Professional Development Plan
Career Goal
In five years, I want to be working steadily as an actor, on both stage or screen and to have worked on at least one major movie.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
I am passionate about performing and always give 100% to any project I am undertaking.
I am good at taking direction.
I am open to feedback and encourage others to share different perspectives.
Opportunities
Australia's screen industry expenditure has increased substantially since Covid, with many productions now choosing Australia as their filming location (Screen Australia, 2022).
Social media has created a platform for beginners to share and promote their abilities in order to create a brand and gain momentum, although serious effort needs to be put into it for it to succeed (Turner & Shah, 2011)
Online auditioning has opened up the world and enables actors to audition for roles worldwide that previously would have been unknown to them.
Weaknesses
I have limited acting experience outside of educational settings.
I can struggle to communicate my own ideas and thoughts.
I am critical of myself and my performance and can doubt my abilities.
Threats
Being able to stand out amonst the many other talanted actors who are all auditioning for the same roles.
Ensuring that your digital footprint remains clean and a true representation of who you are and what you believe in, as anyting negative can adversely impact on your reputation and employment opportunities (NSW Dept. of Education, 2023).
The cost involved in moving away from home to pursue your dreams, not only monetary, but the cost to relationships and mental health.
Five-Year Plan
AREA
Skill Development
Experience Development
Study Development
AREA
Skill Development
Experience Development
Study Development
AREA
Skill Development
Experience Development
Study Development
AREA
Skill Development
Experience Development
Study Development
AREA
Skill Development
Experience Development
Study Development
2024
JANUARY - JUNE
* Focus on screen acting - Develop an understanding of principles and techniques specific to screen and gain a greater understanding of television production and the various roles of on-set personnel and the workflow.
* Continue to develop and extend on my ability to critically analyse scripts, focusing on voice and movement.
* Update Social Media, including Facebook, Instagram, personal website and StarNow with reels of what I am currently working on in class. This will help development my personal branding as an actor (Meisner & Ledbetter, 2022)
* Perform in student television scenes while studying KSB210. Provides experience in screen acting, while learning more about technical elements such as frame, eyeline and continutity.
* Apply for the QUT Mentor Program. Provides access to industry professionals for career guidance, helps to build industry connections, and provides resources and answers to career-related questions. A mentor is valuable in any profession, but especially in the entertainment industry, where work can be intermitant and support and guidance are invaluable (The Actors Pulse, 2023).
* Explore theatre workshop opportunities in the USA for continued stage acting development and to widen my industry professional network.
* Join QUT Film Connect to meet other students with similar passions and collaborate on student films.
2025
JANUARY - JUNE
* Focus on storeytelling and script writing skills to improve research, analysis and reflection skills.
* Continue developing screen based acting skills, focusing on advanced acting techniques.
* Continue auditioning for roles in student/amateur film and stage productions. Allows for experience on stage and screen, without the time committments of a professional industry production.
* Book an appointment with a QUT Career Educator to look over career plan and advise on industry changes and how that impacts on my plan.
* Continue singing lessons to strengthen vocal performance.
* Enrol in Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (online) through TAFE Qld. Develop skills and knowledge in operating a business including finances, management, and marketing. Develop a business plan for a community theatre company to allow for career-self management (TAFE Queensland, 2023).
2026
JANUARY - JUNE
* Attend Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
12 week focusing on Method Acting, and electives in areas requiring strengthening eg script analysis, character work.
* Audition for film and stage productions in the USA.
* Audition for roles in amateur film and stage productions in the USA. Allows for exposure and continual experience on stage and screen.
* Network with industry professionals in the USA. Utilise social media, workshop, and audition connections to build a network of people who know my work.
* Network with individuals who are also at the beginning of their career and build a peer support group.
* Using Study in the USA, get matched for a directing course in the USA and apply. This will allow for a greater understanding of the directors role and how it affects me as an actor, as well as provide opportunities to meet aspiring directors.
2027
JANUARY - JUNE
* Continue practing learned acting techniques.
* Continue singing lessons.
* Undertake directors course.
* Continue development of business/entreprenurial skills. Identify skills required for forming and operating a threatre company and creative arts centre.
* Audition for pilots in the USA.
* Audition for film and television roles.* Audition for stage productions.* Audition for roles in amateur film and stage productions. Allows for exposure and continual experience on stage and screen.
* Continue networking with industry professionals. * Continue building a peer support group.
* Identify grants and contributions to assist funding of community theatre.
