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Nathan Collins One Year On

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NATHAN COLLINS, ONE YEAR ON. TALKS ALL THINGS ACTING, SHOWREELS, AUDITIONING, JIM CARREY AND HEATH LEDGER

We greeted Nathan Collins (who’s a bit of hot property on Twitter right now, after doing a self-tape with his mum) outside the Young Vic Theatre in the heat wave. He was basking in the sun (a whopping 37 degrees) with a can of sparkling water and some very cool shades. The ice in his drink was melting fast, so we decided to go inside, find a quiet spot, grab some more sparkling water cans and hide away from the blistering sun. 

Nathan was one of our first Slick Gold clients. We loved his approach to his work. He had a great head on his shoulders and really seemed to grasp the business side of being an actor, having come to us to get a showreel whilst still at drama school. 

Slick Showreels
So, explain who you are and what you do.

Nathan Collins
Nathan Collins, and I’m an actor and just graduated from drama school, about two weeks ago.

Slick Showreels
Just two weeks ago?

Nathan Collins
Two weeks ago, we finished, yeah. 

Slick Showreels
Right, not long then. And How did you find Drama school?

Nathan Collins
Yeah, it was good. For me, I think it was, what I needed. Especially when I first joined, you know, I didn’t really have much of an acting background. So drama school was really necessary for me. It helped improve my craft and my technique. Also being in an environment for 3 years where you’re always learning is great. So yeah, it was really good. 

 

Slick Showreels
And which drama school did you go to?

Nathan Collins
Guildford School of Acting (GSA).

Slick Showreels
Yes. So drama school isn’t for everybody. What is your take on it. To go or not to go? 

Nathan Collins
That is the question. (Laughs). Funnily enough, I did my dissertation on this. I think, for me, personally, I had to go. Because I had no great deal of experience of acting before I went, I had done a couple of plays at the Royal Court through the National Youth Theatre (NYT) before I started Drama School but I still felt that I needed the training. However, I do think there are other ways into the industry. You know, friends of mine that have done a short courses for example, they didn’t go to drama school but they’re out there and they’re auditioning for things, and they’ve got an agent.

I just think Drama School gives you three years of practice. You may have the instincts, which in my opinion are the foundation of an actor, their instincts, but it gives you three years to mould them even more, to improve and enhance your craft. So for me, I think yes, but just because it works for me doesn’t mean that it’s going to work for everyone.

Slick Showreels
Some people get cast in massive Hollywood movies straight away. And they’re made. But that’s rare. So is it fair to say that some need it some don’t?

Nathan Collins
Yeah, I think so. I mean, I think if you go to drama school, you’re going to be a better actor, when you leave. Whether the experience is what you expected or wanted, I think you will be a better actor. But it’s not necessarily the best actors that will do very well. It’s a combination of things, your look, who you know, your personality. So if you go to drama school in my opinion, you’ll leave a better actor. But it’s not going to necessarily define your career.

Slick Showreels
You’ve only graduated two weeks ago. So my question was, what’s life been like for you as an actor so far? But I suppose you’ve only been a professional actor in the big wide world for two weeks?

Nathan Collins
I was quite lucky In my final year of Drama School, a lot of things seemed to go my way which of course involves a bit of luck, funnily enough I booked two jobs on Monday. I’m filming an episode of Doctors next week, and I’m filming for something else in late August . So… so far, it’s been all right. I’ve read for some cool people. I got quite close to being cast as the lead in a series cast by Gary Davy, I did a self tape for Nina Gold a few weeks ago.

So Yeah, I’m getting to show what I can do to some amazing people, which in my opinion, is the most important thing first year out of Drama School. Because people are seeing your face and getting to know who you are and what you’re about. So it’s been alright to be honest.

Slick Showreels
Would you prefer film, TV or theatre? Or a bit of everything? 

