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Example of Websites for Actors/Performers

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Example of Websites for Actors/Performers

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Session #3 - UCAS and Personal Statement

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Session #3 - UCAS and Personal Statement

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8 Ways to Get Noticed on Instagram | Digital Marketing Institute

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Celebrities, entrepreneurs, models, and other professionals make a living on Instagram thanks to the platform and sponsored posts. Find out 8 easy ways to promote yourself on Instagram.

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The following document helps to break down what you need to write and include in your personal statement. Although not all sections will be relevant to you. you need to complete as many sections as you can.

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An example of a Prospective Performing Arts learner's Personal Statement.

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How To Write An Acting CV | Acting CV Template | The Bridge Theatre Training Company

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An acting CV or acting resume is a document that displays key information about you as an actor – most notably the acting credits and experience you have.

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What's on this page?

What do admission tutors look for in your application?

qualifications

content of written personal statement displaying passion for the subject area, while demonstrating motivation, enthusiasm, and the skills and experiences that'll enable you to succeed at university

content of reference

knowledge of, and commitment to, the subject discipline

good attitude to learning and personal development

ability to articulate yourself fluently and accurately in writing - it's a sign of what's to come for tutors

1. Register with UCAS

Register in the UCAS Hub and complete the registration questions - confirming the year you want to start your studies and that you're interested in 'Undergraduate' level of study.

You'll then be taken to your UCAS Hub dashboard, where you'll see a tile called 'Your application'. Simply click 'Start' to begin your application.

When completing your application - make sure you enter your first name and middle name(s) exactly as they're stated on official documents, such as your passport, birth certificate, or driving licence.If you only have one name, enter it in both the first name and last name fields on the application.

Applying in Welsh

You can make your application entirely in Welsh by changing the language to Welsh in the 'Preferences' area of your profile. Find out more about how to apply in Welsh.

European characters

You can use some ​European characters in your personal details, personal statement, employment and referee details. Some of these will be substituted with UK equivalent characters. Check our ​

Extended character sets substitution list for more details.

Do I need a buzzword?

Once you have registered, completed the onboarding steps and created your Hub account, you can then add your buzzword once you start your application to link your self to your school or centre..

Where do I enter by buzzword?

2. Complete your details

There are some key points to note:

1. You must complete all mandatory questions and you can't skip any sections. These must all be complete before your application can be sent. But you don't have to do it all at once - sign in and save your progress at any time.

2. Make sure your email address is always up-to-date - so you don't miss important updates on your application. You can change your email address at any time, but only your primary email address will receive email communications from UCAS and your chosen universities and colleges.

3. We'll ask for your residency status - if you're from outside the UK and need clarification on this, visit the UKCISA website for detailed information.

4. There are questions specifically for UK students - these areabout your ethnic origin and occupational background. These are mandatory questions used for monitoring purposes. This information will only be shared with universities and colleges after you have secured a place and will not influence any decision regarding your application.

5. We ask for information about personal circumstances - such as your parental education, if you've been in care, or involved in widening participation activities, so universities and colleges can form a more complete understanding of you as an individual. While this information is optional, it can help universities and colleges better understand your background, and provide support.

6. If you're applying with the support of a school and you didn't enter your buzzword during registration - you can do this at any time from your application. This will link your application to your school or college, so they can track your progress and provide support, including adding your reference.

7. We ask how you plan to fund your studies - but we do not manage student finance applications. Find out more about funding and finance.

8. You can give a parent, guardian, or adviser nominated access - if you'd like them to be able to speak to us on your behalf. We'll be able to discuss your application with them, but for security reasons, we can't share your login details (for example, if you need to change your password).

3. Add your education history

You must enter all your qualifications from secondary education onwards - whether you have the result (even any that were ungraded) or you're still awaiting exams and results. This helps unis and colleges to understand if you meet their entry requirements. However, sometimes a uni or college will make you an offer even if you don't meet the exact grades they're asking for. If you have any questions about entry requirements, speak to the uni/college before you apply.

