georgiafontpp

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My Promotional Portfolio

My promotional portfolio for my final year is intended to set me up for life after university. The portfolio consists of a website, showreel, headshots and CV. I will share what I have learnt and achieved over the years during my training and independent research. This blog will follow my progress and decisions throughout this process.

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Headshots

Getting professional headshots was easy to sort out, as my university offered to take them for free. There were pro’s and con’s to this, as it would only be a 15 minute session compared to 3 hour sessions you would get if you paid for them, but it would be in the comfort of my university so I wouldn’t have to travel far.

I looked into some headshot companies, one of which being ‘David John Headshots’. He is based in Manchester and London. This photographer was recommended to me by a friend, who had some taken some with him previously. This photographer charges £140 for 4 edited photographs and £10 for each extra or £100 for 3 edited photographs for full time students. He takes a minimum of 200+ photos so there will be enough to choose from. On his website he says that

“With a background in acting I understand how important it is that your headshot truly represents you and the work you want to be seen for. I have the advantage of knowing what the actor wants and what the industry needs to see. Each one of us has a unique personality and I'm keen to draw yours out during the shoot (John, 2020).

This photographer wants to make you feel comfortable in the shoot and I think he would be a good choice considering his background.

My headshot experience with my university was chilled and relaxed because I knew the photographer already and my tutor was there to help, so this made me feel more at ease. I didn’t change my outfits around much, just my top and threw on another jacket. I put my hair up for a few and put a pair of hoop earrings in. This was so my appearance would suit different character roles.

Prior to my session I had planned out different looks that I wanted to do, like a Mob Wife kind of look with hoop earrings and bright lipstick and a chavvy kind of look with my scraped back and with hoodie. I didn’t do these looks on the day because it wasn’t a very long session so I didn’t have the time, however I could still do these looks if I paid for more elsewhere.

After sifting through all my photographs, I shortened them down to 5 I liked. These choices featured the most varied facial expressions and looks to post on my website. I’ve included a couple of my choices below.

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My Showreel

For my website I have to create and upload a Showreel which is a collection of my performances. I enjoy editing videos, so creating a showreel wasn’t an issue for me and fun. In my portfolio writing sessions in university, we talked as a class about which types of material would be appropriate for our showreels. We determined through discussions and research that the showreel should only consist of Screen Acting material and no Stage. I found a showreel making guide on a website called ‘Acting in London’, where they give tips and tricks to making the ‘perfect’ showreel. A quote from the site said that,

“Showreels are made out of the filmed footage in which you partake as an actor. Normally, this footage is taken out of more than one production, and only parts of your absolute best performance should be used” (Acting in London, 2020).

From reading these tips, I decided to just use footage from my screen acting productions in university for my showreel. I had 3 productions to use and from editing them down the full video came to the duration of 2 minutes 40 seconds in total. I kept my showreel as that because this was a perfect amount of time for a showreel. A post on the acting website ‘The Reel Scene’ confirmed that saying,

“A well-crafted showreel should last no more than three minutes. In essence, the shorter and punchier it is, the better. Casting directors are busy people, and if you want to stand out, your reel should grab their attention quickly and not waste their time” (The Reel Scene, 2017).

This quote suggests that Casting Agents want to see a short showreel with all your best work because long ones become boring and take up too much of their time.

My completed showreel is shown below.

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Showreel

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CV/Resume

I researched some professional acting CV examples on Google to see how they laid out their information. One I found really helpful is pictured below. I copied her layout to use it for my own. I thought hers was neat and tidy and included all the right information. Instead of creating my CV separately, I wrote it all on my website. This was because sometimes when copying and pasting text onto the website the layout goes all over the place and is messy, so directly typing it on the website averted this potential problem.

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Website

Part of my promotional portfolio includes creating my own website. This seemed daunting at first, because technology is not really a strong point of mine but the site creator I used was straight forward to initially start up. Creating your website on Wix.com is free, offering you other perks for a subscription price but all the basic necessities you’d need to start the site are already available. Firstly I had to choose what layout I wanted for my site, there were many options available but I felt that the one that I chose was simple and professional. I spent time altering my layout as I went, because when it didn’t look right once I added Text and Images.

