UNIT 33
WORKING IN THE PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY
Most enjoyable at 1.25 speed
Marketing
In my opinion, to have a career in the acting industry, you must be seen, you must be present, you must be there. Where? Everywhere. The best social media platforms with the best algorithms to be seen are Tiktok and Instagram right now. I have a Tiktok account now and uploaded a couple of videos only. However, I can see just how fast these videos travel as some of them have been viewed by 10 -90 thousand people, which is incredible as a new account. I use Instagram to post pictures and talk about current projects I am working on and just keeping my viewers updated. I also, of course, have this website that I am using for college purposes and I am trying to keep it professional. I already have some content of me on here and have made many changes since I started it after regularly talking to my lecturer, Sonia. For example, she suggested to show examples of my work on the Home page. I am keeping every college unit on a different tab, with the latest ones on the top. I would like to fill my website up with lots of good quality work.
My next step in my professional career will be completing HND and roll onto the Level 6 course to complete my degree, as well and looking out for small jobs to work on.
I am already grateful for the opportunities the Media department provided me with, working together with award-winning filmmakers, Harvey Thompson and Thomas George, and also Lewis, from Gloucestershire Firefighters to film his knife crime campaign with me. This might sound small to some but without the college, I could have never met these people and had these opportunities. Networking is key, but we have to make sure that anyone we meet, we ask a contact detail from and share our contact details with them, directing them to our website. Without this, many opportunities can be lost. It is also beneficial to check on these people , offering them help, to try to make them remember us positively.
NAME AND CAREER ROUTE UPDATE
I have decided to change my professional name. Felicia Mills was a safe choice — a name that sounded elegant on the red carpet and easy to imagine being announced at the Grammys. However, I felt disconnected from it, so I chose to return to my given name: Fruzsina.
My husband’s surname, Purser, originates from an old profession meaning a treasurer or “purse-bearer” — someone responsible for managing money and supplies. I discovered the perfect Hungarian equivalent: Sáfár. Like Purser, it is a historical occupational surname with the same meaning. It is uncommon today, yet I was excited to find that a well-known Hungarian actress, Anikó Sáfár, also carries this name. Therefore, I will now be working under the name Fruzsina Sáfár (pronounced Sha-far).
This change is important to me because I would like to build recognition in Hungary. I believe it may be more achievable than pursuing fame in England, where the competition is significantly greater. With the new government expected to form in mid-May, the cultural landscape is also shifting, and some public figures associated with the previous Fidesz administration are currently facing criticism and reduced public support. I hope it means that there is space for new public figures.
I also created a short side-site where there is only a Main page with project examples and an "about me" page. In my opinion, it's easier to navigate because it's less busy than my current college site.
https://sites.google.com/view/fruzsinasafar/about-me?authuser=1
Professional industry style CV and basic cover letter
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Social media
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Leo Young
Lucas Gallagher
Steven Gregory
Sonia Friend
Spike Hart
Faith Bethell
Yana Diadenko
Phoebe pope
Thomas Dyson
Mike Mc
Charlotte Rich
Sam Gwilliam
Ryan Thornton
Joshua Jarvis
Matt Kuter
Jamie Perry
Thomas George
Brad Mcrule
Potential health issues as an actor
There are both physical and psychological aspects to this issue.
On the physical side, one obvious risk is injury while working on set, such as falls, cuts, or other accidents. Many models and actors also develop eating disorders because they feel pressure to look a certain way for a role. In some cases, actors are asked to lose weight or gain muscle in a short period of time, which can place significant strain on their bodies. Another serious concern is abuse, including sexual abuse, which may come from directors, crew members, or others within the industry, as well as from people online or in real life.
Online bullying is also very common. Negative comments and harassment under celebrities’ posts can be especially harmful for those who are new to the industry. Some fans also cross personal boundaries and become intrusive or obsessive. This can include harassing actors on social media, following them in public, or even trying to find out where they live or shop.
There have also been tragic cases involving well-known public figures. For example, Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in 1996, and Amy Winehouse died in 2011 following struggles with substance abuse. In 2020, Justin Bieber released the song Yummy, which some interpret as referencing his difficult experiences in the entertainment industry as a young performer.
Public figures have also faced danger from violence or intense media pressure. John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi. Another tragic case is Dorothy Stratten, who was murdered by her husband in 1980. Gianni Versace, Italian fashion designer was murdered by serial killer Andrew Cunnanan on July 15, 1997. These examples highlight some of the serious dangers and pressures that can accompany life in the public eye.
Is being an actor stressful?
Working in an industry where people are constantly judged on their appearance, weight, accent, or even skin colour can be extremely difficult. Actors are frequently evaluated on whether they “fit” a particular role, which can feel very personal and discouraging.
Rejection is also a normal part of the profession. Many actors hear dozens—sometimes even hundreds—of “no” responses before receiving their first “yes.” That one “yes” could become a breakthrough moment, but many people lose hope and stop pursuing their goals before that opportunity arrives.