If you're waiting for results, these are the exam results we're able to process and forward on to unis and colleges. If any of your pending qualifications aren't on this list, you still need to add them to your application, but also remember you'll need to send the results on to your chosen universities and colleges when you get them.

If you studied at a uni or college but didn't finish the course, you still need to enter these details. Include the start and finish date, and state that you didn't receive any qualifications there.

If you are currently studying for a qualification or awaiting results, it is important you make sure your referee adds your predicted grades to your application - some universities and colleges will not consider your application without them.

Including modules - it's optional, so it's entirely up to you whether you mention them. However, some universities may state in their entry requirements that they'd like to see module results - in which case make sure you include them on the application.

Listing resits

You need to make sure your original result has been listed first before you enter any details about a resit.

Pending resits - if you're resitting the exam at a previous school/college/centre, you then need to add it a second time on your application. However, you only need to state your attendance dates as the dates between which you will be taking the resit(s) - e.g. June 2024 to June 2024. You also need to indicate that your attendance is part-time. You can then enter the qualification(s) as 'pending' to show when you are due to resit.

Achieved resits - add the school/college/centre to your application separately with the attendance dates as the dates between which you resat the exam(s) - e.g. June 2019 to June 2019. You also need to indicate that your attendance was part-time. You can then enter the qualification(s) with the final grade(s) you achieved from resitting.

It's really important you enter the right qualifications on your application - especially if you're taking a vocational qualification, such as a BTEC - as there are a number of different options to choose from in the application, depending on the size and type of qualification you're taking. If you're not sure which version of a qualification you're taking, talk to your school or college, or contact us for advice.

4. Complete your employment history

If you've had any paid jobs - full-time or part-time - here's where you can enter details for up to five of them. Include company names, addresses, job descriptions, and start/finish dates.

Any unpaid or voluntary work shouldn't be included here - mention that in your personal statement. If you've not had any paid work experience, just leave this section blank, and mark it as complete.

5. Select your course choices

You can choose up to five courses (all now or some later). There's no preference order and your universities/colleges won't see where else you've applied until after you reply to any offers you get.

​Applying for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science?

For these subjects you can only apply to a maximum of four courses in any one of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science.

You can add choices with a different deadline later, but don't forget you can only have five choices in total.

Can I apply to both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge?

Usually you can only apply to one course at either the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge.

There are exceptions though - if you'll be a graduate at the start of the course, and you're applying for graduate medicine (course code A101) at the University of Cambridge, you could then also apply to medicine (course code A100) at Cambridge, as well as graduate medicine (course code A101) at the University of Oxford. (Some applicants will need to complete an additional application form to apply - visit the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge websites for more information.)

Are you applying for deferred entry?

If you are, make sure you've checked that the university or college accepts deferred entry applications for the course.

They may not be offering the course the following year, may be changing it, or prefer students not to have a gap in study before they start their degree.
Find out more about deferred entry

6. Write a personal statement

This is the only part of the application where you can write in your own style - it's your chance to tell universities and colleges why you'd like to study with them, and what skills and experience you have. It's got to be at least 1,000 characters long - but you have up to 4,000 characters/47 lines - whichever comes first.

We recommend you start in Microsoft Word (or something similar) and paste it into your application as the application doesn't have a spell check - while you're in your application, hit save regularly to avoid losing your work. As you would with any important piece of work read and re-read and preview it before you mark this section as complete.

​

7. Submit your application

Once you've completed your application, you'll be shown your full application - make sure you review it and make any edits.

You'll then be asked to read and agree to the declaration - which allows us to process your info and send it to your chosen universities/colleges.

8. Get a reference, pay your application fee, and send your application to us

A reference is a written recommendation from a teacher, adviser or professional who knows you academically. Everyone needs a reference, unless you get permission from your chosen universities and colleges.

Your application cannot be submitted until your chosen referee has completed and added your reference to the application.

