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
Showing posts with label Italia Conti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italia Conti. Show all posts
Friday, 4 April 2014
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Italia Conti: The Audition
Hey,
Sorry for not writing in a while, I'm studying my A level's at the moment and the pressure to get decent grades in mounting considerably, so it seems like I won't be writing much on here for atleast the next four months (i.e up to and during the exam period). The pressure is much, much more considerable this year as our darling Education Minister, Michael Gove; has now stated that no one can now do a third year and, therefore if I fail, I cannot resit and then can't go to university or get a decent job. Gee thanks Mike! Remind me the next time I see him to give a good old tutting to (as tutting is the appropriate way for an Englishperson to show disgust.)
Anyway I will save my ranting about how much Mr Gove is a compleate and utter twat for another post.
What I really wanted to talk about was my Italia Conti audition last Monday.
Now in the previous week, it had been the half term holiday. Which is why I decided that over the week I would do absolutely nothing and have a good old rest. What I forgot to remember was that I had a major audition within the week and had not learnt to set piece properly. I ended up remembering on the Saturday and, scrambling from my bed I lurched into a panic of learning lines, re-reading the School's website on what it looks for in a candidate/what I needed to do in the actual audition etc.
Thankfully (for me) my mum had organised the travel and accommodation for the night before, so on the Monday morning (waking up at the dreadful hour of 6 o'clock). We headed out to the heart of London.
The place wasn't that hard to find and, on entering, my first impression was that it was rather small. I think that this is because apparently they are modifying the building therefore ensuring that the audition space was rather crowded.
I was told by a rather cheery bloke, to fill out a form of what I would be performing, plus where I had auditioned this year and what the results had been. I do have to admit, it was rather embarrassing that I had to put down that for all my previous auditions I had been rejected (yes sadly, even RADA :'( ...) But at looking at everyone else's forms, they too had mostly been rejected from everywhere else. I was then sent upstairs where many other hopefuls were waiting. Another impression, there were a lot of people. Around 30-40, it was the biggest number of people I had seen at a audition ever really. The people I remember most was a beautiful girl who had come from Italy, and a rather attractive guy in his early 20's called Scott, who was a traveller until he was 16.
We were all sitting there for a while until the cheery bloke came up and started the warm up. It was immensely fun. We were all prating about being dinosaurs chasing prey and shaking our arms round in a bizarre fashion for at least 30 minutes. I loved it.
After this we did some improvisation in small groups, as we were doing this the cheery bloke came round with a clipboard and assessed us as we were going about the task. Also very fun, but since the room was quite small and there were so many people talking I couldn't hear what the majority of my group were saying, so I kinda ended up falling into the background a bit. I do feel that may of been spotted by cheery bloke.
Anyway after this we were then sent outside of the room as the panel - made up of a man and a woman - entered, in order to conduct the audition.
I was forth. On my turn they both shook my hand and asked me what speech I wanted to start with. I said my modern (Back to Methuselah by G.B Shaw). It went very well. Then the set Shakespeare (I ended up doing Helena in A midsummer night's dream) I didn't forget any of the lines, which was a positive. Once I finished they thanked me and asked me to sit back outside. No questions asked. I felt a tiny bit weirded out by that fact. Now the wait.
A fact about Italia Conti, even if you are not recalled back you still have a chance of getting a place.
I wasn't recalled, I was both - strangely - dissapointed and glad by this. The latter because I was already tired and didn't want to get back home at midnight (which in being recalled I probably would of.) Yet, I was dissapointed because a) it would of been nice to get just one recall out of the many auditions I have done (although another guy there, who was about my age and was rather annoying. Had been to 9 drama school auditions this year alown and had had not one recall!) And b) the recall part did sound like loads of fun. If you did get recalled, you took part in three different workshops (singing, movement and voice) then would redo your pieces.
Now in the previous week, it had been the half term holiday. Which is why I decided that over the week I would do absolutely nothing and have a good old rest. What I forgot to remember was that I had a major audition within the week and had not learnt to set piece properly. I ended up remembering on the Saturday and, scrambling from my bed I lurched into a panic of learning lines, re-reading the School's website on what it looks for in a candidate/what I needed to do in the actual audition etc.
