Filmed discussion

Contacts database

In a performer' first year of freelancing, there are a certain amount of contacts in the industry that you must know and be in contact with to make your business successful.
In this post, I will state all of the contacts you need and why they will be such an important part to your first year of freelance work.




As this would be my first year as a freelance performer, I will be on a limited budget. Therefore, I will be looking for friends I can rely on to help me out, along with low budget industry professionals which I can negotiate some good deals with. 


Contact database



Agent- I will be looking for an agent who can represent me as an all round performer, for acting, singing and dancing. I will be looking for an agent who is free of charge, as these are usually the best agents who will be able to find you the most work. They may ask for a percentage of the amount you make from each job as their payment, which is reasonable if they manage to get you lots of work. 

Photographer- I have friends who are photography students. They are always working on different projects and shooting different styles, including portfolio style photographs. I will have them as a key contact so I can update my headshot as often as I need to. I can also get some on site shots, as well as the classic studio pictures. 



Make up artist- One of my closets friends is a make up artists therefore I would call on her if I ever needed my make up and hair done for a portfolio shoot. This is not an essential contact to have however as she is a convenient to me, I will make full use of my resources available to me.

Media production specialist- I have a close friend who is studying creative media production and film studies. He is really skilled at editing videos and helped me when I was creating my show reel. If I ever need him to help me re create my show reel or edit a promotional video, I will definitely use his skills as they will be free of cost.


Photographer- I have friends who are photography students. They are always working on different projects and shooting different styles, including portfolio style photographs. I will have them as a key contact so I can update my headshot as often as I need to. I can also get some on site shots, as well as the classic studio pictures. 


Media production specialist- I have a close friend who is studying creative media production and film studies. He is really skilled at editing videos and helped me when I was creating my show reel. If I ever need him to help me re create my show reel or edit a promotional video, I will definitely use his skills as they will be free of cost.



Accountant- it is not essential to have an accountant personal in your first year as this can be an expensive contact to maintain. If this is not in your budget, then your accounts is something you will have to do yourself. (Full analysis and information in legal post.)



Legal help from Equity- Equity are a company who you pay to ensure you are treated fairly in the industry as companies and individuals can ill treat you, just like in any other serious and competitive industry. Once you have paid them, you are able to contact them as frequently as you like, asking them to check over a contract deal or to advise you on whether or not a job is worth taking or not. They have the power to get you out of bad agreements and deals, almost like a lawyer would. You pay them in return for legal back up and a trust worthy voice to listen to. 

Marketing plan

Having a strong marketing plan is key to kick starting a freelancing career and more importantly, key to ensuring your career stays on track and is able to grow.
Today, social media is one of the world's most current ad popular past times fro people all over the world. Apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube and Pinterest are used everyday by millions of people and therefore are the perfect platfroms to use to promote yourself.
I use the majority of the apps I mentioned to enhance my freelance profile. Traditional methods are also still just as effective such as word of mouth  references, both which I use within my marketing plan.
I have explained exactly how I am currently using these platforms and how I plan to further my success and career with them in my discussion video, which is linked under this unit.


Facebook- Performer page and jobs pages

Snapchat- Story option to share videos with friends

Instagram- posting photographs and using story option

YouTube- Vlogging and uploading singing videos

Twitter- tweeting and reaching out to a wider audience

References- from Fererro Roche advert

Forecast timeline

I am going into the industry as an all round performer as I feel as though I am a strong singer, dancer and actor. There is no point just promoting myself as one of the three disciplines as I am trained and confident in them all. 


However I do have an idea of what skills I want to prioritise over others;
1) Studio films- this is my biggest dream, to be a professional film actress. Therefore this is my end goal and the idea I prioritise over any other.


2) TV drama (sitcom)- next, I have always loved watching sitcoms and really admire the style of  acting that is required for shows like this. Failing my first option, TV acting is my next priority and would love to pursue a career in this.


