employment. the industry - you need to make yourself aware of: where to go or whom to contact for...
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The industry - You need to make yourself aware of: Where to go or whom to contact for advice What will be expected of you as an employee What laws you will have to comply with What working conditions to expect How to make sure you are prepared and ready
to apply for work How to make contact with agents
Preparing a CV
A performer's CV should be only one side of A4 A portfolio can be useful demonstrating your
experience (posters, reviews etc) to take to an interview or to link to from a web site in your CV.
Be prepared to audition during an interview. Choose your material (and clothes) carefully!
Photograph
• This should be head and shoulders Be a semi-side on view, with careful attention to
lighting etc.
• It is usually a black and white photo but now colour is also widely used
• Be of a good, or if you can afford it, a very high professional standard
• Be an honest and clear representation of yourself
Kiera Daily
Contact: 21a Crescent Road, Canterbury CT2 5JZ
Phone: (01227) 346987 Mobile: 07961 152 349Email: [email protected]
Agent:Joan Trollope Personal Management124 Wardour Street, London W1 3PU.(01234) 222 233 Location: South East England
You need to include a photograph (which is much better than a passport photo!
Your personal contact details
Include the name and contact details of your agent if you have one.
Pay to be in Spotlight if possible
Spotlight number: 1236 Equity number: M3111 55456
Height: 6'1" Build: slim Hair: Brown Eyes: Green
Accents: UK South East RP, Geordie, London, Standard American, French,
Role Playing Ages 17- 24
Spotlight www.spotlight.com/artists.html is the photographic directory of all actors in UK and is the first place directors look when casting. You can put your CV there.
On your CV put your Spotlight page number and also if you are an Equity member.
Your height, colour of hair, eye colour and accents you can speak and sing in are important.
Skills:
Full Driving Licence, BADC intermediate certificate in Stage Fighting,
Horse Riding, Workshop Leader, Chorus Dancing, Skiing, Tennis, Scuba Diving, Computing
Skills
It’s very important to list any other practical skills/training you may have
Music Skills:
Singing: Soprano. Chorus and Solo Singing
Instruments: Versatile Guitarist, Piano Grade 4.
It is very desirable for an actor to have some musical skills
(Singers need a brief profile to explain their style of singing: opera, musical theatre, popular, plus voice type: soprano, mezzo, baritone or bass.)
Specify what you want to do and why. You can include a well produced & brief CD of your work or it can be linked from a web site. These should be one or two minute samples of your best work. The first should be the best as this may be the only one listened to.
Training:
2008 - 2009 Mountview Theatre School: Postgraduate Diploma - Acting
2004 - 2008 University of Kent : BA (Hons.) Drama 2:1
Note in this CV there is no mention of GCSEs or A Levels.Generally that will depend on your age and experience. A younger candidate might include these
But very important you should mention the professional training you have received.
Performance Experience
List what experience you have: all the productions you have been in, usually divided into film and TV and theatre. Where you have performed: year, type, role, director and venue
Year Type Role Production Company Director
Theatre
2008 Play GodotWaiting for Godot
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury,
Jason Brown
2008 Play JulietRomeo and Juliet
Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury
Student Production
2006 Pantomime chorusDick Whittington
Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury
Jenny harrison
TV & Film
2009 Short Film TomThe Search for Dick and Harry
Puerile Productions
Alan Dawson
Showreels
A Showreel gives a taster of your skills and can be placed on-line and/or on a DVD. Make sure this is of a good professional standard
Tell the viewer how long it will last in case they have limited time (or patience!).
Employer
Should follow employment law regarding Contract stating your responsibilities and
hours of work – rate of pay etc Provide a safe working environment Follow any other regulations relating to
equal opportunities and disability rights and required training
Contracts – read them carefully! Read your contract carefully to know the terms and
conditions of your employment Required length of service ( how long you will be
employed) – ( how long you sign with an agent) Rate of pay Working hours Holiday pay Procedures for resigning or dismissal Any agreements re royalties secondary payments
Types of deductions
The Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system Your employer does all deductions directly from
your wage
Self Employed – do your own national insurance and fill in your own tax form
You can have a combination
National Insurance
You pay National Insurance contributions to build up your entitlement to certain social security benefits, including the State Pension.
The type and level of National Insurance contributions you pay depends on how much you earn and whether you're employed or self employed.
You stop paying National Insurance contributions in the year you reach State Pension age.
