Make Acting Work The Practical Path to a Successful Career

by Salt, Chrys

• ISBN13: 9780413761408
• ISBN10: 0413761401
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-09-20
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama

Summary

Make Acting Work is an essential guide for anyone wishing to develop a career in this exciting but unpredictable profession. It offers a level-headed appraisal of the challenges that actors face and identifies a wide range of opportunities that exist for the resourceful. Practical advice is given on all the critical elements, including preparing a CV, photographs, demo-tape and showreel, getting an agent, and auditioning. The different requirements of theatre, radio, film and tv are explained, as well as a comprehensive survey of less traditional work, such as voice-overs, corporate training and role play.

Author Biography

Chrys Salt teaches regularly at the Actors Centre in London. She is a freelance writer and theatre d irector and is Artistic Director of Bare Boards… and a passion Theatre Company. She has made numer ous appearances on stage, television and radio, as a performer, directed extensively in theatre and sound, and written several books, theatre and radio plays, features and documentaries. Her book Here We Go: Women's Memories of the 1984-85 Miners' Strike won a National Media Award.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
Introduction	1	(4)
Brand Image	5	(9)
The Casting Process
Define your Product
Case Studies
A Marketing Package	14	(26)
The CV
Photographs
Portfolios
The Letter
Demo-tapes
Showreels
Advertising your Product	40	(5)
Spotlight
Ugly Agency
Selling your Product	45	(36)
Agencies
Making Contacts
Self-help Groups
Casting Directors
The Fringe
Putting on a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Where to Look for Work
Demonstrating your Wares	81	(24)
The Audition
The Conventional Marketplace	105	(33)
Theatre
Musicals
Television
Film
Commercials
Radio Drama
Voice-overs
Some Alternative Markets	138	(32)
The Platform Performance, Festival and Lecture Circuit
Theatre in Education
The National Trust
Murder Evenings and Weekends
Cruise Ships
Lookalikes
Museum or Gallery Drama
Role-play
Understudies, Covers and Swings
Corporate and Training Videos
The Conference and Exhibition Industry
Student Films
The Comedy Circuit
The Union	170	(3)
Maintaining your Skills	173	(9)
Ongoing Training
Useful Books	182	(2)
Useful Addresses	184	(9)
Index	193