To suit the Action to the Word, the Word to the Action

Archive for May, 2012

Goodbye Facebook, Hello World

Here is a blog about leaving Facebook…

http://ditchfacebooklovelife.wordpress.com/about-2/

Do you think FB connects you to the world and fills your time and head constructively, or that less – or indeed no – FB time would allow you to connect more with your acting and other dreams and the world around you?

Category:

Miscellaneous

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The DF Eye – 28/05/2012

  1. Theatre

  2. Edinburgh Festival Fringe set for record despite Olympic clash…
  3. brianjaffa
    Only at #edfringe – the lives of Sir Jimmy Savile, Hitler & Tommy Sheridan will be turned into shows this yr. http://bit.ly/KUKU5O #edfest

    Brian Ferguson
    Mon, May 28 2012 05:22:13

  4. Industry

  5. Equity is worth your while to check out, with various benefits (including highly useful Public Liability Insurance). Heard too much about this kind of image?…
  6. Find out what is really on offer for yourself by exploring the Equity website and following such campaigns as…
  7. Equity’s Campaign to increase casting, writing, commissioning and all-round work for Scottish based professionals in native broadcasting, and the claim for improvements to the West End theatre agreement…
  8. EquityUK
    West End negotiations have started, check out our newsletter with info about progress http://bit.ly/KWc6Am Join @EquityUK if you want a say!

    Equity
    Mon, May 28 2012 05:05:55

  9. Continuing the brief look outside, here are the BAFTA results…
  10. And back to making things in Scotland…
  11. PhilipJEMiller
    The BBC’s new heads of factual and arts programming have been named, will be both be based in Glasgow http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/new-bbc-factual-and-arts-chiefs-to-be-based-in-scotland.17701761

    Phil Miller
    Mon, May 28 2012 04:47:07

  12. Film

  13. Making this in Scotland turned out well…
  14. You can hear an interview with Ken Loach here…

  15. More ‘being made in Scotland’: the seven new feature films being developed by the inaugural Accelerator: Feature Film Development Programme were announced on 22 May 2012 during Scotland Day at Cannes Film Festival. Find out more…

  16. From the new, to something that could be on its way out…

  17. Funding

  18. Shakespeare

  19. You can find David Tennant, Alan Cumming’s One Man Macbeth and more over on the latest DF Eye on Shakespeare…

  20. Miscellaneous

  21. Fascinating post on the ‘Georgian Gentleman’ – a blog likely to be very useful for period pieces – about a highly talented lady scientist, partner to Voltaire, who would “gamble at cards with considerable success (she could apparently add up a staggering number of permutations in her head). She then used her winnings to buy more books.” And wasn’t afraid of a little cross-dressing in pursuit of her studies, and possibly even some duelling…

Category:

General Acting

theatreSCOTLAND: Friday 25 May

Weekly update from critic Mark Fisher, for which you can sign up yourself…

theatreSCOTLAND: Friday 25 May

Category:

General Acting, Industry, Miscellaneous

The DF Eye – 27/05/2012

  1. Theatre

  2. Are you going to the Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland?
  3. See also Opportunities section…

  4. Film

  5. See also Training, Miscellaneous and Opportunities sections…
  6. As the Cannes Film Festival comes to an end…
  7. Spot of Scottish industry news…
  8. One of the many films created for the 2012 Edinburgh 48 Hour Film Project – you can find more in the 48HFP Edinburgh Facebook group…
  9. The Collection (3D) – 2D Version Horror Short Film – 48 Hour Film Project in Edinburgh 2012
    enhanceddimensions
    Sun, May 27 2012 09:06:57

  10. Funding

  11. Looking at the very real concerns caused by recent Creative Scotland funding review…
  12. Check out Creative Skillset if you have not yet done so…
  13. Skillset funding is available for this company’s courses, among others…

  14. Miscellaneous

  15. Too late to enter this year, but you can still vote…
  16. As the Jubilee approaches, there’s insight to be found online into the private life of another long-reigning queen…
  17. Is one of your fave’s here? Have to admit, that Gone with the Wind brat leaves me irritated…
  18. This wee musical cycling adventure was filmed by students, with a little production help from DF Acting friend Xanthe O’Connor…
  19. The Whisky RIver Boat Band- 7 gigs, Edinburgh to North Berwick
    welikewhatwesee
    Sun, May 27 2012 12:33:27
  20. Did you know there is now an official religion that holds file-sharing to be a sacred act?

  21. Opportunities

  22. If you are a mother, you can contribute to this creative project…
  23. If you are a father, feeling left out, create your own!
    You can find further DF Eye issues at http://storify.com/DFActing

Category:

Film, General Acting, Industry, Miscellaneous, The DF Eye

Tagged with:

The DF Eye – 22/05/2012

  1. You can find further DF Eye issues at http://storify.com/DFActing
    And here’s the current DF Eye on Shakespeare…

  2. Fringe Show with Opportunities

  3. This August Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat is to be lit up in a fusion of public art and sporting endeavour via a mass choreographed act of walking and endurance running, as part of Edinburgh International Festival and London 2012 Festival.