For 2024 entry, the application fee is £27.50 for up to five choices.

For 2025 entry, the application fee will be £28.50 for up to five choices.

Free school meals application fee waiver: For the 2025 cycle, if you have been in receipt of free school meals at some point during the last six years (during your secondary education) up until the end of your final year, you will be eligible to have your application fee waived. Find out more.

Trouble paying for your application? We've put together a handy guide to help you, which is available in English and Welsh.

​Applying through a school, college or centre?

They will let you know whether and when you should pay them, so they can pay us. Alternatively, they'll tell you to pay UCAS direct by credit/debit card, and you do this before the reference is added to your application.

They will then send your application to us on your behalf. They may even set you an earlier deadline to complete your application than the UCAS deadline you're aiming to meet - this will be to allow them time to arrange your reference for you.

​Applying as an individual?

After the reference is added, pay by debit/credit card online, then submit your application to us.

​Applying from prison?

If you're applying from prison, as well as an academic reference, you also need a statement from the prison authorities - saying you're suitable and available for the start date.

Applying with no fixed address?

You need to provide an address on your UCAS application, as well as on your application for student finance. It's important to give an address you can collect mail from.

What if I can't afford the application fee?

Please speak to your school or college first if you have difficulty in affording the application fee. Most schools and colleges will cover the cost of your application fee if you can't afford this yourself.

You could also contact your chosen university or college(s) directly as they may also have schemes to pay for application fees in some circumstances.

For students in certain circumstances, there may be other sources of financial help:

If you have been in care - your local authority will be able to cover this cost for you. Contact your personal adviser, or call the Become Care Advice Service on 0800 023 2033 if you would like more advice. You might also find Become's factsheet about going to university or college helpful to find more information.

If you are a carer - contact your local authority and ask for an assessment of your needs, to help you plan for university or college. You could also speak to your local young carer services about support: find yours on the Children's Society website. For more help with going to uni or college as a carer, visit the Carers Trust website.

If you are an asylum seeker or refugee - Refugee Education UK has an overview of providers of grants to support young people's education, including the cost of fees, travel, resources, and equipment.

If you are applying from prison - your local authority or Youth Offending Team might be able to help with this. Alternatively, there are a number of organisations who may be able to support you:

UCAS is a charity. The cost of running the undergraduate admissions service is paid for by the application fees students pay and the fees universities and colleges pay when students are accepted. The profits from our wholly-owned commercial subsidiary, UCAS Media Ltd, help us to keep investing in improving the service for the next generation of students.

We work hard to keep our costs down, and believe the application fee represents good value for money. Your application fee pays for: information and support to help students make well-informed decisions about their futures, the processing and management of your applications with universities and colleges, our Customer Experience Centre, matching millions of exam results with students' applications to speed up decision-making, and the Clearing service - which helps applicants find a place after the main application period has finished.

Start your search now

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Step-by-step through the UCAS application. Get more information on each section of the application to help you get yours right.

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Self-Tape Overview: How to Film a Self-Tape Audition - 2023 - MasterClass

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As the entertainment industry’s new standard, self-tapes are video auditions that actors can make from home. Read on for some helpful tips and step-by-step instructions for making your self-tape.

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Next, you'll need to write about your personal skills and achievements. Universities like to know the abilities you have that'll help you on the course, or generally with life at university.
Don't forget to include evidence to back up why you're so excited about the course(s) you've chosen.

Be bold and talk about the achievements you're proud of.

Include positions of responsibility you hold, or have held, both in and out of school.

What are the things that make you interesting, special, or unique?

Your work experience and future plans are important to include. You should share details of jobs, placements, work experience, or voluntary work, particularly if it's relevant to your course.

Try to link any experience to skills or qualities that'll make you successful.

If you know what you'd like to do after as a career, explain how you plan to use the knowledge and experience that you'll gain to launch your career.