Because of this, it becomes very important for actors to find ways to protect their mental well-being, stay resilient, and learn how to be kind to themselves throughout the process.
What can we do for ourselves?
Looking after mental health
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Eat well and drink enough water.
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Get enough sleep.
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Keep in touch with friends and family
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Enjoy your hobbies
Keeping safe at auditions
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Don't overwork and overbook yourself
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Learn to accept rejection
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Don't take personal comments on the heart
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Do not pay for auditions, beware of scams
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Check if an agency or company is legit for example Google reviews, Yell.com
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Check out the building / locations before you enter (Does the building exist at all?)
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Check that agencies have reasonable commission rates and avoid ones with large sign-up fees promising quick and fast work
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Always read contracts
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Trust your gut - good people , bad people
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Be careful with foreign jobs being offered to you , asking you to travel to a different country, or prepay your accommodation to them
On the job
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Listen to safety instructions
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Don't get involved in activates you aren't comfortable in / trained on, for example stage combat
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Make sure they provide you time to drink and eat and have regular breaks
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Check how long your days are predicted to be and whether you are prepared to be on set for that long
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Do not let them pressure you into scenes and activates that make you feel uncomfortable or go against your morals and faith
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Ask for an intimacy coordinator at intimate scenes
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Feedback
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You deserve to be treated with respect by all actors and crew
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Do not read or take on heart negative and nasty comments, only the ones that are written with constructive criticism
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Ignore comments made on your body or looks and focus on delivering your lines to the best of your possibility
Legistations for keeping actors safe
What is the code of conduct for actors?
Display control, respect and professionalism in all activities; Be courteous in dealings with others; Control their temper; Refrain from any violent behaviour
The #MeToo movement was first used on social media in 2006 by sexual assault survivor and activist Tarana Burke. The trend started in 2017 and it has led to increased awareness of sexual harassment and assault, mainly women talking about their sufferings at work from males but it encouraged every survivor to speak out and it became so large and so important that the movement achieved change in workplace policies , it increased legal standards and positively changed people's attitude towards each other offline and online. By just one person breaking the silence, it encouraged others to share their stories and to name and shame their abusers, many famous and rich men have been held accountable for their actions. Anti-harassment policies were brought in, clearly defining what abuse is and what consequences they come with. In England, there are charities and non-profit organisations who help women get the justice they deserve. One of them is the Survivor Trust or SARSAS . There is also a national 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line (0808 500 2222).
There is also a Sex Offenders Database available online. There is also an App, where you can track your friends and family members to make sure they are safe, called Hollie Guard. The app holds the memory of the 20-year-old Hollie Gazzard, who was stabbed to death by her jealous ex-boyfriend. It happened in 2014 at her workplace in Gloucestershire. The app also offers quick emergency call by simply shaking your phone. This will share your location with your emergency contacts. There is also a "meeting" feature on there where you can set a timeslot for your meeting and when it is done, unless you mark yourself as safe or request extra time, it will contact your close friends or family to check on you. The "man down" feature detects if you had a sudden fall or stopped moving for a long time. It also helps with keeping logs of abuse and incidents happened to you lets you quickly add notes and pictures.
Have a Plan B and Keep Your Interests Broad
One way actors can take care of their mental health is by developing a range of interests and skills, both within and outside the entertainment industry. Having additional skills can provide a sense of stability and purpose, especially during periods when acting opportunities are limited. If major acting roles do not come immediately, having other activities or career options can help keep you motivated and fulfilled.
For example, last year I learnt video editing, which means I can now help people edit their films or videos. I am hoping that on my level 6 course, I will learn about music recording too.
Other useful skills within the industry might include operating lighting or sound equipment in theatre, or working in areas such as hair and makeup within the beauty industry.
Acting has always been my main passion, and since childhood many of my hobbies have involved performing and singing. As a backup plan, I am considering teacher training after completing my Level 6 qualification. Teaching would provide a stable and sustainable career option while still allowing me to remain connected to the arts.
Diversity challenges in the industry
I believe that I will face many diversity challenges while trying to find work in the industry. I grew up in a small village and I enjoy the countryside but most work is located in big cities, the closes one to me is Bristol, or in the capital, London. I couldn't enjoy living in such a busy place but as an actor starting out I must be prepared to travel to these places for work and auditions. I don't drive just yet so I would need to rely on public transport, which could add to the stress because it isn't always reliable and not cheap either. So, realistically, I must have spare money to travel for the auditions and be prepared for not getting the job. A return ticket to London from Gloucester which usually cost 60-80 pounds. Even if I get the job, unless it's a bigger show, it is unlikely that I will be paid for it but in some cases they would cover travel costs and sometimes offer free lunch too.
Next to audition fees or agency fees, that alone surprised me that exist, lets not forget about the prep work. For any workplace to consider you, you must have professional headshots which you must pay for if you haven't got connections. The cost of the training, courses and university. The battle of having a job and committing to a full-time course. Many websites , like Spotlight or Backstage charges a fee when registering to their websites as well.
