Goodbye 2014 hello 2015....

What an amazing year ive had! 

 James & the Giant Peach at the gordon craig at easter, filming in a feature film in may, fun photshoots with some great photographers, into Bonnie and Betty agency, passed a LAMDA exam, new drama group on sundays and straight into rehearsals for a musical Olivia!!

Future plans include: singing lessons with Gemma O'Duffy, LAMDA next stage, Olivia show, school drama club, audition for secondary school and many more castings and jobs i hope!! 

All good things come to those who work hard!!!

 

Looking forward to 2015 - my hopes are to have a kitten and to be a successful actor x

Casting for well known high street chain.

Today mum and I went to Kentish Town for a casting. We got there well early so we went Ito Costa and there was only one table left so we got it. I had the Black Forest hot chocolate it was gorgeous the best one I think. We had sat right next to the other bonnie and Betty girl that was casting too. She is Jen and she is just like me! We got on straight away and we had lots of fun and laughing. 

We had our casting together which was nice had my hair put up and a bit of makeup on then photos and then we came home via McDonald's 😄 

It would be nice if we both get picked, we would have a great time. But who knows what they want. 

This is the second time i've cast for this company. I actually got pencilled last time 😋  

Update- nothing this time. Third time lucky maybe 😀

Theatre - Addams Family & Journey's End

Forgot to mention that I've also been to two theatres recently - Hertford & Queen Mother in Hitchin to see 2 very different performances.

On wed 29 oct mum and me went to see The Addams Family at Hertford Theatre by Mayhem Productions. It was a Musical and really funny. 

When I was little I used to dress as Wednesday Addams for Halloween! 

On Sunday 9 Nov - Remembrance Sunday - we went to a special showing of Journeys End. It was about the First World War and was very very good. The costumes were real and the actors played their parts very well. 

The man that played the Colonel - Ginge Hopkins - works with mum and he was so good, his voice sounded brilliant.

But as it was a Sunday and a long play we had to leave at half time although we read the end of the story the next day together. Actually knowing how mum balled at private peaceful I think she would have cried at this ending too so probably best we left early ha ha 

Here's a picture of the actors in Hitchin 

Lisa Visser Photos & Bugsy Malone

So the photographer I went to was Lisa Visser in Crawley, we had a great ride down their but had a terrible journey back which took nearly 4 hours!!

I enjoyed the shoot and got to wear lots of hats and dresses. 

Whilst we were having lunch mum got a text from a casting if done - which I didn't think had gone well - to say I had been shortlisted! We were very surprised. I have today learned that I wasn't successful but it was nice of them to let us know As many just leave you to wonder. 

I have performed Bugsy Malone - last Friday & Sat matinee. I really enjoyed it this time as I was Louie and had lots of lines :-) everyone had good fun and I miss my little Rare family when we're not performing. The next show is Fame but not auditioning until March so don't know whether to go for it or not. Guess I'll think about it next year.

Here's me as Louie!  And again in the gang at the left hand side.

My photos from Lisa arrived the other day and mum & dad found it really hard to choose. They said if they had all the money they would buy them all but they have to be careful & get only 6 - there were about 60 to choose from and of course I'm gorgeous in all of them so it must be hard to choose ha ha.

Mum asked for Bonnies help and then went with her advice - probably best as she is my agent. 

Here's one of me on Lisa Visser Fine Art Photography Facebook Page

It's been well quiet for me and I do get to thinking sometimes if it's just me but mum says it's not as there aren't many calls for tall 10s and to remember that even getting called to cast is an achievement (although I worry it costs mum money for nothing).

Still I've got some new photos and a lovely video which is funny so that might help. I'm reading lots at home and am in rehearsals for Young Thespians and I keep getting more & more lines for that too. I'm very happy 😄

Back on Track

So I've been back to the Gordon Craig Theatre in my schools performance of Twelfth Night in the Shakespeare for Schools Festival.