The colour scheme I chose for my website is quite basic but with a little pop of colour. The marble background I chose is trendy in these times and has been a popular choice for decorating in recent years. I read in a magazine online about why marble print is so in right now and a quote from it said,

“What comes to mind when I say the word “marble”? Luxurious, elegant and classic would be a few words that I associate with it – three very positive descriptions, might I add” (Dilong, 2015). I hope that from using this print, this is what people will think when they visit my website.

I have added two photo galleries to my site, one being a headshot gallery on the Gallery page and another smaller slideshow gallery on my Resume page of just show pictures. Instead of putting all the pictures in one gallery, I decided to do it this way, so that when the reader would be looking over my CV they could flick through the slideshow to see some pictures of me performing in the show in question.

I added 2 of my social media to this website: Twitter and Instagram. When adding social media to the website you have to make sure that the accounts paint you in a positive light. I am not very active on social media, so worrying about my current posts wasn’t an issue, as there aren’t many. I have attached the link to my finished published site below.

https://georgiafont.wixsite.com/mysite

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Writing

Aside from acting, I am also interested in screenwriting. I have a few script ideas in the mix, which I have been working on and would be interested in the production side of filmmaking too. I have set myself a goal to complete some scripts to have on hand ready for networking.

Whilst the filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was working in a VHS shop, he was also saving up money to produce one of his films. He had written two scripts and decided to choose one to sell to another filmmaker, so that the money he made would be able to produce his other film. The film in question was the cult classic ‘True Romance’. An article about the making of ‘True Romance’ from The Telegraph newspaper online said that,

“The script gathered dust for several years. Then, in 1991, Tarantino blagged his way onto the set of Tony Scott’s The Last Boy Scout, where a friend worked as an assistant. Off the back of 1986’s Top Gun, Scott was regarded as one of Hollywood’s supreme hacks – a marshaller of flashy, soulless distractions. But Tarantino adored the panache of Scott’s directing and felt a kinship with the Englishman, in many ways another outsider in Tinseltown. So when the opportunity presented itself, he cornered Scott and pitched Reservoir Dogs and True Romance (Power, 2018).

Scott told Tarantino that he wanted to purchase both films, but Tarantino said he could only have one. With Scott choosing ‘True Romance’ and paying $50,000 for it, this meant Tarantino was able to make ‘Reservoir Dogs’ himself. This success story proves that being prepared and networking can work out, so that is why I want to have scripts ready to go.

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Agents

I haven’t had much experience with agencies, apart from Extra and Background Artist Agencies. The extra agencies I am signed up to are called ‘Maddog 2020’ and ‘Pop’. I have been with these extra agencies for around 3 years and haven’t had a lot of work from them, although I have been an extra in 4 different productions, 2 of which being feature films. Even though I was just an extra on these sets, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and learned a lot on set. Some things I learned on set was etiquette, terminology and the different production roles.

On the casting website ‘Star Now’, there was an article about the benefits of being an extra with one being,

“You'll also get the chance to see a range of different productions and how they differ. For example, how the pace of TV is much faster than film, or how an agile indie project unfolds versus a large-scale Hollywood epic” (StarNow, 2017).

This was something I noticed whilst being an extra, as I have had the opportunity to work on TV productions and Feature Films, meaning I can see the similarities and comparisons.

A popular agency I researched was called Mandy. This agency was originally UK based but has mostly expanded into America and Canada and is the number one Jobs Website for casting and crew. On their ‘About Us’ section on their site they say,

“We empower professionals to find work in TV studios, on movie sets, in training institutions, events, concert halls, theatre companies and art collectives. We help cast commercials, link art directors with cinematographers, and bring lighting designers to dark stages. We support our members as they promote themselves and network across the arts and media industries” (Mandy, 2020).

You can join online for free and signing up is straight forward. Making an account with this agency is something I will definitely move forward with. The link to the website is https://www.mandy.com and I have attached a screenshot of the website below.

I spent time rearching Agencies in New York, because if I want to move there then I will have to find an agency based there to get work. A website called Stage Milk, posted an article listing some New York Agencies. One that they mentioned was the agency, ‘Paradigm’. They said that

“Paradigm is a top-tier agent that is well known for fostering the careers of many of our best loved film and TV stars. Paradigm is one of the most versatile and innovative agents in New York, with offices all around the world as well” (Kwong, 2019).

I looked on this agency's website and learned that they also represent Music talent, Comedy, Book Publishing and others. They have a contact number and email, but don’t say whether they are accepting new talent submissions or not which gives me the impression that they aren’t looking for anything new in for the time being. The link to the agency's website is https://www.paradigmagency.com and I have attached a screenshot of the website below.

