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ALRA Community Blog Site

A place for you to blog your journey...
Mar 08
2013

New Play: In Pursuit of Oblivion starring ALRA grads

Posted by nickwymer in Untagged 

I will be appearing with fellow ALRA graduate, Ian Ralph in a short 2 venue run of a new play, In Pursuit of Oblivion.  Ian and I were contemporaries at ALRA on different courses and we are working together for the first time.

Ian has had a busy career since ALRA with over 50 TV credits incl. Coronation Street, Primeval, Heartbeat, The Royal, Heroes and Villains and in recent years he has made the move to the big screen and will be seen in Tom Hank's movie Captain Philips to be released later this year.

By contrast I had some initial success appearing in Father Ted, Hippies and Big Train, but then took a break for almost 15 years!  It came as a great surprise to everyone, but mostly me when I was dragged screaming and kicking back into the profession 3 years ago.  Much to my surprise work has followed - currently appearing as Principle Tubb in CITV's My Phone Genie, billing last year at The Embassy Theatre Skegness in Cinderella, best actor nomination in the award winning play It Works For Us at the Write Now Festival and a feature film debut later this year.

Ian will be playing the mammoth lead role of Billy and I will be appearing in a supporting role as Bernard.

In Pursuit of Oblivion:

'Following an inept attempt at self-destruction, Martin awakes in hospital in the next bed to Billy. Instead of the sympathy and understanding he might have expected following his ‘cry for help’ Martin gets an excoriating, dystopian, nihilistic view of the world, people, relationships, himself and anything else that gets in the way of Billy’s own relentless pursuit of truth and oblivion.

It’s not what he expected. It’s not what he wants. It is what he needs.'

28th & 29th March Hebden Bridge Little Theatre and 4th & 5th Darwen Library Theatre.

Tickets:
Hebden Bridge: Tickets@theliontamerstheatre.co.uk (To reserve)

Darwen: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/1F004A3186B00D62

Please note: Contains Strong Language. Suitable for ages 14+

 

Sep 04
2012

Climbing Kilimanjaro...

Posted by SarahLouiseMutton in Untagged 

Everyone is scared of something, and some people are scared of many things. Like any other person I have a fear of spiders, but also of heights! I've tried many different ways of overcoming this fear; standing looking down from a lighthouse, absailing down a 1600 ft drop, even climbing tall trees. But none of them seemed to shift this fear. I would get so far off the ground and start to panic, I'd feel sick and dizzy and I wanted to cling on as tight as I could. At the Royal Albert Hall on a tour with my school, we went to the top, I had to stand back against the wall as far away from the edge as possible! Within my first few days at ALRA we were shown the tallescope... It looked so high! I admitted I was afraid of heights and that I don't think that I could climb it, let alone work from it! I was asked to climb it there and then... I wanted to give it ago, but I was just too scared. I got half way, and I started to shake, everyone in the theatre was watching me. I got to the top and into the basket, I clung on so tightly to the hand rail. When my feet reached the theatre floor I felt so relieved, I was crying and was still shook up. 

I was interested in Lighting, all the cool effects you can make by using different lanterns, it seemed pretty cool. But the silly fear was holding me back. Dave and the lx teacher suggested getting used to the tallescope over lunchtimes. And so I did, when there was no-one else in the theatre but Dave, I'd try and climb what seemed like Kilimanjaro. I kept trying and I just couldn't get used to it, I much preferred the tower. Having a wider space to move about in while being up in the grid, felt somewhat safer. And so whenever I had to be at height.. I used the tower. 

During the get in for Candide, someone needed to use the tallescope to get the gauze attached to the grid... There was no one else available but me... And so I climbed, it seemed like the longest climb of my life. The steps to the ladder just never ended.  I kept thinking that it was no big deal, it wasn't high, nothing was gonna happen. The next thing I knew I was in the basket, and I was doing what was needed to be done. I was so focused on the job that I didn't think about being high up. Just that the gauze had to be up, and it had to be up before lunchtime. I had got it up before the deadline, I looked down and I felt close to the ground, and I wasn't scared. The ground team even moved the tallescope about with me up  there, it was quite fun!  I felt a rush of adrenaline, and incredibly proud! 

