Fiona 'Speakeasy' Ramsay #FanClub

I think it is safe to say that Fiona Ramsay is one of the actresses on my top list of acting icons, equal to the likes of Meryl and Judi.

Fiona's experience, credits and list of achievements is awe-inspiring and surely speaks for itself.
Only a few of her credits include...

On Screen: Homeland, Dominion, Black Sails, The Bang Bang Club, In My Country.

On Stage: Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Streets of Gold, Delirium, Sailing Somewhere, The Old and The Beautiful.

As a language, accent and dialogue coach, (her company is called Speakeasy Vocal Training) Fiona has been commissioned on several local and international film and stage productions. Notably she acted as dialogue or language coach for Stander, Hotel Rwanda, Winnie Mandela, Material and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom coaching actor Idris Elba who portrayed Madiba in the feature. In 2014 she worked as dialogue and dialect coach on The Salvation and also did work on the Charlize Theron and Sean Penn feature The Last Face that filmed in Cape Town.
Check her out on IMDb.

In December last year a few of my FADCreationS Mentorship students and I watched Fiona Ramsay in the two-hander 'The Old and The Beautiful' at the POPArt Theatre in Maboneng.


It was so great to see Fi in an intimate theatrical piece like this alongside Tony Bentel, showcasing her phenomenal skill, incredible diversity and emotional depth engaging the audience from beginning to end. The outing with my students reminded me to remain in touch with my own student spirit and Fiona reminded me to stay inspired, to use what personally moves me in my work and projects and to keep learning from the greats. 
 

How lucky am I to have had the privilege to work with her in my career (Thoroughly Modern Millie 2006) and I honestly hope that I get to do so again in the future!

I know that she is planning to bring the production Doubt to the stage soon, and will keep you posted when I find out about upcoming production venue and dates! Also, soon I will be launching the first episode of the FAD Roundtables - The Actresses online, where Fiona is one of 5 other actresses in a one hour interview chatting about our industry and their career experiences in it. I can't wait to share it with you all!!!

Stay inspired peeps!

Cosmote Greece #FlashbackFriday

It's Flashback Friday again and I came across these great pics from a commercial I shot years ago for Cosmote, the largest mobile network operator in Greece.

It was a very large commercial produced by Foss Productions and shot over several days, all in the same location. We filmed in a closed-off street in Johannesburg, where each day the team turned the street into a whole new fantasy world for each of the 4 lead characters; a romantic 'love in the air' couples everywhere scene; an awesome night-club party scene in the street; a full on winter-wonderland-snow-filled skiing world and a huge movie set scene - complete with cowboys, can-can girls, aliens, cops and robbers, a bus exploding, guns firing and stunt people jumping off of buildings, through windows and being set on fire! It was awesome!!

I was involved in the all night shoot of the 'party scene' and froze my tushi off dancing in a sequined mini all night, and I also got to play a can-can girl and watch all the crazy stunt men do their thing, it was epic. I'd love to do some stunt work, I love the adrenaline rush and to learn the skills it takes to 'pretend' fall/shoot/fight for several takes in a row! All in a day's work 'ey!

It's Friday, enjoy the weekend peeps!!
Speak soon!

Crazy Castings #ActressLife

Have you ever looked back at your career and really, no I mean really thought about some of the auditions and casting moments you have been faced with??

There have been some weird and wonderful requests and experiences during my career as actress... One that comes to mind was an audition for a soap where I had to portray a completely psychologically disturbed women in a hospital, who shoots her love interest during the scene, locks herself in the bathroom and threatens suicide. Which wouldn't be strange on the actual set but in the casting room with only one other person and absolutely no props or actors reading opposite you - it can get a little interesting!

Or you end up auditioning with a poker-faced monotonous 'actor' reading in the lines (often they're the wrong sex for the character). I once had to actually eat the actual (dry) cereal in the casting room with a spoon which all the other auditionees had already used, oh... and then deliver a line afterwards. I've had to pretend to speak to imaginary digital characters, fall in love with a mannequin, get pretend hi-jacked and dance like nobody's watching. I have had to do a full on made-up-on-the-spot yoga routine, pretend my finger snaps bring imaginary items to life, pretend I'm surfing and pretend I'm playing tennis (well)! I've had to moonwalk to work, dance like a robot, a drunk party animal, a cheerleader and a ballerina. I have had to imagine a horrific crime scene and become emotional over it, have had to memorise pages and pages of script for one character - by the next day and speak in several different accents, sometimes even other languages. And I wouldn't have it any other way!