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Film Festivals

At the start of the year I set myself a goal of attending at least one independent film festival this year. I want to put myself out there more in the industry and festivals are a great way to meet filmmakers. I spent a lot of time researching ones in the UK and abroad, to see which interested me more.

Although the UK has many film festivals to offer, I was drawn the most to Tribeca Film Festival and the New York Film Festival the most. Both of these festivals are in New York, which is somewhere where I hope to be based after I graduate. I want to explore more into the industry over there, so I think that attending a festival there will be more helpful for me in terms of networking. Film Festival’s are a play a vital part in the film industry. I researched why that is and came across an article on the website ‘Screen Daily’ which said that,

“It’s sharing. Thanks to global digitalization film festivals are now an exceptional tool for crossing the communication channels from the most distant places. Film festivals are helping at the frontline of an increasingly polarized world. Speaking multiple languages, they give you the ability to hear a rich diversity of voices from the divided areas” (Leshchenko, 2016).

The quote implies that the Film Festival’s showcase so much different material, helping expand the talent in the industry.

Tribeca

Tribeca Film Festival was founded by Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro in 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 disaster. They thought that setting up this festival would bring New York together in light of all the sadness and devastation. On their website they say

“TFF reimagines the cinematic experience and explores how art can unite communities” (Tribeca, 2001).

It is an annual celebration of independent filmmakers from around the world, it’s primary focus being short films and narrative led films. Paula Weinstein, who is the Chief Content editor at Tribeca said that,

"We are privileged to have so many new and rich worlds brought to life by visionary storytellers. We hope audiences leave the Festival deeply touched, moved, and entertained" (Weinstein, 2020). The festival is usually held in the beginning of April lasting 11 days in total.

The submission process is pretty straight forward, with several categories to submit to.

For the 2020 Festival there are six categories, which are: Tribeca Features, Tribeca Shorts, Tribeca TV, Tribeca Immersive, Tribeca N.O.W (New Online Work and The Tribeca X Award.

“The Tribeca X Award is a juried award for storytelling supported by a brand recognizing the intersection of advertising and entertainment. The Tribeca X Award is open to all work funded with support of a brand in collaboration with artists or filmmakers. The finalists will be recognized by the Tribeca Film Festival, and a jury will award the winning selection at the Festival” (Tribeca, 2020).

All the submission rules and information are available on the website and the fees depending on how late the submission will be.

You can attend Tribeca without a submission, with varied ticket options available differing in price. The ticket option that I was interested in was called the ‘Hudson Pass’. This pass costs $1400 and will give access to one Gala event of my choice at The Beacon Theatre, all Screenings Evening/Weekend and Matinee and all ‘Tribeca Talks’ events including the Director and Storytelling series. This will give me the opportunity to network at the event and meet other fellow filmmakers looking to work together. From the talks I’ll be able to receive advice from directors and storytellers, which will benefit me when I start creating stuff of my own.

NYFF

The New York Festival also known as Film at Lincoln Center has been around for 50 years. It is a Non-Profit organisation which honors American and international film. On its website it says that

“Film at Lincoln Center is dedicated to supporting the art and elevating the craft of cinema and enriching film culture, fulfilling its mission through the programming of festivals, series, retrospectives, and new releases; the publication of Film Comment; the presentation of podcasts, talks, and special events; the creation and implementation of Artist Initiatives; and our Film in Education curriculum and screenings” (Film at Lincoln Center, 2020).

The festival runs for 17 days in total and is usually held from the end of September to the start of October. Likewise with Tribeca, NYFF has many ticket options available on their website. For example the Gala Evening prices range from $85 to $35 depending on the venue and the time. There isn’t much information about the 2020 festival online because the event is still some time away, but they have a timeline of past events so you can get an idea of what types of things may be on offer. They say on their website that,

“In addition to the Main Slate official selections, the festival includes newly restored classics, special events, filmmaker talks, panel discussions, the avant-garde showcase Projections, and much more” (Film at Lincoln Center, 2020). This gives you a concept of what you may be able to attend at the next festival.

I was interested in this festival because it focuses on a lot of media, like Feature Film Debuts as well as shorts, etc, including anticipated releases. In 2019, the Main Slate Selection list included critically acclaimed releases like Martin Scorsese’s, ‘The Irishman’ and Boon Joon-Ho’s, ‘Parasite’.