 I have been up the tallescope since, I do prefer the tower still, but I don't mind it. And sometimes I do jitter, but I've overcome my fear of the tallescope! Looking back on my first day at ALRA trying to climb the tallescope, I wouldn't have thought that within 6 months... I'd be comfortably working from the basket.

Now... I have a fear of repeating a silly mistake of walking into it... and knocking my head... it's a love hate thing! Love it when it's up in the theatre... hate it when it's down and in the techie hut!!!!

Jun 19
2012

Head Shots.

Posted by paulsmithpics in Untagged 

'Can you make my eyes look a lighter blue and can you make my face look thinner?"

I hear this allot from my clients and I always breath a big sigh before placing the camera down on the floor and going into the do's and don'ts of head shot photography!

The danger is turning up for your audition and the casting team looking at your picture and saying "One minute, This is not anything like you" This horrific scenario does happen and although not shared verbally by the auditioning team could seriously effect your chances of getting the part. 

Ok, There is always the pre-shoot zit that seems to always appear the night before or the nervous rash that creeps up when you are not expecting it. A good pre shoot edit will lighten the bags, remove the spots and clean up any other un-wanteds hanging around the mouth or nostril area. 

Your head Shots should be an enlightening introduction to your face, your eyes and the potential of a character. Ever been on a internet date and the person who turns up looks nothing like the picture you were attracted to..... No..... Well nor have I then!

Remember, You are the focal point not the back ground and you should consider various positions, expressions and garments for varying roles and parts. A good photographer will advise you of this as your shoot progresses. Colour is starting to become very poplar thank you to our cousins in the US of A however, traditional black and white head shots are still the preferred median when it comes to classical acting roles. 

Ask the photographer what they are shooting in and insist on seeing your images as the shoot progresses. Most importantly, Do not feel rushed and and make sure you get on with the person shooting you. Your energy and presence is reflected through every image they will capture.

Paul Smith

www.paulsmithphotography.info

ALRA Special. £125 for a 4 hour sitting, 16 final images. 

 

 

 

 

 

Jun 11
2012

Where has this year gone?

Posted by KellyS in Untagged 

Well, who knew this would happen? That i'm sitting here writing this now, wondering where the year has gone?! It seems like only yesterday i was the new person lost in the crowd, where pretty soon there will be others back in my shoes. It seems unreal, and yet i feel no more ready for it than anyone else. Like a new born deer taking its first steps, very carefully. Now i don't want to look back on all the little learning mistakes i've made, only the positive future :)

May 18
2012

Launch Week

Posted by acritchley in Untagged 

So ALRA:TV finally was launched this week.  It was a good few months of development and hard work.  And I want to take this opportunity to thank David Hayward and Maddy Anholt in helping pulling this together, Adrian Hall and Clive Duncan for the continued support.

Also big thanks to the students involved in the launch video, which was a lot of fun to put together.

The key for ALRA:TV now is to provide you with fresh and interesting content regularly.  If you would like to request a programme or you have a comment to make, please do not hesitate in contacting me or join the ALRA:TV group here on the community site and open up a discussion :)

Ant

Apr 13
2012

ALRA:TV put back

Posted by acritchley in Untagged 

There are various reasons to putting ALRA:TV back a couple of weeks, we initially planned to launch on the 1st May and we would be pretty much on track to do this.  However, it was felt we could do just a little extra if we gave ourselves a little more time.

Due to the Easter break, the students obviously haven't been in school and we felt we would like to create a 'launch video' to open the TV station.  So, when the students return they will now have an option to audition for a part in this video shoot.

There are also a couple of technical issues which need to be resolved, which are being worked on.


So 14th of May is now the date were we will launch.

Apr 02
2012

Easter break and ALRA:tv

Posted by acritchley in Untagged 

So the students have now gone on their very much needed Easter break, and although I intend to take a couple of days off myself this has given me roughly 3 weeks to get ALRA:tv ready for its intended May 1st launch.

There are plenty of edits to be done, and a lot of very large files to upload to the ALRA:tv server.  It is certainly going to take quite some time, but I am hopeful that the 3 weeks I have will just be enough.

