Ego vs Humility

In this industry confidence is one thing, egos are quite another.

A touch of humility is a big asset and every actor needs to remember that.
In an industry where confidence, promotion and marketing is so important it's easy to over step the mark. I was brought up in an era when, if you talked too much about your accomplishments you were considered vain, boastful,  'on yourself',' 'stuck up', 'too big for your boots' and the list goes on. At first it was hard for me to promote what I do because of this. So this is what I have learnt to do...

1. Write down your accomplishments.

Don't exaggerate. Just list every production, short film, eisteddfod, festival, tv show, feature etc that you have ever been in. Now list the most prestigious ones in a second list which will be way smaller. No one needs to know that you performed in 57 items in last year's eisteddfods, cut to the chase and make that list a list of the most impressive things you've done. Did you win an award, work with a well know actor, have a role in a TV show?

2. See yourself objectively, as a product that needs marketing.

I will never forget hiding in the bathroom cubicle at a club when I started singing in bands, waiting for the horrible girls to leave who were talking about how 'on myself' I was. I realised then that I had to create a persona "Anna, the performer" and that "Anna the person" was the everyday me. The performer has to perform and do so with confidence and if jealous people have a problem with that, then it's their problem not mine. The performer is the product that needs marketing.

3. List your strong points.

Be realistic here, you might sing fabulously in the shower, but faced with an audience, band and microphone would you really call yourself a professional singer? Your cartwheels might be impressive but they don't really qualify you as a gymnast. Nor does one term of Tae Kwon Do, make you a martial artist. Keep it relevant, even though I am really good at sewing, unless I'm looking for a job in wardrobe, it's not relevant.

4. Review your lists. Look at everything objectively.

Now you should have a realistic product to market. Use this info on your website, facebook page and any other marketing tools you have.
(See my previous blog Marketing Yourself )

5. Use your accomplishments to promote the product- YOU!

Be humble with your posts. Everyone has that friend on Instagram and Facebook whose constant narcissistic posts and bragging updates are the butt of all jokes. Don't be that person.

EGO vs HUMILITY

Everything is now in place, so let it speak for itself. Don't brag about what you've done, or list all the projects you've worked on. Don't name drop and constantly pull up your work to show others on your smartphone. Parents, this goes for you too. We know you love your child and are proud of them, but keep a lid on it. Less is more. It's okay to mention a few of their highlights, but then point people to their website and let it speak for itself.
The hardest thing in my opinion, is getting the balance just right. You need to sell yourself with confidence and a mix of humility so that you don't come off as being egotistical. This way you will appear competent, professional and a pleasant person to work with.

Posting your creativity online

For actors and performers the big world of the internet is fabulous for so many reasons:

THE GOOD STUFF :)
-you can promote yourself for free
-you can upload your showreels, photos, songs etc, instantly and share them with the world
-you can share all this info on multiple platforms including facebook, youtube, instagram, twitter, tumblr...
-you can access other people's sites and see what they are doing
-you can converse directly with others in the industry
-you can learn so much for free by searching sites and blogs
The possibilities are endless.

But all these great aspects have a few pitfalls for the sensitive, creative souls that we actors and performers are.

THE NOT SO GOOD STUFF :(
Unfortunately the internet is full of gutless people with nothing better to do than post negativity. So keep these points in mind when you share something you have created:
-BE PROUD OF YOUR POST
Make sure you are happy with and proud of what you have posted and don't look for endorsements from others. If they happen that's a bonus.
-DELETE & BLOCK
Get rid of any negative comments and negative people. Leaving them gives the bullies or trolls power. On Youtube you can approve comments before they are posted.
-FEW LIKES OR COMMENTS DOESN'T MEAN ITS NOT GOOD
Remember not everyone will comment or like your post, that doesn't mean it's not good. They may not have seen it, they may be jealous, they may be having a bad day and don't feel like congratulating you.
- IGNORE THEM
A number of people create "cliques" and comment and promote each other's work constantly but never anyone else's. These people also constantly tag each other so you feel left out. Ignore them, don't waste your energy by letting them affect you.

GENERAL RULES FOR THE INTERNET
-Only post things you are happy with and proud of.
-Reread everything you write before pressing 'post'.
-If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
-Imagine your employer's/teacher's/parent's reaction to your post. If you think they wouldn't react well, don't post it!

As always, share and leave me a comment.
PS: If you say something nasty, I'm gonna delete it. SO THERE!!