Thankfully (for me) my mum had organised the travel and accommodation for the night before, so on the Monday morning (waking up at the dreadful hour of 6 o'clock). We headed out to the heart of London.
The place wasn't that hard to find and, on entering, my first impression was that it was rather small. I think that this is because apparently they are modifying the building therefore ensuring that the audition space was rather crowded.
I was told by a rather cheery bloke, to fill out a form of what I would be performing, plus where I had auditioned this year and what the results had been. I do have to admit, it was rather embarrassing that I had to put down that for all my previous auditions I had been rejected (yes sadly, even RADA :'( ...) But at looking at everyone else's forms, they too had mostly been rejected from everywhere else. I was then sent upstairs where many other hopefuls were waiting. Another impression, there were a lot of people. Around 30-40, it was the biggest number of people I had seen at a audition ever really. The people I remember most was a beautiful girl who had come from Italy, and a rather attractive guy in his early 20's called Scott, who was a traveller until he was 16.
We were all sitting there for a while until the cheery bloke came up and started the warm up. It was immensely fun. We were all prating about being dinosaurs chasing prey and shaking our arms round in a bizarre fashion for at least 30 minutes. I loved it.
After this we did some improvisation in small groups, as we were doing this the cheery bloke came round with a clipboard and assessed us as we were going about the task. Also very fun, but since the room was quite small and there were so many people talking I couldn't hear what the majority of my group were saying, so I kinda ended up falling into the background a bit. I do feel that may of been spotted by cheery bloke.
Anyway after this we were then sent outside of the room as the panel - made up of a man and a woman - entered, in order to conduct the audition.
I was forth. On my turn they both shook my hand and asked me what speech I wanted to start with. I said my modern (Back to Methuselah by G.B Shaw). It went very well. Then the set Shakespeare (I ended up doing Helena in A midsummer night's dream) I didn't forget any of the lines, which was a positive. Once I finished they thanked me and asked me to sit back outside. No questions asked. I felt a tiny bit weirded out by that fact. Now the wait.
A fact about Italia Conti, even if you are not recalled back you still have a chance of getting a place.
I wasn't recalled, I was both - strangely - dissapointed and glad by this. The latter because I was already tired and didn't want to get back home at midnight (which in being recalled I probably would of.) Yet, I was dissapointed because a) it would of been nice to get just one recall out of the many auditions I have done (although another guy there, who was about my age and was rather annoying. Had been to 9 drama school auditions this year alown and had had not one recall!) And b) the recall part did sound like loads of fun. If you did get recalled, you took part in three different workshops (singing, movement and voice) then would redo your pieces.
No idea when I am supposed to be reciving a result, will probbably come within the next week.
However, if I don't book my Drama Centre audition soon, that will of been my last drama school audition this year...
I'm not really sure what to make of the fact really. I mean, I knew that I wasn't going to get a place at the age of 17 but... A whole year, without a real plan of what I will be doing within the next year is, very scary.
However I have put some things in place. For example this evening I am going to be auditioning for a few plays at the Stockport Garrick for their productions next academic year so that looks good. I'm also going to be sending my CV to every theatre in the within a 10 mile radius of where I live, just so I can work there and get a better feel of the working of a theatre. I will also be carrying on persuing some of my design ambitions and use my esty shop to raise so well needed cash for next year's drama school auditions!
But for now, revision time!
Adios,
Terri ;D xxx
Friday, 7 June 2013
Drama School Potentials (UCAS/CUKAS applicable)
Heya there!
Now firstly I should really think up a less cheesy way of starting a post because at the moment what Im doing is just saying "yeah she still watches High School Musical and Camp Rock in her spare time..." Which I don't, well not camp rock.
Anyway the point of this post is to discuss the different drama schools that I really want to audition for.
If you have done your research then you will know that there are 100's of different places which offer Acting/Drama degree's.
Now personally I have avoided all courses which offer a Drama BA because according to my "So you want to go to Drama School" book these courses are very academic in structure and have little pratical lessons, so this to me would sound a bit like torture. In a lecture theatre having some old person waffle on about Shakespeare seems to me, rather dull plus a waste of three years. (Also you have to get the top grades to get onto these courses which for me will never happen.)
