Oh My GOD! I want them! I NEED THEM!
trying on a metaphor
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
Aqua Utopia|海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
Jules of Nature

❣ Chile in a Photography ❣

Kaledo Art

No title available
noise dept.
Sade Olutola
Peter Solarz
No title available
will byers stan first human second
tumblr dot com

pixel skylines

izzy's playlists!
Cosimo Galluzzi
macklin celebrini has autism
One Nice Bug Per Day
DEAR READER
occasionally subtle
seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from Ireland
seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from Germany
seen from Argentina

seen from Argentina

seen from Côte d’Ivoire
seen from Germany
seen from Peru
seen from Paraguay
@evamckennauk
Oh My GOD! I want them! I NEED THEM!
36 Reasons Your Acting Career Is Failing.
1. Your mum is not a famous actress/ director/ producer/ playwright etc.
2. You couldn’t afford the pay ‘ONE MILLION POUNDS’ to go to drama school.
3. You can’t afford to pay for a show reel, a voice reel or any reel for that matter.
4. You’re pretty, but not in a ‘classically’ pretty way…more of a ‘slutty call girl’ sort of way.
5. You’re ugly, but not in a ‘beauty is skin deep’ sort of way, more of a ‘AHHH! GET INSIDE THE HOUSE, I THINK HE MEANS TO KILL’ sort of way.
6.Your dad is not a famous actor/ director/ producer/ playwright etc.
7. You look too happy in your headshots.
8. You look too moody in your headshots.
9. You’re headshots look too edited and unnatural.
10. Your headshots look like they have fallen out of an A Level students folder.
11. You’re the wrong kind of fat.
12. You’re the wrong kind of thin.
13. Your sister is not a famous actress/ director/ producer/ playwright etc.
14. You aren’t good friends/ neighbours/acquaintances with Benedict Cumberbatch’s aunt and uncle.
15. You aren’t prepared to have ‘relations’ with the casting director.
16. You are way too keen.
17. You seem like you’re not bothered.
18. You told yourself you would get focused, but you’re sat watching Netflix again.
19. Your agent hates you.
20. You have no talent.
21. You have too much talent, everyone is simply jealous.
22. Your brother is not a famous actor/ director/ producer/ playwright etc.
23. You aren’t Youtube famous.
24. You didn’t research or read the play before the audition.
25. Your dreams died the summer after you graduated.
26. You spend 99% of your time complaining about EVERYTHING, instead of doing actual work.
27. You don’t even like acting, you just don’t want to have to face reality.
28. You’re still unsure what ‘Spotlight’ is and why you should pay for it.
29. You are simply waiting for someone to come to you, a talent like yours is bound to be discovered, whether you put the effort in or not.
30. Your dog is not a famous actress/ director/ producer/ playwright etc.
31. You mention your were an extra in ‘Coronation Street’ back in 1989 at EVERY casting you go to.
32. You cancel auditions to go on nights out.
33. You have bad personal hygiene.
34. You point blank refuse to pay out any money in order to develop your career, but you are more than happy to buy everyone is Walkabout a Jägerbomb every Saturday.
35. You keep saying you’re an actor but you have made no attempt to attend a workshop, audition or class in months.
36. Your addiction to meth has got way out of control.
Acting in Student and Low Budget Films - Do’s and Don’ts.
I've been out of training for almost a year now and in this time I have met some amazing people and worked on some brilliant productions. I’m learning new things everyday and becoming that bit wiser as time goes by. One thing that I have learnt over the past twelve months is that the work is never done. There is always something more you can do to make sure you are one step ahead of the competition. In an attempt to build a show reel, I volunteered my services to low budget and no budget films, in the hope that I would be able to collect the footage I needed to bag me that close up with Mr Spielberg.
On graduating I would do anything and everything to get my foot in the door, I would spend silly amounts of money and get up at the crack of dawn in order to get to shoots that were unpaid, unprofessional and frankly a waste of time. On several occasions I wasn't even given the footage at the end of it all! To anyone starting out, looking to gain experience or attempting to gather show reel material, here are a few helpful hints and tips to make sure you’re not taken for a ride.
1. Don’t be out of pocket.
The very least a production company can do is offer to cover your expenses. I have spent ridiculous amounts of money getting to filming locations via trains and taxis and to cut a long story short... it’s not on. I have known student and low budget films to tell actors that they don’t have the funding to cover expenses but they can offer ‘experience’ as a form of payment. Imagine this...
Eva: Hello Mr Chef of lovely food establishment, I would like this fancy posh meal from your menu.
Chef: Of course Miss McKenna...and can I just say you look fantastic this evening!
Eva: Oh Pierre (yes, that’s right...Pierre) you’re making me blush! Could I also have a side order of *Insert something more up market than onion rings*? Oh and I won’t be able to pay for my food this evening, I don’t have enough money. You love being a chef though don’t you Pierre? It will be a great experience for you to cook for me tonight seeing as you’re just starting out in the business.
