Emily's Blog: My Year of Work Experience

Just like actors, crew members gain experience through training on various projects and work experience opportunities in the film industry! Over the next few weeks IPM Acting Academy's team member, Emily, will share what she's learned from her time as a part of #TeamIPM! 

Hi my name is Emily and I am a casting assistant at IPM. My time as a Casting Assistant at IPM started in November 2019. Within the first couple of weeks of interning, I spent my time getting to know IPM’s talent. Through studying CVs and watching each actor's showreel, I was able to understand: the way in which each individual performed, their strengths alongside which roles might be best suited to their skillset.

I was introduced to Spotlight, a platform that connects performers with roles in theatre, television and film productions around the world. By reading exemplary material, it allowed me to understand what casting directors are looking for whilst also helping me to develop my own creative, persuasive writing style, in preparation for submitting actors for roles on Spotlight. Using Spotlight has taught me a number of things. Not only has it allowed me to understand the importance of casting and how competitive the acting industry is, but it has also broadened my knowledge and understanding of casting briefs, character breakdown and typecasting.

 Spotlight has opened my eyes up to how specific a director’s vision
​is from the very beginning of a production.

It is very interesting to consider the range of productions that are advertised on Spotlight; whether it’s a casting call for the lead roles in the next series of Peaky Blinders or a listing for a minor role in a student short film, Spotlight has it all.

Attending IPM Acting Academy Sessions

Another part of the training involved attending a series of the acting academy classes. This allowed me to get involved in helping my mentor plan classes, activities and have a hand at directing/interacting with some of the talent. I found it interesting watching each individual develop a character over the course of a number of weeks and react to given scenarios accordingly. Observing the switch between each artist's actual personality and their given character was intriguing to say the least. As I grew as an assistant director, I was able to watch the essentials group grow and progress as performers; something I found quite fulfilling. One thing I will take from attending the acting classes is that improvisation looks unbelievably difficult!

An example of a scenario where I observed how the actor successfully executed the change from being themselves to someone completely different was when I watched Andy (one of the class members) transform from his loud, bold, masculine self into the role of a homosexual recluse who’s anxieties have prevented them from leaving the house for a number of years. I'm sure from this example you can only imagine why I find the transition between an individual and their designated character entertaining to watch!

Social Media

For IPM’s casting team, I also had a hand in assisting with marketing and social media. Not only have I written blog posts for their website, but I have also frequently managed the Instagram page; gaining followers, taking pictures, editing and writing content for online purposes. This has given me a broader knowledge of how marketing works in regard to reaching large audiences and targeting specific clientele. I also had a hand at creating some promotional material for IPM and Rossi Pictures, improving and perfecting my Premier Pro skills by editing together video footage and adding relevant graphics where necessary

​My casting training has been insightful, fun and taught me a lot about the early stages of the production process. If you’re interested in a career in casting or production management, this internship is for you! I have come away from IPM with a greater understanding of the industry and valuable admin skills that I can depend on throughout my working life.

There are many things to learn for the Television & Film Industry. Get Career Advice and Knowledge for your Acting Career with IPM Acting Academy today!

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