Looking to work with actors?
Congratulations to the actor shortlist for New Shoots: Actors.
You can get in touch with any of these actors directly, or search the members directory to find other actors you might like to work with. The winning actors will be announced in SP’s bulletins, newsletter and next New Shoots event.
If you could have a free masterclass from any actor or director, who would it be and why?
I would want to train with Grotowski. He took forward so much of the great Meisner and Stanislavski but evolved actor training beyond 'method' (which Stanislavski went off anyway in his later years). His rigour with training and focus on craft and physicality is hugely inspiring and I love continued training with teachers who practice from this discipline. I feel deep shifts and breakthroughs and immense frustration at times (which shows its working).
If you could have a free masterclass from any actor or director, who would it be and why?
Without any hesitation: Angelina Jolie. She is probably one of the most talented and versatile actress out there, from her heartbreaking performance in Gia to her recent role as Maleficent passing by all the action movies! I admire how she embodies her characters, the performance she gives and of course all the other hats she wears! She seems to be a great person on top of being an amazing actress, using her voice to educate and build a better world for the future generations and that's something I'm dreaming of being able to do. If Angelina is too busy for the masterclass, I'd go for Ivana Chubbuck, the Power of the Actor is my bible and probably the best tool I have to prepare for a role.
If you could have a free masterclass from any actor or director, who would it be and why?
That's a very tough question. A lot of people inspire me in my daily life. Such as Jean Luc Godard, Bette Davis, Suad Hosny, Ingrid Bergman, James Dean and the list goes on. If I were to choose a free masterclass, I would go with Daniel Day-Lewis. I know I would learn more than I can imagine by just sitting with him, I believe he's one of the best actors alive (I can write an essay to justify), its really a dream to work with him and get all the acting advice from a very honest, down to earth man. The way he embodies a character and his passion and dedication to the craft is very inspiring to my craft. I can imagine just a chat over dinner will be a masterclass for life and possibly a way to make a great friend.
If you could have a free masterclass from any actor or director, who would it be and why?
I would love to have a class with Andrea Arnold, she is just fantastic! Her work really inspires me, I recently wrote and shot a short film which took all its inspiration from Fish Tank. She captures the truth of life in a way that appeals and repulses at the same time. The cinematography in her films beautiful, and the acting in every film is just brilliant. I would love to sit in a rehearsal room with her, and see how she works with actors to achieve such powerful performances. Her portfolio isn't huge, she takes time with her work, which I really admire. It would be a masterclass of quality from an inspirational woman.
If you could have a free masterclass from any actor or director, who would it be and why?
Lee Strasberg. I would love to learn method acting from him. He was one of the first people to alter Stanislavski’s system and take it a step further. I would love to master his technique to help myself become one with the character.
If you could have a free masterclass from any actor or director who would it be and why?
I would have to choose David Lynch. Twin Peaks is one of the first TV shows I remember watching growing up (albeit my mother would send me away saying night time in the show is too blue for children- she really picked up on the way Lynch uses colour to emphasize a state of mind). Every interview with him that I've watched is so surprising and genuine. Life is art for David Lynch. Him also acting in his films, makes him a great actor's director. His films instilled in me a love for the unknown and unusual. I can only dream to actually meet him and work with him one day.
If you could have a free masterclass from any actor or director, who would it be and why?
JOAQUIN PHOENIX. To be honest, I've never actively followed his work, although I've recognised his stand-out performances in films such as 'Gladiator', 'Walk The Line', and 'You Were Never Really Here', amongst others. Since Heath Ledger's stellar rendition as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight', I've looked forward to an origins film about the character. In 'Joker', Joaquin Phoenix delivers an astronomical take as the troubled Arthur Fleck, who emerges from his chrysalis as the beautiful clown prince of crime. It would be an honour to learn from Mr Phoenix.
If you could have a free masterclass from any actor or director, who would it be and why?
My free masterclass would be with Jeff Bridges. I have always admired the truth [a much overused term, but entirely apposite here] he brings to his roles. Yes, of course, he IS Jeff Bridges, but for me Jeff Bridges always fades into the background as the character appears. That's what I want. That's the only thing I want. Nothing else is important.
If you could have a free masterclass from any actor or director, who would it be and why?
There so many amazing actors and directors I would absolutely love to work with, but I think I'm going to pick Lana and Lilly Wachowski! Can I pick them both? I hope so! The work that they create is so inventive and progressive and I think to work with them would be such a liberating experience as an actor. The stories they focus on often revolve around characters who aren't people we usually see on our screens, so I think working with them would definitely shed some inhibitions about trying to fit into a particular mould or casting bracket. They create such expansive worlds whilst really focusing on the smallest human elements of what makes a story compelling, so I feel like they'd be a really great "actors-director".