November 2024

Workshop Updates

Manchester

Happy Valley and Time Casting Director Sheraz Ahmed CDG joined us for an insightful TV scene study session. Actors worked with scripts from Happy Valley, All Creatures Great and Small, and Normal People. Sheraz emphasised the importance of exploring a deeper connection to the text with simplicity, helping to uncover nuanced performances.

- Watch the highlight reel here.

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Netflix Director Isher Sahota (Missing You, Ridley and Grace) will be returning in January alongside Natalie Gavin and George. Together, they will lead our first 2025 workshop, focusing on script direction, on-camera listening and response, and character-building rooted in textual truth.

*11th/12th January 2025 - Final Few Spaces Left*

Book Here

London

Azhur Saleem (Dr Who Flux, After the Flood, Blood of my Blood, Anansi Boys) joined us at Mountview to lead his first ever acting workshop. He selected a Dr Who scene he previously directed, offering our actors a unique chance to work under his guidance. The workshop featured classes on emotional connection to text with George, archetyping through Laban with Jude, and on-screen listening with Majid. The weekend wrapped up with well-earned celebrations at the pub!

- Watch the highlight reel here.

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Isher Sahota will also join us in London for the start of 2025, alongside George and Majid. The workshop will include script direction sessions with Isher and character-building classes with George. Majid will focus on playing high-stakes objectives, offering tools to truly ‘come alive’ on screen.

*18th/19th January 2025 - Spaces Remaining*

Book Here

My Ideas

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When we get a tape we are really excited about, procrastination often sets in. Why? Fear. If we give it our absolute best and still don’t get the job, it feels like there’s no excuse. But if we don’t put in the work, we can blame the lack of effort. Give your tapes everything. If you don’t get the job, trust that it wasn’t due to the quality of your performance.

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Give your character a physical trait that is memorable and grounded in truth. Denzel Washington in Gladiator II gives a masterclass in this. He makes two simple choices - his character is always adjusting his clothes and he switches rhythm whenever he enters or exits a scene. This is consistent throughout and completely aligns with his super objective - to rule Rome. Physical choices might seem simple but when executed well - they are genius.

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Looking like a fool is all part of the process. How can you learn if you can’t face failure? Creating a space free of judgement is what we are all about at CMA. We will give you the space to try things. So stop trying to get it right all the time and accept the fact that you are on a journey that never ends.

Acting Insights

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Ridley Scott on how he looks at his career:

“I had a good eye and could line up a shot faster than anyone else. I look at my career like it’s a sport. You better keep bouncing the ball, or else it’s going to go away.”

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John Swain on his acting class with Nikos Psacharopoulos:

“You want to be a great actor? I’ll tell you what you need to do to be a great actor. He paused and every person in the class leaned forward. We thought, here it comes. He’s going to reveal the secret that will unlock the mystery of acting. You, Nikos continued, have to live. You have to live a life. I remember thinking, that’s it. That’s the big secret. Later, I realised it was the biggest secret. In essence he was saying, you being you is much more important than you trying to be someone else. And if you live a full, authentic life, you will have all the material you need to be a great actor.”

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Denzel Washington on the importance of silence:

“Don’t listen to them. Listen to yourself. Spend quiet time. 5 minutes every morning just be quiet. Hard to do. 5 minutes of quiet. Don’t reach for it. Don’t even think about it, which is impossible. Don’t reach for it. You know what I’m talking about. Your devices.”

CMA Actor Spotlight

Huge congratulations to Izzy Smith who took home the Best Breakthrough Talent award at the Royal Television Society Awards. See you in January Izzy!

Liam Bull will be appearing in Pinnochio at the Red Rose Chain in Ipswich. Details here.

Bill Michos is playing Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk for Hurricane Productions.

— Want your work to be featured? Keep us updated with what you are up to. Let us know here

Thanks for reading,

— Majid