Film & TV Acting - Top Tips

Paul Butterworth’s acting career has spanned a period of over thirty years during which time he has appeared in many film and television productions: The Full Monty, Ready When You Are Mr McGill, The Only Boy For Me, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard, My Family, Line of Beauty, Dalziel and Pascoe, The Monocled Mutineer and G.B.H. to name but a few.

Here he offers advice to those actors who are just starting out.

Back in the time beyond time when I started acting TV was king (there was lots of work around – lots of opportunities) and your basic studio fee for a commercial was £250/350 per day, and you could get £15,000 to £20,000 for a networked commercial…

When was this mythical time when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the World Wide Web was not even a twinkle in some mad scientist’s eye?

It was 1980 – 30 years ago - I’d been acting just three years and fallen into the Promised Land… how different things are now for a young actor!  Now a typical buyout for commercials is £2,000-3,000 and that probably includes internet usage – and the basic studio fee is still £250!  (So factoring in for 30 years inflation – well, you do the maths, I don’t want to labour a point)… But while I’m here there’s also far less TV around and the fees have plummeted.

All this is to say, you’ve entered a tough old business. To those who take the long road and learn their calling through years of treading the rocky road of jobbing actor – Good luck!

Here are just a few things that have stood the test of time.  If they can give you that little bit of an edge that would make me very happy - till one day you can step onto that red carpet!!

Motivation:  I think the most important thing for an actor is to be driven – it’s got to be what makes you fly.  It’s easy to give up given what life, mortgages, relationships and responsibilities (plus not wanting to live like a student when you’re in your 30’s!!) throw at you.  You know in your heart if you love it enough to follow your dream when many (hopefully not all) around you are telling you to get a proper job!

Money:  We all need it!  You need to get to auditions, attend courses, put yourself in Spotlight… most of all you need genuine confidence and having no money doesn’t put you in the best frame of mind for an audition.  But what sort of job should you get?  It could be anything that pays and is flexible – many actors start their own businesses.  But the danger here is that your ‘other’ job takes over and becomes what you are… so you become a part time actor in spirit as well as in reality.  And the next step is you give up altogether… I’ve seen many a good actor slip at this fence.

The driven ones walk away from their ‘other job’ or business when it stops them acting.

Photographs:  Still the single most important investment you can make.  I should premise this next bit by, I have been told (and I don’t want to reveal my sources!), as I’ve never worked in a casting office but… Casting directors will look at the photographs of suggested actors and only if one is just right/has something special will they file it and then look at your CV/training when going back to their short list.  If you have a photograph by a friend (unless they’re a photographer) you might just save £150 at the cost of getting no castings.  Top of the range photographers cost around £300 and are worth every penny – cheaper ones can be good.  Check Spotlight (they have the Spotlight books in their office which you can look at and write down the photographers you like).  Also your agent might have a recommended photographer or house style.

Agent:  For film/TV/good commercials they are essential… a good agent works their socks off getting you work – please don’t hassle them by phoning every week… you will not be forgotten but they would rather be getting you work than having to reassure their actors.  When they’re talking to you they can’t be talking to a producer!

Spotlight:  Nearly all suggestions these days are done by Spotlight Link.  You have to be in it.

Auditions:  Prepare as much as you can – read the whole script if it’s available… build a back story for your character.  Make decisions.

If you’ve been sent your lines learn them.

At the casting don’t talk to your mates, focus on the job in hand… get in character.  You can see them afterwards for a coffee but this is an important opportunity that your agent has worked hard to get and you need to give it your best shot.

EVERY meeting is important!

Casting directors have fantastic memories – and if you impress them there will be something suitable further down the line.  Remember there can be literally dozens of reasons why you might not get the job (most of which you don’t have any control over) – only one of which is that you weren’t very good!  It’s much more likely something else, so as nice as the job would be that’s a bonus whereas a good meeting is always achievable and ALWAYS a step forward.

Work:  It’s really important to be professional and pleasant to work with.  There are hundreds of actors that could do your part – assuming you’re not a name and then that’s partly what they’re buying!  And, if you’re difficult to work with your reputation will spread very quickly and they’ll get somebody else next time.

It’s basic: turn up on time, be polite, learn your words, listen to direction and say thank you!

And don’t whatever you do take props home – leave them there – and keep a film crew of 30 waiting for 3 hours while they send a car to pick them up -  I’ve seen it happen!

Keep learning:  Every audition I do throws at least one new thing at me… every job, class and book I read (and there are plenty brim full of useful advice).

Stay open, keep learning and remain focused.

Paul Butterworth

Actor

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www.paulbutterworth.co.uk