Interview with Gemma Crooks - Acting Coach from Bring The Drama

Bring The Drama - Gemma Crooks interview

PHOTO: Gemma Crooks (Image: Gemma Crooks)

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

NEWS PROVIDED BY
BBC Arts

Tell us about Bring The Drama and what audiences can expect?

The audience can expect to see a process of what is required of the actor when working on screen. It's a chance to start to understand the various elements that go into being a screen actor and how working in collaboration with others is a vital soft skill that artists need to consider.

What made you want to be involved in the series?

Being able to go to drama school is a privilege and not everyone has access to actor training that leads to the opportunities to meet agents and casting directors. Having the opportunity to work with non-actors that would have otherwise found it extremely hard to get this opportunity to learn, grow and experience the world of screen acting was exciting to me, it felt like a win for all of them right from the start of the process.

What do you hope viewers will take away from the show?

I hope that viewers will take away a newfound understanding of the craft of acting and the collaborative effort it takes to create quality screen content. It's the hard work that actors, acting coaches, casting agents, directors, writers, producers, director of photography, runners, and catering do every day to bring stories to the screen so the audience can enjoy a moment of escape. There is a process that happens behind the screen that we don't often get to see. I hope the audience get to witness the hard work that goes on and how important it is to support the arts. Everyone has their part to play, and we wouldn't have wonderful shows without them all.

How important do you think Bring The Drama is in highlighting barriers within the industry?

Bring The Drama is a reminder that we need to move towards an industry that is active in the pursuit of inclusivity. Barriers do exist in the industry, we must acknowledge this. We want actors to have agency, but if there are procedures and biases that don't consider all people, then we won't move forward in what stories we tell, how we tell stories and who creates them. We have to be active in our change and be responsive to what's causing the barriers and be bold enough to break them.

What was it like working with Kelly Valentine Hendry and Bill Bailey?

Working with Kelly and Bill felt effortless, and this is because they both understand what being a collaborator is. The process felt like building an ensemble to do a job that honours the craft of acting. Bill was fantastic in his care for the contributors throughout the process and Kelly is very knowledgeable. She offered so much insight and was very generous with her advice to the contributors. Both were super supportive throughout the process. It was a great team.

What’s the biggest difference you saw in the actors throughout the process?

The biggest difference I saw in the contributors over the duration of the show was how much they started to consider themselves as actors. They started to gain more confidence and discover their own process when approaching a new piece of text.

About

Bring the Drama is the new six-part series from BBC Arts and Wall to Wall Media for BBC Two and iPlayer opening up the world of screen drama to eight people who have always dreamt of becoming professional actors but have never had the opportunity.

Hosted by actor and comedian Bill Bailey, the eight aspiring actors are mentored over six weeks by renowned casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry, who has cast shows including Bridgerton, Gangs of London, Ghosts and Broadchurch. In each episode, the aspiring actors are welcomed onto some of the real-life sets from celebrated UK dramas such as Peaky Blinders, EastEnders and Silent Witness and tasked with working together to recreate iconic scenes with the real scripts, real cameras and the real time pressures that professional actors face. As they gain experience in different forms of screen acting they are given advice and guidance from a host of established actors including Natalie Cassidy (EastEnders); Genesis Lynea (Silent Witness, Champion); Charles Venn (Casualty, Dream Team); Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey, You) and Rochenda Sandall (Line of Duty, The Rig), as well as working with industry experts from the Peaky Blinders fight co-ordinator to the intimacy co-ordinator from Sex Education.

As the eight discover, the job of a screen actor is far from easy - and each production provides new challenges and opportunities for the actors to learn and find out whether they have the talent and skills needed to take the next step into the professional industry. At the end of the intense learning process, casting director Kelly selects three actors she feels are industry-ready to present their showreel at a major industry showcase for the chance to secure representation from a leading agent.

All eight actors secured their place in Bring The Drama through an open casting call process and were selected from almost 2000 amateur actors from across the UK. Chosen for their raw talent, none have been to drama school or found a way to break into acting professionally, having held back by a variety of factors and access issues.

As well as the direct guidance all eight receive in the series from industry professionals and specialist coaches, they also leave the process with a professionally shot showreel and follow up sessions with industry experts.

Source BBC Arts