    You can take part in the event at the time, through booking, or you could see if any of the vacancies they are currently advertising might suit…

  4. Screen Scene

  5. Summerhall – the old Dick Vet college – is now an increasingly vibrant arts centre, with it’s on TV channel…
  6. Fancy turning your hand to a well-known film scene? Check out…
  7. DF is a Johnny Depp fan – and that said, agrees with the following article. Do you?
  8. Making films, though, is a crazy and unpredictable business, and in the end – as with so much in life, and especially performance – you have to just go for it. As film-maker Nick Whitfield puts it:

    “… the fact that it is so hard, that you’re overreaching so far and inviting the gods to shoot you down…well, that’s kind of the point. It’s such a silly thing to do that it’s a death-defying act, and one that you should set about as soon as you’ve finished reading this guide. Go on. What are you waiting for?” – from The Guardian’s ‘How to Make Films’ guide.
  9. So, here are a couple of shorts from the multi-talented David Hutchison of Eyedoll Productions…
  10. crossover
    deitcheyedoll
    Sat, Apr 21 2012 09:31:15
  11. And here is a FREE magazine to help keep up with developments in the filming world…
  12. And then there’s the Edinburgh 48 Hour Film Project, where intrepid teams have just been creating films over the weekend from the evenings of 18th to 20th May. In anticipation of these, here’s the winner of the first Glasgow 48 Hour Film Project (2011)…
  13. The Jigsaw – Glasgow 48 Hour Film Project – Winner of Best Film
    lifeupproductions
    Tue, Oct 18 2011 19:08:56
  14. You can find out about this year’s Edinburgh project, screening at the Cameo from 22nd to 24th May, here…
  15. If all this has inspired you to pay attention to up-coming indy films, then here’s one you may wish to ‘like’ over on Facebook, showing your support to a film whose cast includes DF Acting friend, Debbie Cannon…

  16. Interested in crowdfunding?

  17. This is UK based (though can be used by anyone with Paypal) and is one where the project total has to be reached for any monies to change hands at all.

    Read why they do this and of what use Bloom can be even if you’re not looking for money…

  18. Reading and Writing

  19. The Circalit site is worth a visit if you are a writer or are interested in reading. This particular story is receiving rave reviews…

  20. Theatre

  21. It’s all theatre!
  22. John Bergman, drama therapist and director
    playwrightslab
    Thu, Nov 10 2011 09:19:24
  23. Also here on Storify…

  24. Inspiration

  25. Bear with the slightly cheesy ‘this is just so sad’ music to start with and keep watching – truly, it’s worth it…
  26. Man Barely Able to Stand on his Own Does the Unthinkable – Amazing
    thesepz
    Wed, May 09 2012 17:48:32

Category:

Acting Skills, Film, General Acting, Industry, Miscellaneous, Shakespeare, The DF Eye

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Dressing for the part

It occurred to me today that the custom of earlier times to change one’s dress throughout the day, with outfits specific to what you are doing, probably has sound psychological sense in our times and can be put to good use. Certainly we still fit clothes to purpose, and so this is something that can be used to feel purposeful.

Not having regular 9 to 5 work, I tend to dress in a casual style unless for something specific. Yet the difference made to my attitude by wearing different types of clothes is really noticeable. If I am going to be exercising in the morning, I had better put those clothes on first – and then change immediately into something else, so that breakfasting / lounging about afterwards does not become associated with those clothes!

So, it actually makes sense to wear more formal or business style clothes when setting to work on the admin and other business aspects of this performing career – even for sitting at home in front of the computer. When working in an office, or a bar, or anywhere where some form of ‘uniform’ is expected, the difference that a change of clothes makes to relaxing once you are home is enormous. So, turn it the other way…

When not in a regulated job, use changes of clothing to help you focus on what you plan to do and to make sure you actually follow through. Staying in home-only clothes while working at home is known to be a drain on drive, attention and productivity:

Why should you get dressed properly to work at home?

Do you already do this or think it might help? Comment below to say how things work for you…

Or were you expecting something about costume for castings? There’s plenty out there about this, so here’s a search you can explore:

What to wear to castings / auditions

Basically, what makes sense to me is that, if you want to have a hint of costume, or accessory that would be fitting, go ahead as long as it won’t be any kind of distraction.

Of course, you’ll find stories about those who dressed crazily or totally for a specific role and got the job – but those are rather like the occasions when someone was spotted on the street and made into a star: seems these things do happen, but the odds are not in anyone’s favour.

How much difference does what you wear make to how you feel / perform?

Category:

Business Skills, General Acting, Miscellaneous

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Vicki Featherstone leaves NTS for Royal Court – Who’s next?

Due to this new appointment for Royal Court Artistic Director…

Vicky Featherstone can help the Royal Court keep its edge | Stage | The Guardian

the National Theatre of Scotland are about to start searching for her replacement…

http://nationaltheatrescotland.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/new-horizons/

 

Category:

Industry, Miscellaneous

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