FAMOUS FIVE 2016 - THE RESULTS.

Although designed as a bit of fun I do take all this quite seriously.

A great deal of thought has gone into the results and it's great to have had so many great candidates this year to choose from.

As a qualification everyone forward for the Famous 5 had to have completed two shoots this year, thus showing a high level of commitment.

What I look for with new aspiring performers is a good attitude combined with determination to work hard. They need to be open to ideas and willing to work outside their natural limitations and personal boundaries. Ofcourse I take into account their aims, and if those aims are to join the industry and make a career from acting - then they will get pushed hard.

If they break under this pressure there is a good chance they should look at other career options, or let down their guard a bit and put some trust in me or their stage school etc.

The Halfling Project is about confidence building, and working within personal  factors that may effect their future plans be it inside or outside the entertainment industry.

By now moving the acting and performance work to act4ward a clear seperation can be made between confidence building and acting, although performance remains an excellent tool for many - even if they have no desire to act professionally.

Ok so to the winners - starting in good old X Factor style with number 5.

Jaques Ferron is 17 and from Portsmouth - so it's quite a trip to travel. He has a really strong commercial  look which suits modelling and was his intended path.  Acting proved harder for him than the modelling but he is very determined and returned to work at it further. With this determination he has great potential , and it's a pity the distance has not allowed us to work more on the acting aspect. Jaques is a plessure to work with and well deserves being on this list.

Daniel Cheung at number 4 is quite a recent visitor although he has been to the station several times.  he is 22 and only recently began to look at modelling and acting as a career option - his talent means he is advancing rapidly - stills - video and sound - all taken in his stride -  he knows and accepts industry demands in acting and never once pulled away from any idea's that came up. He is a delight to work with, and he delivers - he is also a very quick learner...  well deserved for a credit here...

James Sanbrook - our number 3 - is 13 and has made two visits to the station. The first visit showed he had talent and I was pleased for his return, but his second visit was outstanding - he has such a unique style which really showed with impro work. Although he has a strong acting character - he also takes direction well - so I have no doubt will give whats asked of him. He sings he acts and he has a high confidence level - a total professional..really impressed.

Number 2 is James De and here I have to state that I knew James from outside the project and asked him if he would like a go. In considering James I sat back and tried to work out how I would have felt if I had not known him and seen him for the first time on a visit as a potential actor/model. It's all to easy to say I am biased - actually that's not fair as in a way my knowing him holds me back from being as complimentary as I might otherwise have been. So let's say it as it is - he is a natural performer, he has a really strong camera prescense in both modelling and acting terms - he takes direction well, and has great idea's of his own.

I don't think James yet relises how  good he is because it seems to come so easy to him, and this is without any drama training . His confidence is really high - so only his age [16] limits some roles. He is certainly useful to have around as in the image below - where he happened to be downstairs when I was working with Daniel - I had an idea for the shot asked him to help and within minutes we had the shots we wanted - no fuss just delivered -  that's a special abilty...

Now to the winner  Jon - well like Bruce last year I knew Jon had to be on the list - he is just the real deal. Likeable, professional and very talented. When we shot him as a soldier with face body paint - I half suggested with a bit more he could play "Gollum" a project favorate.

I did not seriously expect him to agree - he is a very tall Gollum to begin with and well he is just nothing like the creature.  And yet a few hours later he was Gollum and set the standards others here now follow. What makes someone like Jon [and Bruce last year] stand out is they just get on with it. I get the impression there is not much Jon could'nt do - he is prepared for anything and has the ability to deliver.  He is an outstanding talent, and an outstanding guy who in whatever career he chooses [hopefully acting] will excel.  The one sad thing is the distance to travel to get here - because working with Jon is always likely to be both fun and productive. He truely deserves to be at the top of the Famous Five.

 Daniel & James - December 2016 [act4ward]