This week Bronte Charlotte chats with Jessica Stanley, an actor, writer and the co-founder of the artistic collective Spinning Plates Co. This episode was recorded the day after the Green Room Awards were anounced so Bronte and Jess chat about their collective surprise and excitement for each others nominations. They also dive into their experience collaborating with each other on Jess’s new one woman show Shut Up I’m A Vampire for Melbourne Fringe Festival in 2022, and the way they came to find the conclusion the show. They talk about Jess becoming a marriage celebrant and how its changed Jess’s life as a creative, wanting there to be more work in the industry for independent creatives, and how society has impacted peoples need for public recognition and validation.

During this episode we discuss:

• [01:56] Pieces of Shit NOMINATED for 3x Green Room Awards, the joy of having your work recognised and how surreal it feels, Bronte’s experience finding out about the nominations
• [10:29] Shut Up I’m A Vampire NOMINATED for a Green Room Award, how unexpected the nomination was, how deeply impactful the live sound was in the production
• [14:29] How Jess and Bronte met, touring educational theatre, why Jess wanted Bronte to direct Shut Up I’m A Vampire, their collaborative experience working together, and how deeply important the end of a show is especially in a show that dives into triggering content
• [25:37] Jess’s experience of Melbourne Fringe Festival ‘22 doing two shows at once, sometimes doing 4 shows a night, what Jess learnt from that experience and how she would do things differently next time
• [35:30] How Jess got into marriage celebrancy, the time it took to get to the point of being able to leave retail and her experience being able work in an area that makes her happy and content
• [43:26] Wanting there to be more work and people in work in the industry, awards and accolades and how deeply our need for validation runs, Jess’s feelings surrounding recognition and awards and how our society has impacted her need for validation
• [54:11] Jess’s love of reading and the joy she felt working on Spinning Plates Co. most recent show The Crocodile at 45 Downstairs, and the joy of everything else in the creative world

RESOURCES

• Spinning Plates Co.
• Howard Fine Actors Studio
• Nu-Disco! at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 4-6 May
• Pieces of Shit at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 27-29 April

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Jessica Stanley on Instagram @jstanny

This week Bronte Charlotte chats with Alexander Lloyd, an actor/producer from Adelaide of Greek/Cyprian and Egyptian decent. This conversation dives into financial stability and sustainability and how it supports your creative practice, Alex’s experience transitioning from law to performing, how deeply important it is to be gentle with yourself when self-doubt creeps in, and having other passions to fill up your life. We discuss the importance of recognising when you’re getting worn out. prioritising rest, and allowing yourself to let go from the pressure of a creative persuit for a moment. Alex has been a series regular on the Netflix Series Gymnastics Academy; A Second Chance. His other credits include NBC's La Brea, Network Ten's Five Bedrooms, and ABC/Netflix's Why Are You Like This. 

During this episode we discuss:

• [02:07] How Bronte and Alex met, Alex’s original training in law, transitioning into performing, how important the communication that is integral to law is in the performing world
• [05:22] Moving to Melbourne, the film & TV industry in Adelaide vs Melbourne, Alex’s favourite film and theatre experiences, Meisner classes with Impulse Company Australia
• [11:39] Working together on a feature film in 2022, how to handle the negative voices that creep up on you during filming, allowing yourself to breathe and focus on the job
• [24:41] Producing the short film Farrah, multi tasking in different roles on projects, Gruesome Playground Injuries (dir. Erica Chestnut)
• [29:07] Financial stability and sustainabilty supporting your creative practice, finding a balance between passion projects and everyday work, giving 100% of yourself to the moment you are in
• [40:01] The importance of curiousity as a performer, being okay with wanting other things and having other passions, allowing yourself to change your mindset in your approach to your work, prioritising rest if you’re worn out

RESOURCES

• Nu-Disco! at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 4-6 May
• Pieces of Shit at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 27-29 April

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Alexander Lloyd on Instagram @alexanderlloyd__