Now because of this, with places that offer the Acting BA the number of places offered in minute compared to the amount of applicants. For example at LAMDA they only take 3.5% anually so they really do want the best of the best.
And to be the best of the best you need to know what they want from you.
OK so I'm going to first start with the one's that you can apply for via UCAS...
1. Manchester Met.
One of the few Universities which offers a high standard Acting BA course it has trained the likes of Julie Walters and the late Richard Griffiths.
Number of places available - 80
Fee for audition - £45
Qualifications needed - 2 B's and a C at A2 level. (Or 280 UCAS points)
The initial audition peices (3 monologues are wanted) -
*One Shakespeare which must be written in blank verse (this is when there is a flowing beat but it does not rhyme, usually it is iambic pentameter).
^Don't worry too much if you don't understand that, the majority of Shakespeare's monologues are written in this form, but if you are not sure then ask someone who has a good knowledge of the english language (an english/drama teacher perhaps) to check it just in case.
*The next needs to be from a play written after 1970.
*A monologue of your choice, from any era/genre.
Remember - These monologues can last up to 2 mins so they will probbably need to be cut down to the time limit. (In saying this, ensure that they are not too short either and that you understand the character and what they are saying - i.e. particually with shakespeare - and where this monologue is in the play.)
Why I choose this course...
-This course has been acredited by the NCDT. (Always look for this as it shows that the teaching standard is of a high quality.)
-It is very close to home so I would not have to spend money on rent and live at home instead.
- The course looks interesting and would help to be employable afterwards.
-The University has a very good special needs department that could help me with my dyslexia.
http://www.theatre.mmu.ac.uk/courses/ba-acting/
2. Italia Conti
One of the oldest stage training schools in the world, covers a vast range of art training including opera, musical theatre and many others.
Actors who have trained there include Karen Gillan (Amy Pond - Dr Who), Noël Coward, Russel Brand and many more...
No. of places available - 24
Fee for Audition - £45
Qualifications needed - 2 C's at A2 level
Qualifications needed - 2 C's at A2 level
The initial audition peices (2 monologues wanted) -
*A shakespeare peice to be chosen from a list on their website :/
* A monologue from a play written after 1870.
The duration of each of these peices needs to be around 1.5 mins, if it is alot longer then you will be stopped.
Why I choose this course...
- It is a NCDT acredited course
- I belive this course would challenge me in the different aspects of theatre.
- If you don't get onto the BA course they also consider you for their foundation course which looks the best out of all the foundation courses that I have looked at.
http://www.italiaconti-acting.com/
3.Drama Centre London
Within the St Martin Central Campus the place is surounded by a creative energy (god I sound like a hippy) which the school focuses on in its aspect of learning. Famous students include Oscar winning Colin Firth, John Simm + more.
No. of places available - 16!
Fee for audition - £45
Qualifications needed - 2 Passes at A2 level
Qualifications needed - 2 Passes at A2 level
The initial audition peices (2 monologues are wanted) -
*A Shakespeare peice
*A monologue from 1830+
Remember - the monologues can be no longer than 3 mins (so they can't be too short either).
Why I choose this course...
- This course has been acredited by the NCDT.
- It offers something very different compared to the rest of them which I really like.
- Unlike the majority of drama schools in London it has accomadation.
http://www.csm.arts.ac.uk/dramacentrelondon/
And now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, which you have to apply for via CUKAS (a website which works in a similar way as UCAS).
Based in Glasgow in the summer I am doing a course there with my freind and the School has trained people like David Tennant and James McAvoy.
No. of places available - Around 25
Fee of the audition - £45
Qualifications needed - 2 Passes at A2 level
Qualifications needed - 2 Passes at A2 level
The initial Audition Peices (2 monologues needed) -
*One shakespeare, any of your choice.
*A moden one, now the site dosent say how far back you can use one from but I'll say go back about 50 years max as I feel that is a safe boundary.
Why I choose this course...
- An acredited course
- Has a broad range of ways in which to improve an actor
- Based in Glasgow so will be cheaper to live there in comparison to London.
http://www.rcs.ac.uk/
I will do another post on the Drama Schools that I want to go to which you have apply by their website individually but I don't want this post to get too long so I am going to bugger off now and do some maths revision...
Byeeee
Terri ;D
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