Sunday, September 30, 2018

Part 1: So you want to be an actor

I'm not sure if I've indicated this in previous blogs but I've been trying to make it as an actor since I was eight years old, so we're talking a very, very long time.

Although I say I have wanted to be an actor since I was eight years old, it probably actually started before then. My earliest memory of being interested in acting was when I was six years old and there was a school play and I wanted a lead role but I was too young so ended up being in the choir. It was for a production of Joseph and the Technicoloured Dreamcoat.

But deciding I wanted to be an actor at eight years old sticks out for me as that was when I started watching Shortland Street, a New Zealand soap and I immediately decided after then that I wanted to be an actor. At the time it was because Angela Dotchin, who played receptionist and later PA, Kirsty Knight was my favourite character.

Since then I took a lot of acting classes and I've been writing since then with roles as a journalist, digital marketer and content editor or writer but acting has always been in the back of my mind. I've also done singing since 2009. That's my other passion but I happen to be a better actor than I am a singer. And that's basically the purpose of this blog today, to talk a bit about why I love acting and a bit about the things that I've learned in acting classes and what steps you should take if you want to be an actor.

Despite having done dozens of courses and spent thousands of dollars on acting courses as well as having done paid extra work and some short films, I've been rejected by agents, even recently though I'll be trying again. So here are some tips I would like to give you if you do want to be an actor.

Take as many courses as you possibly can

As an  actor training is really important and as teachers of mine have said, it's important to learn from different teachers because they all have their own technique. You might learn screen acting from one teacher but theatre from another or methods from others. You will be a stronger actor if you have more techniques to your repertoire and you'll be able to be more multifaceted than if you only have one or two. Find the best acting schools in your area and then go to them and listen to what other people say about them. If a school has a good reputation then you should go.

Ideally you would do a three year acting course but if you're like me and either tried multiple times and didn't get in or you don't have the money short courses and short films are your best option. Get involved in as many productions as you possibly can.

Get your headshots and/or a showreel done

Every actor is judged on their appearance. It's just the way it is. Certain people will be better at playing different characters. If you are carrying extra weight (as I was for a while) then you will be limited in the roles you can be cast for. As an actor your physicality is really important so it's good to be as fit as possible and to maintain a healthy weight. You also need to maintain a consistent weight. This is very important because when you're submitted for roles your agent will rely on your headshots. If your headshots are outdated you won't get cast and could end up with a bad reputation. Get your headshots done BEFORE you get an agent. It will make you look more professional than if you do it afterwards and it will show your possible agents that you're serious about the field. This is the minimum you need to do. Most headshot photographers will charge around $400 for your shots.

If you can though, get a showreel made up. A showreel should show your best work, so before you get it made up, be sure to rehearse rehearse rehearse. You can never rehearse too much. A showreel costs more and could potentially be around $2000, but look around for quotes.

Get an agent

Although you can get some work through sites like Showcast and Starnow, you need an agent. Agents have industry contacts and can get you auditions for roles that aren't widely advertised. Because they know casting directors well they know what each one is looking for and will only put you forward for roles you are suitable for.

Although you may want to sign up with a top agent you're going to need to look around for an agent that is at the level you are at. That may mean going with an agent that only does commercials or extra work initially. Be aware though that extra work will not help you become an actor. Only courses and unpaid acting will help you with that. Get involved in community theatre or another acting group if you can do so.

There are so many other things you need to consider if you do want to be an actor including your physicality, techniques, communication, listening and script analysis and this will be covered in the next blog.

Before I close this blog though, I want to say that if you are considering becoming an actor then you should definitely enrol in short courses at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Kensington, Sydney, NSW, Australia. They offer a range of programs from one day short courses through to their three year bachelor degree programs. All comments in this blog are my own opinions and I have not been paid for this review. My opinions are based on genuine experiences.

