So. Being really genuine and taking on board the title of this discussion....
To all those forum members who stated recently that living in London was the best thing since sliced bread and how much work they got by living there because it was so good and furthered their careers, here's a Sky news release from 10 minutes ago.
Apart from ITV moving their premises their, now look who's moving house. Taxi to Manchester anyone??
Cuts to programming and 2,000 job losses are expected to be announced by the BBC this morning as part of major savings proposals.
The BBC's Director General Mark Thompson will meet staff later to give them the precise details.
It is thought the corporation will move a further 1,000 posts to its new base in Salford.
Also expected is the complete withdrawal from its iconic West London base.
The Television Centre is already up for sale, but the neighbouring White City complex is also expected to be closed.
I have never worked for the bbc and still get plenty of jobs based in or around London. Actually, pretty much all my work is based there to be honest. I don't really understand your point..
ITV are already in the process of moving to Manchester. Aunty is also off there. It basically means that anything produced by these 2 monster employees will almost certainly come out if Salford or Cardiff.
Theatre will still thrive in London but my point was that almost all interviews moving forward will start to happen up north.
CD's are already setting up there to join the likes of Bev Keogh, Michelle Smith, Gennie Radcliffe et al.
If actors are looking for a succesful TV career path moving forward, it ain't gonna happen in London.
As I said, I wasn't trying to be clever or smug, I was just genuinely shocked that the Beebread have decided to up stix so quickly to Manchester.
You are not serious? What! OMG..…BBC trying to save a few million….ITV moving to Manchester or wherever….!! However will those in the South East or myself in Cheltenham manage? It's over…..right that's it….I shall be ceremoniously tearing up my Equity card in the next few mins….I shall look for a tree and hang myself…or cause "an incident" in front of a tube!
Nahhh...Come off it….most the top casting directors and major feature casting departments are based in the London region….along with most of the major film industry studios in and around the capital. Most of the major PR co's and film Co's are also based in the London area too.
I'm not one of those who thinks you won't make it if you don't live in London….I have never lived there myself. But in over 20 years of TV and film acting I have only ever once been to Bristol for casting….everything else has been in Soho or nearby!
If you have a Manchester Agent…and you base your interests there…then possibly most of your work may come from that region?
The fact remains…and will always remain....if you are right, ideal for the role and they want to cast you….you can live in the Scilly Isles …..they'll find you and book you.
Like others …I am not sure what your point is. If you are getting work in Manchester…I wish you every success….but it won't ever tempt me to move up there…not for the Hilda Ogdon's cobbles of Corrie, nor based on this mornings news!
Building 201 (2 min walk from the old BEEB nest) in Wood lane has a mass of casting offices and resident directors etc…..let them sell off White City oval….I really don't see it as some sort of END OF ALL LONDON CASTINGS situation really!!
Not that my opinion makes a huge difference, but Elstree (casualty/holby/eastenders) is based in Borehamwood and so are their cds too. So I imagine that the administrative/creative/producers and daytime tv which is what is getting a huge portion of the chop.
Plus Sky is now making it's own drama in London. The sell off of the BBC is the studios that it doesn't use as regularly, so apart from the sake of nostalgia why keep it? Most drama is made now on location and I imagine agents have more to do with your being seen bt CDs.
Yup...it certainly gave me a good laugh when I read your opening post, as did reading the other thread....but then John to be fair....your putting up this thread in the 1st place could be deemed the biggest "fishy bite" of all!
Perhaps you've got caught up in your own line?!!
I see where you are going with it "yer cheeky monkey!" ....but I can't quite work out why?
If it evokes useful info about the sell off of Aunties old building because its now defunct ( it is a listed building and it is utterly out dated for the beeb now....then that's good! If it gives us all a laugh...that's good too!
However, if the thread was in some way a snap back at those who simply disagree with you...well then...I'll leave that for you to fight with them.....you activist you! Wish you all well.
BTW: If they get rid of some of the daytime crap...and did a bit more money making drama.....thats good too innit?!!
I just discovered that these cuts mean one of my closest friends is probably out of a job :( (he's not an actor)!
On the positive side, John I've always had another base in Manchester, and further north.
So if you can give me any advice on how to get the new northerners to see me I'd appreciate it ;)
Hi Mark. No it's not me having a go at anyone who disagrees with me. I like everyone to have an opinion and I love lively debate. Its just me being naughty that's all. I should stop it really as it may be taken in the wrong vein as me being arrogant or clever.
Which I am neither of!!
I am fortunate that I have a flat in London an a lovely house in the Midlands. It means I am a very lucky actor who has the best of both worlds. I LOVE London and it's been very good to me, as has Manchester. I split my time between the 2 so I see everyone's point of view and they are all completely correct because it's their view and pertains to them.
Aunty moving away makes no difference. There's plenty of work out there up and down the country without having to rely on them!
All the best mate and hope to catch up with you soon.
Catherine. I will PM you after the show tonight and try to slip you sone little nuggets of advice that I've picked up that work for me with Northern casting directors and their views.
To everyone else. Keep your heads held high, keep fighting the fight and NEVER stop believing how good you really are. Thanks for all the banter - brilliant stuff.
To go back to the original question, I think the biggest problem in deciding where to live as an actor is the short notice you get of auditions and castings.
For example, I applied many weeks ago for a casting in the North and then got an invite to audition with only a few days' notice. Impractical because of other work commitments and the high cost of short notice travel from London. It works the other way too, I'm sure.
Judging by castingcallpro vacancies there seems to be work for jobbing actors north and south but the northern jobs seem by and large to pay less. That's anecdotal, of course, but it would be interesting to know if Equity had any breakdown of average earnings according to region.
If you are an experienced actor then obviously you will follow the work, and employers won't really care where you live if they want you. If you need to get noticed, obviously London has a higher percentage of the population, and therefore more people who matter but the North-East, North-West, Bristol and Birmingham all have great theatres and production centres.
I know of a well known actress (on TV and stage) who chose to live in the Midlands because of the ease of getting to London if necessary and to have a central base when on tour.
It's always a compromise but it's daft I think to say that Manchester is the best choice just because a bit of the BBC and a few other media companies are going there.
If you thought England was bad in terms of deciding on your base, try being an actor in Germany: we have 4 major media cities (Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg), all of which are equally important in terms of contacts and productions; so it's not unusual for an actor here to be Berlin-based with your agent in Cologne and the casting taking place in Munich, for instance.
;)
I think it's a very positive thing for all those northern based actors to have more opportunities when it comes to working specifically for those major TV stations.
However us Londoners can rest assured knowing that the epicentre of all casting in the UK for film, TV, commercials and theatre, Spotlight, is staying in London.
@juliaeffertz i think Germany having 4 major media cities is FANTASTIC. I positively hate that the media sector here is so London-centric...
I've been on CCP for a bit and only recently upgraded my subscription when i saw rare paid work in Scotland advertised only to discover the auditions where being held the following day in London!!!! grrrr
Hopefully after tom hanks and brad pitts stop over in "Glasvegas" and waterloo road relocating up here things will start to pick up in Scotland but i wont hold me breath
i live in Nottingham its 2 hours from everywhere,iv worked all over the uk and i dont think it matters where you live if your happy to travel for castings and work (if your not your in the wrong job) then it makes no diff.Thats like saying all good films are made in the USA so lets all move there.
I like living in Nottingham it makes my work life and real life apart and the rent is much less lol
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