TOM GEORGE

18 August 2015

 

Well, here I am at the start of my blog, my new website just having gone live. I've just finished filming 'One Measly Day' written by the talented Paul Powell. It was an interesting and challenging role, playing a chain-smoking, alcoholic divorcee, the whole film being basically a monologue. Not bad for a tee-total, lifelong non-smoker who's been married for over 30 years!! However, I really enjoyed the character and feel like I got to know him well. It will be interesting to see the results when they come out of the editing process.

 

Next up is a small part in a film by Rhema Productions, 'Alyssa' which highlights the worldwide crime of people trafficking, a form of modern day slavery. I originally auditioned for the lead role, but was offered another role instead. Still, they say there are no small parts, so I'll just give it my best, as I always do.

 

Very busy September coming up, as I've got three short films lined up with my friends at Shivilenco. It's always great fun working with Ian and Colin and the quality of the finished product is always good. Hopefully, we'll get to see the release of 'Hard Land' soon, which we filmed with Shivilenco last month. That was a blast.

 

21 August 2015

 

Great meeting today with Colin Hives of Shivilenco Media. Colin has agreed to direct a script that I have written and we sat down for an initial meeting to kick around some ideas. It was a very fruitful meeting, out of which came some great ideas. I had already assembled a wonderful cast and crew and very much look forward to shooting this in November. More details will be revealed in due course.

 

22 August 2015

 

Spent the day filming with Rhema Productions today for their new short 'Alyssa', which deals with the emotional subject of human trafficking. My role was a very minor one, but I was more than happy to participate in order to help raise awareness of this vile crime, which to some extent goes under the radar. The production was very professionally managed, with a solid crew behind it. I am looking forward to seeing the finished product and perhaps to it even making a difference in the world. Well done to Mike and Becky Peacock and to all involved. 

 

27 August 2015

 

Found out today that I've been accepted onto Spotlight. This is great news, as it is another step along the way towards my goal of becoming a full time professional actor. Hard to believe I've only been back on the acting scene for nine months. It feels like I've never been away! And, hopefully, the best is yet to come!

 

1 September 2015

 

After submitting a voice file to a casting call sor a short animated film, I've been asked to submit another piece for the director to listen to. I know there will be other contenders, but it's great to be short-listed. I've sent in my audio file, and now all I can do is wait. This would be an exciting project to get involved in. Here's hoping!

 

3 September 2015

 

First night back at Act Up North toningt with the irrepresible Francis Tucker. My first session with my new Thursday night buddies. Great fun! 

 

9 September 2015

 

Spent a fun time working with the highly talented and versatile Ryan Swain creating a voice for his character 'Frank Lamingo'. Who knows where this character can go, but Ryan has big plans for him, and he can be seen performing regularly at Flamingo Land theme park.

 

11 September 2015

 

Found out a couple of days ago that I am now down to the last two actors being considered for a role that I would really love to book. I suppose I should be feeling great about that, and I am.........but...?

 

19 September 2015

 

Looking forward to doing not one but TWO shorts tomorrow with my good friends at Shivilenco. Playing two very different characters in one day. Should be a lot of fun.

 

20 September 2015

 

Great few hours' filming with Colin Hives of Shivilenco and the fabulous Pamela Ashton. The whole thing went amazingly well. The first film was just me and a Colin Hives monologue. We pretty much captured the whole scene in one take, which went like clockwork. The second film was a two-hander with Pam. After a couple of run throughs, we again nailed it with hardly a fluffed line in sight. Colin was pleased with the outcome and we wrapped the whole shoot of two films exactly three hours after we walked onto the set. Not bad for a Sunday afternoon's work.

 

14 October 2015

 

Super excited about tonight's read-through of my first film as a writer, "EYES TO THE SOUL." I have been ridiculously lucky in being able to assemble a superb cast drawn from local talent here on Merseyside. I currently have three films in pre-production and more in the pipeline from a writing angle, together with several acting roles. Things are forging ahead very nicely. I didn't get the role that I was after in the USA, but I got down to the last two and both the producer and writer/director said very complimentary things about my work and both have said that they would like to work with me in the near future, so I'm feeling good about that.

 

15 October 2015

 

Last night's table read was fabulous. It couldn't have gone any better. It's great to be able to work with such talented people as the cast and crew on "Eyes to the soul." Can't wait to get on set with them.

 

18 October 2015

 

A super day filming with Colin and Paul from Shivilenco. We filmed a short that was written only a few days ago. Then we shot a couple of scenes for 'Eyes to the Soul' and did a location recce for some scenes to be shot in November. All in all, a very productive day.

