Wednesday, 9 October 2013

UCAS

18 comments :
 
Hello my lovely 2014 applicants. If you were not already aware, UCAS based drama schools are accepting applications and have been since September. It's best to send your applicantion through as early as possible. Last year I left it very very late, and didn't get an audition for Central until April. So try your best to get it done now. For the independent schools, I believe they open in November/December.

I found last year that there was plenty of support for university personal statements but very little for drama school statements. There's a line in acting between confidence and arrogance and in your statement you need to be careful not to cross it. If anybody would like any help for the structure or wording of their statement I'd be happy to help - but bare in mind that we are actors. Which means our statements count for shit.

This year I have decided to apply for only two UCAS schools: Central and GSA

18 comments :

  1. how do you apply through ucas?

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    1. It is very very simple. On the website, click on apply and they will guide you through applying through your school - or if you are out of school, applying as an individual. They give you a list of universities to apply for and courses.

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  2. Good luck, Heather! You will make it this year! :)

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  3. Heather, do you need to pay the audition fee in Drama School just before the first audition, or you need to pay before each audition stage?

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    1. You pay for the audition and then you are given the date. If you are recalled, you do not have to pay for the next round. It's only one fee at the beginning.

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  4. long do you spend working on a monologue?

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    1. I work very quickly on my monologues. I spend a couple of days learning the lines and then around two weeks blocking and changing it.

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  5. how do they decide whos better at saying the lines?

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    1. They don't compare auditionees. There are a number of factors they consider, not just how well you say lines. It's your maturity, ability, interpretation, voice and capability.

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  6. would it contrasting to do a dramatic sad monologue with a serious monologue?

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    1. Yes. As long as the interpretation makes it different. Contrasting doesn't necessarily mean one dramatic and one comedic.

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  7. £50 per audition, the whole thing is a money making game.

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  8. Hi Heather. I hope you're doing well. My name is Andro and we met each other at RADA's fourth round last May. I've been reading your blog for a while and I consider it very useful for anyone who's auditioning for drama school.
    Hovever, after reading this post, I am a bit concerned -I know that lots of people read this blog- about what you said before about statements "count for shit".
    To be honest, I can tell you by my own experience that statements are quite important, especially in the final rounds. I got into Central this year (though declined the offer to go to Rose Bruford) and I can assure you 100% that the statement was one of the definitive points of my "success". So, though I know you will write it beautifully (this is a note for other readers) BE AS GOOD AS YOU CAN IN YOUR STATEMENT.
    Secondly, I know you might not be interested, but I encourage you to consider Bruford again this year (or other readers as well). I can’t tell you how great this place is. The teaching is just mind-blowing (Movement teachers from Moscow Theatre Arts or who trained with Lécoq himself or people who have been coaching and directing at the RSC and National Theatre productions for years) and the enviroment, though being a very tough and intense course, is honestly helpful and joyful.

    Thanks for reading this.

    All the best and GOOD LUCK TO ANYONE WHO'S AUDITIONING THIS YEAR.

    ANDRO.

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    1. Oh hi, I remember you!
      I'd definitely say give it your all and put everything you can into the statement! All I meant was that it's not the statement that's going to get you a recall - if you don't have talent, it won't get you through. Well done getting into Central!!
      Nice to hear from you, x

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  9. Oh, Heather, BTW, if you need any help with your auditions this year, please feel free to contact me or ask any sort of questions (I'm sure you'll already have a great team of supporters but just in case).

    Take care.

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  10. Hi heather! Does a monologue in which the character is angry mean the same as mad or do they just mean crazy? Also I was wondering if you have any hints on what kind of questions they ask in the LAMDA interview? Best of luck this year.
    G x

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Thank you for commenting - it means a lot to me when I hear feedback. I will try to reply as quickly as possible!