama School then you should know everything there is to know about it. For example: The History of the School, the teachers who currently work there, what they have done, who's trained there, what percentage of student are in employment in the industry, how much they are earning, what the school expects from it's student e.c.t. I could go on forever.
And I don't just mean that about the school either, you should be going the extra mile with you're monologues too. You should know anything and everything about the characters and the play.
You may be asking, "This seems a load of effort for just a 15 minute audition, why bother?" Because hardly anyone else will be going to that length to show how much they want it, and if the panel can see how hard you are prepared to work for it, then they will be more likely to want you.
2. Understanding the costs.
Now this I don't just mean money-wise. Yes it is important to realise that it isn't just the audition fee that you'll be paying, but also travel and accommodation fees too, - which to let you know, if you live outside of London, it may cost you around triple the audition fee alone. - so you can see it is expensive.
But you also have to understand the emotional costs of all this kafuffle. Not only is it stressful getting to these places but you also have to contend with:
a) The pressure of picking/learning you're monologues.
b) Doing the audition.
c) The waiting of the news.
d) Possibly - being rejected from said drama schools.
And if you get through the auditions and receive a place, after graduating you'll be lucky if you can earn more than £3000 a year from a job in the acting industry.
But if you still want it, go get it tiger!
Whoop, lecture over, now carry on.
3. Don't overthink it, feel it.
This is defiantly something I would of recommended myself to do when I was learning my lines last September.
If I were you, when looking at a new monologue, I would read it a few times. Then I'd stand up and read it out loud. You could do this with someone or no one. If you like how it sounds or you get that poke in you're gut telling you that this is good then investigate the monologue further. If not, set it down, make a note of the monologue in a journal or something and try another one.
Just keep trying new things out until you find monologues that suit you and you ENJOY doing.
4.Be YOURSELF!
I know this is such a cliqué but seriously, you need to get it out of you're head asap that you need to act in a certain way to impress the audition panel. When it boils down to it, they want to want you! Not some version of you that you think they will like. I myself have fallen down this audition rabbit hole this year. I was picking pieces that I thought that the panel would like, not what I enjoyed or showed the best sides of my acting. And for every audition I wore black... I hate black clothing. It reminds me of funeral's. But I thought that it was the "drama school" thing to do.
It sounds silly when you look back at it but that's what I thought you should do. So please don't make the same mistake as me.
5. Just enjoy it!
I realise that it seems like a lot of pressure to get one of those precious places but come on! If you're going to pay £200 for 30 minutes of people judging you then you might as well have fun doing it.
Duh.
^Hope this all helps you, I'll probably re-post this at the beginning of the next academic year so you can re-refer to it then.
Adios,
Terri ;D
P.S - If you were looking for more tips in how to get into Drama School then check out "The Saturday Acting Academy's Blog" page as it is written by some guy who helps out on Drama School panel's.
Hope this (also) helps.
http://thesaturdayactingacademy.blogspot.co.uk/
Now that all my auditions are over, I thought that it would be an excellent idea to compile a list of all the tips I have learnt about audition over the course of the year.
I Wanna be an Actor.com's Top Tips for auditioning to Drama School...
1. Research, Research, Research
If I was redoing this year again, I would of so done much more research than I did. If you want to go to Drama School then you should know everything there is to know about it. For example: The History of the School, the teachers who currently work there, what they have done, who's trained there, what percentage of student are in employment in the industry, how much they are earning, what the school expects from it's student e.c.t. I could go on forever.
And I don't just mean that about the school either, you should be going the extra mile with you're monologues too. You should know anything and everything about the characters and the play.
You may be asking, "This seems a load of effort for just a 15 minute audition, why bother?" Because hardly anyone else will be going to that length to show how much they want it, and if the panel can see how hard you are prepared to work for it, then they will be more likely to want you.
2. Understanding the costs.
Now this I don't just mean money-wise. Yes it is important to realise that it isn't just the audition fee that you'll be paying, but also travel and accommodation fees too, - which to let you know, if you live outside of London, it may cost you around triple the audition fee alone. - so you can see it is expensive.
But you also have to understand the emotional costs of all this kafuffle. Not only is it stressful getting to these places but you also have to contend with:
a) The pressure of picking/learning you're monologues.
b) Doing the audition.
c) The waiting of the news.
d) Possibly - being rejected from said drama schools.
And if you get through the auditions and receive a place, after graduating you'll be lucky if you can earn more than £3000 a year from a job in the acting industry.
But if you still want it, go get it tiger!
Whoop, lecture over, now carry on.
3. Don't overthink it, feel it.
This is defiantly something I would of recommended myself to do when I was learning my lines last September.
If I were you, when looking at a new monologue, I would read it a few times. Then I'd stand up and read it out loud. You could do this with someone or no one. If you like how it sounds or you get that poke in you're gut telling you that this is good then investigate the monologue further. If not, set it down, make a note of the monologue in a journal or something and try another one.
Just keep trying new things out until you find monologues that suit you and you ENJOY doing.
4.Be YOURSELF!
I know this is such a cliqué but seriously, you need to get it out of you're head asap that you need to act in a certain way to impress the audition panel. When it boils down to it, they want to want you! Not some version of you that you think they will like. I myself have fallen down this audition rabbit hole this year. I was picking pieces that I thought that the panel would like, not what I enjoyed or showed the best sides of my acting. And for every audition I wore black... I hate black clothing. It reminds me of funeral's. But I thought that it was the "drama school" thing to do.
It sounds silly when you look back at it but that's what I thought you should do. So please don't make the same mistake as me.
