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Want to work for ITV?

12/4/2020

Do you have lots of ideas for TV programme content? Have you got experience of researching and fact checking stories? If the answer is yes, we have a fantastic opportunity to join our team on This Morning as a Researcher. The show provides a broad mixture of content from breaking news stories to emotional real life stories, topical debates and consumer demo items, as well as celebrity interviews.

As one of our researchers you will contribute to providing topical quality content for This Morning. It is an opportunity to try out new ideas and production techniques. You will be responsible for coming up with innovative ideas, researching stories and writing briefs as well as conducting research interviews with guests. This is not a job for beginners, you'll need to have a couple of credits to your name or relevant transferable experience. Candidates can find out more and apply here

Images Courtesy of ITV

Want to be in front of the camera? Join IPM Acting Academy Professional, Industry sessions today to start your Acting Career! Join on the button below

I wonder how they did that?

11/28/2020

Film and TV has developed so much in the production department over the last couple of decades, that it astounds audiences how they managed to achieve what we thought was the impossible. Crazy stuntmen flinging themselves from buildings, explosive gunfights between characters and car chases that have you biting your nails and hanging off the edge of your seat. After the credits have rolled, and you and your viewing party trade your favourite lines and scenes of the film, the moments that stand out to you begs the question: “But wait… how’d they do that?”. Well, we cannot reveal all the tricks of the trade can we (got to leave some things a mystery)? But to find out the top 5 industry “secret” props, keep on scrolling…

Sugar Glass

Prop or as it is known in the film and TV industry, “theatrical property” are any objects used by actor in a screen or stage performance. There are many benefits to utilising props in filming such as adding greater subtext to the scene or a particular character (think Indiana Jones’ iconic hat and whip) and with the emergence and growing usage of green screen technology, enables actors to physically access their character in order to deliver the right performance. This first prop is featured heavily in nearly every kind of genre delivered onto stage and screen. At first glance the name of this multifunctional prop may sound oddly appealing- and to some it is.

Sugar glass (also known as breakaway glass and candy glass) is a prop used in many different forms- and is simply made from mixing dissolved sugar, water then heating to an extremely high temperature (about 150˚C!) until it can be formed into its desired shape (e.g. a bottle or thin sheet). To ensure it does not (re)crystallise, corn syrup is often used to aid the consistency. Because it resembles glass both in look- and when broken in a scene shatter similarly- and is unlikely to cause any harm, it is considered an effective and inexpensive prop to manufacture. The downside? Due to the chemical structure of its main ingredient sugar, it must be used quickly after it is made as the brittle quality that is achieved only last so long.

Fake Money

Ever thought those stacks of dollar bills in that bank heist look so real and tempting that you would want to steal it yourself? Well, unfortunately you would have a hard time pulling that job off as a popular trick the use money in screen productions as these notes are as fake as the paper they are printed on. Only it is not paper- it is cotton would you believe? One of the top featured props in action films, crime thrillers and espionage series, the key to achieving the “real” look of bills of money is just that, the “look”.

Considering the strict laws surrounding money, its distribution and usage, even the material (cotton instead of paper), lack of watermarks and security numbers all serve to make sure the illusion stays intact. If you notice, we never tend to see money in an up close shot whenever it is shown, sometimes even just being printed on the side the audience is viewing- all these add to the “authenticity” of the fake money. Ironic right? The faker the better as any attempt that may be viewed as duplicating real currency is seen as counterfeiting and is met by strict government investigation- ouch.

“Are they really driving…?

I know I am not alone in the thought of watching a scene of characters in a car travelling through the streets of a metropolitan area, casually engaging in conversation…but their eyes leave the road a touch longer than is deemed safe or their hand movements on the steering wheel don’t quite sync up? Come on I know we have all wondered: “Are they really driving and delivering their lines that perfectly?”. To answer your burning question, sadly no. Ahh but do not despair as it is really the safest option when filming a simple driving scene compared to a stunt driver commandeering a high-octane car chase.

A larger piece of production equipment known as a process trailer (or a low loader), essentially a moving platform towed by a larger (usually) truck vehicle as the crew is mounted with their lights, camera and boom equipment at either the front or side of the “prop” car. Handily, the process trailer can be expanded in width in order to change shots and come in different variations but to capture a realistic shot of the actor driving, is placed at a height that adds to the overall authenticity.