Marketing Yourself - advice for young actors & their parents

Before reading this blog, make sure you've read my previous blogs "So you Want to Work in Film & TV" Part 1 and Part 2.

Now you should have everything in place to start marketing yourself and approaching producers, directors and filmmakers.
I'm often asked by parents how they should market their kids and there are a few things to keep in mind. With a new year comes a new opportunity to market yourself, so here's a few of my tips. A lot of my advice relies on the internet and social media, so if you are underage, make sure your parent does all this for you.

PUT EVERYTHING IN PLACE
As discussed previously, you should now have a good headshot, a resume, a showreel and possibly an agent. You should also be on any online casting sites your agent recommends. Now remember, your agent can only do so much. They will submit you for any castings that you are suited to, and this can be very specific. If you are blonde, blue eyed and 12 years old, you wont be submitted for the 15 year old role specifying brown hair and eyes. If you have no experience or showreel, you may not get submitted for a lot of roles. You may be submitted by your agent but not get called up to audition. Don't lose heart. There's still lots you can do :)

FREE PUBLICITY
Take advantage of free publicity. Make yourself a Facebook page and a Youtube account. You could also make a website. It's pretty easy to create free websites online now. If you want to register your name like I have, annawatersmassey.com.au, it's relatively cheap, as little as $25 per year.
My advice is not to use a facebook personal profile as these have very limited privacy settings. Instead set up a page. People can then "LIKE" your page and it protects yours and their privacy. Only load professional photos on there such as your headshots, or still shots from any films/TV work you have done. I'm sure I don't need to tell you about stranger danger and the weird people out there on the internet. Keeping this in mind, don't ever reveal personal information or give out your phone number etc. If people are interested in casting you, they can message you on your facebook page or call your agent directly.
Load any showreels or commercials you have done onto your Youtube channel and put links to them on your website or facebook page in the 'ABOUT' section along with your agent's details. Use tags on Youtube so you pop up in searches eg: actor, childactor, talent.

FACEBOOK PAGES
Facebook pages are different to personal profiles because you don't have 'friends' you have 'likers' or 'fans'. You can switch between using facebook as your personal profile and your page by clicking on the cog on the top right hand side as shown in this photo.

These are two of my pages. One which is specifically for children

and the other which promotes me as a performer.

Once you are using facebook as your page you can then 'LIKE' other pages, such as actors, casting agents, producers, filmmakers etc. When you comment on their page, it will be from your professional page and they can then click on it and find you. This makes networking much easier and more professional.

BE PROACTIVE
Now start networking on your facebook page. Use your online casting sites to apply for any student films or short films you hear about. Join acting community pages online as these are a great source of work. Email the film departments at your local Universities and any production houses or filmmakers you know of. Check with your agent before you send any material to casting agents as they will have specific requirements and don't like being bombarded with emails.
The basic rules are:
1. Keep it brief.
2. Outline any recent work or training you have done.
3. Include a link to your online site or showreel (this should have photo, resume and showreel on it).
4. If you include a headshot make sure it's small (no one wants a giant photo clogging their email ).
5. Include your contact details and your agent's.
DONT: send massive emails, huge photos, numerous emails, beg for work, send unprofessional photos or showreels, use bad grammar and spelling mistakes. If your Mum or Dad are sending the emails, DON'T act like an overbearing, pushy, stage parent. Pick your words carefully.

I hope this helps.  Feel free to ask me any questions or leave any comments below.
Good luck. :)

LINKS
My facebook pages : Cool Stuff For Kids To Perform
                                 Anna Waters-Massey Actor/vocalist
My website: annawatersmassey.com.au

The best book ever for kids who want to act :)

Christmas is coming so what better time than now to give my book a plug. What an awesome little stocking filler this will make for the Dramatic child in your family!

If you are looking for scripts for kids, this is the book to buy, says she with no bias whatsoever :)

I wrote this, as I found it really difficult to find scripts for my students that were relevant to today. I'm sorry if I offend anyone, and I loved Enid Blyton when I was growing up, but I have had enough of scripts about fairies, witches, cats and princesses!!! My scripts are mostly set in homes, schools, playgrounds or shopping centres. The characters are all real; students, friends, parents, teachers, shop keepers or bullies.

You'll find over 60 scripts in this book, all 2-4 mins length. Perfect for live performances, roleplays, short films, showreels and auditions. The scripts are easily adapted to male or females and I really concentrate on developing strong characters, especially in my monologues. I have aimed the scripts at kids from 7-18 years old.