Who uses your National Insurance number?You must give your National Insurance number to:
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Your employer Department for work and Pensions (DWP), if you claim
benefits Your local council, if you claim Housing Benefit The Student Loan Company if you apply for a student loan You will also be required to provide your National Insurance
number if you open and Individual Savings Account (ISA). Entitlement to many benefits depends on your
National Insurance contribution record
Employment law and tax
Tax --Most actors etc are self-employed – this means they have to have accounts and complete their own tax return
It generally works in favour as you can claim many deductions / expenses if they are ‘incurred wholly and exclusively for work’
e.g – TV rental – union fees – stage make-up- cost of attendance at auditions
For national insurance purposes you pay more if you wish to receive benefits
Dual Status
Equity has negotiated a dual status for actors You can have some tax registered and
calculated as self employed But when an actor etc get a contract they can
pay as you earn -- P.A.Y.E This means your tax is calculated and taken
from your pay
Dual employment status It’s very good This is important as it means you can
claim Job Seekers Allowance should you have times of long unemployment
Self employed people may have access to less benefits as they pay less contribution and they may earn over the accepted level of money
Citizens advice Bureau
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/work_e/work_self-employed_or_looking_for_work_e/self-employment_checklist.htm
This gives very general advice about all kinds of work but has useful information
Conditions of work
Rehearsal /performance space should be warm and adequately equipped
Facilities reasonable ( access to toilet ) Health and safety issues – risk correctly
assessed and meets legal requirements and is within the terms of your contract
Any special requirements may need training and support
Hours
The hours can sometimes be very long Licensing Act – any place presenting
entertainment needs a licence.
Under new laws venues stay open later particularly clubs and this means still an early set up but a later finish time.
Problem does the pay reflect this – possibly not!
Rates of pay
There can be many different circumstances depending on the
nature of the work size of the company or particular project Status and type of company your relationship to the people you are
working with – e.g are you a group of friends putting on one show
Rates of pay
Profit share – everyone in the company gets an equal share of any profits after all expenses and/or loans are paid
Agreed Fee for the project or work Full contract with a regional theatre or
TV /film company
Rates of Pay
Theatrical Management Association http://www.tmauk.org/ratesofpay/tmaequitysubsidisedrepertory.aspx
Has main list of rates of pay for most roles in theatre
directors /actors /stage managers/choreographers
Acting
Refer to equity rates of pay and conditions
These will also include any repeat fees or royalties regarding film or TV performances
Insurance and public liability
Equity is The Main Union for
Actors Directors Stage managers Dancers and choreographers Light Entertainment – e.g cabaret – circus
comedy
Equity negotiates across the industry the best conditions, terms and wages Basic salary Rehearsal salary Holiday pay Royalties or secondary payments (about repeats in TV –
depends if broadcast off peak 50% of fee or prime time same as original fee.
Repeat fee rates for walk on extras is classed in three rates
e.g. 1=crowd no fees 2 = featured but not speaking
3= featured and speak
Equity recommended agreement
Performers Minimum Salary – MRSL Grade 1 and 2 £400.00 Minimum Salary – MRSL Grade 3 £372.00 MRSL Grade 1 £459.00 MRSL Grade 2 £406.00 MRSL Grade 3 £379.00
Equity agreementshttp://www.actorsandextras.co.uk/3.html
ITV. Walk on 1 £66.55 per day.
or £57.10 where 41 or more extras are used. Walk on 2 non speaking £86 per day. Walk on 3
speaking £102.60
BBC Walk on £93.50 per recording day (£75.50 rehearsal)
Theatrical pay equity site
http://www.tmauk.org/ratesofpay/tmaequitysubsidisedrepertory.aspx
Only generally accessible to members
Employment disputes
Will negotiate in disputes with your employer – Late payments Advice on tax returns Free legal advice Contracts- Pay, hours of work, travel payments Accommodation Breaks / holiday or leave
Health and safety
Helps to negotiate safe working environments Insurance to full members is free Will give advice on Personal injury Insurance
and Back stage cover and public liability, which many
performers are expected to have especially if working in clubs, holiday centres, schools, community centres
Employment agents Equity campaigns against those that charge up front fees
Best to check agency with equity PMA listings ( Production Managers Association http://www.pma.org.uk)
Most agents based in London but there are 6 Yorkshire ones
Several based in Manchester
Equity says local theatres should do local auditions but they tend not to and still do them in London
PCR publication tells you when the castings are coming up ( Production Casting Report http://www.pcrnewsletter.com/pcr)
Also there is information in The Stage and Equity Journal
Web sites
http://www.spotlight.com/
http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/otherresources/agents/agents.htm
http://www.castingcallpro.com/uk/
Income Tax allowances table
Income Tax allowances2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
Personal Allowance (1)Up to £100
£6,475 £7,475 £8,105
Personal Allowance for people aged 65-74 (1)(2)
£9,490 £9,940 £10,500
Personal Allowance for people aged 75 and over (1)(2)
£9,640 £10,090 £10,660
Married Couple's Allowance - aged 75 and over (2)(3)
£6,965 £7,295 £7,705
Blind Person's Allowance £1,800 £1,890 £1,890
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/it.htm
Income Tax rates and taxable bands
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Starting rate for savings: 10%*
£0-£2,440 £0-£2,560 £0-£2,710
Basic rate: 20% £0-£37,400 £0-£35,000 £0-£34,370
Higher rate: 40%
£37,401-£150,000
£35,001-£150,000
£34,371-£150,000
Additional rate: 50%
Over £150,000 Over £150,000 Over £150,000