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How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement

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Stand out from the crowd by showcasing who you are and what you can bring to a university as you begin your undergraduate journey.

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If you've been asked to put yourself on tape for an audition, don't panic. Here are our tips for self-taping auditions from home.

In this video, we discuss cameras, lighting, sound, sending your self-tape to the casting director and more.

What do I need to film my self-tape at home?

You'll need:

A video camera

A computer with an internet connection

A light source

Choosing a video camera
Nothing fancy is needed, but choose a recognisable brand, such as Canon, Sony, Apple etc. You could also use a DSLR if you have one.

The format needs to be MP4 ideally, though AVCHD is also okay. Aim to spend around £150-£250 on a Canon Legria HF R506, if you're looking to invest in this equipment. If you're an actor who puts themselves on tape a lot this would be worth it.
Filming on a phone
If you're in a hurry and don't often need to self-tape, you can also film your self-tape on your phone. To get the best sound, sit as close to the phone as possible and be sure to film in landscape, not portrait!

You can send the clip to the casting director via the WeTransfer app on iPhone and via the Vimeo app on Android.
Lighting
To light yourself properly, use natural light if you can to get the best results but you can also use soft practical lights in your house. Soft lighting is the best choice for a taped audition, and you should choose from a large source which casts soft, diffused shadows. Hard light from a small light source would cast a sharp shadow and it literally won't show you in your best light.

if you need an artificial light, we would recommend a CN 160 LED light. We have an article dedicated to more tips about lighting and sound for self-tapes if you'd like to know more.

Setting up for a self-tape
Setting up the room
Ensure that background noise is kept to a minimum and that the camera is at your eye-level. Your light source should be in front of you and not in the shot - don't sit with a window behind you as it can put you in shadow.

Try to find a plain background to film against - we find that grey works best and you could use a bedsheet hung on the wall if you don't want to paint your walls.
Before you start filming
Learn your lines and rehearse. Read any instructions that you may have been sent, thoroughly and check if you need to film an ident for your self-tape. Get a friend or fellow actor to read in the other lines if necessary.
Props and costume
Make sure your clothing is appropriate for the character although it's not necessary to rent a costume. Only use props that are essential to the performance.

Filming your self-tape

When filming your self-tape, consider the following:

Your eye line should be close to the camera as they want to see both sides of your face.

If you're using a reader, make sure they aren't too loud.

Don't go too far from the camera (unless you have an external microphone).

Frame in a mid-close shot unless requested otherwise (mid-close shot means seeing from your chest to the top of your head).

Sit or stand depending on what feels comfortable/appropriate for the scene.

Don't do too many takes - If you can't get it in three takes, take some time to pause and then then try again

It's easier said than done but don't overthink it!

Sending your self-tape
Converting the video file
Quicktime is useful for converting the file to a universal standard. Just import the file and export it as MP4 using Apple TV settings. On the other hand, if you wish to edit the clip before exporting it, use MPEG Streamclip (free to download). You'll just need to select 'in' and 'out' points ('I' and 'O' on a keyboard) and then export it as MP4 using Apple TV settings.
Sending it to the casting director
Label the clips with your name first, then add the project title and scene.

Don't send too many takes, unless requested. If you send more than one take, make sure they're sufficiently different. You can send it via www.wetransfer.com or a downloadable Vimeo private link. We have more information about editing and sharing your self-tape with casting directors if you need more help.

More self-tape tips

We have lots more articles if you're looking for more in-depth tips including how to improve your self-tape, self-taping for beginners, casting directors' self-tape tips and even a podcast episode dedicated to self-taping on your phone.

Full video transcript

Narrator: Self-taping is a very useful skill for a performer to have, and is something that is becoming ever more common. In this video. We hope to give you some basic tips on how to do it properly. I'll talk about cameras, lighting, sound, how to send it to the casting director and some other useful stuff too.

Also on our YouTube channel, there is another great video that we made that features a load of casting directors explaining what they want to see from a self-tape. It's called Everything you need to know about self-taping, and you should definitely check it out... after you watch this of course.

