Actors doing it for themselves

Some actors get lucky.

Someone - director, producer or casting director sees them in something, often by accident and they are then cast in the job that changes their lives forever.  That film, TV or theatre production then receives brilliant reviews and industry-wide recognition for the actor. From then on, their careers soar, and they never have to audition again. Acting jobs are just offered to them.

Most actors never reach this stage. Well, not going along the usual route.

I am a great believer in actors doing it for themselves. 

Forty years ago, I was a successful actor. Well in as much as I had in the previous ten years appeared in 43 theatre, TV and film productions and all but one of them was paid work. However, I  took control of my life and decided to produce the productions I acted in. Ironically rather than cast myself in my first film as a producer, TO THE LIGHTHOUSE we cast Kenneth Branagh and Nicholas Gecks in the roles I could have played. I knew by then that I was more interested in producing than acting. 

The problem with acting is that you need someone to offer you a job. The simplest solution, therefore, is to give yourself that job.

It is tough doing this, and many times, it rarely payoffs in the way it is envisaged. But it is hugely rewarding and satisfying and far better than sitting around hoping one day to be discovered. 

I have in the last 50 years met thousands of actors, and very few decide to go down this road. Some do.  

One actor who has done this is Stuart Brennan.

Coming out of University in Winchester England, with a drama degree but with no showcase performance meant no agent. Some of Stuart's friends had moved to London to pursue the dream, but he just couldn’t afford it as London is so expensive to live in for many. He also couldn’t even provide headshots, so with no savings to support himself, and he moved back in with parents in Devon. 

He applied for everything going and got auditions for a just couple of short films and so went on the expensive trip up to London twice, only to not get the parts. He applied to some regional touring theatre locally in Devon which got him an audition. Four months out of University, he was desperate. 

In this audition he could see on the directors face that he wasn’t what he was wanting, so as he said goodbye he asked him what he was after. The director explained and Stuart begged him to let me give it one more go. He did, and the director was impressed and gave him the job touring Somerset and Devon - which sounds great, and Stuart assures me that it was, but it was two weeks of rehearsal, followed by fifteen performances for which he got paid about £350 for well over a months work. His petrol bill alone was about almost £350. 

So Stuart decided to do what he had done at University; producing, writing and creating. He teamed up with university friend Neil Jones, and together they set out to make a feature film called RISEN, about a Welsh boxer Howard Winstone from Neil's hometown of Merthyr Tydfil. They set themselves up in the capital of Wales, Cardiff. 

After getting a short film together as a teaser for the feature, and with no contacts they somehow managed to raise enough money to begin filming. 

Then during the shooting one of the investors didn’t come through and they had to stop filming immediately - and owed a rightfully very angry cast and crew a lot of money. Over the next five years, they would raise some money, pay some of the bills, film a bit more and repeat. Until eventually they had completed the movie and paid everyone their fees… Despite a very small release, they had some success internationally with the film and at the Welsh BAFTA’s, Stuart was to his surpise nominated for the Best Actor.

He won.

After winning the BAFTA, he wrote to a great many agents in London, and all said their books were full… and to this day Stuart has never had an agent. 

In September 2019 Stuart Brennan a man with few connections when he started, no money and no one fighting his corner has not one but two feature films opening in UK cinemas.

The first TOMORROW is Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese which Stuart co-wrote, co-produced and co-stars in with fellow actor Sebastian Street. It will be screened in over 100 UK cinemas.

The second film WOLF Stuart directs, co-wrote and co-stars in will be screened in over 60 UK cinemas.

Look at his IMDb entry to see all the other films Stuart has worked in over the last few years. Almost every job is down to him. No one else. 

Stuart Brennan an actor ignored by EVERYONE except his Uni friend Neil Jones.

Stuart Brennan who took over 5 years to make that first film.

Stuart Brennan who would not take no for an answer. 

Stuart Brennan who really has done it "my way".

Be like Stuart Brennan. 

Stop fucking moaning. Yes, the life of an unknown actor is shit most of the time. Get off your arse today and take control!!

No one else is going to do it for you.

 DO IT YOURSELF.