Add to this that the actor must mime the driving process, it saves time and money compared the traditional (and slowly disappearing) use of green screen with a stationary car. With today’s technological advances, it sure is nice to see that we have moved away from the days of repeating background and bad “driving”- I am looking at you Knight Rider.

Drop your (Prop) Weapons!

Weaponry and its authenticity are vital to convince not only the audience of the danger it yields but the actor wielding it as well. With that in mind, there is a history of unfortunate accidents or deaths on set due to the improper safeguarding of prop weapon, most particularly guns (see Brandon Lee, son of Bruce in his final role in The Crow), there is the key reminder that the prop must have the “look” and most certainly not the “feel” of the real thing. So how is it exactly do filmmakers and cameramen achieve a shot of an unfortunate victim being stabbed by a sharp blade without harming the actor, getting that “money shot” of it being pushed all the way through the body so satisfyingly for the audience to see, and not changing angles at all?

Times gone by a trick like this was semi-difficult to pull off, making the use of quick cuts of the camera or miming the shot with the intended actor. Nowadays, like the prop mentioned below, it can be a combination of visual effects mixed with postproduction touch-up and image editing. It all is dependant on the budgeting, tone of the scene and action that is being performed, for example if it just a simple extra being killed by our hero without any consequences, it most likely will be shot in one quick wide shot with a blood pack being added to bolster the legitimacy of the gory death. However, if the scene is to depict a vengeful, violent killing meant to be shown in close up detail, there is a combination of a retractable blade (practical effects), with the squib (small, explosive device filled with fake blood- again practical effect) setting off, then if required adding those extra details in CGI to add to the illusion. This one remains somewhat of mystery to most, as there is a method called impalement illusion, wherein the actor wears a corset (or frame) around their body with “entrance” and “exit” slot for the blade to fit through. Again, this is something that screen productions have utilised over the years and even stage magicians as a popular act but there is still some secrecy shrouded around this technique. Hmm, I guess a magician cannot reveal all his tricks.

Anatomy of a Scene

House, Grey’s Anatomy, The Walking Dead, Alien, Robocop…what do all these productions have in common? No, it is not an ass-kicking no nonsense hero bound to save the day, but the featured use of the human body dissected and examined up close and personal. For those who are squeamish, it is probably stomach churning to watch those scenes of actors poking, prodding, and slicing at those organs on screen, but for those just a morbidly fascinated as us keep reading to find out how they managed it. The process is not as exciting as the result, but it is all in the detail that the realism is achieved.

Either using practical effects such as elaborate prosthetics being produced by special effects props specialist to fit the scene, design and body of the actor it will be fitted on or the detail given in post-production VFX; the desired look can be achieved easily with todays options. In Marvel’s Iron Man, the iconic chest arc reactor worn by lead Robert Downey Jr was achieved without the need for CGI; accomplished by constructing a replica of the actor’s chest spray painted with makeup to match his skin tone, whilst holding the main design piece in the middle. In other more meticulous scenes, CGI may be needed to add an additional layer of legitimacy to the screen. This can be seen in 2014’s RoboCop, featuring a scene of detailed operation that looks so real you can see pieces of brain matter on the surgeon’s tools- but you will be potentially shocked to know that that was all CGI. I know blew our minds too.

So there you have it, our Top 5 industry tricks for the special effects and technically derived moments in filmmaking. There are many more industry tricks that create the wonders of film and television. From make-up to props, film has created these techniques way before CGI. It has always been one of the greatest parts of the industry is bringing together the tricks. What are some of your favourite film moments using these techniques?

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Voice Over Artists We Have Grown Up With & Loved

11/17/2020

Have you ever been sat down glued to your favourite cartoon as a kid, hearing the vibrant voices of its characters that make them feel almost real? Voice acting is a diverse and changing industry and it’s not enough to just have a “good voice”- you have to offer some versatility the same way a screen actor would have to show their visual emotional range. From video games, cartoons, animated films and television advertisements these actors have had long running careers in the voice-over industry that spans over several decades. Read below for our top 10 voice actors to find out some of the names behind the voices: you might just be surprised and a little inspired…

Robin Williams

Oscar winning actor and Hollywood legendary comic, Robin Williams demonstrated early in his career his talent (and penchant) for impressions of his fellow actors. This skill for comedic manipulation of his voice was appropriate for his roles as the charismatic Genie in the Disney classic Aladdin (1993), Robots’ (2005) and children’s favourite Happy Feet (2006). Williams range in vocal expression made as much of a mark with his face off screen as it did with him on.