5. Just enjoy it!
I realise that it seems like a lot of pressure to get one of those precious places but come on! If you're going to pay £200 for 30 minutes of people judging you then you might as well have fun doing it.
Duh.
^Hope this all helps you, I'll probably re-post this at the beginning of the next academic year so you can re-refer to it then.
Adios,
Terri ;D
P.S - If you were looking for more tips in how to get into Drama School then check out "The Saturday Acting Academy's Blog" page as it is written by some guy who helps out on Drama School panel's.
Hope this (also) helps.
http://thesaturdayactingacademy.blogspot.co.uk/
Wednesday 9 April 2014
NEWS UPDATE:
Hi Everyone! How are you all? I've been receiving some lovely comments about the blogs and I'm thrilled that you're enjoying reading each of the posts. EXCITING NEWS: I found out yesterday that I'm going to be an extra in a film next year with Brendan Gleeson (Mad-Eye Moody in the Harry Potter films) and Michael Fassbender. Shooting begins early 2015, and I can't wait! Thank you to everyone for your support. Best Wishes, Elizabeth Pennington
Friday 4 April 2014
The Drama School Audition Awards!
Hello and Welcome to the first national Drama School Audition awards!
Well what a year it has been, 6 auditions down the line and not a single recall later (she says, chortling on her wine) means that it's time to reveal who has come top of the best audition of the year!!!!!!
So here are the Categories...
1. Best Overall Audition - RADA
Maybe I was just in a good mood that day, or maybe because I had high expectations of RADA that I thought that it was the best. Everyone was nice, the place was sweet, it didn't cost that much to get there. In conclusion RADA, you rock!
2. Worst Overall Audition - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Liked the placed, but apparently my stomach did not. Sorry Glasgow.
3. Most welcoming Panel - RADA
...Yeah I was really impressed by them. Both of the panel shook my hand before they began and they made me feel so comfortable that it was hard for me not to enjoy that audition.
4. Most Intimidating Panel (boo hiss) - National Youth Theatre/Italia Conti
I have come to this conclusion because mainly both panel's looked like I had thrown a water balloon filled with wee in their faces after I had done my audition. Was also freaked out by the fact that neither panel asked me questions in the audition either.
5. Audition Best Value For Money - Manchester Metropolitan
With a 45 minute warm up, a considerably long audition and only having to pay £2.50 for the train fare made this the most value for money
6. Audition Least Value For Money - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Guildhall just missed out on this title by £1 but... at £61 (£45 + CUKAS fees) with no warm up and a 5 minute audition the RCS is the loser of the round.
7. Best facilities (at the school) - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Looking at the above, I really do seem to have a mixed view of the place. However on the tour this place showed that it really does have everything you need to get a brilliant acting education.
8. Worst facilities (at the school) - Italia Conti
Was situated within a grubby looking part of London and due to the number of auditionies that day, we were all too squashed in that room.
9. Best "gut instinct" Feeling Audition - RADA
Like I said above, RADA totally rocked.
10. Craziest Panel Outfit Competition (i.e. the most important information you need to know about a future audition e.c.t.) - Guildhall!
This prize was suitably won by the female judge on the panel who sported the baggiest green harem pants I have ever seen, a Hawaiian shirt and to top it off, a stiff leather jacket.
Thank you all for reading this blog for the past year, and hopefully I'll be compiling another one of these next year for all you lovely people.
But for now, enjoy the show that is called life!
Terri ;D x
Well what a year it has been, 6 auditions down the line and not a single recall later (she says, chortling on her wine) means that it's time to reveal who has come top of the best audition of the year!!!!!!
So here are the Categories...
1. Best Overall Audition - RADA
Maybe I was just in a good mood that day, or maybe because I had high expectations of RADA that I thought that it was the best. Everyone was nice, the place was sweet, it didn't cost that much to get there. In conclusion RADA, you rock!
2. Worst Overall Audition - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Liked the placed, but apparently my stomach did not. Sorry Glasgow.
3. Most welcoming Panel - RADA
...Yeah I was really impressed by them. Both of the panel shook my hand before they began and they made me feel so comfortable that it was hard for me not to enjoy that audition.
4. Most Intimidating Panel (boo hiss) - National Youth Theatre/Italia Conti
I have come to this conclusion because mainly both panel's looked like I had thrown a water balloon filled with wee in their faces after I had done my audition. Was also freaked out by the fact that neither panel asked me questions in the audition either.
5. Audition Best Value For Money - Manchester Metropolitan
With a 45 minute warm up, a considerably long audition and only having to pay £2.50 for the train fare made this the most value for money
6. Audition Least Value For Money - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Guildhall just missed out on this title by £1 but... at £61 (£45 + CUKAS fees) with no warm up and a 5 minute audition the RCS is the loser of the round.
7. Best facilities (at the school) - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Looking at the above, I really do seem to have a mixed view of the place. However on the tour this place showed that it really does have everything you need to get a brilliant acting education.
8. Worst facilities (at the school) - Italia Conti
Was situated within a grubby looking part of London and due to the number of auditionies that day, we were all too squashed in that room.
9. Best "gut instinct" Feeling Audition - RADA
Like I said above, RADA totally rocked.
10. Craziest Panel Outfit Competition (i.e. the most important information you need to know about a future audition e.c.t.) - Guildhall!
This prize was suitably won by the female judge on the panel who sported the baggiest green harem pants I have ever seen, a Hawaiian shirt and to top it off, a stiff leather jacket.
Thank you all for reading this blog for the past year, and hopefully I'll be compiling another one of these next year for all you lovely people.
But for now, enjoy the show that is called life!
Terri ;D x
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