I also want to add that f you want to be an actor and you love acting, it's a passion that will never go away. You may take breaks from it but it's something that you'll always be interested in and always return to. I did a course today and have another three coming up and I honestly cannot wait. As an actor you can always learn more skills and develop your craft.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

The truth about dermal fillers: What to expect when you get them for the first time

So before I got Botox I said I would never ever get dermal fillers, and before I first got Botox back in July I was only open to the idea. It wasn't something I would definitely do. I didn't actually have a strong opinion on it either way. It was probably one of those things I was open to but didn't actually know a lot about.

I did however know that I was opposed to dermal fillers and thought that anyone who got them was an absolute idiot and that there was no real point to them. Again, I simply didn't know a lot about them.

Based on my previous opinions and the opinions of people around me, I would say that most people are the same and that for some reason people don't know a lot about cosmetic injectibles and that they are still taboo. Although the internet typically has a lot of information available, there is no singular reason as to why injectibles are still considered taboo but one theme that often comes up is that it contradicts feminism. The thinking is that if you get injectibles you're not happy in your own skin and that you're conforming to society's expectations to look a certain way.

Anyway, after a few sessions of Botox I decided I would take the plunge at get dermal fillers. Basically Botox is great for dynamic lines caused by expression, whereas fillers need to be used to the static lines that are caused by the skin drying out.

So what was it like to get dermal fillers injected for the first time tonight?

Well, I'd watched a lot of videos on YouTube of people having dermal fillers injected and I have to say that the YouTube videos make the procedure look a lot more scary than it actually is.

If you've had Botox then you'pre already familiar and experienced in having injections in the face it's not that much of a transition. The only real difference is that instead of it being over and done with in 10 minutes it will take half an hour.

First, your nurse or doctor if you've opted to see a doctor will tell you to sit down on the bed in the room and you'll lean back. When you're leaning back and relaxing they'll wipe your face with antiseptic and prepare the syringes for injection and then mark the places on your face that will be injected. Instead of it involving a quick prick like Botox the syringe will be in the part of the face that's being injected for a little bit longer. The nurse or doctor will also massage in the filler so that it spreads and is evenly spread. They'll inject a few spots to get the best possible result.

It's really quite painless because the dermal filler, I was injected with Juvederm Voluma has a numbing agent so it won't hurt at all.

When it's over you'll see the results immediately and they'll last anywhere from six months to two years so you'll need to get top ups after that. Fillers are like Botox, the more you have them, the longer they'll last. They also add moisture back to your skin that has previously been lost due to sun damage and aging.

Obviously because your face has been injected and massage there will be some bruising. That is to be expected and is a normal part of the experience. Your skin will also be a bit tender but that should only last a couple of days.

To sum up I would highly recommend dermal fillers if you want to add life to your face and look more youthful. Be aware that you will need to have multiple sessions. The average amount for each person will be 3-6mls and that will ensure you have th best possible result.

As you get older your skin in other areas also dries out so that means your lips will dry out as well, so if that is the case then you should also consider lip fillers. Like Botox and dermal fillers you can choose the number of mls/syringes based on the result you want. I haven't yet had my lips done, but if/when I get them done, that will simply be for moisture so I would only go for 1ml. Anything else would look ridiculous.

As I've said in previous blog posts it's really important that you choose a cosmetic specialist who is trained and qualified in cosmetic injectibles and can give you a professional and natural look.

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Advice if you're considering dermal fillers

I first blogged about Botox in mid July and had my first Botox treatment on the 21st of July. As I've mentioned in previous blogs I started with my forehead and the sides of my eyes. Two weeks later I had my bunny lines done and a top up on my forehead and sides of my eyes. My next treatment was above my lips, some more in my forehead, my bunny lines and the sides of my eyes.

It was during the last consultation that I talked about having dermal fillers done to smooth and reduce the dark circles under my eyes. I had originally planned to have those done today but wasn't 100% sure and baasically I hadn't done enough research to proceed with them, so today I only had more Botox done.