Mark Hamill

First known to audiences as Luke Skywalker from the original Star Wars trilogy, Mark Hamill captured hearts as a teenage heartthrob on the silver screen back in 1970s and 80s. Having a vastly extensive track record in the voice over industry, Hamill’s work dates to 1973, with work the popular 60s/70s cartoons The New Scooby-Doo Movies and Jeannie credited as “additional voices”. In recent years, Hamill has undertaken the iconic role of the Joker in TV, animation and video games starting in 1993 and being one of, if not the most highly sought-after character in his vocal repertoire.

Troy Baker

Perhaps one of voice overs best kept secrets, Baker has voice acting credits to rival the greats despite being only 44 (arguably one of the youngest prolific voice actors in the industry); and he is steadily adding to his résumé. Typically working within the field of video gaming, Baker has shown a confident approach to the leading action man role in combat, fighting based games. However the role that brough critical acclaim and international attention was his role as Joel, the protagonist of zombie horror survival game The Last of Us, which incorporated the use of motion capturing in its development process, in order to fully capture the psychological core of the main characters. With this role, Baker epitomises the lone wolf persona, simultaneously offering emotional depth unseen in games before then. Baker’s Joel became a standout character and a landmark in the storytelling aspect of modern gaming.

Seth MacFarlane

Rivalling the late and great Williams mentioned above, this next actor is arguably the most recognizable from his face and voice. Seth MacFarlane’s talents in the acting industry are not simply limited to voice work, but to numerous writing credits. The most popular of his voice and writing work would have to go to his multiple voice over work on his shows Family Guy (1999) and American Dad (2005). In the former of these adult animated comedies, MacFarlane plays bumbling patriarch Peter Griffin, homicidal yet highly intellectual toddler son Stewie and sardonic family dog Brian- two that contain a slight variation of MacFarlane’s distinguishable voice, exaggerating his native Bostonian accent for Peter, adding a RP British accent for Stewie but delivering Brian in his natural speaking voice.

Phil LaMarr

Perhaps lesser known on the screen compared to his counterparts, there is no denial of the richness Phil LaMarr evokes with just his voice. Deep, full bodied and resonant, LaMarr has been commissioned to voice over video game character favourites such as Lee from The Walking Dead by TellTale Games, a role in which he received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Whether it be a stoic samurai (as the titular Samurai Jack), noble superhero Green Lantern or post-apocalyptic survivor thrust into a caregiver position as mentioned above, LaMarr is recognised as one of the living greats of the industry for his innate ability to imbue his roles with gravitas and subtle strength.

Jim Cummings

Armed with a powerfully intimidating voice fit for kings and gods, Cummings is another staple in the voice acting community having played countless roles over the years. Alongside the legendary Mel Blanc, Cummings is the only other actor to portray the iconic Tasmanian Devil; a character known to communicate in growls and snarls instead of actual speech tells us that sometimes being a voice actor is being able to access those primal, animalistic sounds. Although another anthropomorphic cartoon character, Jim Cummings has portrayed the lovable Winnie the Pooh (and his energetic friend Tigger), demonstrating his skill at harnessing the cadence of his voice to suit the softly spoken Pooh (The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh-1988).

Tara Strong

Tara Strong has been the voice of and for kids everywhere since the late 80s. What is interesting about the unique quality of Tara’s voice is she is known for playing young male characters (think Timmy Turner from Fairly Oddparents, Dil Pickles from Rugrats and Ben Tennyson from Ben 10). This casting choice is notable as it is difficult for male actors to capture that pre-puberty high pitch aspect, which Strong does effortlessly whilst adding a touch of innocence and vulnerability to the character in order to flesh them out.

Cree Summer

Another Rugrats alumna, Cree Summer’s raspy, distinctive voice has been utilised over several decades. The gravelly quality of Summer’s voice has been manipulated to fit either the gentle precociousness of a young girl (Susie Carmichael from Rugrats), a strong warrior princess (Princess Kida from Disney’s Atlantis) or a malevolent villain such as Medusa in numerous animated series. Older audiences might recognise Cree from her role as Winifred “Freddie” Brooks on the black NBC sitcom A Different World from 1988 to 1993.

