Atlanta’s booming film industry has become a home for both emerging and established actors. The nonprofit organization Atlanta Workshop Players foresaw this growth 40 years ago and opened its doors to educate kids and adults in the industry. On Saturday, Aug. 27, they’re hosting a free industry workshop for those hoping to enter into a film career. Atlanta Workshop Players executive director Lynn Stallings joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes via Zoom to talk about how this weekend’s free event can prepare prospective and developing actors.
“We’ve been inspiring artists and training them and encouraging them to use their talents to become socially responsible citizens of the world. The media is super powerful, so why not use it for good?” said Stallings. “We do launch careers, and artists, like all people, have the most success when they have clear goals and a sense of purpose. And if goals are important, then people don’t give up. It’s not over ’til it’s over.”
According to the AWP official website, this weekend students can learn “how to launch a film or theater career without losing your mind.” Stallings explained how the workshop focuses on navigating the unique demands of a film career with an organized approach to developing talent and arranging promotional materials, headshots, demos and an agent-ready resumé. She also mentioned how students might learn to protect themselves against predatory practices in the industry, saying, “We talk about networking and how to avoid getting ripped off … That happens a lot. There’s some companies that will charge thousands of dollars to put you in front of a group of agents, and typically, a more targeted approach is more effective and far less expensive.”
Stallings also emphasized the relationship-building aspect of AWP’s programming, given the fundamentally social nature of theater and performance. “Careers have longevity when you’re the easiest person on the planet to work with. So if each project is a collaboration filled with respect, if it’s about relationships and honoring each other, then that’s when the magic happens,” Stallings said.
In addition to the group’s weekend workshop, the Atlanta Workshop Players put on full-scale productions with their own theater company, staging multiple shows a year. They also offer a film school for all age groups and a summer performing arts camp. While teaching students, AWP offers opportunities to make networking connections, exposing their participants to talent agencies, potential management and even legal representation.