Nathan Collins
A bit of everything, really? I mean, that’s the dream, isn’t it? I mean, I want to just be able to do what I want, when I want. But life isn’t always that easy. When I shot my showreel with you guys. I did it because I believed it would enhance my chances of getting in the room for more screen projects. And I think at the moment that’s what I want to focus on. As I’ve done quite a lot of theatre before and whilst training. So screen at the moment, but that might change. 

Slick Showreels
What is it about screen acting that you enjoy the most?

Nathan Collins
With stage, you’ve got to fill a space vocally and make sure everyone in the auditorium can see who you are and what you’re doing and this often invites the actor into a ‘bigger’ performance. Which dont get me wrong I love. However with screen work you only have one audience member and that is the camera, and the camera picks up everything that you do. So I think this invites the actor to portray a different style of performance where every little detail is present that is often too small to be seen in a theatre; a twitch, a darting of the eyes etc. I enjoy that element the most. I love the subtlety.

Slick Showreels
What is the best thing you’ve learned in your early career so far?

Nathan Collins
For screen, I’d say, to make sure everything comes from truth. And that it’s real because the camera can see when it’s not. It’s not even necessarily about bringing things down and making them small. I always think about, Jim Carrey, who is one of the biggest larger than life actors there is, but everything he does, in his films came from a place of truth, which made it work. So if you’re not truthful, It doesn’t work. You can be big as long as it comes from a place of truth, and the audience will believe it, hopefully.

Slick Showreels
Ok so that leads onto the next question, who is your favourite actor or actress?

Nathan Collins
I mean, the one that got me into acting was Heath Ledger watching him in Dark Knight. 

Slick Showreels
We absolutely love that film!!

Nathan Collins
When I first saw him do that, that’s when I thought “oh i think I’d quite like to give this ago”. So yeah, Heath Ledger, and at the moment, I like a lot of what Anthony Boyle does.

Slick Showreels
So, when it comes to auditioning. How do you prepare?

Nathan Collins
It all depends on the amount of time I have. If I’ve got a week in advance, and it’s a couple of scenes, then I would often spend the first couple of days not learning the lines, but just sort of reading over it and sort of subconsciously making choices. Then I would start learning the lines and get them solidified as quick as possible. And then maybe a couple days before the audition, I would set up my camera phone, I use my phone on a tripod.

 

Do it a couple of times and then see how it looks and how it comes across. That’s if I’ve got all the time in the world. But sometimes you don’t have that. If it’s maybe a day or two. I would straight away learn the lines. Get them in your head as soon as possible, If It’s for screen. If it’s theatre, I don’t usually learn the lines, I just get very familiar with the material, as we were advised its not as necessary to be ‘off book’ for theatre auditions by the school. I then make my choices at the same time, if I don’t have long. It’ll be the same process but just a bit more rushed a bit quicker.

Slick Showreels
What is your dream job?

Nathan Collins
A lead or a series regular in a great series on Netflix. That would be amazing. And then whilst I’m also waiting for season two to be filmed, do an amazing play. That’s the dream. 

Slick Showreels
That could actually happen. Nothing is out of reach. Ok so Don’t be biassed towards Slick Showreels but what’s your top tips for getting a showreel made?

Nathan Collins
There’s a lot of showreel companies out there. I think, obviously, one of the massive factors is money. If you’re spending money, make sure it’s money well spent. Do your research on who’s about, look at everybody, research is key. I would say if you’re going to do various scenes, make sure the character something that you can realistically play. There’s no point paying that money to then do a scene where a casting director watches it and thinks “where will we put them”.

So it’s a mixture of things. It’s knowing who you are, what kind of actor you are  and picking something which is going to really suit and favour your casting. Get a good actor and ideally someone who you bounce off of well to do it with you because you’re only as good as the other actor alongside you. So if you’re doing an amazing performance and someone opposite you isn’t, their more likely to get the attention than you are and for the wrong reasons.

Slick Showreels
Great advice. Thanks for talking to us Nathan.

 

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