And been on radio  with BobFM again! I won family ticket to hAtfield Fireworks on Saturday woop woop I had to answer questions on star or car lol they did help me out twice ha ha 

I'm having new photos this week, mums really excited as she loves the pictures the photographer takes and I'm not going to say who it is yet but I've seen some photos and all the other kids look amazing.

I haven't got any new clothes but mum has got some plain tops for me as these pictures will be my main pictures for spotlight and for my agency.

One thing I will mention though is that I was cast as a lead in a short recently and filmed one day but I've not heard anything since and mum hasn't heard from the director either so we don't know what's going on. I would like to film again and finish the story but hey! This stuff is so weird as mum says there's

No other business that offers work then can decide to

Not give you work without you even doing one day! Mad :-0

Met Simon Pegg (again)

At 4 I went to Hertford Theatre for my second part in the children's book festival. I was to go into a Biggles Workshop with Simon Pegg. It was only for 10-14 year old so mum had to wait outside which she did with a coffe and a

Book. 

He read us a story about Biggles and then he did a question time and he asked us some questions and I answered lots such as - when was the story set & I answered correctly - he told me I was on fire! 

Had a very quick chat with him after and I asked if he would sign something for me which is a secret and he did which was really kind.

Thank you Simon Pegg from me & someone else too (wink wink)

Hertford ChildrenBook Festival

Wow! I had done a brilliant time yesterday. 

In the afternoon all the drama club at school went to the Gordon Craig Theatre for a walk about. It was ok but I've spent lots of time in the back so knew all the way about. 

Mum picked me up and we rushed home and got our dresses on and headed off to Hertford. 

We had dinner in cafe Rouge which was lovely and shared three little puddings. My fav was the lemon one. 

After dinner we walked to the theatre and when mum went To get a cup of tea she was behind Mr Freeman, he is an actor and has been in sherlock on tv with mums fav benedic ha ha I asked him what his three tips to being a successful actor.

He was really nice and his wife read about Verucca salt in charlie to us.

I also met simon Pegg which was really great, I love Paul and my family really like his films with nick frost. 

We had lots of authors read bits out of their books which was so interesting all the different style of books there was Alex scarrow, holly smales who writes geek girl and mum was excited to see and hear Jonathan Stroud - I got a book signed just for her she was well pleased!

I managed to speak to nearly all the people that read to us, all except Amanda Abbington - who was in a malteasers add with dads fav Olivia Coleman so he says- as we had to go and see Private Peaceful on stage.

The actor was amazing he performed the whole story --75mins- on his own, totally amazing to learn all those lines and act them so well. Mum cried & cried at the end - she even cried the car (what a wooss haha).

Here's some pics of me getting autographs from Holly & Alex and speaking to Simon.

Busy busy bee

Glamorous - is not the right word to describe acting! Maybe for those really famous actors that have body doubles for  back shots .

Spending ages  in a field as the warming sun dropsis not glam. Using a pub toilet as a changing room is not glam. But I love it. I work really hard and one day I'll be be the actor that has a body double. 

I'm really busy.

Doing school Shakespeare play, learning Bugsy with rare, learning songs to Olivia with auditions next week, had to learn a new monologue for video reel with bobe on Saturday, waiting to film again on one project, due to have my new Headshots soon, pencilled for another short & interest in doing some modelling too.

I'm busy :-)  

Me with my lovely new hat made just for me by my nan. 

It's All Go But Not as You'd Know It

It's been very quiet on the agency front. I don't know if it's the fact no briefs have come in or if I'm just not what they want, probably a bit of both but hey don't get me wrong, im working hard and building up my cv. I guess anything from the agency is a bonus. 

I'm back at school now, so ill be rehearsing the Twelfth Night for October. 

I'm joining Hitchin Thespians and begin Sunday,!were going to be perfuming in a musical called Olivia.

I'm also rehearsing Bugsy Malone with Rare.

I've also been cast for something but I don't want to say anything yet - until I've filmed it. 

