Welcome back to Gloucester Independant Film Festival with your hosts Megan & Jordan!
In this second instalment of the behind the scenes interviews, the Acting Up girls sit down with the incredible creatives behind ‘Two Big Feet’, the festivals winning feature film, and ‘Don’t Give Up’, nominee for best music video!
‘Two Big Feet’ is an improv comedy about two best friends, one down on his luck and craving some cryptids - the other trying to make his friend happy before he inevitably makes him sad. They are joined by the creator of the film, Noah Stratton-Twine (who basically did everything bar act in it), and lead actors/producer/exec producer Ollie Woolf and Luke Rollason! Discussions include dripping in the gorilla suit, CLOWN SCHOOL!, the nature of improv, composition, gorilla sightings and origins, bold editing, micro budget manifestos, shooting what you need and hitting the marks (or not).
They then sit down once again with Videographer Ross Goatman to discuss his experience creating the music video for the drum and bass tune ‘Don’t Give Up’ by Dr Meaker, ft Tenisha Edwards & Celestine! The video is a direct reflection of the lyrics - written during Covid - re-contextualised for the present day. Discussions include sitting with the song and lyrics, birds eye shots, consistency and self criticism, guerrilla (not gorilla) film-making, creating narratives, virality vs artistic integrity and effective collaboration.
Enormous thanks to:
@nhoast @ollie_woolf @lukerollasonisaclown @thatsthefish
@satyrmediauk
@joshylee_ @oscarwenmanhyde @gloucesterfilmfestival @glosguildhall
Apologies for sound issues! x

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏

Welcome back to Gloucester Independant Film Festival with Acting Up!

For the first instalment in their series of interviews, Megan and Jordan sit down with the incredibly talented film makers behind this years entries for Best Short Documentary.

First up, Director Sam Pope and Producer Tom Crawford of Imaginary Man Productions to discuss their truly heartwarming documentary ‘The Little Cinema in Gloucester’ which premiered at the festival! The documentary takes the audience to the Sherborne Cinema - a tiny building filled with enormous passion - and introduces you to the wonderful people behind it, Mark and Sammy. Discussions include the cinema cat, capturing the essence of a place, creating the soundtrack, avoiding comedy while keeping quirks, being selective with footage and creating a story not an advertisement.

Next the girls speak with Joe Murphy, Director and Editor of ‘Milking the Dog’, a hilarious and inspiring documentary that follows Stand Up Comedian Phil as he works passionately on his craft to make it through a gong show. Discussions include how to find a subject and capture them respectfully, the emotional barrier that is the camera, subjectivity, comedy, and the power of the audience and leaving room to breath.

Massive thanks to:

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏

We are so back! Post the slightly depressing ageism episode and being professionals at Gloucester Independent Film Festival 2, Acting Up are back with a BITE… Another episode of the ‘Just Two Besties and Their Special Interest’ genre, this week Megan and Jordan are talking vampire media, and they’ve prepared their whole mortal lives for this.

Discussions include would you accept the dark gift? Eczema, skinniness and vampirism and the media that most impacted your hosts and the culture. The media discussed includes Twilight (DUH), Lost Boys, Interview With the Vampire, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more.

Jordan delves into the concept of immortality and delivers a sort-of brief history of vampires. Megan explores how vampires transitioned from scary to sexy and how cultural perception shifts when GOD FORBID women have hobbies. Then of course, it’s time for a deep dive on the cultural impact of Twilight (which much like this podcast, came from a dream) and the birth of Supernatural Romance as a genre.

Tangents include Gibby singing, Cassandra Clare and incest, Jordan is the new Renfield, Megan is cancelled and singing the entire Twilight soundtrack.

TRANS WOMEN ARE WOMEN!

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏

Megan and Jordan both recently celebrated their 25th Birthdays! And by celebrated they mean crashed out about their impending expiration from an industry famously unkind to older women! Yippee! So here it is - the long awaited and truly infuriating episode about ageism and misogyny in Hollywood. Buckle up because we’ve all been indoctrinated…

Jordan confronts the idea of the ‘expiration date’, anti-aging culture and paradoxical procedures to prolong careers, villainous hags and youth as a type-cast. Megan discusses the women of Hollywood that are fighting the odds and showing us there’s nothing brave about simply existing. They also explore the all too common experience of being “too old” to play the love interest of a much older man and how this can impact audiences and why an actress may choose to conceal her age.

