With Screens workshops for actors to begin on January 10, is there a need to develop acting skills for the future of South West film making?

[Lee Morgan]

The Screens acting workshops, which offer a programme for novice actors looking to become stars as well as development for experienced actors looking to keep their skills fresh kicks off on January 10.
Read the story on D+CFilm.

As filmmakers, is there a problem finding actors? And as an actor, is there a need to keep working on your craft?

[David Salas]

Is there a need to develop acting skills in the South West? I don't know. I have found it hard to find south west actors who want to work in short films at all, so it is very hard to know how much their skills need developing.

What is definitely needed is a higher profile for South West based actors wanting to work in film and a better networking system in order to advertise roles and view the resumes of specifically local actors.

Last year I had a huge problem finding local actors. The Phoenix and other people I asked didn't seem to have any suggestions outside of the Universtiy Drama Department and foolishly I missed their term time. In the end I emailed theatrical groups and posted adverts around town but had great trouble finding anyone local for The Simple Lies Experiment. By contrast I got about 200 replies to posting on mandy and shooting people, but most of them were based in London and wanted me to pay for them to come to interview, which was not possible. In the end I found some great actors who were amazing to work with but they did cost me a lot more in expenses, because they were not local.

I refuse to believe that there is not local talent but if they are not easy to find then I am forced to go further afield and vastly increase the cost of the films I am trying to make and consequentially that reduces the amount of films I am able to make. As each film is a learning experience this also results in a slower progression and increase of skills.

Does anyone know of a local actors list or directory?
Does Screen Workshops provide a contact list of people that have successfully completed their courses?

How many actors are on D & C?
Might it make sense to have seperate actor, and crew pages so that we could use this site as a message board to contact each other to make projects happen?

[Joshua Gaunt]

David,

I always have success using www.talentcircle.co.uk which I find to be a good resource for actors who are willing to work for expenses only...which is often the case with short films. If you specify where exactly the shoot will be taking place (i.e. Exeter/South West) you will find that quite a few of your responses will be from actors who are reasonably local, or actors who are willing to come down and stay somewhere for free just because they are itching to be creative and involved.
In terms of a local database, I reckon that there is definitely a demand for one. Perhaps as there are a few filmmakers here who have worked with the Phoenix we could pull together (with permission of course) and publish a list of local actors who are looking for short film work, starting with people who have already acted in previous Phoenix Bursary films. Dunno. What do you think?

[David Salas]

I think that it is a good way to start.

I am sure that the actors that I have worked with would like the exposure, although not all were local. I will go and invite them to join this network now...

I also think that our primary roles should be listed on the members page instead of gender (if possible).

Ps. Thanks for the talent circle recommendation.
PPS. Congratulations on the Third Wave radio show. I'm lame (my attempt has taken 3hrs and is still not finished... )

Joshua Gaunt said:

David,

I always have success using www.talentcircle.co.uk which I find to be a good resource for actors who are willing to work for expenses only...which is often the case with short films. If you specify where exactly the shoot will be taking place (i.e. Exeter/South West) you will find that quite a few of your responses will be from actors who are reasonably local, or actors who are willing to come down and stay somewhere for free just because they are itching to be creative and involved.
In terms of a local database, I reckon that there is definitely a demand for one. Perhaps as there are a few filmmakers here who have worked with the Phoenix we could pull together (with permission of course) and publish a list of local actors who are looking for short film work, starting with people who have already acted in previous Phoenix Bursary films. Dunno. What do you think?

[Lee Morgan]

Hi there

I've set up a groups section, and on that section I've set up an actors group. Let me know if there are more elements that are desired, or if you want the permissions to make changes yourselves.

Oh, and I've changed the required info bit - and ditto with above: let me know if you want any more changes, or would like the permissions to fiddle.

All the best
Lee

[David Salas]

thank you

Here's a related question. Does it also make sense to have groups for the other main sections so, wirters, directors, producers, camera, sound, post-production etc...

As I mentioned before it might be simply a matter of changing the gender info on the members page to roles.

In terms of crewing up it would help to know who does what here, without having to access each profile individually. Or at least that is my opinion

Lee Morgan said:

Hi there

I've set up a groups section, and on that section I've set up an actors group. Let me know if there are more elements that are desired, or if you want the permissions to make changes yourselves.

All the best
Lee

[Lee Morgan]

Hi there

Yup, sounds both logical and feasible. In fact, I've just given you admin permission in case you wanna crack on with it. If not, mail me a list and I'll get onto it towards the end of next week...

Have a good un

[Jo Ashbeth Coffey]

I'm a s/w based actor (well I'm an actress but I'm getting used to it being a unisex term).
I would second the suggestion of talent circle and also recommend shooting people as another good resource.
I check them both and leap on s/w based shoots as for the right project, if my expenses are covered I'm delighted to be involved.

As for workshops/training - absolutely it'd be better if there was more... especially funded stuff.
I don't make enough money to pay lots for travel long distance and regular classes, but really should keep up my training I know.
There were some funded workshops in Plymouth a while back - I applied as soon as the post went out and was told that the places were all filled and I could join the end of the waiting list. Whether they were all taken by people who thought they sounded fun and were near to where they were being organised, or by actual actors who were just faster off the mark than me cause they saw it advertised somewhere else first I don't know, but if something is full the minute the ad is posted online I'd say that's fairly good evidence of there being high demand.

Oh and if you know of anywhere else us actors should be advertising ourselves for the south west in particular do let me know as I'd like the work.

Jo Ashbeth Coffey