Still haven't seen the pictures of mum and me with Faby & Carlo. That was really fun and mum got to pose too ha ha though she wasn't as good as me lol

Me

Mum has put together her favourite pics of me over the last 6 months and is proud of her self that she added music and turned it into a film...enjoy.

Music by: Amy Macdonald. This is the Life. 
Mum & me love this song.

LAMDA Result - oh yeah!

I performed :

Woody Allens God At Play as The Actor

Toms Modnight Garden as Hattie

Self-Tape & more self-tape

I was asked to self tape for a short horror which I really enjoyed, mum said there were moments that I really spooked her with my eyes - I made them really big and then tried to look angry & evil. We sent that off to the writer/director and then went on holiday with the family camping in  Hampshire - I really enjoyed it as I went horse riding every day I went on Katie and Eddy. On the last day I went out for a trek on Sindy I would really really like to keep riding now I'm home - hint hint mum!

During the hol mum got an email from Bonnie about another self tape. I stressed a bit as I couldn't get the lines until we got home on Saturday but actually there wasn't too many to learn and the character description really sounded like me mum & dad said. I thought of all the Jessie episodes and went for it. We did three takes and then mum picked the best. Hope it's of some interest I think the CD has been through America and not found the right kids so is looking in England - good for us!! 

I was upset about taping but mum said it's better to be asked to tape than go down to London and audition with hundreds of others. 

Fingers x again!   

Bugsy Malone - rare productions

Well I've managed to do it again!! I auditioned for BM after doing Wiz of Oz but wasn't sure if I would be lucky to get cast and really didn't just want to be ensemble again. 

But I  got a yes letter really quick and I'm in Fat Sams Gang, hope there's not too many of us. Am pleased that Molly P will be in it too as I won't see her on Sundays anymore.

We start rehearsing at the end of August with the show in November - should be good fun.

Faby and Carlo photoshoot

So, mum & I went to Cornwall camping for 5 days and it was great! We went body surfing everyday and we had some really tasty ice creams 😄 it was sunny all the time.

Yesterday, we went to Battersea and the first thing I saw was a sign for a dog and cat home I really wanted to go but mum said it would be really sad going and seeing all the doggies and cattys and not being able to take them all home. Which I kinda got.

We walked to Faby & Carlos place for a mum & daughter photoshoot. They were lovely and has 2 cats, the grey one was lovely and kept coming to me even tho it was the shyest one.

Mum got her make up and hair done and then I did by a really nice lady called Claudette a MUA make up artist. We looked lovely, mum was really pleased as she never puts makeup on like that.

We then went into a lovely white room and had lots of pics taken by Faby and her husband Carlo. They work as a team and only use natural light.

I really enjoyed it, they made me laugh and I was teasing mum as she was really nervous. 

They were really good at telling me what they wanted and I can't wait to see the pics.

My Name is who I Am

I think I would like my stage name to be  something else. 

It means something to me that will get me thru the tough times and will let me rember the amazing times. 

Mum says that I can have a name for when I'm on stage but probably when I'm older. 

It's good to be different

It's good to be me 

I am Tia Swan 

Photos by Sarah Fisher

My pictures by Sarah are really nice. This one is my dads fav & mum says it's like Red Riding Hood. My eyes are really green in this pic.

Sarah Fisher is a photographer that has a fairy forest in her studio, it's so magical. I really wanted to  sit on the mushroom by the pond.

When I had my photos done, Sarah was giving me advice on ways to hold myself and told me what the result of my pose meant. I hope you like some of the results. 

You can see me and more of Sarah's lovely photos by visiting 

www.sarahfisherphotography.co.uk

Thank you Sarah xx

Showcase Week & late night self taping.

I've spent the last two weekend - both sat & sun rehearsing for my EDSA end of year show and we are now in the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage rehearsing every night & sat until Show Time!!

Saturday 19th July at 7pm in the Gordon Craig.

It's really hot as well! 

