How to Build a Global Career: Bridging the US and EU Film Industry for Actors and Filmmakers
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Webinar hosted by: Alex Surer
Manager and Producer, Bohemia Group
Alex Surer is a producer and manager who leads the Berlin division of the global talent management company Bohemia Group. Through this position, Alex links multi-lingual actors, writers and filmmakers from Europe with the US film and TV industries. Born in San Francisco to Swiss parents, Alex grew up in Vancouver and Basel, Switzerland, and was shipped off to Houston as an exchange student, returning to graduate in Zurich, adding proper German, French and Latin to her native Swiss-German and English. Alex has used her deep multilingual, multicultural and multinational background to help actors bridge these gaps and has helped countless performers find roles and long-lasting careers in other countries. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
Rich and diverse talent exists all over the world. We see it in stories like Netflix hits THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT and UNORTHODOX, both produced in Germany, and LUPIN, the hit Netflix series that originated in France and has exploded to the global audience. Or even SUBURRA, the Netflix hit which launched Italian lead actor Alessandro Borghi into the global series DEVILS. It is no surprise that multi-cultural, multi-national stories are here to stay. And, now with film and television productions taking place in every country, more and more filmmakers and actors have opportunity to work. The exciting part about this global storytelling is that it opens the door for creatives all over the world to work internationally - as long as you do the research and put in the work to find opportunities.
It's time to stop thinking locally and start thinking globally for your career. Who you are, where you've lived, your heritage, your background makes you unique in the global industry. There are key differences between the US and EU film and television markets, and at the same time there are unique needs within both. By educating yourself on the different type of structures in each region you will open up the possibility to understand how your own personal background can play a key role in an international production's need. Whether you have a strong family heritage that allows you to speak multiple languages, or you are German or Portuguese and moved around to different countries, or a Texan that now lives in the Netherlands, or Emily who lives in Paris ;) - all of that is valuable in today's global filmmaking industry. How can you take these unique characteristics that you have and apply them to help you get more work?
Alex Surer is a producer and manager who leads the Berlin division of the global talent management company Bohemia Group. Through this position, Alex links multi-lingual actors, writers and filmmakers from Europe with the US film and TV industries. Born in San Francisco to Swiss parents, Alex grew up in Vancouver and Basel, Switzerland, and was shipped off to Houston as an exchange student, returning to graduate in Zurich, adding proper German, French and Latin to her native Swiss-German and English. Alex has used her deep multilingual, multicultural and multinational background to help actors bridge these gaps and has helped countless performers find roles and long-lasting careers in other countries.
Alex will teach you how European creatives can find success in America and how American creatives can find success in Europe. She’ll first go through the differences between European and US acting communities, how opportunities are found on stage and on screen for each region and how unions work. She’ll then compare how European filmmakers work compared to US filmmakers, and how this informs casting. She will also explain how film festival can be the key to expanding your sights and the resources you can be using aside from just IMDB.
Alex will even bring in a few special guests--actors and filmmakers who have found success by moving to different countries--to dive into their journeys.
***And, even if you are based outside of the US or EU, there are key things you can learn from this webinar which you can apply to your own region.
If you’ve been contained to your own region or country in looking for creative opportunities, prepare to have your mind permanently expanded by Alex’s deep experience and global perspective
What You'll Learn
- The European Actor
- How are European actors trained?
- How actors find opportunities in Europe on stage
- How actors find opportunities in Europe on screen
- How do unions work in Europe?
- The American Actor
- How are US actors trained?
- How actors find opportunities in the US on stage
- And which cities should you move to as a stage actor
- How actors find opportunities in Europe on screen
- Tips on getting an agent
- Using DIY shorts and web series to your advantage
- Working with the Screen Actors Guild
- The European Filmmaker
- How film schools work in Europe
- Staying within the system vs. rebelling
- Bridging the US and EU Film Industry for Actors and Filmmakers
- Public funding and writing grants
- First feature perks of European filmmakers
- Important organizations
- European Production Structure
- How European filmmakers cast
- How film schools work in Europe
- The US Filmmaker
- Film schools - When education leaves you with debt
- Becoming a hustler
- Government incentive tax breaks and using tax breaks in Europe
- How US filmmakers cast
- What Is the ICDN?
- Taking Advantage of Film Festivals
- More Web Resources
- Why IMDB is not as global as you think
- Where to turn to in the UK
- CASE STUDY AND INTERVIEW: Michael Barmish- American Screenwriter in Berlin
- Why and how did he move to Europe?
- What were his pitfalls, what were his successes?
- When did he know he was going to make it?
- CASE STUDY AND INTERVIEW: Kadia Saraf - Swiss Actress in New York
- Why and how did she move to the US?
- What were her pitfalls, what were her successes?
- When did she know she was going to make it?
- Q&A with Alex
About Your Instructor
Alex Surer
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