I’m more than sure that Pierre would have told me to do one, despite how ‘fantastic’ I looked. It’s bad enough working for nothing, but please don’t make yourself financially worse off from the experience.
2. Check the evidence
This is vital! I can’t stress enough the importance of requesting to see the previous work of a production company before auditioning for them. If their footage isn't to a high standard you won’t be able to use it for your show reel and (assuming that’s why you did the filming in the first place) it will have been a pointless expedition. I learnt this the hard way when I decided to have a ‘quick watch’ of footage ten minutes before leaving the house. I spent the next few days working on a film that was of ‘home video’ quality...from the 90’s.
3. Sign a contract
It may seem a bit extreme when working on a student film but by signing a contract it makes things feel that little bit more professional. You can also go running to your agent when contract agreements aren't going to plan...agents can be hardcore and it’s good to have them on side.
Things that should be agreed in student/low budget film contracts:
- Expenses will be covered within one week of the shoot.
- Food and drink will be provided if shooting for over six hours.
- The footage will belong to the production company and you give your permission for them to distribute it as they please.
- As it is an ‘expenses only’ shoot, actors will not be required to work for more than ten hours a day.
- A copy of the footage will be emailed to the actor as soon as possible.
- Costume will be provided on the day.
4. Read the script before you accept.
The amount of spelling mistakes I see on scripts is ridiculous; there is nothing worse than carelessness and bad grammar. Actually, there is...bad writing. Make sure you read the script in its entirety before accepting a role; you don’t want to end up on the set of a film that has been poorly written with no real plot. You also need to make sure you are comfortable with the characters journey, imagine if you accidentally forgot to read scene four ‘everyone gets naked and dances’.
5. It’s not your job to pay for costume.
Things every actor (and human) should own.
· Black Top.
· White Top.
· Black Shoes.
· Smart Trousers or Skirt.
· Outdoor Coat.
· Trainers.
If you are asked to bring these to the shoot, fair enough, however, if there are any special costume requirements, it is not your responsibility to bring them to set. The production company will have spent months planning the shoot and in this time they should have sourced the correct props and costumes. An unpaid or expenses only job should not require you to go out and spend your own money.
6. Don’t go hungry.
If you are shooting for a period of six hours or more, food should be provided. Refreshments should be provided regardless to the length of the shoot in my opinion, but if you are filming all day you should be given subs to buy your own lunch or food should be brought onto set. I am a real food lover and thankfully I have never been left to go hungry whilst filming, it takes absolutely nothing to buy sandwich making equipment and a few bottles of water.
7. Don’t be afraid to put your foot down.
Still waiting on your train fare? STILL waiting on that footage? Don’t be scared to release your inner ‘scary person’. By volunteering for this student or low budget film you have done the production company a huge favour. You have given up your time for free. So it is your absolute right to have your expenses paid back within a week of wrapping and for you to get a copy of the footage as soon as it is available. I've worked on student projects where I have hounded and hounded for the footage for months after. Please release your inner diva if you are not getting what you were promised. If they can’t follow through on a student project, imagine what they will be like in the real world.
So there you have it, a few things to think about before jumping aboard. Don’t get me wrong, I have worked on some brilliant student and low budget films. I worked on a shoot with a group of boys from Preston, I was made to feel very welcome on set and the footage was given to me as soon as it was ready. I recently worked on a short film where my food, hotel and expenses were all provided, the shoot was a lovely experience and so professional.
It is definitely a great way to get material for your show reel and an even better way to make connections with people who will be going in to the film industry, just make sure you are careful!
Here are a few behind the scene stills from ‘Puzzles’ a short film by the beautiful Annette Evans!
Much Love,
Eva McKenna
xxx
My thoughts and feelings on people who don’t dance at gigs!
Not So Grim Up North!
This week has been a week of theatre...theatre and quite a lot of pre show, mid show and after show drinks. I had the absolute pleasure of watching three contrasting pieces, all linked with one common factor...they were all performed UP NORTH!