What a crazy wonderful job, never quite the same and certainly never ever dull. Even once you get booked for the job, there is a large amount of the set and warderobe that isn't actually physically there (often added in post) which must be created by the actors' imagination and ability to put themselves into that possible reality. And sometimes your co-actor can not be part of a take due to space, availability or a type of camera angle for the shot. Think of a bedroom scene where the lens is filming the POV (point of view) of the person lying at the bottom, or a POV during a fight, a telephone call etc... There are many such instances where the actor doesn't have the luxury of playing off of another actor's lines or reactions.
Personally I have found that working as an improv actor has greatly improved my skill with these situations and auditions.

I hope you enjoy some of the mad pics of castings I've been to over the last while...

Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeext!!!!

Bye for now!

Extras in Paris, French Toast Film #BehindTheScenes

Today several of our FADCreationS Mentorship Students got to experience (for some their first) a day on a film set, filling the scenes as extras for the film French Toast, to be released in 2015.

What a magical experience for them, I am so grateful to Hartiwood productions for allowing them the opportunity and experience.

It is our goal as mentors to these performers-in-the-making to provide them with as much exposure to real industry experiences and professionals, in order to formulate their own path and goals towards becoming artists in their own right. The mentorship program is a 6 month intensive one-on-one training program, with the purpose of honing these artists to their true industry potential, providing platforms and opportunities as well as assisting in the transition from amateur to professional working performer.


Look at the beautiful replica Hartiwood built of Cafe Alexandre in Montmarte right in the middle of Hartebeespoortdam...

After one more week of filming, the Cafe will be open for business and visits by the public. It is gorgeous and quaint; and I can not wait to go and enjoy some delicious coffee and macarons 'french style'.
And there is speak of all sorts of yummy french toast!

Au revoir!

Buy Smart - Enterprise Lifestyle Commercial #BehindTheScenes

I had such a fun day on set of the commercial shoot I did a week ago for Buy Smart - Enterprise Lifestyle. And it was completely surprising and lovely to have several familiar faces on the team as well as fabulous new people to meet.

It was a real blast from the past to find out my 'husband' would be played by my friend Dean Roberts, who was my colleague and fellow 'bohemian' in the South African and touring musical theatre production of We Will Rock You (also read We Will Rock You - A Tribute) some years ago! Deano is an absolute scream, he has the best sense of fun and humour to have around on set and wow he's so great with kids! What an absolute pleasure angel!

I got to play #mommyforaday and had the most gorgeous-looking family!

Just look at my gorgeous little girl Amika and cute dimple-face boy, Levi. (So this is what my offspring would look like if I married a blonde!) And lemme tell you, the camera looooooves Levi! There's something to be said for the pure innocence of kids that age, they have absolutely no limits, fears or airs. Almost oblivious to the camera he just 'is', his whole little being speaks of joy and freedom of spirit. It's magical and inspiring!

I met Aileen Joubert at our wardrobe fitting at the Wardrobe Studio and we were chatting about my sharing the Joubert surname (maiden name) and having lived in Northcliff, but I never quite put two and two together.

On set she was telling me about having worked with primates earlier in life, and I got all excited telling her about this lady who was my neighbour in high school who also rehabilitated monkeys and how my sister and I did school projects on them. After a great pregnant pause, she announced "That's me!"

Well, I could have hit myself! Of course she was! I don't know how I missed it before, I mean her name should have rung a big bell! What a wonderful 'coincidence'! And what a good-looking on-screen mom to have, go-figure - we do look like we could be family!!

I just adored my beautiful red dress and styling by The Warderobe Studio and enjoyed the pleasure of working with Nerine Pienaar and her team once again, feeling familiar and well looked after in their hands. Fianca Barnard was attentive on set all day, making sure I looked fabulous.

