OCTOBER 2018
“I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail, than to attempt nothing and succeed.”
I have now been represented for 2 months…and the good news is that this month I was offered an audition for a television role! I am so lucky to have an agent like Julie McGowan from SAFA, who not only made the time (on her holidays!) to work with me on my audition script, but also put the arrangements in place for me to do a professional self-tape at her offices. Whilst I didn’t book the job, I have now been seen by a couple of people at one of the major networks in the UK, so hopefully they will keep me in mind for something in the future.
I think that is one of the things that we all need to remember, disappointed as we are when we don’t book a job. Auditions ARE a great opportunity to get in front of and be seen by casting directors, directors and producers. It’s a chance to perform to an audience, to hone your craft and to hopefully be remembered for future work (even if you don’t get offered the role you were going after).
I was very lucky to learn this valuable lesson when I was younger. I had auditioned for a role in Stookie and I remember being so certain that I had nailed my final audition and the role was mine, that I actually sat by the telephone at home and waited for it to ring. Except it didn’t ring and several weeks later I received a letter from Leonard White advising that I had been unsuccessful.
Suffice to say I was devastated but little did I know that whilst I wasn’t right for the role in Stookie, Robert Love had identified me as being perfect for a role in Dramarama’s Silver (Season 3, Episode 11) and invited me to audition for the role of Susan.
As you will see from my IMDb page www.imdb.me/hollywoodhouse, I booked the job and had the privilege to work with the late Gareth Thomas and, as it turns out, the good fortune to work with Director Jim McCann who later invited me to audition for the role of one of the Glendarroch school children in Take the High Road, where I had the honour of sharing scenes with Scottish greats such as Jimmy Chisholm, Eileen McCallum, Robin Cameron and the late Lesley Fitz-Simons.
So, don’t forget the good old Scottish saying ‘Whit’s Fur Ye’ll No Go By Ye’, which basically means what is meant for you will not pass you by. In the meantime, here are some words of wisdom to get you through.
“The real trick to auditioning is just letting go of trying to please them. Make it your own. That took me a long time to learn.”
“You should just simply be the most prepared person in the room. In this business, where we have so little control, that is one of the things that you can control, to go home and work very hard.”
“Just treat the audition like an opportunity. This is your chance to just try stuff, try something. Have fun. That’s what got me out the door”
“I don’t think actors should ever expect to get a role, because the disappointment is too great. You’ve got to think of things as an opportunity. An audition’s an opportunity to have an audience.”
October was the month for new headshots…and I’m absolutely delighted with them. Huge thanks to friend and fabulous Scottish photographer, Gillian McBain, for managing to capture some lovely natural shots (notwithstanding my healing eye abscess, my painfully sore Invisalign braces, and the fact that I had been up until 4am nursing a sick child - all in the week leading up to the photo session! 😂) If you have need of a photographer for your new headshots, you can find Gillian on this link http://www.gillianmcbain.com
October was also the month for a new showreel…which you can watch on this link https://youtu.be/rz4UmpTGpC8 or you can click on the Showreel page on this website and watch it there. Hope you like it.
As you will recall, Armchair Detectives…was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA and we will find out this weekend if it wins, so please keep keeping those fingers crossed!
Finally, October was the month for…surprises! Back in June I wrote a (fan) letter to one of my heroes not really expecting to hear back from her…ever! Well lo and behold but didn’t a lovely handwritten note pop through my door this month with a lovely message from her. I don’t want to spoil the magic by saying who it is but I am truly touched that she took the time to reply to me as I know she is extremely busy. No wonder she is loved and adored by so many people.
So, once again make your NOvember count - go out there and be awesome!
NOexcuses NOregrets NOself-doubting NOquitting NOslacking-off
