Attending workshops

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	Topic: Attending workshops
Posted : 25/03/10 / Views : 682 / Replies : 3 /
helengrady 167 posts last on: 05/02/12 send private reply	I think lots of actors have crises of confidence, especially with so few job opportunties around so I'm doing my best to have a proactive weekend to tackle my own little crisis! I'm meeting up with a showreel editor on Friday to talk about up-dating my showreel and then I'm attending two workshhops, one on Friday evening and one on Saturday morning. Friday's is through the Actors' Society (first time I've attended one of their workshops) and Saturday's is through Powell Casting. (Gracie Harris is doing a comedy workshop.She's cast on the IT crowd, Krod mandoon and just finished a new BBC 3 Comedy amongst many other things). I think there are still places available on this one if anyone's interested: click here I'll report back on them both! Saturday's workshop is a new departure for me (though I've attended some of Annelie's workshops before and found them very useful - they even led to a couple of (paid!) jobs, though that's not why I booked on them). I feel apprehensive about Saturday's workshop, which is why I decided to do it! I don't normally think of myself as "funny" and anyone who has heard me try to tell a joke will agree with me! I'm trying to challenge myself and do the things that don't come naturally rather than the things that do. I think I've often made the mistakes with workshops in the past where I've booked on to them to make myself feel better and chosen areas where I already feel I have "strengths". I suppose there can be some point in doing that: we all need a bit of a boost every now and again, but paying £20 - £30 for an ego boost seems a bit self-indulgent so this time I'm really going to learn if I can. Anyone else from CCP on either of these two? It would be great to meet up after either of them.

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	Reply #1
Posted : 11/03/10
helengrady 167 posts last on: 05/02/12 send private reply	I think I've given a duff link, sorry: I'm hoping this one will work: http://www.powellcasting.com/page2.htm

	Reply #2
Posted : 11/03/10
anonymous	I'm going to friday's Actor's Society one. See you there!

	Reply #3
Posted : 25/03/10
helengrady 167 posts last on: 05/02/12 send private reply	I just thought I should report back, as promised! The Actors' Society workshop with Kelly Valentine Hendry on Friday was good and I'm glad I went. I learned as much from watching other actors as I did from my own participation. My only criticism was the time management. It was a three hour workshop, which really should have been plenty long enough, but rather a long time was spent on actors' introductions and we were all rather good at waffling on. I think a stopwatch would have been handy! This did mean that the time spent on individual monologues was rather uneven and I felt that those at the end of the session were rather short-changed. When Kelly did have time to give detailed feedback and actors had time to work on their pieces, there was some very valuable and focussed advice given. I attended the Gracie Harris workshop (through Powell Casting) and found it thought-provoking, informative and really good fun! There were some terrific "performances" from other actors and lots of laughter. I didn't really feel that comedy was my strong point, which was one of the reasons I booked on the workshop: so that I could try something out in a safe, learning environment. Gracie was encouraging, patient and funny. She was also quite brilliant at pinpointing precise areas to work on which in some cases, completely transformed the pieces we presented.. Gracie was careful to ensure that everyone had adequate time. All in all, a really good session. I just wish I could get to the Ginny Schiller one this weekend!

Reply #3

Posted : 25/03/10

helengrady
167 posts
last on: 05/02/12
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I just thought I should report back, as promised!

The Actors' Society workshop with Kelly Valentine Hendry on Friday was good and I'm glad I went. I learned as much from watching other actors as I did from my own participation. My only criticism was the time management. It was a three hour workshop, which really should have been plenty long enough, but rather a long time was spent on actors' introductions and we were all rather good at waffling on. I think a stopwatch would have been handy! This did mean that the time spent on individual monologues was rather uneven and I felt that those at the end of the session were rather short-changed. When Kelly did have time to give detailed feedback and actors had time to work on their pieces, there was some very valuable and focussed advice given.

I attended the Gracie Harris workshop (through Powell Casting) and found it thought-provoking, informative and really good fun! There were some terrific "performances" from other actors and lots of laughter. I didn't really feel that comedy was my strong point, which was one of the reasons I booked on the workshop: so that I could try something out in a safe, learning environment. Gracie was encouraging, patient and funny. She was also quite brilliant at pinpointing precise areas to work on which in some cases, completely transformed the pieces we presented.. Gracie was careful to ensure that everyone had adequate time. All in all, a really good session. I just wish I could get to the Ginny Schiller one this weekend!

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