Dan Castellaneta

Long-time fans of the iconic animated series The Simpsons will know the man responsible for breathing into life our lovable, drunken patriarch Homer Simpson is none other than Dan Castellaneta. I would confidently say that Castellaneta’s Homer is one of the hardest voices to perform, as he achieved a voice quality into the Duff loving family man that few can replicate. Other fan favourites Castellaneta voices include Homer’s elderly father Abe “Grampa” Simpson, Krusty the Clown, Groundskeeper Willie, Homer’s perpetually inebriated cohort Barney Gumble, and hundreds of others spanning over his 690-episode credited appearances in this show.

Hank Azaria

Known as a great mimic in both the screen and voice acting community, Hank Azaria possesses seemingly an endless range of voices, accents, personalities under his belt. Most notably rivalling colleague Dan Castellaneta by embodying several beloved characters on The Simpsons. The most popular of these would be the incompetent Chief Wiggum, jaded barman Moe Szyslak and the Kwik-E Mart proprietor Apu. These three are iconic in that their voices are so vastly different to one another yet are so fitting that it is hard to believe one man is performing them all so convincingly.

Want to learn key skills of voice performances? Or looking to start your Acting Career? Join IPM Acting Academy Today!

5 Reasons to Join an Acting Class Today!

11/9/2020

Aside from taking part in incredible fun, and acting in some professionally filmed material, we believe that there are many reasons to join acting classes! IPM team member, Katherine, has put together this latest blog post from her perspective of a training actor to help you make that first decision of joining classes today!

'As a child, getting in-front of a camera, even for a photograph, was not my idea of fun. I was incredibly shy. My first acting class, during high school, really pushed me out of my comfort zone. My early school years were spent sat at the back of the classroom, barely uttering a word. My teachers actually told me to speak up -this I couldn’t understand, as they seemed to be so frustrated by the noisy troublemakers! The thought of performing was petrifying. Even making conversation with new people, answering a question in class, making eye contact and standing up for myself, were all things that made me unsure. So you’re probably thinking, why on earth I put myself through it?!
Some students would get up on stage, some even working on locally filmed TV programmes.

They looked so confident and I wanted to feel like that. I wanted to do something about my pesky nerves! I remember mustering up the courage to walk to my first acting class, having persuaded a friend to come along with me. I was shaking with nerves and curious as to what would be expected from me.

This is what I found by taking an acting class and what you can find too!

1. Connecting & Communicating

The first hurdle was introducing myself. Icebreakers may seem cliche, but they work wonders. As you return to class each week, it becomes the norm to speak out and perform frequently. Even something as simple as saying your name and one thing about yourself, can start a conversation and be the start of a connection with someone.
As you progress in class, looking at scripts, or even your first performance in front of the camera, acting teachers will teach you to enunciate. They will guide you through vocal techniques and exercises, allowing you to experiment with your voice in a safe space. I was speaking with confidence in no time. I began to apply what I was learning in class, to my day to day life at school, starting conversations with people, making more friends.

2. Become More Body Confident

I distinctly remember a presentation I did in front of the class. I had no idea what to do with my body, how to stand, what to do with my hands, where to look. The more I focused on what people were thinking about me, and the way I looked, the more awkward and nervous I undoubtably looked. It felt like an endless cycle. I was not used to having all eyes on me, but practicing speaking in front of people at acting class, I began to feel more comfortable with the spotlight on me.

We focused on relaxing the body. Inspired by yoga practices, we took time to feel in touch with our bodies, ready to focus and set our minds to the class or performance ahead. We would also experiment with movement exercises. This would be an opportunity to let lose, throw some energy around and have a laugh with group. When you begin to film your performances and watch yourself back on camera, you can see how important it is to relax and be aware of how you use your body when approaching a character.

3. Expressing Creatively & Relieve Stress

I loved finishing a day at school, getting to acting class and focusing my energy on something outside the classroom. Leaving the day behind and throwing yourself into a creative practice can really lift your mood. On the other hand, drawing something from your experiences and using them to enhance your performances, injecting some true emotion into it, can be really effective.