3) Musical theatre- I am trained as a musical theatre performer and if the on screen acting approach does not work out for me then musical theatre performing is what I will fall back on. I love combining singing, dancing and acting altogether to create one performance. 


4) Singer- I have a passion for singing and making music. I love writing songs and this is something I would be willing to explore in more depth. 


5) Mini series- this is a great way to start off your career and to make contact in the industry. Once you have committed to one mini series, it opens doors to other series as directors often work on lots of different projects. 


6) Soaps- being a soap opera actor could restrict you to only performing as one role at a time and not working on any other projects along side this. However this is a good way to establish yourself. 


7) Cruise performer- this is a semi professional way of getting a vast amount of experience, performing to live audiences on a nightly basis. I would like to start out with a job like this as I feel it would ease you in to the industry, allowing a heavy work load in a semi professional environment. 

Where do I see myself in the next 5 years? (Ideal situation) 


Through out the whole process, I will be regularly uploading to my YouTube channel, whilst my audiences is constantly growing each year. 



1) Year 1 (19 y/o) 
* Cruise ship as singer/dancer- 6 months
* Student films- 4-6 in total
* AmDram musical production- 3 months 
* Constantly auditioning for adverts and commercial work (Agent)- 2 per week



2) Year 2 (20 y/o) 
* Constantly auditioning for adverts and acting work (Agent) 1-2 per week
* Work in ensemble of musical production on West End- 3 month
* Cast in mini series- 1 month filming
* Student films- 5 in total
* Back up dancer on X Factor- 1 series contract 



3) Year 3 (21 y/o)
* Cast in soap opera role- 5 year contract
* Appear on reality TV as actress- I'm a Celebrity get me out of Here
* Singer- record some mix tapes to send to stream for free online
* Backup dancer going on tour with Rihanna- 2 months



4) Year 4 (22 y/o) 
* Sitcom- 4 month filming time 
* Singing career takes off, free streaming music is noticed
* Have several supporting tour offerings, take two which last 1 month each. 
* Have auditions for studio films, not successful 
* Mini series- 1 month filming 


5) Year 5 (23 y/o) 
* Film career takes off, land first studio film lead role- 4 months filming- film is successful and second film is made and I am cast in the same role, rolling into year 6 (long term contract)
* Singing career carrying on, offers from record labels however decide to stay solo and stream music for free. 



I will be going freelance next year when I have completed my college courses. This is how I would love the next 5 years to pan out. I am looking forward to watching my career grow. 

Showreel

A showreel is a short video (3-5 minutes), containing examples of a performers work showing to potential employers eg casting directors.
Having a strong showreel behind you as a performer is one of the most important key pieces of material you can have. The showreel will be seen by casting directors and employees, showing them your skill set in one compact video.
The aim of a showreel is to showcase your best moments as a performer, so that the casting direxctors are able to see you as a performer at yoru best and to see what you are capable of.
To demonstrate examples of showreels, I have chosen three showreels to analyise, which I have found on YouTube; one which is good, one which is average and one I do not think is very strong at all.


MY SHOWREEL ANALYSIS PRESENTATION


1) LYNN bEAUMONT, bad showreel





2) AMBER KENNEDY, avergae showreel



3) JOANNA SCHOLES, good showreel





Overall from my findings in this project, I have found that I am now fully aware of what a strong showreel looks like and what needs to be included.
I am an all round performer and would like to include the following footage in my showreel;

• Clips from musicals to show acting; Jack, In To The Woods, chorus, Rent and Scaramouche, WWRY.
• Clips from musicals to show vocals; Scaramouch WWRY and chorus, Rent.
• Home singing clips, to show contrast in voice from musical songs.
• Dance clips from y A level dance class
• Dance clip from music video, Reverse by Harleighblu.
• Acting from short film, Utopian You.
• I will also include a simple headshot at the beginning of the showreel, along with my full name, height, date of birth and email.

Taking all of these facts I have explored into consideration, I have created my very own showreel that I believe shows my takent and skill set off in a positive light.