Agencies and Spotlight

[bebo1990]

Hi everyone,

Although I've recently had a few castings (usually through sources such as screenterrier), I am not a member of Spotlight as I didn't go to uni to study acting so am not eligible, which makes finding an agent who would take me seriously difficult. I was just wondering if there are any decent agencies around who may overlook this? And can you get onto the Spotlight books from being reffered by an agency who may be interested?

Thanks,

Bebo

[missmoneypenny]

I cannot help with your question as my 3 are all in the Spotlight Childrens Book - but wanted to bump it as think it is an interesting question and I bet a few would like to know the answer Good luck Bebo x

[pg]

It will be a bit of a Catch22 situation. I think the best thing to focus on is trying to get work through your own efforts. You can get Spotlight entry if you have a sufficient number of paid professional credits regardless of whether or not you have trained on an accredited course. (I had Spotlight entry as an adult performer before I went to drama school and before getting an agent).

Getting an agent to take you on as an adult without training and without a decent CV is likely to be very hard. Agents are absolutely inundated with applications from actors and are in a position to be very fussy. As an adult actor, you do not automatically get Spotlight entry via agency representation.

A decent agent for adult actors will not take you on unless they have seen you perform - however a number of agents are happy to consider viewing a showreel rather than (or in an addition to) seeing you perform on stage. It may be worth pursuing student films opportunities to try to get some showreel footage together.

I hope that's helpful (though possibly a bit depressing...).

[WrockDee]

I thought I might ask this in here since it mentions Spotlight. I'm doing a Theatre Arts course that has acting and performance involved.

Do you think Spotlight might accept that?

[Grace125]

Sadly that alone won't make you eligible for the Adult Spotlight books (but if you have an agent you may still be eligible for young performers depending on your age.). The only courses that have automatic Spotlight entry are NCDT (http://www.ncdt.co.uk/) or CDS (http://www.drama.ac.uk/) accredited courses. It is possible to get into spotlight without having gone to Drama school, just through grafting and gaining 3 professional credits. That's how I got in (I just did a uni drama course- not a drama school one though I'm hoping to do an MA at drama school one day when I have more money- if I get in!) and as pg said that's how she got in before going to drama school. You can still list your course in your training though even if it isn't an accredited course once you have a Spotlight profile.