Acting for screen requires tapping into deep emotions and portraying them in a naturalistic, more subtle way that you would on stage, for example. It can help to use your own experiences in these instances to deliver an authentic performance. This, consequently, brings more pleasure to your craft- watching footage of your performance and thinking- I created that! Learning to be more explorative, playful and relaxed is something I’ve taken from my years of acting, experiencing reduced stress and a more creative outlook, and have applied to my life outside of class.

4. Learning it is Okay to be Vulnerable

I mentioned I was an insufferably shy child, and I wanted to change that. I realised that pushing myself out of my comfort zone in acting class was really good for me. It was a safe space for me to experiment and tap into my emotions, directing them towards a creative goal.
Performing in an embarrassingly funny scene, a romantic storyline or an outburst of tears and terror, can feel scary. You are putting yourself in a vulnerable position, allowing yourself to express these raw feelings with all eyes on you, in front of the camera. As this became a regular exercise, I learnt that it’s ok to feel those emotions in real life. It is ok to be vulnerable. I continued acting classes throughout my entire education and beyond. As I continued to grow up and experience new things and feelings, acting has definitely made me feel more comfortable expressing my emotions - incredibly helpful as you navigate your way through life, and healthy for friendships and relationships.

5. Make New Friends & Have Fun

Working closely as a group of artists, striving for intimate connections and confidence expressing emotion, delving into your experience to bring a character to life, creates a special bond. You develop relationships on and off screen. In taking classes, they were filled with people from all walks of life, different ages, different abilities. I made some of my closest friends in class. People that make me cry with laughter. People that I may not have met otherwise. People that support each other and are proud of each other’s growth.

So, there you have it. 5 Reasons Why You Should Join an Acting Class. As you can tell, taking an acting class really did change my life around for the better. Now, I am not afraid to speak up, I can confidently express my opinions and make positive connections in social situations, and let's not forget that eye contact. My friends and co-workers today cannot believe I used to be a shy child!

Want to start Acting Classes today? Join IPM Acting Academy and find your new confidence through On-Screen Acting, find a New Career & More! Get in touch on the button below!

Confidence on Camera: Tips to boost your confidence

10/23/2020

When training actors who are starting their career, the team at IPM often hear the first thing that people want or need to work on is their confidence. Building your confidence is not an overnight process. Many great names like Chris Evans, Hugh Jackman and Jennifer Lawrence all have bouts of nervousness and anxieties before performing. We are human, it is normal to feel nervous. But how you choose to overcome those anxieties will help boost your self esteem, open new opportunities and help you grow as a performer. Our team has put together some tips on building confidence for your performance.

Positivity

Avoid the negative thoughts about yourself and your skills. When you put yourself down, you manifest those thoughts, your personal growth falters. and it shows in your performance. When you don't take a moment and see the positive experiences, progress or performances that you have produced, your confidence will not grow as a performer. The first step to personal growth as an actor is your own thoughts and comments. Keep them positive and you will feel your mindset change for the better. Anything you say to yourself should be about constructive criticism and not self doubt.

Repetition

When you are learning anything new, repetition allows your confidence to grow. As we mentioned, growing your confidence isn't an overnight process. The more you practice anything about confidence building, a technique or even an accent, your confidence will grow over time and you will feel the progression you've made.

Meditation

Breathing connects us to everything. When we learn to control our breathing, we can allow ourselves to overcome anxieties that keep our confidence down. Breathing is a very important part of performance and to control that breathing will not only grow your confidence it will enhance your performance skills to a new level. Meditation is a large influence in finding your confidence and easing your anxieties to start your career as an actor.

Taking the first step to build you confidence may not be easy, but with time you will feel the positive changes in yourself. It takes time and practice, but it will get easier the more you keep practicing!

Want to find new ways to build your confidence in your Acting Career? Join IPM Acting Academy today with NEW class options available to fit your schedule.

Tips for Working with Animals on Screen

10/2/2020

Animals are a recurring element in cinema, and often roles will require interaction with them. It’s important to know what to expect and how to treat your furry (or feathered, scaly, chitinous etc) co-stars with respect and professionalism. Our team has put together some great animal performances on screen and tips on working with them on set!