I have 2 children of my own so I know  what they say, how they act and what interests them. From my experience, all the kids who use my scripts have really related to my characters and their situations. It gives me a real buzz to go to festivals and eisteddfods and see complete strangers performing my scripts. This is all the proof I need to know that I have pitched to the right market.

For teachers, I have explored various themes in my book, including bullying, trying to fit in, and parent child relationships  as well as over 20 improvisation starters. Watch my video here as I give you tips on other ways you can utilise the book.

Go visit amazon to grab a copy today and they'll ship it to you right away. If you live in Australia, shoot me an email on this link, HI ANNA and I'll send you a copy.

I'd love to hear your thoughts so leave me some comments, and if you like what you see, please share it round like the chicken pox :)

So you want to work in film and TV? Part 2

Alrighty..... so I'm presuming that if you are serious about getting film and TV work, you now have an agent.  The next step is to add credibility to your profile by doing some training, building up a resume and adding a showreel. 

The easiest way to get experience on set is to work on a few student or independent films. These all have minimal budgets and ask for volunteers. You'll find casting notices for these kinds of films on facebook community pages and online casting sites.  

Showreels are a must so that you can be considered for a role. These need to be short and sweet. If you have no idea what to put on your reel, have a look at my book Cool Stuff For kids To Perform, it's full of short scripts for kids of all ages.

Every credible actor has a resume which is kept constantly updated. List all your experience and any training or workshops you have done on your resume.

Workshops with casting directors are a great idea, as you get to meet the person who is casting actors and get an idea of what they are looking for. Remember every casting director has different ideas, so you need to adapt your auditions to suit the person casting you.

Have a look at my vlog as I talk about all these points in more detail on here.

Once you have compiled all this information you are ready for the next step and that is marketing yourself. Who do you send this information to? How do you approach producers, directors, film makers?

But that's a whole other blog, so stay tuned. :)

So you want to work in film and TV?

As a teacher of Performing Arts and acting, I'm often approached by both the students and their parents about how to take that next step. Some kids are happy doing my classes just for fun and confidence building, but others want to venture into film and television.  It can be a fabulously rewarding and fun path to take, but it's also full of potholes, frustration and dodgy people out to make a quick buck from starry eyed individuals and gullible parents.

The first thing you need to do if you're serious about an acting career is to get an agent. I decided to vlog my chat from here so check out the video below.

Remember if you want to be considered for auditions, you have to put everything in place. An agent is the first step, but you need to keep acting at every opportunity as this strengthens your acting muscles. In my next blog I'll go into more detail about how you can improve your chances to get an audition.

Bullies are Losers

On the weekend I was  thrilled to be part of a music video with a fabulous message - SAY NO TO BULLIES! 100s of industry professionals,  actors and dancers donated their time, and I've got to say, the feeling on set was pretty heart warming. This music video FREE YOU BE YOU really got me thinking about bullies and the way they operate and I realise, unfortunately,  I sometimes come across them in this industry I love.

Have you ever been side stage at an eisteddfod and heard kids giggling and pointing at other performers - bullies. What about in the audition waiting room? You know the kid and mother who talk loudly about all the things they have been cast in. They name drop and act as though they know the casting director or producer, they intimidate you any way they can - bullies. Then there's the ones on set, who constantly push themselves in front of the camera, knocking you out of the way. And don't think this behaviour is just from the children. I've witnessed some pretty vicious looks and snide remarks from the parents as well. Some parents even bully other parents into thinking that their child is inadequate, underprepared, totally wrong for the part or just way out of their league. Some of the conversations I've overheard would make your hair curl.

So why do children and parents resort to this bullying behaviour? Because they want to get the part, win the competition, and they will do it however they can. Same old story, people bully, to pull others down so they can put themselves in a position of power.

My advice to you - ignore the gossip, focus on the task at hand, have fun and don't stoop to their level. Parents - stand back, let your child do their job. Don't be a stage mother. The casting directors, agents, producers and people in power see through the bullies. I've been there when they have said "I don't want to work with that kid again" or "That child's parent is just too hard work."
Remember it's not just the talent they are working with, the personality is equally as important. Bullies are losers!

 

Some of the main cast members from the antibullying music video Free You Be You

 

 

100s of film industry professionals, actors and dancers worked for free to spread the antibullying message.

Visit the Free You Be You facebook page and help spread the message - bullies are losers.

 

I've written a number of scripts in my book Cool Stuff For Kids To Perform which deal specifically with bullying.