There are a number of excellent short films created at ALRA over the years, and these will be added straight away.  Students are also working on a couple of different programmes to ensure we don't lose too much impact on the launch.

It's exciting times here at ALRA....

Mar 29
2012

Etiquette in the Theatre

Posted by Leanne in Untagged 

The dictionary definition of etiquette is "The customary code of polite behaviour in society or among members of a particular profession or group." So what does that mean in the world of theatre and film. 

Watching the wonderful cast of “The Lady Killers” a few weeks ago, the excited buzz subsided, the curtain rose and the first words I heard were “’scuse me, sorry, oops, sorry, right” 

Rule number one, if the actors and 98% of the audience can get to the theatre in time to start the show so should everyone!! It’s just rude otherwise ;-) .. happy viewing.

Mar 29
2012

A small portion about my life that will probably be a bore to read :P

Posted by jamesread in Untagged 

Okay so I'm not going to go ahead and say something like 'I'm awesome', or make myself sound cooler than I am, just the blunt and probably boring things I have done that have lead me to where I am now. 

I'm not entirely sure what the purpose of this blog is all about, but ifigured i got some free time, why not contribute to its posts :D.  

First things first, you should know there are a few subjects on which I could talk for hours on, and if you wish to start talking to me, be aware that somewhere, I'll probably end up talking about one of the following:

Fish - I'm a big fish fanatic, not the kind you eat, but the type that come in aquariums. Mainly Marine, (Nemo and all his friends if ya didn't know :).) I've recently upgraded a 100 litreaquarium to a 400 litre set up, costing me a grand (not the smartest move before I move away to London... But hey...) 


Gadgets and Gizmos - Yeah, I'm your average techie kid. so wot! nah, I'm a sociable tech fanatic, dabbled in repairing many phones, laptops, computers, building wesites, graphic design and all that shabang... I got a kick ass sound system, loads of music, and 1000's of films on my pc, and my general rule is, why settle for one monitor when you can get so much more done on three!

Oh... thats it... i need to get out more... pahaha!

There is loads more really :P
I am a huge fan of watersports and love the fact i live on the coast line, and often find myself Kayaking, windsurfing or just plain old surfing if i can be bothered with going to the north coast...

Before the watersports i dabbled in mountain boarding, that was a laugh 'n a half, but often injured myself :S (I'm a cluts!)

I was a youth leader for 5 years, and among friends we ran youth groups for the church whilst in the absence of a youth pastor. With a lot of fund raising we got a lot of consoles ranging from the Sega to the 360, and about 7 TVs for the youth, and a lot of big events that required a bit of tech stuff, like lighting and sound managing, and that always fell on me haha.  

I also dedicated a large portion of my life to dance, mainly ballet, (My favourite!) before my health deteriated dramatically and now, im continuing my studies in acting, so i can get to ALRA, and do the next best thing i love, which involves SM & TT!

I'm a social guy, i'd like to think i'm pleasant, and whats more, i'm gonna be boring you all with my blogging for the next 3 years :D.

Hope i didn't bore you!    
            

Mar 29
2012

The ALRA Community blog

Posted by acritchley in Untagged 

Well this is my first blog here in the ALRA community, I have spent the past couple of days updating the community page to add more features and hopefully an easier way to find the information and discussion that you require.

Personal notifications are now simpler, and wherever you go on the ALRA website you will be able to be notified of friends requests, messages, comments etc - which I hope will make things a little easier.

The only item that will stay rigid is the chat bar at the bottom of the page.  I know that this item, isn't the greatest chat function in the world, however I think until the website requires a more stable version (i.e when there are large number of people online using it) I will look at it again.

It really has been lovely to see so many newbies to the site, and wonderful to see that this site has maybe allowed a few of you to get to know one another before you actually arrive at ALRA - it really heartening to me to see this happen.

So, what you are reading is the brand new feature for the ALRA Community.  Each one of you has the option of creating a blog, which will sit in your profile.  I hope you use it to share your journey before, while you are with us and once you leave ALRA...

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate in getting in touch....

Now to get back to developing ALRA:TV ;)