Most animals you’ll see in major roles in film have a handler on set at all times to make sure that they don’t do anything to endanger themselves or others. Dogs particularly make excellent actors; if you’ve seen John Wick, you’ve seen how a dog can be well-trained enough to pull heartstrings as well as the best human actors. Since 2001 the Cannes Film Festival has run the Palm Dog Award to recognize the accomplishments of the the most talented canine thespians (the most recent winner being Sayuri, the pitbull who played alongside Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood). Then there are our other furry companions. Cats. Cats are intelligent enough to understand direction, but far too proud to consider following it; despite this, there are notable cat performances in film such as Jonesy from Alien and Mrs Norris from the Harry Potter series.

Capuchin monkeys are intelligent, personable and easy to get along with, making them the most commonly utilized primates in film and television; see Marcel from Friends or Crystal the Monkey, Hollywood’s go-to tree dweller who has starred in films such as George of the Jungle, Night at the Museum and The Hangover Part II (incidentally, the highest paid animal star!). Chimps are also intelligent, but more erratic and less friendly; generally having them on set is a risky proposition, and for this reason chimps have become rarer in film recently. Put bluntly, when mistreated they can get violent. Pound for pound, chimps are much stronger than humans. Do the math.

This brings us to the number one rule when interacting with any animal on set, whether it’s a mouse or an elephant; LISTEN TO THEIR HANDLER. They know the animal better than you, often having raised them from birth. They know what different behaviours indicate; whether an animal is distressed or upset, whether they’re about to become a danger to those on set. This advice might save your life one day, so if you take nothing else from this article, remember this.

The second thing to remember is to have patience. Animals, as intelligent as they can be, aren’t human beings; they don’t have a concept of what ‘film production’ means, and I can guarantee you that (with the exception of well-trained dogs) they won’t do what the director wants them to do in the space of a few takes. Be calm, and take it as an opportunity to observe your co-star; realise that they have their own intentions and interests, and learn to work with those to make the process more expedient. If you have a pet dog or cat, you’ve probably experienced this process yourself, so draw upon that.

The final tip for working with animals is to always be professional and ethical, small or large, these are living creatures with their own intentions, thoughts and way of seeing the world and we must respect that. We love our furry friends on set and on-camera. Who are some of your favourite animal performances?

Want to be Screen Ready for your next Casting? Join IPM Acting Academy today!

Knowing the Role: Production Terminology For Casting Walk-On Roles

9/21/2020

When starting out in the industry, knowing the name of the role you are going for isn't always just the character's name, production has titles for roles to help the production team know scheduling, placement in the scene and even how many lines you may have. Our team has put together a break down of the 'Walk-on' roles that will become a regular term you will hear in your career.

Picture Courtesy of Liverpool Echo on location shoot of ITV's Victoria

Walk-On 1

A walk-on 1 role, or also known as a Supporting Artist (SA) is the term used for background artists. Many productions need the feel of a busy space. Whether it is a Victorian market or a bustling pub, people need to be in the scene to fill that atmosphere. Walk-on 1s don't have lines, and have very minimal direction in their time on set, but are essential to creating the scene the director envisions.

Walk-On 2

A walk-on 2 is the next role up on the Walk-On scale. Walk-on 2's work with the director and the main cast more in a scene, allowing the artist who is filming that part to be seen more in the shot and be more interactive in the scene. Many of these roles include Paramedics on soaps, Bar staff that may be serving the main cast or a group of journalists. These roles are the ones that are a great start for actors as they get to work with the director and show their expressive skills.

ITV's 'Emmerdale' featuring IPM'S Andrew Goulding

Walk-On 3

A Walk-On 3 is where actors begin getting into the scripted roles. This is a great progression for an actor's career as it gives you the chance to have a spoken credit, but also show more of you ability as an actor. You work with the main cast and with the director with dialogue and direction. During the heyday of American soaps as an under-five, describing the number of lines one could expect in the role. In British television, this may be known as an under-six. These roles are a great starting point for actors as it gives you a speaking credit and experience as a speaking actor.

As your career moves forward and your CV grows, this is when your opportunities can be bigger. You get the chance to have larger roles on multi-episode bookings which are called Supporting Roles (not to be mistaken with Supporting Artist) or even Co-Lead roles. It is a great progression that an actor can make if they put their mind to it and continue to grow their skills for the screen.

Want to land your next audition? Join IPM Acting Academy to be Screen Ready with a Professional Industry Team!

