"Diary of an Unemployed Actor"

In this episode I speak with actor Robbie Stedman. We run though a range of subjects such as his experience working in a warehouse to a character he played called Technicolor Dream Boy, to photography, to auditioning, to poetry, to some personal experiences his after finding out he was HIV positive. We also spend a decent amount of time on his process for applying to acting work through an online casting site.

To view this interview on YouTube visit:

https://youtu.be/aCiDrquvJ8I

To learn more about Robbie visit:

Maryam Hashemi was born in the UK, raised in Iran, and now creates art in London. We discuss the way cinema in Iran changed after the Islamic revolution and how censorship can influence art for the better. She also tells us about her move from Iran to the UK, and finding a community in London.

Maryam Hashemi is a multidisciplinary artist active in fields of visual art , performance , modelling and acting.

You can find out more about Maryam at:

In my discussion with Ross K. Foad we talk about the entertainment industry and the way it deals with performers who have disabilities and how the industry seems to be making changes in providing more opportunity. Ross has also made a few web series so he provides us with some information on making a web series should that be something you are interested in doing.

Ross K. Foad was born in Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey. Both of his parents are actors, and his brother is an SFX make up artist. Born Autistic and Dyspraxic, he made his acting debut aged 18 months with an advertisement for Pampers, but would initially choose to pursue writing, becoming a published comic strip writer aged 14-years old. He would return to acting in his late teens when he joined the Penthouse Cabaret as a sketch actor and stand-up comedian. He would go on to garner experience in various mediums including short films, tv, web series, plays, radio, and video games. In 2017, he was one of only 30 disabled actors chosen by the BBC for its Class Act Training Scheme, an initiative to help increase disabled representation on screen.  Outside of acting, he is a keen film maker, and has written over 150 shorts/features/and web series episodes.

Find our more about Ross visit:

In my discussion with John Joseph, we talk about keeping busy with online classes and the challenge of no longer being able to train in person and staying motivated as an actor in the current COVID environment.

To Find out more about John visit:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actorjohnjoseph2019/

For our previous interview visit:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qYjPBzYWIg

Eugene Capon, previously a social media creative director before entering the XR field in 2016, self-produced/animated the 360 film Journey VR which was shown at Seattle Fashion Week. The short film was well received and was quickly included as a staff pick by VeeR, Adobe and the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).

Soon after it was included for the steam 360 program where it was the top 360 film for over 30 days. He followed up by recreating the first level of Super Mario Bros as a 360 video which currently has over 8 million views on YouTube. His long list of companies and brands hes worked with include Microsoft, Skype, Wizards of the Coast, Altspace, High Fidelity, Go Media, Dalziel, McDonalds and Jack in the Box.

In my talk with Eugenie, he discusses how he studied virtual reality and YouTube that lead to his career as a digital content creator. We talk about what VR is and that turning point where VR becomes mainstream. And we also discuss the change in movies where actors are being replaced by digital versions of themselves.

To find out more about Eugene visit:

In this episode of "Diary of an Unemployed Actor," I speak with Adam Broomfield-Strawn. We talk about living a healthy lifestyle, acting, and his experience as a presenter. 

Adam Broomfield-Strawn is a London based actor, presenter, Voiceover, Comedian, award winning public speaker who also runs his own business as an NLP practitioner and Lifecoachhelping others to become the best version on themselves, overcome negative habits and/or mindsets and achieve their goals.

Adam has performed at the Edinburgh Festival fringe 4 times with solo shows, has worked as an extra, body double as well as speaking rolls in films such as The last dragon slayer (Sky 1) and Martin Freeman's Breeders (Sky 1). He has also starred in adverts for Mastercard, Ring.com, Dacia and many others.

Adam came to the industry very late at the age of 42 having worked in the corporate world until quitting in 2015, getting a divorce, claiming bankruptcy and moving to Surrey to rent a box room in the home of a former 1960's model and pop star wife.

Adam has worked tirelessly to not only make up for lost time but to also help others starting out or working in the industry by formatting and sharing his extensive list of useful links to websites, companies, YouTube channels and other sites of value to performers in this country.

He is, by his own admission, NOT a full-time, "successful" actor but merely a performer committed to making his way in the industry. He is committed to helping others and showing what can be done with hard work, determination and a "never give in"attitude.

To find out more about Adam visit:

Sharisse Zeroonian started making films at the age of 12 on an old camera and editing them on Windows Movie Maker. However, she never intended to be a filmmaker instead she planned to be a teacher, but things change. She is now writing, producing, and directing films and television. She tells us about the experience of having a film screening where one-person shows up to watch the film, dealing with crazy people on the train while on her way to a shoot, and then losing a tripod. And we discuss the realities of no-budget filmmaking. It is hard work, but work that is worth it for the reward of the experience and final product.

To Find Out More About Sharisse

Zuzana Spacirova is a bilingual actress (English/Slovak), performer, and creative. She has been performing on stage since the age of 15 and since her relocation to London, she has been acting professionally on both stage and screen, including critically acclaimed Twelfth Night at the Young Vic theatre and the short film I SEE that received funding from BFI and premieres on Amazon Prime in summer 2020. In 2018 she graduated from the London school of dramatic art with Advanced Diploma in Acting. 

During my talk with Zuzana, we discuss and share our experiences at being foreign actors in the UK. We talk about watching yourself on screen for the first time and overcoming insecurity at the way we look or sound to improve our on-screen performances and conquering that voice in our heads that tells us we aren't any good at something.

Find Out More About Zuzana On: 

In my talk with Tim Watson discuss the fun ways that stage actors deal with dropped lines or bumbling on stage. He also does an excellent job of balancing a career in engineering while also pursuing acting and writing on his days off, proving that you don't need to be full-time to enjoy the creative arts. We also discuss the difference between working on student films and more professional productions. And how student films can be a lot of fun, allowing for creative opportunity.

To find out more about Tim:

In my talk with Patricia Barnicott we discuss her long history as an actress starting at the age of 14, having to give it up for many years, then getting back into it later in life.

Still going strong at 82, she has some great stories about being on set and working as an extra, performing in musical theatre around the world. Patricia is most well-known for portraying Granny Pat, where she would interview rappers such as Sean Paul. She has worked as an extra in quite a lot of films for BBC and ITV, and other smaller films. She has also played many parts in amateur plays, pantomimes, musicals, murder weekends, and concerts. She ran a small group who went around to care homes to sing - and is still in 2 singing groups. Her singing has taken her to many places, including Disney World, Florida, with the Disney orchestra and chorus. Now in her 80s she is still performing, proving that you are never to old get do what you love.

You can find out more about Patricia: