Ideas

What do I want to be doing in the next 5 years?

• I want to get a BA (Hons) in Drama & Film at the Anglia Ruskin University.
• I want to be able to drive
• I would like to live in a flat
• I would like to have a girlfriend
• I would like to develop my skills in acting by playing characters as well as developing my skills behind the camera.
• I want to be able to write my own scripts
• I would like to get work experience at the BBC

SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)

Strengths

Actor

• I can portray a character effectively
• I am good at working as part of a team
• I enjoy researching different roles
• I am a good communicator

Screenwriter

• I enjoy creative writing
• I am good at keeping to tight deadlines
• I have a passion for TV & Film
• I could work well as part of a team

Director

• I feel I could lead a team very well
• I am able to choreograph an actor's movements and instruct actors on how to deliver their dialogue within a scene well
• I have a good imagination

Weaknesses

Actor

• I may struggle with learning lines and preparing for auditions
• I may struggle with the independence

Screenwriter

• I know more about some genres than others so therefore I may be disadvantaged in some areas of screenwriting
• I may struggle with the independence

Director

• I may not be able to deal with working in a high-stress environment
• I may struggle, working on a freelance basis

Opportunities

Actor

• Roles in TV & Film can open me up to more work
• I would be able to be challenged regularly by portraying a variety of different roles.
• I would gain contacts in the industry from other actors, directors, producers, writers, which could open me up to more work.

Screenwriter

• I would become involved in different types of productions.

Director

• I would gain contacts, working with different producers, broadcasters and actors.
• The more work I do, the more work that will be opened up to me.

Threats

Actor

• The industry is very competitive so therefore I'd have to get as much experience as I can
• I may not receive money on a regular basis
• I may be out of work for long periods
• I could get rejected a lot by employers

Screenwriter

• My ideas and scripts could get rejected by a lot by employers

Director

• There is limited roles in productions
• I may be out of work for long periods of time

SWOT Analysis

STRENGTHS
For the three career paths I wish to pursue, one of the key strengths I feel I have is the ability to communicate and work well as a team. This will benefit me because I will be able to build good working relationships with the people around me and also, I will be able to achieve one of my goals at university, which will be to develop my skills working behind the camera. Another key strength I feel I have is that I am very passionate about each of my potential career paths so this will be my primary motivation.

WEAKNESSES
One key part of working in the acting and production industries involves a lot of independence and competition in finding your own work and having a lot of confidence and these are two areas that I feel I would struggle in because I struggle to believe in myself and my abilities. Another key area where I struggle is working in a high-stress environment because I don't tend to work well under pressure. I am working on my independence through working on my own projects within my college course so for example, I am able to plan all of my projects effectively. I can tackle my stressful tendencies using the mindfulness element of this project.

OPPORTUNITIES
One of the best parts of working in this industry is that while there is a lot of competition, there is plenty of opportunity for work and these opportunities increase as I gain more contacts throughout my career. This will benefit me because I will be able to go into an interview and promote myself with a good showreel.

THREATS
One of the key threats about working in this industry is that there is a lot of competition, which means that I will have to work hard to make sure I am the best I can be at my job. This is a key threat to me because if I can't remain at the top of my game, then I'll be unable to receive work and I won't be able to make money. Throughout my media course, I have the platform to constantly improve my skills and challenge myself through working on different projects.

How I plan to work on my weaknesses and threats?

I plan to work on my weaknesses by increasing my confidence through working on many different projects and working on my stressful tendencies using mindfulness. I plan to work on many different projects so that I can get better and better at my job.

Wellbeing

Connect

• Talk to someone NOT message
• Speak to someone new
• Listen to the other person
• 5 minutes aside for someone else
• Share a journey

I will connect by talking to one of my friends while I'm in college instead of messaging them on my phone at home and listening carefully to what they say. 

Be active

• Walk (with someone)
• Stairs
• Organise activity
• Stretch your muscles
• Walk across the room to a peer

I will be more active by taking a walk during lunchtimes at college.

Take notice

• Buy a plant
• Clear clutter
• Take notice of how your peers feel
• Eat somewhere different

I will take notice of things by trying to clear out clutter in my house.

Learn

• Find out something new from a peer
• Read something
• Do a puzzle (sudoku, crossword, wordsearch)
• Research something you've wondered about
• Learn a new word

I will try to learn more by reading more novels.

Give

• Community & social life
• Kindness

I will try to give more by socialising more with my friends.

How to prepare for an interview

Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Campus

Research = services, products, customers and competition

• ARU is a higher education university in Cambridge, providing professional tuition for academic degrees to students. They face competition in the local area with the University of Cambridge.

Look sharp = ironing, confident

• I will wear smart but comfortable clothing and smile in order to show lecturers that I am passionate about the course.

Be prepared = CV, references

• I will bring a copy of my CV as well a reference or alternatively a contact for a reference.

Be on time = 10 minutes early, allow for traffic etc, recce the area

• I will plan my journey to the university and try to arrive at my interview a few minutes early. Additionally, I will research the area.

Show enthusiasm = handshake, "Hello, I am..."

• I will give the interviewer a firm handshake and introduce myself with a smile.

Listen = Read between the lines, repeat the question

• When I am asked a question, I will try to figure out what it is I'm really being asked. Also, if I need to, I won't fear asking them to repeat the question.

Answer the question asked = Clarify

• When I answer the questions, I will keep my answers simple, concise and relevant.

Give specific examples = Successes unique to you

• I will give examples of different successes related to the course.

Ask questions = Come with questions prepared

• I will prepare questions to do with the course and the university.

Follow up = email, meeting, market yourself

• Following the interview, I will keep in contact with my university via email.