The Best Child Performances in Films

9/15/2020

Atonement, Universal Pictures

With some of our young performers recently attaining professional work with premium broadcasters and companies, it is no surprise that here at IPM we have a passion for fostering juvenile talent. Not only do we nurture our child and teen performers through in-depth industry training and on-set experience, we also think it is important for them to be inspired through the performances of fellow young actors. Here we will explore some of the most impressive juvenile performances seen in films, examine what makes them stand out and evaluate what our IPM performers can be inspired by:

1. Saoirse Ronan as Bryony Tallis (age 13) in Atonement (2007)
There is no wonder that Saoirse Ronan became one of the youngest actors to ever be nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Atonement. Furthermore, it is not surprising that Ronan has gone on to become one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood, and this can nearly be foreseen through this early performance. In the role of Bryony, Ronan is subtle and seems to be acting almost entirely through her piercing blue eyes. Her natural, childlike innocence makes her a thoroughly engaging onscreen presence and her ‘outside-in’ acting approach is no doubt something for fellow young performers to be inspired by!

Taxi Driver, Columbia Pictures

2. Jodie Foster as Iris in Taxi Driver (1976)
Performing the role of a 12-year-old sex worker in one of the most iconic films ever made certainly must have been a memorable experience for Jodie Foster, who has now become one of the most reputable actresses and now directors of her generation. In the part of Iris, Foster is completely electric: she exudes charisma, charm and total wit. Acting against Robert De Niro as a kid certainly must have been intimidating, but Foster plays it off with total self-assured coolness. This is certainly a performance to look up to when looking for inspiration for onscreen confidence!

Signs, Touchstone Pictures

3. Abigail Breslin as Bo Hess in Signs (2002)
Breslin is perhaps best-known as a child actor for her role in Little Miss Sunshine (2007), although she could be seen as even more impressive earlier in her career with her role as Bo in M. Night Shamalyan’s Signs. She gives a staggering performance as the youngest daughter in a family who undergo the strange experience of extra-terrestrials invading their home. Breslin performs in of the most convincing crying scenes: in this dinner scene, we see the totality of her character’s vulnerability and desperation. This is a performance to be inspired by when considering how to compellingly and naturally convey a diverse range of emotions.

Empire of the Sun, Amblin Entertainment

4. Christian Bale as Jamie ‘Jim’ Graham in Empire of the Sun (1987)
It is not at all surprising that the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures invented the ‘Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor’ in the wake of Bale’s tremendous early performance in this film. Bale conveys an outstanding versatility in this role, varying between a spoilt child living with his ex-pat family in Shanghai to an orphan left wandering the streets following the Japanese invasion. We may primarily associate Christian Bale with his strongly masculine, belligerent roles in the later Dark Knight Trilogyand The Fighter,although Empire of the Sunconveys the subtler, understated nature that Bale has about himself. This performance can inspire us through its naturalness and variability.

Beasts of the Southern Wild, Cinereach

5. Quvenzhané Wallis as Hushpuppy in Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Despite being a younger age than what the original casting call had requested, Quvenzhané Wallis impressed with her head-strong personality to such an extent that she was cast immediately, and the brief was even changed to adapt to her as a performer. She is truly remarkable in this film: obstinate, assertive and thoroughly mesmerising while playing a young girl living in Louisiana with her father. In spite of her lack of previous acting experience, Wallis commands the screen and demonstrates that sometimes, it is simply a matter of drawing from one’s natural emotions and instincts for a performance.

Room, Filmnation Entertainment

5.Jacob Tremblay as Jack Newsome in Room(2015)
Brie Larson may have been the performer to win an Oscar for Room, although it seems shocking that the young Jacob Tremblay was not in with a nomination as his role as the protagonist’s son born in captivity. In this film, Tremblay conveys an overwhelming combination of innocence, fear, vulnerability and naivety which would completely overshadow some trained adult actors. The onscreen charisma he shares with Larson is extremely touching, and the intensity that Tremblay manages to generate in his performance as Jack is truly electrifying.