On their site they have a ‘Visit Us’ section which tells you how to get to the festival, providing train stops and maps. This is extremely helpful for someone like me who doesn’t know the area. I have taken a screenshot of this and posted it below.

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My Personal Strengths and Limitations

Throughout my acting journey I have learnt my strengths and limitations. My progress through performing in my university shows and screen acting classes over the years has highlighted certain strengths and weeknesses.

During improvisation tasks, icebreaker games and auditions for example, I am aware that I have a lack of self confidence. This is something that has been pointed out to me by peers and tutors over the years and is something I am slowly but surely improving on. I am very self critical in general and often don’t like watching my own performances back. This is an obstacle for me, as we learn as actors from watching our own performances back and analysing things to improve on, do or not do in our next performance.

Projection is also a weakness of mine during rehearsals of stage productions. On the show day I project well, but in rehearsals I lack energy. I feel like I am more suited to screen work due to my quieter nature because you don’t need to project as much on screen.

Learning lines has been a strength of mine throughout my rehearsal process. I haven’t really had a lot of lines to learn, which is an advantage, however learning lines is something I don’t really struggle with as an actor.

Another strength of mine I have learnt, is my ability to cry on cue. This is something I acquired through independent rehearsals and learning monologues at home. I haven't really had the opportunity to use this skill yet, but it is good to have for future work.

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Final Thoughts

In conclusion, I am excited and looking forward to embarking on my journey into the industry after university life. I will use all the skills and information I have learnt throughout this process, whilst navigating potential jobs and auditions in the future. In particular I have learnt how important having a good website, CV and showreel is to an actor, because it is a reflection of what you are capable of to a potential employer or casting director. I feel confident in myself and my ability to be successful in the industry and I am ready to take on new opportunities.

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Bibliography

Acting in London Website. Actor’s Showreel. [Online] Available from: https://actinginlondon.co.uk/actors-showreel/# [Accessed on 18 April 2020].

DILONG, N. (2015). Trend To Watch: Marble Prints. SheSaid.com. [Online] Available from: https://shesaid.com/trend-watch-marble-prints/ [Accessed 7 April 2020].

IMAGE- Helga Williams CV. Backstage. [Online]. Available from: https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/how-to-create-an-acting-cv-in-the-uk-69511/ [Accessed 8 April 2020].

IMAGE- My Headshots. Available on my website.

Film At Lincoln Center Website. (2020). [Online] Available from: https://www.filmlinc.org/film-at-lincoln-center-timeline/2010s/ [Accessed 14 April 2020].

JOHN, D. (2020). About Me on his website. [Online] Available from: https://davidjohnheadshots.com/about-me [Accessed 10 April 2020].

KWONG, I. (2019). Acting Agents in New York. Stage Milk. [Online] Available from:https://www.stagemilk.com/acting-agents-in-new-york/ [Accessed 21 April 2020].

Mandy Website Link. [Online] Available from: https://www.mandy.com/pages/about-us [Accessed 14 April 2020].

My website link. https://georgiafont.wixsite.com/mysite [Online]

Paradigma Website Link. [Online] Available from: https://www.paradigmagency.com [Accessed 14 April 2020].

POWER, E. (2018). You're so cool: True Romance is Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece... precisely because he didn't direct. The Independent. [Online] Available from: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/true-romance-quentin-tarantino-masterpiece-anniversary-25-years-patricia-arquette-tony-scott-a8526931.html [Accessed 20 April 2020].

The Reel Scene Website. How To Make A Showreel. [Online] Available from: https://reelscene.co.uk/creating-acting-showreel/ [Accessed 16 April 2020].

Screen Daily Website. (2020). What’s the purpose of film festivals in the 21st Century?. [Online] Available from:

https://www.screendaily.com/comment/whats-the-purpose-of-film-festivals-in-the-21st-century/5108598.article [Accessed 17 April 2020].

Star Now Website. (2017) The benefits of being an extra. [Online] Available from: https://www.starnow.co.uk/blog/235/the-benefits-of-being-an-extra [Accessed 7 April 2020].

Tribeca Film Festival Website. (2020). [Online] Available from: https://www.tribecafilm.com/news/2020-tribeca-film-festival-features [Accessed 20 March 2020].

VIDEO-My Showreel. Available on my website.