Jordan then takes things to a place of data, discussing the infamous OkCupid study that exposed the preferred dating age of men and women and the graphs that have haunted her since she saw them, and an article from The Guardian which provides data that shows the older women get, the less they are heard - literally! But it’s not all doom and gloom, things are getting better - we just aren’t there yet.

And of course they couldn’t end the episode without a discussion on The Substance.

A heavy episode, look after yourselves! <3

Tangents include a trip to the vets, warm bread, Megan’s armpits and Jordan’s lazy eye, not getting your hopes up but envisioning your life, a surprise appearance and Magpie shagging.

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏

This week Megan and Jordan are immersing themselves in the world of immersive theatre, from the history to personal experiences recent and historic - it’s time to go beyond breaking the fourth wall.

Jordan covers the basics of Immersive Theatre for actors, what it is, expectations for actors, Equity standards, how it’s been commercialised, what the future holds and the Post-Immersive Manifesto. Megan enlightens us on the pioneers of the genre such as Punchdrunk Theatre, Fruit for the Apocalypse and more. Touching on the political origins, the rise of site specific theatre and successful shows around the world.

Discussions include improvisation, celebrating Megan at the Moonshine Saloon, You Me Bum Bum Train, scare acting and assaulting nuns, Disneyland, Dismaland, the Willy Wonka Experience and so much NUANCE.

Tangents include Megan’s babadook birthday, Jordan’s tuberculosis, pro-library, a twilight ep, did you light a candle or is your house on fire? and seams where there shouldn’t be seams.

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏

This week Megan and Jordan are asking themselves the age old question - is wrestling real? Why? Because Rhea Ripley that’s why.

Inspired by their newfound love for one particular wrestler, Megan and Jordan slam into the world of wrestling, starting with Megan’s brief history of the WWE and Jordan’s honourable mention to oily naked wrestling in Ancient Greece.

Discussions include films about wrestlers and the industry, wrestlers who became actors, fakery and nuance, the real dangers of safe stunts, getting hit by a car but the car is Rhea Ripley, can wrestlers break “character”, the concept of Kayfabe, Babyfaces, Heels and the language of wrestling and Divas to Champions; the women of wrestling.

Tangents include Dramione fanfiction with real tears from Megan, career updates and new headshots, vet trips, CJ and the Pokemon in Japan, kittens and cuteness aggression.

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏

This week Megan and Jordan are joined by the wonderful performing, milk drinking, dog loving, plant father that is Thomas Walton! Thomas is here to discuss his journey into the musical theatre industry and how he’s giving back to his community.

Thomas tells his story from being a young working class lad in ‘Alifax, pursuing theatre despite the all too common lack of opportunity in his area. Discussing the importance of school trips to the theatre, Pantomime and its accessibility, reach, culture and tradition and how it upholds regional theatres, the value and quality of work that is produced by regional theatres, the journey of some of those shows to the West End and how perception of a show can change based on location alone.

Thomas also discusses his experience at drama school, casting types and height restrictions, choreographing against those archetypes, partnering, sports massage, muggle jobs and his professional credits - including his experience with puppetry, rightfully likening it to holding an SAS stress position!

He then tells the incredible story of how he chose to give back to his community and fill gaps he felt as a child by founding his Community Interest Company - Theatre North. A platform designed to support and celebrate Northern theatre, with hopes to host the North's own version of West End Live! Acting Up could not be more in favour! Thomas shares the companies five goals and the ethos, make sure to check it out @theatre.north !

Tangents include Britney the houseplant, our mutual Mia, Borrow my Doggy Jordans rant on height misogyny, Kenyan pen-pals, sustainability and cutting down on dairy!

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏

This week on Acting Up, Megan and Jordan sit down with another face from their drama school days, the incredibly talented, not Spanish speaking, dance virtuoso that is Eli Follant!

Eli opens up about their experiences within drama school and the industry, including the pressure to be a triple threat and moving away from expectations, moving out at 16, queerness, class clowning, coming out, changing your name, zoom pronouns and effective allyship. Eli gets candid about their experiences navigating institutions as a gender non-conforming person, from being made to choose gendered uniform to asserting yourself in the face of disrespect.

Discussions include being outed on open day, individuality and style in drama school, being a human before being a dancer, dissertations and graduations, can you be a choreographer and a performer? a rant on the headshot industry, professional dance contracts, collaborations across the arts and a sweet message to a future self.

Tangents include blackheads, Jordan and Megan were like so cool and gay in college, hungover beans, the 100th episode party, where was Zoe Kravitz? Megan’s photography page and forcing Megan to dance.

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