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Drive-In Cinemas: The Classic Cinematic Experience Returns

8/29/2020

The magic of cinema. It’s a hard thing to explain. The ripple of anticipation as the lights dim, the muffled opening of sweet packets, the collective gasps as the action unfolds. It would seem that nothing could replace this. But like most things, things are having to change. During the height of the pandemic a number of films chose to release straight to digital such as Trolls 2, Irresistible, and Scooby. In an unexpected move Disney also decided to side step the slowly opening but struggling cinemas. On September the 4th, the giant will be streaming the highly anticipated live action saga of Mulan on its own new streaming service Disney+, with an additional charge of £22.95 to members. The move has brought praise and criticism but one things for sure, cinema is changing.

Part of Americana inheritance alongside oversized milkshakes, baseball and cheerleaders, is the iconic drive-in movie. And recently its found a new home on British soil. The sharing arm rests and overpriced popcorn of traditional cinemas are being replaced with parked cars, radios turned to the max, and mountains of blankets. Yes, the drive-in cinema has its own magic and nostalgia that has been drawing crowds of America since the 1930s, where the first drive-in theatre is credited.

Since social distancing measures lend themselves to the format of drive-in movies and provide one of the few safe experiences outside the house, the industry is now booming. But why has it taken a pandemic for this cultural experience to see such a raise in popularity?

In this case, size matters. As The Times investigated, Dr Karina Aveyard, a professor and postgraduate researcher at University of East Anglia, explains that they are multiple factors as to why Britain has been slow on the up take. The major issue is space. With large open areas, countries such as the US and Australia have been able to accommodate swapping chairs for cars and doubling up on screen sizes – not the easiest thing to do on an island as small as Britain.

The US and Australia also share a car-based culture where it is the norm for 17 and 18 year olds to have their own car – essentially for drive-in movies. For these countries, drive-in movies were a fun, sociable past time. Now however, it is one of only a few extracurricular activates that Britons can do safely.

By staying in your car, audiences are able to easily social distance and have the piece of mind needed as we slowly leave lock down. Many companies have also implemented systems where food can be ordered online or waiters signalled by flashing the hazard lights. Whilst not all new films will be available to watch on the now bigger screen, there is no limit to the variety of film available.

The very popular Lune Cinema is hosting several location drive-in cinemas across the UK including guest locations, having visited Harewood House and upcoming venues can be found here. Whilst times are definitely different, We hope we can all continue to find comfort and solace in the stories and adventures we experience in film. Be it in our living rooms, cinemas or cars, the magic of film will continue to unite and inspire us for a long time to come.

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The Film Industry & Navigating Covid-19

8/5/2020

In the beginning of lockdown, one of the biggest questions from the industry and viewers was 'how will new productions go forward' Beloved dramas like Emmerdale and Coronation Street started this June as they adapted their story lines. But people asked what about Netflix, Amazon Prime and even Disney? Well, good news! Our beloved industry is coming back full swing with more and more productions casting for their new promotions, series and films. Methods have already been devised within the film and television industry to navigate the new social distancing measures and safety for cast & crew. Keep reading to find out the methods the industry has been adopting to make sure that we have new content ready for our viewing.

BBC One's 'Staged'

Remote Filming

The first adaption, of course, has to consider alternate routes of filming that allow actors to work from home. David Tennant and Michael Sheen made a very funny comedy for the BBC over Zoom called Staged. Numerous casts have done script read-throughs of their old films, such as the cast of Scott Pilgrim Vs The World. These projects are simply made, but they indicate the potential of an emergent medium for film-makers just waiting for talented film-makers to innovate within.

'Bubble' Casting Calls

As for in-person filming, there has been some creative thinking on how to film while balancing the costs of safety and practicality. One common solution that we’ve been seeing in many casting suggestions is utilising groups of people who already live together. If a film or commercial is in need of a family, then why not just hire a family?

Inventive Locations & Techniques

Of course, there are circumstances where bubble casting simply isn’t possible, whether due to demands of character variation or particularity of script. Another plausible solution is to select settings in which social contact can be reduced. This means selecting scripts which can be filmed outside, or films which can be filmed within a single building. Crowd scenes are out of the equation for the time being as crews can trick the eye with two handed scenes to seem the actors are close together! In either case, be on the lookout for post-apocalyptic films; it is only a matter of time till we see the story of Covid making blockbusters!

As you can see, the approach the film industry has taken in facing these challenges is by changing its practices not giving up their creativity. What this ultimately shows is both the strong nature of the industry and the impressive adaptability with which it goes forward in its truly fascinating form.

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