Last night when mum picked me up she asked me if I would do a self tape for BoBe. I was well tired but I won't win it if I'm not in it so I quickly read the lines and tried really hard to get into character. Mum said we were gonna have three takes and then pick the best. 

I kept making mum laugh as every time she stopped filming I yawned and yawned and when she said go I quickly stopped and did my lines.

It was the quickest self tape we've ever done but mum said she ruined

It by dropping something in front of the camera but we sent it as I just carried on without noticing and dad says it's the acting not the filming that they want to see. 

I don't think I'll win this one but I don't mind as I'm on holiday soooooon. 

Working Out What I Want

It's been a really tough few weeks but it's been good because it has made me look at the things im doing and deciding what I really enjoy and where I want to go in the future.

I have always said I want to be an actress. It's just that at the moment I am not getting the acting teaching and practising that I want.

I enjoy working for a stage performance - acting with song & dance scenes - like Rare's shows. 

I know I'm too tall as a kid for professional musical theatre so there's not point training in this at the moment.

I am not really a dancer. Yes I work hard and can learn a routine, but I am not the child that has been ballet since they could walk or can get my leg over my head whilst standing - !! 

So I'm looking into drama schools/classes/groups rather than performing arts schools. Mum says specialising not diversifying - I don't get that either 😳

Mum and me are going camping in Cornwall in two weeks, I'm very excited 😝 it's been very quiet for me with BoBe but mum says I've been blocked out coz of All the other shows I've been doing. Got EDSA showcase over 5 days, then on holiday 5 days then on holiday with everyone for a week so can't do castings or work. 

Bonnie was mailing mum about the pics i had done with Sarah, so that's good I hope. But I can now relax as nothing to do once showcase over - until September. 

Ps the picture is from Sarah Fisher. She gave me some really nice pictures to keep from our shoot in June -THaNKyOu Sarah  x 

Back on Stage - Wizard Of Oz & a little catch up

It's been a month of rehearsals! First LAMDA course on Monday, Rare on Fridays and EDSA on Sundays...

Finally had my LAMDA exam on 22nd June. 

I did a piece from Toms Midnight Garden & Woody Allen play God.

On mums birthday we drove to Crawley to meet Sarah fisher for a shoot. I had an amazing time and really learnt lots about standing and making the right movements to get the picture the photographer wanted. 

Tomorrow I'm walking the boards at The Gordon Craig theatre again, in Rare's Wizsrd Of Oz. 

I am cannot wait for my holiday with mum to Cornwall. I live to bodyboard and can't wait to get in the sea. My new wetsuit shortie arrived yesterday :-)

Costume Fitting

So, we were wondering about what to wear and how to have my hair for the film on Thursday and then mum got a phone call from Cat at BoBe saying we had a costume fitting tonight! 

I'm on the train as I type on our way to London and then to Shoreditch, we are very excited and can't wait to see what I am going to wear! 

We went to Shoreditch train station and made our way to the trailers that were set up in a car park! 

We were very early so they opened a trailer for us and let us sit in there and wait, it was really cool!

Then a lovely lady called Sharne met us and took us to the costume trailer where I tried on some clothes. As they are for the 1940s they were vintage clothes and made of wool so really itchy and heavy, the shoes were really heavy and cobbled at the bottom

I think im going to wear a cotton dress, cardigan, coat, socks, shoes & a little bag! I look just the part. 

I met the other bobe kid, Josh and can't wait to get filming on Thursday. 

License Arrived!

Very excited now - although until I'm actually there I can still be cancelled - received my licence from the council to be able to film on Thursday!!

It tells me where and for what film....I'm keeping ssshhh for now!! 

Show Time! JATGP

Wednesday 16th April at 6pm was the first performance of the Easter Musical, James & The Giant Peach after all our hard work of full on rehearsals.

It was incredible to be back on stage in front of a packed audience, the feeling I get when everyone claps is amazing.