Anyway, so for this

, we're going to need an actor. We don't have an actor despite being Spotlight. So this is Ilayda, she looks after our calendar here for our rooms and studios at Spotlight.

Ilyda: Oh, and this sheep is coming into the studio? Okay.

Narrator: You will also need someone else to read in the other lines if there are other lines and so for this, we have Ross. Ross works in our IT department and does things with computers, amongst other things.

You will need to use a camera to film your self-tape. A lot of people have a DSLR that records video. These are fantastic as they deliver a pleasing, shallow depth of field, which means that you can get the background out of focus. They pick up a lot of light and most have an external microphone input, which is useful as you don't want your self-tape to have bad sound. They also record in a format that is easily used on a computer. It also means that you have a good camera that you can take on holiday with you, or even make your own short films.

You can get a DSLR for around £300, just make sure it shoots video. If you don't want to spend £300, you can also use other cameras. Look for a recognisable brand and make sure that it records in either AVCHD or MP4 format. AVCHD stands for Advanced Video Coding High Definition, but you don't need to know that. It is a commonly used video format that can be converted fairly quickly and easily on your computer following the instructions in another video demo in this series.

MP4 is possibly the most commonly watched video format in the world at the moment, therefore, if you buy a camera that records in this format, you will most likely need to do no processing of the footage in the computer at the end of the self-tape. Just rename it and send it to the casting director. You can also shoot on your phone or tablet, which can give you very good results, but you may be restricted and not be able to zoom on the lens of the phone or tablet's camera.

Next, you need to find somewhere to film.

Firstly, think about the background noise and the acoustic properties of the room. Stand in the room and listen to the noises around you that you may not usually notice. Turn off fridges, air conditioners, extractor fans and close windows to avoid getting any noise from outside. If the room is quite echoey, it may be an idea to hang some sheets on the walls or bring furniture into the room to help deaden the sound. Coat racks with coats on them are a great way of deadening the sound in a room as they can break up the sound waves as they bounce off the walls. It could also be an idea to invest in an external microphone for your self-tape set-up, a company called RØDE manufactures some high-quality microphones that can easily plug into your DSLR or Canon. I would recommend the RØDE VideoMic GO as it is perfect for this set-up. You can have it on top of the camera or you can position it out of the shot, close to you.

Next, think about lighting and which direction you are going to film. Don't sit directly in front of a window as this will most likely be overexposed and you may be silhouetted in the video. A window in front of your face and behind the camera can be good as it will illuminate your face, which is most important to see. Daylight, especially in the UK, can be very unpredictable, however, as it keeps on changing, in which case you can buy some additional lights or use lights around your home.

When you are lighting yourself, you need to think about the type of light used. You have hard lights and soft lights. Hard lights are from small sources and can cast hard shadows on a performer's face. Soft lights are from large diffuse sources and as a result, the shadows are softer. Soft lighting is ideal for self-tapes as it helps hide skin imperfections and is much more flattering. Lights around your house with a lampshade on them will be good to use as a stand in for a soft light. If you want to get some lights for purpose, do a search on Amazon or eBay for video softbox, and you will be able to find some lovely big studio lights that should cost around £60 for a set or two. When setting the lights up, make sure that they're not too high or too low to avoid causing awkward shadows on your face.

The background is also important to think about. Make sure that it's not too busy as this can be distracting from your performance. Avoid hard colours as this can affect the camera and make you look unwell. We recommend a grey background. This can be very flattering for a wide range of skin tones. If you haven't got anywhere in your house with a suitable backdrop, you can use a bed sheet, gaffer taped to the wall, or even better. You can buy yourself a grey bed sheet for about £10 which would do the job. Just make sure it's a flat sheet and not a fitted one.