I started the week with ‘Mr Smith’, the tale of a Morrissey super fan, written by Colin Connor and performed at the Kings Arms in Salford. This piece was part of a Smiths and Morrissey convention that I attended over the weekend. I am a HUGE Smiths fan and thoroughly enjoyed the day. The play, with just one cast member, told the tale of a school teacher wrongly accused of sexually harassing a pupil. The actor in the title role gave a strong and convincing performance of a man who had simply had enough of the life he was living. The script was engaging and allowed the piece to move at a fast pace and despite a few technical errors the use of media acted as a welcome break in the dialogue when things started to get ‘heavy’. Now, I am no reviewer or master of the arts, BUT (and forgive me if I'm wrong) having a script on stage, no matter how cleverly you disguise it, is a big ‘no no’ in my books. I shall leave that there and commend the performance, anything to do with Moz, is a winner in my opinion.
Next up was Assembled Junks production of ‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’, directed by the very talent James Baker also performed at The Kings Arms, Salford. I attended this performance on its opening night, fully aware of the limited time the cast had to prepare for this production. I was absolutely blown away by the whole thing! The actors, the set, the lighting, the music....everything was on point. I loved Jane Horrocks in the film but Josie Cerise, was fantastic in the title role. She made me ‘awwww’ out loud on several occasions. Her physicality and vocalisation were perfect, you would need a heart of stone not to feel sorry for LV . How she managed to walk in those heels and that dress is beyond me, I would have been flat on my bum, so extra well done for that. I watched a touring production of the show a few years ago and Assembled Junk have put that tour to shame. A complete triumph from every member of the cast. Really brilliant.
Finally I attend the closing night of New Live Theatres production of ‘Dragged Up’, written and directed by Stevie Helps and produced by Paul Kenney. Firstly I must commend Stevie on his bravery for sharing with us, a script that some may find a little too much to deal with. A piece that isn't afraid to shock the audience and leave them literally on the edge of their seats. Live music provided an eerie setting and the performance space couldn't have been more perfect to tell the story. The actors created highly unlikeable and twisted characters, that left me feeling cold and disgusted. Its definitely a piece that keeps you thinking hours after you have left the theatre.
THERE IS SO MUCH TALENT IN THE NORTH. It infuriates me that there is not more work for us and that there is still such a divide. It is not in any way shape or form ‘grim’ up here, this week I feel proud of where I live and so should all the people involved in the productions I have mentioned.
I'm off to drink me brew!
Much Love,
Eva McKenna
xxx
A fun day out with my niece and nephew, please do subscribe to my channel, its dead good.
Doll.
After someone has made you the punchline of their jokes, you may not feel the need to write up a lovely blog post about their achievements, especially if these jokes were part of a stand up routine, being performed to quite a large number of people! But you only have to look at Ben Sherlock's little face and you can’t even consider being, even a tiny little bit angry at him... The cheeky little mite!
Twenty two year old Ben, a graduate of The Blackpool School Of Creative Arts, is soon to be starring in ‘Assembled Junk’s’ production of ‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’, written by Jim Cartwright and directed by James Baker. I caught up with Ben to find out how things were going so far...
How was the audition process?
As it should be. Audition was in a venue and had a personal call time making me feel less like a number, which can really put anyone off however big the company! Very friendly and relaxed panel which always puts you at ease! Very complimentary too.
Did you expect to get the part?
No. I never do!! However well it goes or however talented you are, it doesn't mean someone else isn't better suited. They were incredibly nice and complimentary but you just never know.
What is life like in the rehearsal room?
Unbelievable. It's everything I could ask for. The atmosphere is wonderful. I haven't stopped smiling since Monday. It's done on call times so when you're not needed you can go home, I don't want to go home!! I love being around the unreal talent, whatever the age. I've just been told I'm not needed tomorrow and I'm gutted!! Haa
What part are you playing?
I'm playing the part of Billy. He's a sensitive and hopefully lovable character. The kind you want your daughter to marry.
Is it challenging at all?
Yes. The script is wonderful and gives you so much but everyday an actor raises the bar and I'm saying to myself "God I've got to work hard and raise my game now!"
How's life been since finishing your training?
Up and down really. You get something that you think will make a progression in your career, yet makes no difference what so ever. I'm on to my third agent now and I finally feel I'm starting to get it right and making progression. I've been working part time in retail since college and I'm starting to see the light where I no longer have to work with some interesting Creatures! Hurrah!
Are you enjoying 'The Industry?'