And the lovely Bianca Pelser who did hair and make-up was a gem, and it was just as fascinating to realize we have so many friends and connections in common.

It was a wonderfully smooth day of filming and I enjoyed the slightly more improvisational style director Andrew Cleland used to get the best performances out of the kids. As an often behind-the-scenes crew member myself, I always pay attention to and try to honour the unsung crew heroes who actually make it all happen at the end of the day. It was an immense pleasure to work with the great AD Darryl Fuchs, DOP David Pienaar and their teams.




I must also compliment the catering by Anton from Aquarius, who made the most yummy and mouth-watering coconut-covered, jam-pocketed, cereal-flaked, impossible-to-decline dessert. (no other way to describe it!)








Well, in a blink it was all over and I had enjoyed such a joy-filled, love-what-i-do day.
It's heaps of gratitude that spill over and await the next time I can walk onto a film set and enjoy telling you all about it!









Chat Soon Peeps!

Gustav Gerdener Photoshoot #BehindTheScenes

Location shooting with the talented photographer Gustav Gerdener!

Talk about locations... a very cold and early morning shoot in Delta Park with graffiti walls, library steps, and a beautifully misty dam to an industrial office park with winding metal steps, an artistic textured wall, elevators and a parking garage... and each new location made for incredible new backdrops.

I can't wait to see what Gustav's creativity will bring about!


The goal for this shoot was to focus on actress head shots and portfolio material, but there's so much variety and so many wonderful moments captured, it is going to be extremely hard to choose!

This time around I had to do my own styling and soooo longed for my Follicle Hair Atelier team! (read Follice Friends and Iris.Grace Photoshoot) But I don't think I did too badly all by myself...







My looks ranged from casual, to grungy, to bohemian and glam. It was fun to play around with a few different style options but quite a feat to get changed (unseen) in the car in between 'looks'!



Gustav is great to work with, he puts you at ease, he's creative and aims to get the best shots or moments possible - it was such a pleasure.
Thanks Gus! x

Check out his FB Page Gustav Gerdener Captured, and follow him on Twitter at @gusg79.

Chat soon peeps,

Follicle Friends #MeMoments

Not one, but two visits to my favourite salon and all-in-one beauty stop, Follicle Hair Atelier this week.
(#luckygirl!) I really am blessed to have this amazing team I can rely on for advice, expertise and input on my 'look', not only for shoots but also for day-to-day beauty and image branding.

I love being able to sit around the large wooden table in the salon, catch up over a coffee, discuss colour options with the gorgeous stylists Cornel and Danielle (feels like 'the sisters of the wooden table'), debating over my hair as if it's truly a matter of national concern and see the two of them get genuinely excited over it. (Follow these ladies on twitter at @cornelnel_ and @Danielle_e91)

I believe it's called colour blocking.. you seperate triangular sections of the hair and colour every alternate section with a second colour that is close and complimentary to the first. And well - after coffee, biscuits and a snip here and there, it came out beautifully!

Two days later and I'm back in the salon. Why? Because I have a portfolio shoot! And who else would I go to for styling help? What an incredible team... they all jumped in, discussing options and advising how I could go about re-styling by myself for variety later on at the shoot. Complete with demonstrations and working the best options to keep my 'look' lasting longer, until the time of the first (and last) flash that afternoon.

Walter conceptualised, created and prepped every little curl, Cornel styled an 'up-do' of note, Glenda gracefully turned my nails into art, Hannes contoured, sculpted and crafted my face (including the detail of tiny lashes on the edges of my lids) and Glen advised and supervised with elegance.

You absolutely have to go and try them out, the salon is in Brooklyn in the Waterkloof Corner Centre (co Crown and Main str). Follow them on Facebook here, @FollicleH on Twitter and @hairaterlier on Instagram.
And watch their 'space' - it will soon be expanding with floor space, stylists, added beauty services and more!
I'm taking you up on that lash-tint Hannes! (follow him @hannesbgood) I can't wait!

Here is my 'magic team'!

Have a #folliclefriday!
Love,