Set up the camera so that it is eye level. If it is too low or too high, it may not be particularly flattering. You can place the camera on a stack of books or even invest in a cheap tripod. If you're shooting on a phone, you can get phone tripods that work just as well. Your eyeline should be close to the camera and under most circumstances, it should not be directly down the lens. You need to frame up in a mid close-up which is shoulders to the top of your head. It's important when shooting on a phone that you do not shoot in portrait and that you shoot in landscape otherwise this may happen when a casting director watches it and you don't want that.

Make sure that the lights are set so that your face is illuminated and if you have an external microphone, place it close to you, you could even invest in a second cheap tripod to put the microphone on. Try not to sit too close to the camera as the fish eye affect to the lens when it is wide could make your face look slightly distorted.

Before you start filming, you need to read all of the instructions that you've been sent. Read the scene, rehearse it, and make sure that you understand fully what you're doing. If you're planning to be off book and not read from the script, you need to learn the lines before you start filming. Once you're comfortable with the scene, position the reader to the side of the camera. If you are using the microphone onboard the camera, you may need to place them a bit further back from the camera so they're not too loud on the tape. Also make sure that they're not over-delivering. This is your self-tape, not theirs.

When you start self-taping, it's important at this point not to overthink it. Do it three times and watch it back. If you haven't got it in three takes, take some time off, have a cup of tea and do it again. If you keep on doing it, you'll do loads and loads of takes and you'll become stressed, which will be apparent when the clip is watched. Your reader also will probably get really annoyed.

Once you're happy with your tape, you need to send the footage to the casting director. It's important to send it to them in a format that they can watch. As I mentioned earlier, MP4 is the most commonly watched video format in the world at this time so if you convert your video into an MP4 file, they will most likely be able to see it. There is a video demonstration in this series that shows you how to convert video footage into MP4 that you can watch when the time comes, or if you don't want to watch the other video, it's a simple case of opening the video file in QuickTime Player, selecting file, export, then selecting one of the settings on the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Apple TV options.

If you open the file, then go to edit, then trim. It will bring up these grab handle things that will enable you to trim the beginning and the end of the clip, then export it in the same way that I have just mentioned. But if you are especially technical, you can edit the footage. On both Mac and PC, there's a fantastic piece of software called DaVinci Resolve. The Lite version is free to use and can be downloaded from Blackmagicdesign, who is the company that makes it. It has professional editing features that rival its expensive counterparts. I'm not going to do a demonstration on how to edit in DaVinci, but there are many other tutorials online that do.

Next you need to name the file. Because the casting director may receive a lot of tapes for the project that they're casting, it's important to name it with your name first and then with the role and then the scene and then with the project as this can help the casting director organise the clips. Once you've named the file, you can send it off. We would recommend not sending the casting director more than one take of each scene unless they have requested it. If you do send them more than one take, make sure that they're sufficiently different.

We would recommend using wetransfer to send the footage to the casting director. This is free and very easy to use. Go to www.wetransfer.com and follow the instructions on screen. If you are using a phone, you can download the wetransfer app, which works just as well on Android and iOS. Alternatively, you can sign up for a free Vimeo account onto which you can upload your video. You would however need to make sure that the file is downloadable so that the casting director can use the footage. Also it's wise to make it password protected as the script that you are reading from is most likely copy protected.

Again, there is a Vimeo app for your phone if you so need. We would not recommend using YouTube as the casting director will most likely have difficulty downloading the footage from YouTube. And that's it. You've self-taped and sent it to the casting director. If you've bought lights and a camera, it may be wise to set up some space in your flat to do it next time. Also as with anything, practise makes perfect. If you've got all the equipment, you can use it to practise self-taping, and also more importantly, practising your camera technique so when you do get that big self-tape in, you'll be completely prepared, confident, and it won't be stressful. Thank you for watching.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you've been asked to put yourself on tape for an audition, don't panic. Here are our tips for self-taping auditions from home. In this video, we discuss cameras, lighting, sound, sending your self-tape to the casting director and more. What do I need to film my self-tape at home?