A LITTLE ADVICE ON SHOWREELS AND SCENES.

SCREENSHOT - The Gorgeous Suesha Rana in a touching and beautifully acted scene.  Directed by Mark DeFriest and Written/Produced by Debbie Thoy for Showreel Elite Scenes.

The Perth Film Network and Wizard Corporation Productions were the first to offer professional Showreel scenes in Perth called “Showreel Elite Scenes” back in 2008.  I worked with Professional Director, Mark DeFriest and tried everything to find a way to make filming scenes affordable for actors with the best direction and production values possible.  It was a number of years of trial and error in which I was never happy with the result and it was not a profitable exercise, even though the scenes were a high quality for the cost. I finally came to the conclusion that to get the best quality scene, actors would just have to pay.  I could keep the price down to a realistic cost,  but actors would have to be prepared to pay the cost to film a scene, as filmmaking is an expensive exercise and also actors had to lift their game in regards to their homework of developing their character and being totally prepared before going on set.  This is one thing I noticed was the greatest problem, actors came on set totally unprepared.  Sometimes working on the script one day before.  It's a learning curve, but an expensive one.

A HEADSHOT FOR ACTORS? THAT'S JUST A PHOTO, RIGHT?

I started pushing marketing yourself as an actor and offering advice way back in 2008 and onwards, when actors would look at me as if I was a little loopy.  “I will learn how to market myself when I have to… right now I am concentrating on my acting skills” was the common response.  Of course today, actors are starting to realise that to get work, they need to have a sellable product and to sell that product you need to know how to market it.  Learn about the Industry I would drum into actors and for those who listened… They are now making a go of it in LA.  Take control of your own career.

25th WA SCREEN AWARDS - MANUSCRIPT NOMINATED FOR BEST FILM.

Matt Zappala, Writer/Director, Debbie Thoy, Priscilla-Anne Forder, Brodie Butler (DOP) and Matt Elverd
Photo by Karl Pearce

MICRO BUDGET VS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS FOR BEST FILM...

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

With convincing, I put The Manuscript into the 25th WA Screen Awards for consideration. Sitting at the announcement with Matt Zappala and Matt Elverd, I was relaxed. I was just there to support the film and FTI.  Matt Elverd leans over and asks if I am nervous.  I respond “Not at all, I don’t expect to be nominated” and I really didn’t.

FILM NETWORKING WITH MYLES POLLARD

Myles Pollard on the set of DRIFT

It is very rare that I run a Perth Film Networking Function and actually advertise who the guest is.  In my book the whole point is to Network and find these people yourself, because in the real world nobody is going to do it for you.  You have to find out for yourself or make contacts that will introduce you.  The secret is to never dismiss the person who is standing next to you because you just don’t know who they are,what they have done, what contacts they have or what advice you can gain from talking to them.  After all, they are just everyday people, in a business that most likely comes with a high profile.  You create your own opportunities and if you want to make it in this highly competitive Industry, you need to use your initiative.

This coming Wednesday the 13^th of February, The Perth Film Network has its first function for 2013 and Actor/Producer Myles Pollard will be coming along to mingle with everyone and meet some of Perth’s talented filmmakers and actors.

So now that I have given you the name of our special guest.  What do you do about it?  Stand in a corner and think about going up to him?  Stay with your friends and discuss possibly going up to him. Swamp him and bombard him with questions?  Probably no would be the answer to these questions. Hopefully none of the above.  It is still a networking event, not a fan club, so even if you are a fan, you need to approach this as business.  Because that is what we are in or trying to break into "Show Business".  What you would do is go up and introduce yourself and start a general and friendly conversation. If you are smart and know he will be there, you have taken advantage of this information and you have done your homework, in other words, research.