At this moment yes. But last year after getting no movement for a good half a year I certainly didn't. It's like hitting your head against a brick wall sometimes. I do love meeting new people all the time and I don't think I've disliked any of them! The general atmosphere around anyone involved in the arts or the industry has been wonderfully positive. Maybe I'm lucky. I do enjoy going to auditions. Auditions that you can leave an impression on, not the ones who take a look at you and move on. The cattle markets. I don't like those!
What is your ultimate goal?
To be happy and financially comfortable doing what I want to do. Acting. I don't care about fame or fortune as long as I'm happy and not fighting for the pennies. I'm not going to lie it's my dream to be the next James Bond or Dr Who but doesn't? Working as a regular in a TV series would be amazing and is probably the ideal job for most actors.
Any advice for younger actors?
Patience, persistence and a little more patience. It takes time. If it happens straight away then great but it's likely to take time. You'll make mistakes and you'll learn. You have to be persistent or you can easily fall behind what's happening or miss the opportunity to take your career forward. Don't just think about the your next job or the job your doing think beyond that!
‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’ will be performed at The Kings Arms in Salford from 15th- 26th April. Tickets are selling fast so don’t ‘dilly dally’ when it comes to booking, previous shows have sold out, so don’t rely on buying your ticket at the door!
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/assembledjunk
Hope to see you there,
Much Love,
xxx
Pay As You Go Cafe!
As the days go by, it is becoming more and more clear that money isn't growing on trees. In an attempt to ‘Keep On Keeping On’ with my acting career, I have decided to budget my money to just £30 a week and considering I spend more time on trains that I do in houses, this isn't going to be easy. With my money now limited, I decided to research cheap and cheerful things to do in the North West and after three and a half depressingly brilliant seasons of ‘American Horror Story’ me and my boyfriend felt as though we needed to go out into the light.
My findings on the glorious internet led me to a place called ‘Ziferblat’, situated in the Northern Quarter (Edge Street) in Manchester. This cafe is charging five English pennies, per minute, per person. That is right ladies and gentlemen. Just 5p for ‘the space.’ In these minutes you are free to drink as many cups of tea (and I'm talking every tea you can imagine)/ coffee as you can AND scran on as much cereal, biscuits, cake, toast, more cake and fruit (I avoided the latter) as your greedy little heart desires.
The cafe is located on the first floor of the building, it was a little bizarre clambering the stairs and entering, what felt like somebodies over sized house. You are encouraged to self serve and wash up after yourself, my boyfriend made the comment that he felt like he was back in his university kitchen. As well a free WiFi, there is also a very nostalgic collection of board games, ranging from ‘Twister’ to ‘ Guess Who.’
We stayed for an hour and a half, I was polite and didn't eat nearly as much as my piggy little self would have liked to, but I still had my fill of toast with Nutella and honey, cakes and lots of Earl Grey Tea (My Absolute Fave), the total price was just £2.50 per person!
On returning home I've just made a great little discovery that ‘Ziferblat’ will be holding an Acting group, every Tuesday (contact James Cooney on Facebook for more details) 7-8.30pm. The same rules apply and so 5p a minute =£4.50 and as well as the acting, you still get to eat as much tea and cake as you want. I think I’ll definitely be popping along to this after my Easter performances of ‘The Ugly Duckling’ are over.
I’ll be showing this lovely little find of a place off to many people. It’s definitely the place to be if your on a budget.
Much Love,
xxx
Srsly.
Here is a song I wrote about Tate from ‘American Horror Story’. Music : Tom Parkinson Lyrics: Eva McKenna
Self Promotion Susie.
I can only imagine what my Facebook friends might say about me, as much as I’d like to think they had warm words about my dedication and ambition I imagine it is more along the lines of... ‘NO! I don’t want to enter a princess party competition’ ‘NO! I don’t want to like one of your five million pages’ NO! I don’t want to listen to your cover of some cliche musical theatre song’ But if I didn't self promote, nobody would know anything about the things i’m trying to do in life and the things i’m doing in life usually require an audience. And what if MacDonald’s didn't promote ‘Big Tastys?’ We’d all have half a life without knowing about the existence of such fine quality burger sauce. A girls gotta do what she’s got to do in this world! Speaking of which, I wanted to blog about my latest project! Back in August I got in contact with the lovely Tom Parkinson and we starting rehearsing a few songs in my garage at home. This weekend we entered a battle of the bands, our first ever proper gig and somehow managed to win! We were so shocked as the competition got pretty fierce and we performed an original song that we had only rehearsed for the first time that day.
My mum and dad came to watch and kindly recorded some of our performance, I’ve stuck the best bits together in this video:
Enjoy!
Much Love,
xxx
Dead.
A little video blog about all the lovely things my sister got me for my birthday !