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Character is Mental Clutter
One of the greatest disservices the acting world ever perpetrated on performers is making characterisation the actor’s responsibility. Today on BAN (British Actors Network FaceBook Group), an actor,...
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Hit the Target – Make a Goal
If you have no goal, you have no direction for your energy. That’s okay though, if there’s nothing to achieve, it doesn’t matter. If you don’t want to be a better actor, – if you don’t want more...
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Jumping Beyond Self Limiting Beliefs
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford What you believe becomes your reality. Belief is an incredibly powerful force in our lives, shaping the way that we see...
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Making the Cut
If you are serious about a career in acting, or theatre, or film and television, there will come a time when you need to make a decision. Early choices are easy, choosing to spend time practising for...
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Tell Us A Little About Yourself…
It’s a simple enough question. It’s asked in audition rooms and castings all over the world. And yet, it is the most unanswered question in show business. You see the question is simple enough, but we...
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Why Actors Should Think Arrogantly…
“You have to have absolute arrogance to think you can run a mile faster than anyone who’s ever lived; and then you have to have the absolute humility to actually do it.” - Herb Elliot. Actors should...
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Why Actors Need Kung Fu…
When you start out, we desire to join in. As the amateur passion for acting turns to a desire to join in on a professional level, we must find a place to train. Our desire to train professionally is...
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Why’ve You Created Another Full Time Acting Course in Scotland? Part 1
Recently, a former colleague asked me this question about our new professional diploma in Stage and Screen Performance. To be a highly successful professional actor takes a lot more than talent....
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How Do You Build Credibility As An Actor?
When you’re starting out – or even if you’re not, building credibility is important. The trouble is that there’s lots of conflicting advice about how to gain the credibility vital to being taken...
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Harukami – Why Many Never Reach Their True Potential
I recently visited Tokyo, a beautiful, dynamic, conflicted city. At the airport bookshop on the way home, I picked up Murakami’s novel Norwegian Wood, perhaps hoping to prolong my experience of Japan....
View ArticleGUEST: Honest Actors Ban Name-Dropping
‘New “Honest Actors’ Podcast” Bans Anecdotes, Self-Promotion and Name-Dropping. “In anything at the minute?” launches 30/09/2015 ‘In anything at the minute?’ is a brand new podcast featuring...
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FAQs about our Full Time Acting Course
Since we announced our own full time acting course, we’ve a shit load of enquiries. And we’re grateful. You can’t start a venture like this, without students. If we’re sailing this boat, we need...
View Article5 Ways to Avoid Getting an Agent
Sometimes we struggle to know the right thing to do. We end up telling ourselves stories about what we should or shouldn’t do to get signed by an agent. It is possible that some of the well-intentioned...
View ArticleThis Is Why We Need The Curtain Call
Young or inexperienced actors often seem embarrassed about taking their curtain call, and bowing at the end of their work. They grimace painfully as if they have handed the audience a sample turd. But...
View ArticleWhy Does a Bad Dress Rehearsal Mean a Great First Night?
Did you know that there’s an old theatrical tradition that if the Dress Rehearsal is terrible that the First Night will be great? From my experience, it’s actually true! I’ve had terrible Dresses that...
View ArticleThe Best Way to Analyse a Scene (You won’t BELIEVE it)
Scene analysis is tough. Understanding the words of a scene is easy, but working out what’s happening dramatically – under the surface is tough. Most actors won’t admit it but scenes scare the shit out...
View ArticleStanding Out and Fitting In
To fit in, you must do everything you can to stand out. At school, peer pressure works very hard to achieve this. Just keep your head down and don’t do anything that makes you stick out from the crowd....
View ArticleHandling Rejection
It isn’t personal. They aren’t rejecting you. It isn’t even really rejection. They just wanted someone else. To You, the Best COACH Mark Westbrook is the Course Leader of the Full Time Professional...
View ArticleWhy This May Be The Most Ridiculous Article for Actors Ever
Because we don’t have a version in the UK, I like to read the US BACKSTAGE website from time to time. Often, it’s full of marvellous advice for actors, but from time to time, they really grind my...
View ArticleWhy You Must Learn About The World
I wonder sometimes if the things that are important to learn for actors, are not always things about acting, drama or film. While it’s important to gain knowledge and acquire skills, sometimes we miss...
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