I also feel like at the moment it is harder to make it to the industry as a woman , especially for singers. In my personal opinion young women and teenage girls are more likely to become fans, buy merch, follow and comment on social media, so there is no wonder why men are more successful in the performing arts industry, including singing and dancing too.
Please note, these figures are from the USA and legislation can differ from the UK.
From this chart, we can read that some of the roles woman take up in the industry are very poor. While the ratio of the cast between the two genders aren't too far from each other it seems like we don't see much work coming from writers and directors being used in the performing arts industry, which is a shame because it is never been scientifically proven that men write better stories than women. This could also mean that women are more likely to be employed as assistant writes or assistant director, ending up earning less money than men.
A story that came to my mind is the Barbie movie from 2023. The main character is played by Margot Robbie (Barbie) and Ryan Gosling plays Ken. Altough the story in nut shell is about Barbie coming to conscious and making great changes in "Barbieland" it was Ryan Gosling who won The Male Movie Star of the Year and Best Supporting Actor yet the director and writer Greta Gerwig and lead role Margot Robbie weren't recognised by the Academy.
Organisations who currently fight for a change
Directors UK:
Is campaigning to improve access, training, and opportunities for women directors in UK television production.
Women in Film and Television UK (WFTV):
WFTV UK is an organization that works to promote gender equality in the film and television industry.
BECTU:
The media and entertainment union, BECTU also plays a role in advocating for gender equality.
Calling the Shots:
A research project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council that examines women and contemporary film culture in the UK
What more?
In addition to being a woman, I was also born abroad, which means I do not always fit the typical American or British look. For example, I have olive skin, so people often assume that I am Spanish. However, the bigger challenge is my accent. Since I moved to the UK at the age of 17 and have spent most of my time in Hampshire, my accent has become a mixture of influences. Because of this, I sometimes find it difficult to perform a fully convincing British accent or a clearly European one.
Recently, I have been watching the Vikings series from 2013, and I really enjoy the diversity of accents in the show. It portrays Scandinavian and Norwegian Vikings travelling and raiding across places such as England, France, and other regions. Watching this kind of production makes me feel that it is the type of show in which I could imagine myself performing.
Skills required to become a successful actor
Memorization / Remembering your lines
As an actor my job is the bring the character to life so it is important to understand and analyse the script and learn my lines. There are many techniques to successfully and quickly achieve this. I struggle concentrating on the paper and keep reading long texts so after I got a general feel of the character, I record myself and listen it back while I am doing washing up or other housework.
Communication
Effectively communicating with others is something we can not avoid, no matter where we work. While acting itself is communication, there are real life scenarios, such as emailing agents or talking to directors, casting directors at auditions. We must present ourselves well, speak up and articulate because first impression counts.
Body and Voice Control
I believe that people who excel in acting know their bodies. They understand the little tricks of changing accent, tone and range. They know where they need to look to project their voice towards the audience. They know how to belt, they know what the diaphragm is. They are able to manipulate their voice because they are in full control of their body. Voice actors are highly skilled in this because often expected to play more than one character in a show. Their voice is like a fine-tuned instrument.
Script Analysis
Script analysis is a skill. An actor has to look behind the given circumstances and dig deeper. I remember I used to hate my literature teaching always asking us "What did the writer think.... when saying the curtains are blue?" but now I understand. An actor must be poetic, must have emotional intelligence and creative thinking under their belt. Knowing the different genres, understanding peoples feelings and basic reactions -she broke the vase because she was angry- might sound simple but very important. Finally, always learning, always researching, checking old words or slang online is the only way to perform a line with authenticity.
Stamina
Next to keeping fit and having a strong core , it is important to have a strong soul too. A NO doesn't mean NEVER. Actors must believe in themselves and don't take rejection personally, rather concentrate on constructive criticism. Auditions should get easier every time as we gain experience and confidence.
Taking Direction
Taking directions sometimes might feel like being criticised but it shouldn't be the case. Just like in any job, the manager / the director in this case would oversee the job of the worker/ performer. Be flexible and be ready to take stage directions and try different ways of delivering your lines. This should be the actor and the director working together on creating the best version of the character. Remember that the director/ audience sees/hears you differently from how you see yourself.
Basic technology knowledge
First of all, I would recommend to spend your spare money on purchasing a reliable laptop and phone instead of buying asking something unnecessarily for your birthday. This is your work tool and must understand how to apply for jobs or write emails. Many productions require a self-tape so a good camera is crucial to record yourself. A ring light is helpful for better light, recording in landscape mode and polishing the recording with the help of an editing tool. Understanding not only how to take selfies on your phone but researching camera movements and angles and the different effects they can have on the audience.
Business Mindset
Headshots, CV, experience, networking, social media presence. They are the key to be seen online and getting a change to being where paid work can ben found. Having an actors degree, taking up extra skills, such as stage combat to become more versatile and desirable for directors. And of course keeping up to date with the industry, it trends and fails. Understanding what kind of movies people watch and who are the leading actors in the industry, perhaps watching interviews with them on how they became famous as these are the people we want to learn from.