Today's Botox session completed the Botox that I needed in my face so now I'm onto fillers and there are a few things I'd like to talk about in the lead up to my first fillers session.

The first thing you need to know is that there are many different brands of fillers and they all have different effects. Don't be fooled by the cheaper ones. The cheaper ones do not work as well as the more expensive ones and will only have a superficial impact. If you want a long lasting impact, then it's recommended that you choose the more expensive one (I would like to name it but due to Australian TGA guidelines and legislation, I actually can't - but there is enough information online that you'll be able to figure it out).

When your'e starting out with fillers for under the eyes then it's actually best to get them injected into your cheeks or at least that is what has been recommended for me personally. Everyone is different. Some articles and blogs online also recommend that you start with a small amount and then progress from there to a bigger amount, or have it topped up if you need to. This is what I've done with Botox. I've had four Botox treatments across my face totalling $1201.10 and that should cover me for the next six months but it's really hard to know because I thought the last treatment I had two weeks ago would be enough but it actually wasn't and I had to have a major top up today.

So anyway, now that I'm moving onto dermal fillers another thing to note is that it is more expensive than Botox. Each Botox treatment I've had has cost me an average of $200 - $350. Fillers are $650 for the premium brand.

I can't comment on what fillers can do for your face until I've had them but what I can say is that since I've had Botox friends have commented on my face. Now granted I've always had a great face, but Botox has really improved it dramatically and people have commented on it. They have also commented on the general change in my personality. This could be a result of losing weight prior to having Botox and then colouring my hair. it's hard to know, but the general idea is that Botox really does improve your mood and it has been reported that it reduces depression in people.

Anyway, I will keep you posted on what my thoughts after having the fillers are but so far I'm thinking I'm just going to go with 1ml as an entry point and then if I need to increase that later on that's what I'll do like I've done with Botox. Getting fillers is a huge decision and not one I've taken lightly at all which is probably partially why I didn't end up going ahead with the treatment today. The filler brand that was recommended to me today as well lasts for two years so I'll let you do your research and find out what brand that is.

My regular skin specialist was away today as well so I needed to see someone else and while I'm willing to have someone else do my Botox injections, I'd rather have someone I know well do my filler injections as it seems different to having Botox done and takes a little bit longer. Botox is basically over and done with in five minutes.

I know I've blogged about this before as well, but nothing beats the feeling of knowing that your face is free from lines and wrinkles and it's really cool because I never really had frown lines to begin with. I guess I just don't frown, either that or unlike other people I hadn't developed those lines. My eyes are a different story though. I am very very expressive with my eyes so that's where most of my lines are, hence I've needed to focus on them.

Now, in concluding, here are five tips that I want to leave you with before you do have fillers:

  1. Choose a skin specialist you trust and feel comfortable with. Think about it this way, you're having your face injected. It's really important that you trust your skin specialist. That might mean you go to a small clinic or it may mean you stick with a major chain. I've gone with a major chain personally and other than today I stick with the same specialist as I trust and have rapport with her.
  2. Start small. If you're not sure what you'll think of the treatment, start small. You can always have more injected later.
  3. Be aware that the treatment will hurt slightly (I have had Botox above my lips and that is the most painful along with the bunny lines, it's only a short term sting but it does hurt and your eyes may water like mine do) and go to your happy place. Remember to breathe.
  4. Listen to your skin specialist. You may do a lot of research on your own online and that's great that you do but it's important to listen to your skin specialist. They are a professional, and they know what they're doing so listen to them and trust them.
  5. Cheapest isn't always best, just like you're best going with the more expensive filler brand, it's also worth paying more for a reputable skin clinic.
I'll keep you posted on what I think of fillers and will post another blog once I have had my fillers on the 6th of October.

Please note: Any opinions shared in this blog are the thoughts of the writer online and do not constitute medical advice. Please consult your medical professional for a tailored package.