The cast in their costumes are brilliant, they really look good. Mum said the casting was spot on! I am very excited that Laura Crowhurst - who plays the Ladybird, was in Barmy Britain last year - which we saw!! Mum has brought me a programme and i am going to get it all signed by the performers, something for me to keep :-)

I'm in the blue tee and Yellow cap, pics taken from the wings.

My Bio in the Programme

Wizard of Oz with Rare

I'm back to rehearsing with Rare and in a way it's like going home to a family!! After being at GCT all day I got picked up at 6 and whizzed to Knebworth for my first rehearsal of Wizard of Oz.

We run through the script and learnt one of the songs, I think I'm going to be the tallest munchkin in the world!! Ha ha 

www.rareproductions.co.uk

Wizard of Oz, I'm performing 3rd (opening) & 5th (closing) July 2014 at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage.

www.gordoncraigtheatre.co.uk

JATGP

I've been rehearsing since Monday as juvenile ensemble for the Easter musical  of James & The Giant Peach at the Gordon Craig Theatre.

There are lots of girls I recognise from other shows and EDSA. James Craven is also here but in the blue team. He played the lead of Seymour in LSOH!! that i saw last week.

Rehearsals are long days, from 10 til 7 and lots of it is sitting about watching the other team practise. I love the costumes tho and the actors are amazing!! Their voices are brilliant and I can't wait to see them in costume. The scenes and props are being made every day and are really, really good.

I am tired when I get home each evening but I'm really pleased to be in this show.

www.gordoncraigtheatre.co.uk/whatson

Workshop Casting and Out to the Theatre

I had quite an enjoyable day. 

Firstly we got up at stupid a clock in the morning(8o clock) we went to Baker Street. The toilets were discusting. Then we went to the University of Westminster to meet Ashley Joseph. I was going for a workshop audition for the lead role of a short student film.

The first person I met was Danelle she was lovely and we hit it off straight away. There were lots of us there in the morning and they were doing the same in the afternoon. We did lots of activities and played games which I enjoyed. We were filmed saying lines as well.

In the evening when we got home to Stevenage, we went to the Gordon Craig Theatre and saw the SDAs Little Shop Of Horrors, it was really good and I enjoyed all the songs. 

I got a recommendation for acting from Ashley for the workshop but didn't get the role :-(

Self Taping

I've had to do quite a few self tapes or voices clips recently. 

I've not got anything through it yet though which is annoying as they take a bit of time learning the lines and practising to get it right.

Mum says it's a shame that some people don't even thank you for the effort, at least at a casting you get thanked for coming which is nice. 

I'm beginning rehearsals in a few days for the Easter musical at the Gordon Craig Theatre, I'm so looking forward to it and nervy too. 

Photo updates with Emma Tunbridge for Bonnie & Betty

Went to Clapham today to have some photos done for my webpage with my agency Bonnie&Betty.

Along the way we had to get a bus as the stations weren't open but it worked out ok :-)

Bella the doggy was at the studio and I met a nice girl called Daisy and Kiwani and her mum. Bonnie and Chloe and Cat was there with the photographer Emma.

I enjoyed my session and saw some of the pictures. Emma said I had nice hair and long eyelashes. I had to wear jeans and I didn't like wearing jeans but I tried on loads of different ones and chose 2 pairs, blue and black and they are skinny.  I had to wear 2 tops black and grey.

Nice day out :-)

Mum said she wasn't going to buy the set this time as i had photos with Mark recently, but she said the pictures that BoBe chose for the website are really nice and show me in all my natural glory...?

www.bonnieandbetty.com

http://emmatunbridgephotography.viewbook.com/overview-1

Little Shop of Horrors

I got a postcard from Top Hat announcing a audition for choir in Little Shop of Horrors.

I hadn't seen the musical so I watched it last night with the family. It was brilliant and I love Suddenly Seymour!

Now I've seen it I would just LOVE to be in it but not just the choir, I'd like to be on the stage as main. 

And today as EDSA as I was going for the break I heard the little ones singing  little shop, I asked if we would be singing anything from it but they don't think so.

