Full name/age/job title
Alix Wilton Regan/23/actor and founder and director of The London On Film Festival.
What do people think you do in your job and what is it you actually do?
People tend to think actors spend most of their time lying to people - they think it is our job to lie to them be it on stage, screen or radio. This is a gross-misconception. I believe it is my job to tell the truth. Good actors tell the truth of other people's stories, so that their audience may be better informed about their own lives. That's what art should do: provoke, inspire and unite. Being an actor, people constantly ask me whether I'm working or "resting". This infuriates me. In my opinion there is no such thing as a "resting" actor- just an out of work one. I see it as my responsibility to keep myself in work, not my agent's, so I am excessively and obsessively pro-active when it comes to finding acting work.
As we are in the first year of building the London on Film Festival, juggling the equivalent of two day jobs has proved very challenging these last four months - and now, with only four weeks to go until opening night, my stress levels are running at an all time high!
Guide us through how you got into your current profession.
Loads of extra-curricular drama throughout school, a rather dramatic year at DSL, embarking upon a massive exploration of myself as an artist and individual upon leaving (through much therapy and various weird, wacky and wonderful workshops), and an excessively and obsessively pro-active work ethic when it comes to finding acting work. I am an actor; I do not have time to be a 'resting' actor.
Would you describe yourself as creative?
I am super-sonically creative! I believe creativity comes from an amalgamation of a hyper-active imagination and a fearless ability to explore one's darkest emotions: put the two together, be brave enough to honestly express them as a whole (I can't stand actors who lie, or, for that matter, liars as a whole) and creativity will flow. As a Meisner-trained actor - a technique which grounds you in "living truthfully in the moment under a given set of circumstances" i.e. truthful expression of thought and feeling at all times - I believe heavily in just being and then the creativity will come.
I absolutely believe that anyone can be creative - and I don't believe there should be rules or restrictions on how to be. For me, in my art, the craft of acting is all about creatively expressing one's self.
What are your future plans and dreams?
"Dip, dip, dip, dip, dip, dip, happy song/Talk about things you like to do/If you don't have a dream/If you don't have a dream/How you gonna have a dream come true?"
For the next four weeks, making the London on Film Festival a roaring success is my only priority. I am an incredibly passionate and driven individual and I will not stop promoting the festival until every ticket has been sold - I am in charge of our opening night which sold out in 48 hours. A huge compliment, but there's still 5 more brilliant nights we need to sell for the speakers we have secured for these events deserve full houses and we're going to give it to them.
As such, I have decided to not actively pursue acting for the next four weeks, by which I mean not sending out CVs and photos for projects or pestering my poor agents. This is because the other Directors of the London on Film Festival have supported me and taken on the bulk of my work, while I rehearsed and performed in three different plays in the last five months... So I thought it only fair that I now return the favour! Sod's law though, the moment you stop looking for work, four scripts come alone at once! And I can't resist a good script... Despite the difficulties we've encountered along the way, I have no doubt that the festival will be a success and it will return every year for the for-seeable future, going from strength to strength. I, for one, am committed to making this a reality.
But I must be honest: apart from a brief dilly-dalliance with the idea of becoming a Spice Girl (aged 11), I cannot remember a time when I didn't want to act. I am now a fully-trained and professionally working actor, and I have busted my balls incredibly hard to get where I am today. When I left drama school I made a conscious decision to be a working actor and today I am fortunate enough to rarely be out of work. That said, I want to be at the very top of the acting profession - respected by my peers and revered for my work. By no means am I there yet, but I've got my foot on the ladder, a spring in my step, fire in my belly and the strength in back which I hope will take me all the way.
The only thing I could really use now, to help speed up the process, is a highly respected industry figure championing my cause - someone like Judi Dench recommending me to Michael Grandage would suit me fine... Or Kevin Spacey to Sam Mendes - that and maybe a cutesy size 8 body for the movies! I also fantasise about how lovely it would be to be the only person on a brilliant agent's books.... Admittedly the above may be a tad unrealistic, so I guess what I'm really wanting now is that big break.
What advice would you give to young people trying to break into the industry?
"I am an actor. That's what I'm gifted at. It's what makes me breathe. People say when they self-harm, if you like, it's to breathe, to live. My self-harm is acting, because I feel alive when I do it. I cannot live without it." Sam Morton, Actor, 2009.
If you agree with said statement, you're probably mad enough to join the profession... read on.
Go to drama school. I very nearly didn't, and alot of my friends are considering not going, because they worry about the amount of time it will take to train, especially if they've just finished a three year degree. But you need to know your craft and yourself inside out, standing on your head, backwards. This is why I believe actors must never stop learning, growing and seeking out new experiences. Personal growth through self-exploration is hugely important too: be it through therapy, acting workshops, five rhythms dancing or whatever, it is imperative to understand the human mind and what drives people to do what they do, if you're hoping to get inside someone else's.
Stay expressive: there will be times when you don't work. This is a fact, so don't think you can avoid it. The best way to keep your creative juices flowing during these periods is to express your way through them! Go to workshops! Act! Dance! Box! Sing! Tap! Do whatever it is you need to do to stay happy and inspired.
Stay active: never expect your agent to get you a job. If you're lucky to have a good agent they will get you into interviews (i.e. the audition) but you're the one who has to actually go in there and secure the job. On this note never be afraid to audition: the casting director has called you in because they feel you might be right for the part- indeed, they hope that you are, that way they've filled the part they were worrying over! You cannot act if you don't audition.
Agents are not the be all and all of an actor's working life- though many agents would like to think that they are! I know many great and talented actors without agents, and they work because they want to more than anyone else and therefore never stop pushing for jobs.
This can be a very tough and cruel industry. The profession is not a "fair" one - you need to accept this as quickly as possible and find a way to deal with it. There are times when no-one will believe in you: that's when you have to find the courage to believe in yourself. There are times when everyone will believe in you: that's when you have to find the courage to sift through the bullshit.
Name five people/organisations/websites/resources that you find useful which would be beneficial to other people
CastNet: sends out strong professional casting break-downs and industry news without polluting your inbox!
www.castingnetwork.co.uk
The Actor's Centre: get yourself a membership and stay creative and supported through those droughts!
www.actorscentre.co.uk
Spotlight: Please note you do not exist to the industry if you are not in these books!
www.spotlight.com
Masterclass: free theatre events at the Theatre Royal Haymarket for 18-30 year-olds - hugely inspiring!
www.masterclass.org.uk
"Contacts" and "The Actor's Yearbook" are two yearly publications (available from large W H Smiths) which detail who's who and how to get in touch with them in the industry: no actor should be without!
