Above: Joe O'Byrne tells it like it is. (Photo: Richard J Bradbury)
A fabulous turnout (Photo: Richard J Bradbury)
Wednesday 2nd June 2010
Report by Brian Gorman
The AXM nightclub on Bloom Street, Manchester was the venue this week for the inaugural Silver Pearl TV & Networking Event, organized by Gail Cullen of Pink Diamond Productions and Rhiannon Clifford, aspiring Production Designer . I wasn’t at all sure what to expect, as I’d always viewed such things with a certain degree of apprehension, if not outright fear. ‘Networking’. The word always sent a shiver down my spine. What would I encounter? Queues of aspiring celebrities desperately prostrating themselves to producers, casting agents, etc.? I’d always hated that kind of thing. Guess what? Nothing could have been further from the truth. This was a fabulous evening, in an atmospheric venue, with several fascinating guest speakers who gave a real, honest, and clear insight into working in the film and television industry. Ms Cullen, delightfully attired, one has to remark, in a splendidly spangly silver dress, was an ideal hostess; warm, approachable, and keen to get people talking to each other. Several times she introduced me to people I might never have had the nerve to approach, and I came away a hell of a lot more knowledgeable, keen, and inspired. I met producers, casting agents, stuntmen, actors, writers, and made some invaluable contacts and, one hopes, future friends. For anybody even contemplating working in television, events like this are a must. It’s no good being the best, if nobody knows about you. Gail Cullen is doing everybody in the business a huge favour by organizing these evenings, and if the vibe is anything to go by, I’d book early for the next one.
Local writer, actor, and film-maker Joe O’Byrne gave an entertaining and inspiring talk on how to succeed in the business (or at least how to get on the ladder). His story of how he left a successful career in retail to pursue his dream of working in tv and film was both amusing and uplifting. His basic message was don’t wait for opportunities to fall in your lap; get out there and make things happen. Illustrating his various points with anecdotes about his impressively long list of accomplishments in theatre, tv, and independent film-making, here was a guy you couldn’t help admire. The film ‘Diary Of A Bad Lad’, in which he plays the title character was made on an incredible budget of under £4000, and is released on dvd later this month, as well as receiving a limited cinema release. O’Byrne believes in talent, and has little patience with those seeking fame for fame’s sake; a punk style attitude of getting up and just doing it is what’s needed in his book.
After a short break we had a chance to mingle and chat with fellow creatives; made easy by everybody wearing wristbands that identified them as producers, writers, actors, etc (a great idea, and a real icebreaker). Next on stage were Lee Mountjoy and Darren R L Gordon, casting director and actor trainer/artistic director respectively. Once again we were treated to a friendly, unpretentious, informative and entertaining talk on the industry. Lee Mountjoy had some invaluable advice for actors attending auditions, such as not directing one’s monologue directly at the poor casting person who’s trying to make notes. Darren R L Gordon (http://www.actingclass.co.uk/) gave us some insights into getting a movie off the ground, and the various avenues that are open to local film-makers. Chatting to each of the speakers later in the bar, each one of them was approachable, keen to talk, and a delight to listen to. Yes, there are some horror stories, and any wannabe actor or film-maker should be prepared for a hard slog, but there is a great deal of help around, and some genuinely nice people to work with. Get yourself along to one of Gail’s events and you’re already ahead in the game.
Her website can be found at http://www.myspace.com/momachick100
Report by Brian Gorman
The AXM nightclub on Bloom Street, Manchester was the venue this week for the inaugural Silver Pearl TV & Networking Event, organized by Gail Cullen of Pink Diamond Productions and Rhiannon Clifford, aspiring Production Designer . I wasn’t at all sure what to expect, as I’d always viewed such things with a certain degree of apprehension, if not outright fear. ‘Networking’. The word always sent a shiver down my spine. What would I encounter? Queues of aspiring celebrities desperately prostrating themselves to producers, casting agents, etc.? I’d always hated that kind of thing. Guess what? Nothing could have been further from the truth. This was a fabulous evening, in an atmospheric venue, with several fascinating guest speakers who gave a real, honest, and clear insight into working in the film and television industry. Ms Cullen, delightfully attired, one has to remark, in a splendidly spangly silver dress, was an ideal hostess; warm, approachable, and keen to get people talking to each other. Several times she introduced me to people I might never have had the nerve to approach, and I came away a hell of a lot more knowledgeable, keen, and inspired. I met producers, casting agents, stuntmen, actors, writers, and made some invaluable contacts and, one hopes, future friends. For anybody even contemplating working in television, events like this are a must. It’s no good being the best, if nobody knows about you. Gail Cullen is doing everybody in the business a huge favour by organizing these evenings, and if the vibe is anything to go by, I’d book early for the next one.
Local writer, actor, and film-maker Joe O’Byrne gave an entertaining and inspiring talk on how to succeed in the business (or at least how to get on the ladder). His story of how he left a successful career in retail to pursue his dream of working in tv and film was both amusing and uplifting. His basic message was don’t wait for opportunities to fall in your lap; get out there and make things happen. Illustrating his various points with anecdotes about his impressively long list of accomplishments in theatre, tv, and independent film-making, here was a guy you couldn’t help admire. The film ‘Diary Of A Bad Lad’, in which he plays the title character was made on an incredible budget of under £4000, and is released on dvd later this month, as well as receiving a limited cinema release. O’Byrne believes in talent, and has little patience with those seeking fame for fame’s sake; a punk style attitude of getting up and just doing it is what’s needed in his book.
After a short break we had a chance to mingle and chat with fellow creatives; made easy by everybody wearing wristbands that identified them as producers, writers, actors, etc (a great idea, and a real icebreaker). Next on stage were Lee Mountjoy and Darren R L Gordon, casting director and actor trainer/artistic director respectively. Once again we were treated to a friendly, unpretentious, informative and entertaining talk on the industry. Lee Mountjoy had some invaluable advice for actors attending auditions, such as not directing one’s monologue directly at the poor casting person who’s trying to make notes. Darren R L Gordon (http://www.actingclass.co.uk/) gave us some insights into getting a movie off the ground, and the various avenues that are open to local film-makers. Chatting to each of the speakers later in the bar, each one of them was approachable, keen to talk, and a delight to listen to. Yes, there are some horror stories, and any wannabe actor or film-maker should be prepared for a hard slog, but there is a great deal of help around, and some genuinely nice people to work with. Get yourself along to one of Gail’s events and you’re already ahead in the game.
Her website can be found at http://www.myspace.com/momachick100
Richard J Bradbury (event photography) http://www.rjbradbury.com
1 comment:
really cool read.. More of this pls...
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