Casting for Cereal Ad

I've only been live with BoBe since 20th Feb and on Tuesday 4th March I went to London with dad to the Spotlight studios for a cereal commercial.

It was fun but I didn't get called back this time. 

Nevermind I'm sure I'll get plenty more chances in the future.

James and the Giant Peach Performance Dates

The days I will be performing in JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH at Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage are:

Wednesday 16th April : 19:00hrs
Friday 18th April : 13:30 & 16:30hrs
Saturday 19th April : 18:00hrs
Sunday 20th April :13:30hrs


https://www.gordon-craig-tickets.co.uk/show_events_list.asp?shcode=5100

Confirmed! James & Giant Peach

Catherine Lomax called to let me know I'm in the Easter Show at Gordon Craig Theatre, it's Roald Dahl James & Giant Peach.

Mum got a huge pack of papers to fill in and I've seen the rehearsal schedule & performance.

Wow!! It's going to be really tough but I am going to love it :-)

James & Giant Peach Audition

Up early today and to the Gordon Craig Theatre, auditioning for James & Giant Peach.

I really didn't feel very well but I wanted to try.

I saw a few people I knew, from Rare Oliver, EDSA.

The show is on over Easter. 5 days 10 shows. 

We should hear by end of the week. 

New Pictures with Mark

On Saturday 8th February I had a photo-shoot with the lovely Mark Bruce.

Mum really likes his pictures and I think he is funny and he makes me laugh. I had 4 sets of clothes to change into and spent about an hour posing and changing position. 

Mark is super fast in getting the photo's ready and my poor mum had to look through over 170 to choose just a handful. I let her do that as i think they all looked great ha ha.

She chose about 6 - although in this one i look a bit grumpy - but i wasn't! Mum says its a nice shot.

I hope the new pictures will help casting directors get an idea of me and ask me for auditions. 

www.markbrucephotography.com

I'm all BoBe with a touch of class....

Great news! Mum received an email from Chloe at Bonnie & Betty saying they were delighted to accept me onto their books. 
Mad Fish were very gracious and allowed me to leave immediately as there was no outstanding work with them. 

I had to get all my paperwork ready - so a visit to the Drs', a quick meeting with Mr John my headteacher, photo's in the booth (which was fun) and its all been sent off.

Chloe says they are very busy at the moment working on 3 films (!) but it wont be long before my webpage is up and running and they have taken over my account on Spotlight too. 

I'm very excited and hope to hear from them very soon. Fingers x

www.bonnieandbetty.com

And it's all change....

It's been a very busy couple of weeks!

First Sarah from MFM called saying I had a casting for a charity TV commercial. Though mum wasn't sure if I should do it as she didn't like the content or something. My nan took me to London- and got us lost!!

Still we got there on time and I had to play pat-A-cake with a lad and sat nasty things to him at the time.

Anyway, I didn't hear anything from that one.

Two days later, Thursday 30 Jan, I was in London again and as we were early, got to look around china town as it's their New Years. We had a Costa and played chess too. (I won)

Then I went to the Spotlight studios which was exciting and met some other girls that were going to be assessed for a place on the books of Bonnie & Betty!!!

 

I went in fourth and had to perform my monologue which my dad found for me & I had been practising for 2 weeks. 

Then a group of us went in and played some acting games, I really enjoyed myself.

Chloe from BB said our mums would know if we got in by email in 5 days. 

It's all so quiet....

It's been ages since I last posted and it has been very, very quiet.

I've now finished my time with Top Hat Stage School which was great to give me a real boost and make me think seriously about acting and singing and dancing.

I'm happy going to EDSA on Sundays, I get to meet lots of people that work in London shows and they teach us all they now. Mum says my dance moves have really improved.

I've also just started dancing with Diamond Dolls on Friday mornings before school - this is brilliant!! 

I have another photo shoot set up with the lovely Mark Bruce and cannot wait :-)