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Thousands of casting professionals use the Spotlight database and directories daily to find performers for roles across stage, TV, commercials and film. Spotlight provides one central reference where professional performers can be located and contacted, connecting them with employers quickly and easily.
Appearing in Spotlight
Every performer in Spotlight receives their own web CV, which can be seen by the hundreds of industry professionals who use Spotlight's online services. These include large organisations such as the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Sky, through to individual casting directors, agents or independent production companies. You can feature detailed information on your CV including your credits, appearance and specialist skills. You can also add extra photos, voice-clips and showreels.
Casting professionals can search Spotlight's website to find performers by name or by specific criteria. For example, a casting director could run a search for "an actress with brown hair who has a Welsh accent, is based in Bristol and who plays the cello" or "an actor with red hair who speaks German and is a highly skilled baritone singer".
Every member is also included in Spotlight's glossy books, which are an unrivalled industry resource and are used daily by casting professionals worldwide.
Joining Spotlight
You must have professional experience or training from a recognised drama school to appear in Spotlight. To become a member, you can apply online at www.spotlight.com/join.
Drama training
Spotlight always advises actors to undertake full-time training at a recognised drama school: one which is either a member of the CDS (Conference of Drama Schools) or offers NCDT (National Council for Drama Training) accredited courses. You can search for courses using the UKP-Arts Course Finder database.
In your final year of training at a CDS school you will be invited to appear in Spotlight Graduates: a specialist directory which introduces new acting talent to the industry. It is published annually in February and is distributed to all major UK Agents and Casting Directors, giving you vital industry exposure prior to your final showcases.
Spotlight also visits all drama schools once a year to talk to students, and offers CDS schools access to The Spotlight Performance Calendar, where school principals can list their students' upcoming showcases and make sure that key industry figures attend. There is also an annual Spotlight prize for the two most promising final-year students from a CDS school, consisting of £2,000 for the winner, £1,500 for the runner-up and a free year's entry in Spotlight for both students.
Career advice
As a Spotlight member, you will have full access to the career advice services on offer. Spotlight experts offer one-to-one advice from their West End offices; you can attend a Spotlight career seminar at one of many performer-related events throughout the UK, including the Edinburgh Festival; or join Spotlight's Facebook group where their experts offer to research and answer any questions asked. Visiting Spotlight
Spotlight offices are open Monday to Friday between 10am and 5.30pm. Anyone is welcome to visit, browse through the directories and ask questions. A collection of photography portfolios is also available to help you choose a photographer for your next set of headshots.
Contacting Spotlight
To become a member or if you just need some more help and advice, use the following contact information:
Spotlight
7 Leicester Place
London WC2H 7RJ
t: 020 7437 7631
f: 020 7437 5881
w: www.spotlight.com
e: info@spotlightcd.com |
