TASK 1D: Importance of Images & Audio-visual

Task 1D: Importance of Images & Audio-visual

The use of social media in my professional practice has skyrocketed, even since 2011 when I began drama school! In the arts today self promotion via Web 2.0 forums such as Instagram and twitter is constantly rising. Having so many friends and acquaintances in the acting world I notice it's near impossible to scroll through any social media and NOT see something relating to someone's work. Whether it be a link to a short film, a showreel, a poster for a play or someone wanting opinions on their new headshots. These are just a few of a number of ways in which audio-visual and images are used via social media to support and potentially further ones career. And with the accessibility of those posts reaching thousands of people in a matter of minutes the amount of people using this tool are constantly growing. On the one hand to this is the possibility a casting director or producer will stumble across your audio-visual one day whilst looking thorough their timeline and make you the next HOLLYWOOD STARRR. On the other hand is, if one is careless with what is posted on their social media and mixes professional and personal posts, that someone influential in the industry will come across the post. Then instantly have a link to a profile spanning since the beginning of high school, has access to hundreds of status', pictures, videos and so much more at the touch of a button. Will they then see someone they want to make the next star?

I think social media can be a fabulous tool at the disposal of so many people, however the differentiation of personal and professional must be clear and not interlinked in my opinion, as I mentioned in my previous blog for TASK 1B. 

For this task I created a different Instagram, professional, profile. As it's a system I'm very aware of, I posted an array of videos of my choreography whilst teaching, myself singing, and acting self tape and my new headshots I had updated last week. Once it was set up and after posting various things over a few days I noticed that I have very few followers and likes and comments in comparison to my personal account. This made me feel as though my work wasn't enjoyed and liked, which I know is silly to feel like that! But is that a reason people post things on their personal social media? For the likes and comments? Does a video of someone's choreography with 700 likes prove they're more talented than another choreographer's video with 25 likes? Of course not! But living in a society where social media plays such a huge part in so many young peoples lives, is it causing people to overlook the detrimental effect posting professional work on a personal account?

For me, of course not, and it's not something I personally would do (mixing professional and personal accounts). However I know it happens, I've seen it first hand. It's really made the think though! On the odd chance someone of influence could see the post and contact your agent for a series or film they're casting, should you? Whether they have dangers or not. It left me really interested to find out, and I couldn't help but wonder... Are most actors and performers cross sharing images and audio-visual on social media? Or like me and think they should remain separate? Maybe over time on this course my opinion on the matter will change.. I look forward to finding out!

H x   

TASK 1B: Professional Communication Technologies

TASK 1B: Professional Communication Technologies 

Having read through Reader 1, it's really opened my eyes to the different forms of 'Web'. Prior to reading through the section I genuinely had no idea there was various web platforms! (Is that silly of me?) Now having digested the reader the early platforms 1.0 and 2.0 fully make sense. 

Web 1.0 - A one way communication from creator to audience. 

Web 2.0 - An interactive communication between creator and audience. 

It was after having the platforms defined to me that I realised, in my entire online footprint, Web 2.0 is where the vast majority of my online communication takes place. This is done on a daily basis using forums such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and various other social media applications. Despite the fact I visit these forums for mainly personal use I am ALWAYS careful as to what I put out for people to see, as I always have my career in mind when posting. As well as being a great asset for promoting a career and what someone is doing, it can easily have a detrimental effect. With posts reaching a wide audience, although on a personal page, they are visible to a large circle of industry folk, whom have acquaintances with your online colleagues, friends & peers. With Web 2.0 being so wildly used now, it would be silly not to try and use it to your advantage. But remembering that professional and personal situations shouldn't overlap. 

A personal example of this is my Facebook and Twitter. Facebook is used purely for me to stay in touch with friends, events happening, birthdays, general life updates from the people I have met and know well. I post status updates, memes, pictures and stories to do with all sorts of things, my friends will relate to. However my twitter is only for professional use, postings are strictly work related e.g: projects I'm working on, dates for performances of productions I'm involved in and so on. I use my twitter to not only follow my 'actory' friends and people I admire in the industry, but also casting directors, producers, directors and agents I am familiar with the work of. This is so should I meet them at events I can show I'm engaged in their work and knowledgeable about the going on's of the ever changing industry. I pose the question to myself, am I use Web 2.0 platforms enough to my advantage? Is there more I can do using the platforms professionally to get my work seen and my face known? Having your face recognised and remembered is vital to getting seen for auditions, but what measures need to take place to ensure that private and professional pages do not overlap?

The reader explains there are three competencies that are relevant to the understanding of Web 2.0 in regards to professional practice. These being: 

* Architectures of participation:

This point of the three I personally found the hardest to digest, as it's meaning was the most alien to me. During my research into the topic after the reader, a summary of AOP that really resonated with me was one by Vangie Beal, Managing Editor of Web Company Webopedia.com. he described it as "A phrase coined by Tim O'Reilly that is used to describe the nature of systems that are designed for user contribution. Architecture of Participation is a Web 2.0 concept in which a community of users contributes to the content or to the design and development process." Working in an industry such as the arts, development is key. So after the summary I see that architectures of participation in Web 2.0 are the systems in which we use to post content, ideas, opinions, showreels, headshots and various other things for feedback and comments from other users.

* Remixable data and transformations:

This focuses on the continuing lack of distinction from an artist producing something and the audience consuming it, with users covering both categories, whereas in Web 1.0 the producer would post and the audience would consume. This allows, during Web 2.0 the audience (the consumer) to be more actively involved and engaged by also being an artist (the producer) which is key in all industries. 

* Harnessing collective intelligence:
This for me was the easiest to get my head around. It is the idea that the information from users on various systems is harnessed (the knowledge of the large worldwide audience) basically giving platform users a self-service opinion for various issues or questions. Or directing you to the correct site to find other peoples opinions on matters you've googled for example.


Phewwww. I know this post may seem like waffle, but sometimes I find it so much easier to get things written down!




REFERENCES:

Institute for Work Based Learning 2016 Reader 1 2016-2017. London: Middlesex University
Webopedia.com Vangie Beal, Managing Editor 2016. Website, worldwide.

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TASK 1A: Professional C.V

TASK 1A: Professional C.V

Aren't there just so many ways to approach making a C.V? Fortunately for myself the actors casting website Spotlight displays my C.V, complete with my Film Reel and Voice Reel from my professional work, which my agent and myself regularly keep updated. As this is the only C.V looked at by casting directors, producers, fellow actors and the like, I'll be uploading a link to spotlight for my C.V.

For someone auditioning in the Arts your Spotlight C.V and headshot really are crucial for getting yourself in the audition room door. Which is why I suppose the casting hub generates it for you, making it the same layout for every one of the thousands of members. Preventing flamboyant eye catching colours and hugeee bold lettering to attract the attention of the casting directors. By doing this putting everyone on an even start and letting the headshot and credits speak for themselves. Although, in such a creative industry is a generic C.V the best way of understanding the personality and characteristics of an actor before getting them in the audition room? Surely it would save extremely busy casting directors time to have a feel for the actor before the audition?

Alas, its been the same for years and I very much doubt it'll change (if it's not broke, don't fix it), although having looked at my C.V in detail for this module it has made me think. Is uniformity in creativity expressive? I can really see both side so am really interested to see what you guys think!
In reference to experience listed on the C.V, is it bombarding to list EVERY credit I have picked up since I was 7? What to choose? What is deemed more 'important' or 'impressive'? It's all relative to the performing job in question, so when up for a broad range of jobs from Film, T.V Series, all the way to glittering West End musicals I'm not convinced formality is best way.

Having really put a lot of thought into it I can really see the benefits of all performers having the same C.V layout in an industry that is already so competitive. Why add another thing to compare? I believe it's the most fair, easy and concise way . However I do think that ALL spotlight C.V could do with some TLC in terms of layout and colour. Keeping them all the same and fair, I totally understand. But I couldn't help but wonder.....does uniformity have to be colourless?


H x

https://www.spotlight.com/1253-4508-6682

It All Starts Now....

Hey there readers, 

Today's the day. Course begins. Having just got off the phone with one of my adorable friend, Tori (nicknamed Mum by the group as she's so caring), I'm full of enthusiasm for the year ahead! Having completed the course herself we spoke about how I've interpreted the Module Guide & Tasks, turns out I seem to be on the right lines...and need to chill more (I'm a stressor). Sooo...tomorrow I begin tackling the Tasks, with great optimism!

On a slightlyy different note. Sat here writing this, I've never felt closer to one of my favourite fictional authors, Carrie Bradshaw. So I intend to finish every blog with a summative reflective question as Carrie does with her articles.

Hopefully ya'll are also feeling excited and wanting to crack on too. 😁

So I had to ask myself, is it normal to be so looking forward to a Uni Course?