My journey into acting, Georgie Brooks
Georgie, a Sixth Form Student at Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, charts the defining moments in her journey towards a career in acting, and offers words of encouragement for pupils wishing to pursue their goals in life. Good luck with your future career Georgie, Ysgol Bro Dinefwr is very proud of you!
My mum has always said I could sing before I could talk and dance before I could walk. Music and acting were in my blood before I began. When asked in year 6, the question everyone gets asked before Secondary school, ‘What would you like to be when you grow up?” My answer would always be “a singer.” Or since I went to a Welsh primary, “canwr.” Although I never said actor, I knew this would be the industry for me.
At the early age of around 6 years old I joined my first singing/acting school, glee club. I absolutely loved the few years I spent there. My family would see me in the Christmas shows, I knew no matter what that they would always support me, which was a great advantage. When I was young, I always thought this would be my future.
However, as life moved forward, my dreams were becoming nothing but dreams. I lost sight of what I genuinely wanted in life, and instead decided to pursue mathematics and computer science. Although I did not genuinely love them, they were convenient and especially useful now that we live in a world of technology. Through society, news, and general conversation, I slowly became immersed in needing to be making money, rather than going into a career I love. Computer science was a logical option. I could make a lot of money, quickly in this business, guaranteed a job, and could live happily ever after. But would it truly be a happy ever after? Do I really want to tell future generations how I succeeded in life because I made a ‘logical’ choice, rather than say I succeeded in life by working hard and taking a risk to follow my dream?
In September 2020, I had an accident which changed my life. I had a horse-riding accident which resulted in my elbow being broken in 3 places, and a 4-hour surgery. The surgeon who has worked many years, even stated that it was the worst elbow break he had seen in his lifetime. However, through hard work and determination, over 4 months, I managed to get 80% of the movement back in my arm. This accident in a way, rebooted my brain. I realized we could not be here tomorrow. I worked harder in my schoolwork for the remainder of the year, and in September 2021, realized I do not want to continue with computer science at university.
At this point I was starting my last year of ‘A’ level, the most important one, realizing I am studying something that I do not want to do at a degree level. I sat down with my mum on the outside sofas and asked her what I was doing. She started naming some careers that I could go into. Asked ‘What about continuing Spanish?’ since I am doing the A level. However, I was studying Spanish to speak Spanish, I did not want a career in languages. Main reason being I am terrible at it and hate translation, the key thing you need for a language career. She kept naming different careers, and eventually asked, ‘What about acting?’. I have always loved the performing arts, why not actually give a go at pursuing it? Worst case scenario I look to another career. I had no idea where to start though. Which is when my dad suggested going to Swansea theatre and asking advice from them.
A week later I had emailed the theatre and made an appointment. This was now at the start of October. The lady I spoke to gave me a tour of the theater, then afterwards, we sat down and had a chat about the industry. She said it would be worth looking at some acting schools to get involved in, but it might be better to try and look at getting into the behind the scenes crew. These jobs are much easier to get into than acting, but I knew that it was not quite right for me. They also took my name down, and if any auditions came up, they would let me know. I took her advice in looking for an acting school, and then went to see the drama teacher, to ask if she knew of any acting schools nearby. She told me about Mess up the Mess, and so I contacted them that very evening.
The evening I went to Swansea theatre, I had an email from them telling me about an audition for a short film called Hiraeth. I thanked them for the information, and straight away contacted the email they provided and asked them if I could audition. The very next day I had an email with all the information I needed to audition and set up a date to zoom and perform my audition. At this point I had no acting experience and it had been about three years since I last went to some form of an acting class. I emailed the drama teacher, Miss Rimmington, and asked if she would be willing to help me, as I have an audition. Luckily, she replied very quickly and told me when she was free and very kindly sat with me for about 3 hours to help with the audition. She also taught me how to do a Swansea accent which was essential for the audition.
The day of the audition came by, and I was extremely nervous. I was happy to find out that the director and manager I was auditioning for were really kind people. We went through the script a few times and then did the audition for real. I was really grateful that they made me feel so comfortable, and all I could do for the next week was hope for good news.
A few days later, I received the email. I got it! I got the audition! It was such an amazing feeling that I jumped off my bed and ran down the stairs. I ran into the living room and told my mother and grandmother “I got it! I got the part!” They could not believe it themselves. Then my dad came in, and I told him the news. He was very excited for me and told me he thought me coming down the stairs was thunder I was so loud! I told all my teachers, including Miss Rimmington, who without which I would not have been able to succeed in getting this part. Everyone was quite shocked. I was too.A few weeks later the filming began. I took a week off school to film the short film. The first day was a long shift, on the Sunday we were in Swansea from 7 in the morning till 10 in the evening. It was not as long for the rest of the week, but I still enjoyed every minute of it. On the last day of filming, we were in mumbles pier, and we got rained on, hailed on, everything the weather could throw at us. However, despite the weather, I enjoyed every second of it. To be honest, I almost cried when we all said goodbye. It was the best experience of my life. I am very grateful towards my dad who drove me back and forth to Swansea, every day in order for me to take part in this short film. The short film’s name was then later changed to The Hill, which was finished editing in January 2022. It will be entered into many festivals, so make sure to keep an eye out for it.
I then signed up to the website ‘Backstage’ and have been applying to auditions every week since. I currently have applied to 19 different acting jobs. Including short films, feature films and more.
About a month after the end of shooting the short film, I got an email from Mess up the Mess, saying they have a few spots and would like me to come to a show. I went the following Thursday. I thought it was great and spoke to one of the organizers, and from then on, I started acting school, every Thursday evening. I love it there, and they offer some great opportunities such as the live streaming course I did a week ago. I have some other courses I will be doing soon also.
Moving on to early February, which was a week ago. I had an email from one of the documentaries I applied to, saying that I got the part! I sent in a video of me speaking in Welsh and English, representing Wales in the environment. What we experience, what gives me hope during this environmental crisis, and what we can do to help the environment for the future.
I now have daily emails from backstage of any acting parts near me, and as I said earlier have applied to 19 different acting jobs. Although I have 11 declined, to be able to be part of a short film and documentary within 4 months of deciding to go into acting, I honestly cannot believe it. I will continue in the search for more acting roles, and who knows what will happen in the future.
I have also applied to 4 acting related courses at different universities and have had 3 offers back. I am very excited to be accepted onto my first choice at the University of Chichester, doing music performance and acting for film. Here I can carry on with both my singing and my acting. I am very excited for my future, and it just proves what can happen with hard work and determination.
If I have learnt anything from the last 2 years, it’s that life is unpredictable. For all you know you could fall off a horse, and have your life completely changed. Whatever your dreams are, don’t call them dreams, call them goals. A teacher once told me that dreams are called dreams for a reason, they don’t come true. So call them goals instead, because then it is up to you to make them become a reality.