* Will update as required.
2028
JANUARY - JUNE
* Continue development of business/entreprenurial
skills. Identify skills required for forming and operating a threatre company.
* Seek grants and contributions to assist funding of theatre.
* Commence business plan to build new community theatre company with interested parties from peer group and greater industry network. Similar to The Actor's Company operating in Sydney in the 1970s , creating my own theatre company allows for career-self management and will also provide opportunities for aspiring actors, directors, writers and all creatives (StageMilk, 2017). * Audition for film and television roles.
* Will update as required.
JULY - DECEMBER
* Continue to focus on screen acting creative and tecnical processes through the development of screen-based problem solving skills.
* Continue to develop acting, voice, movement and characterisation skills by performing roles from various genres and complex texts.
* Audition for plays in local/amateur theatres. Provides experience in stage acting, without impacting on my studies.
* Create screen-based works for distribution on digital streaming platforms. Also upload on social media.
* Undertake student performances while studying KSB246 that address complex or unfamiliar texts, cultural codes and issues.
* Continue business and managerial training through existing part-time position as McDonalds Manager. To enable cash flow to pursue acting career and to develop skills required for career self management.
* Explore dance opportunities to ensure skill base remains solid.
* Apply for Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute 4 week Online Acting Class Method 101 providing foundation in the Lee Strasberg Method Acting technique.
JULY - DECEMBER
* Continue focusing on storeytelling and script writing skills.
* Complete Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute 4 week Online Acting Class Method 101 providing foundation in the Lee Strasberg Method Acting technique and "train an actor's concentration, ability to respond to imaginary stimuli, and their individual creativity (The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, 2023).
* Continue updating show reel with scenes showcasing various genres.
* Identify potential mentors outside of QUT.
* Identify and apply for USA based workshop programs being conducted in 2026.
* Apply for Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute12 week focusing on Method Acting.
JULY - DECEMBER
* Attend USA based workshop programs in preparation for pilot season.
* Audition for pilots in the USA.* Audition for stage productions in Australia and USA.
* Audition for roles in amateur film and stage productions in the USA. Allows for exposure and continual experience on stage and screen.
* Using Study in the USA, get matched for a playwriting course in the USA and apply. The ability to write plays will increase my opportunities for career-self management and will also provide opportunities for meeting aspiring playwrights.
JULY - DECEMBER
* Continue practicing learned acting techniques.
* Continue singing lessons.
* Undertake playwriting course.
* Audition for film and television roles.* Audition for stage productions.* Audition for roles in amateur film and stage productions. Allows for exposure and continual experience on stage and screen.
* Identify industry professionals and creative peers interested in forming an independent theatre company.
* Identify potential locations for new community theatre/centre.
* Will update as required.
JULY - DECEMBER
* Continue development of business/entreprenurial skills. Identify skills required for forming and operating a threatre company.* Seek grants and contributions to assist funding of theatre.
* Audition for film and television roles.* Open theatre company and stage first production.
* Will update as required.
References
Meisner, C., & Ledbetter, A. M. (2022). Participatory branding on social media: The affordances of live streaming for creative labor. New Media & Society, 24(5), 1179-1195. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820972392.NSW Department of Education. (2023). Leaving a digital footprint. Retrieved 10 20, 2023, from Digital Citizenship: https://www.digitalcitizenship.nsw.edu.au/articles/ leaving-a-digital-footprint#:~:text=Why%20is%20your%20digital%20footprint,this%20impact%20a%20positive%20one.Screen Australia, (2022, February 11). CEO's 2021 Year in Review and 2022 Preview. [Media Release].StageMilk. (2017, July 20). Starting Your Own Independent Theatre Company. Retrieved October 20, 2023, from StageMilk: https://www.stagemilk.com/starting-your-own-independent-theatre-company/TAFE Queensland. (2023). Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from Tafe Queensland: https://tafeqld.edu.au/course/18/18778/certificate-iv-in-entrepreneurship-and-new-businessThe Actors Pulse. (2023). Finding Acting Mentors and Role Models. Retrieved 10 20, 2023, from The Actors Pulse: studio for actors: https://www.theactorspulse. com.au/acting-training/finding-acting-mentors-and-role-models/#:~:text=No%20matter%20what%20career%20path,to%20for%20advice%20is%20priceless.Turner, J. & Shah, K. (2011). Social Media is More Than Just YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. New Jersey: FTPress Delivers.