 

4 December 2015

 

Well that was quite a break! During that time, we were abroad in Singapore, Australia and then New Zealand. After we returned, my iMac decided that it no longer wished to play and gave up the ghost, forcing me to order a new one. Tis arroved just in time for my birthday, which is in fact today! I spent most of my birthday in a private clinic, undergoing lens replecement surgery in my right eye. This is to be followed by the other eye next week and if totally successful, will mean that I can live the rest of my life without wearing glasses. As I've worn them since I was two years old, this should be quite a novel experience. It's too early to tell how successful the surgery has been, but I'm very hopeful.

 

I managed to fit in some writing during our trip and have now completed the first draft of episode one of my two hour, two part comedy drama entitled.......well you'll just have to wait and see when it's finished! I'm pleased with the way it has gone so far, but a lot more drafts will have to be produced before I'll be happy with it.

 

I also managed to get some filming done with Colin from Shivilenco. The filming of my script 'Eyes to the soul' is now complete and should come out of post some time in the early new year. I also filmed a 90 second short with Shivilenco, entitled 'The Switch.' This was a crazy short, which will be entered in the Liverpool International Film Festival. Then I did a little voice over for episode 5 of Cinerama and that was me finished until about mid January, when my eyes are cleared up. All in all, a very busy and fun-packed end to 2015. Bring on 2016 is all I can say. It promises to be a big year!

 

18 December 2015

 

Well, I've had a bit of a break while I got my eyes done. I am now virtually glasses-free after wearing specs since my very first eye test aged two. Now I can see distance vision clearly and my close up vision for reading is improving by the day. It's a game changer for me, but at the moment it just feels weird!

 

Our short 'The Switch' was accepted into the LIFF and is apparently being shown tonight. I am also progressing well with my writing. I currently have three films in pre production as well as one that we finished filming last month in post production. "Eyes to the soul" is expected to be released in late January. I have just cast "Seconds out, all in!" which will feature "Scouse Mike" Treanor as Tosh along with a great local cast. Looking forward to filming that in early March. "The Last Hand" is almost fully cast and is expected to be shot in late January of early February. "The Waiting Room" is well under way and features a fantastic cast of Merseyside talent, as well as a great crew. Dealing, as it does, with a very deep subject matter, I have great hopes that we will produce a superb piece of work that might even help out some very worthy causes. Let's hope so!

 

I'm really looking forward to 2016. You never know, I might even get my long-awaited showreel done!

 

14 January 2016

 

Got the long awaited news that we'd been hoping for today. Our film, 'The Waiting Room', written by yours truly, will be filmed in the Burney breast Unit at St Helens Hospital. This is great news, as this means it will be filmed in the exact place that inspired the work. I can't tell you how plaesed I am at this news.

 

22 January 2016

 

Superb pre-production meeting at St Helens Hospital today. Both Anna Cardus (Director of The Waiting Room) and myself visited the set and talked about logistics etc. We both feel that the people at the hospital are right behind the project and will give it their fullest support. Really looking forward to it.

 

23 January 2016

 

Delighted to announce that the enthusiastic and talented young Liverpool director, Mark Wright, has agreed to direct my film 'Seconds Out, All In." Mark will bring a great deal of energy to the project and  we are very excited to have him and his right hand 'man' Beth on the team.

 

30 January 2016

 

What a fabulous workshop we had today at Act Up North Manchester with the very experienced TV director, Neil Alderton. Neil geve freely of his knowledge to our small but enthusiastic group. Neil said some very nice things about my work, which was both positive and encouraging. Nice to see some familiar faces too. A thoroughly enjoyable day all round.

 

7 February 2016

 

Finally got around to getting my show reel, courtesy of a very good friend of mine, who shall remain nameless! You know who you are. Huge thanks for that, buddy :-)

 

21 February 2016

 

Just wrapped on my emotional and thought-provoking film, 'The Waiting Room.' What an absoloute pleasure it was to work with such a talented cast and hardworking crew, who gave their all to what I am sure will turn out to be a wonderful piece of work. As the writer of the piece, it gave me immense pleasure to watch this incredible ensemble breathe life into each and every character.  I can't wait to see the final edit and to see how much money we can raise for such a worthy cause.

 

1 March 2016

 

Still feeling miserable with this horrible winter bug that's done the rounds this year. Seems to have been dragging on for weeks. I hate being sick, particularly when I have so much to be getting on with. Perhaps I should stop feeling sorry for myself? Nah. That would never do!

 

17 March

 

Feeling better now, but still not quite 100 per cent. Still, a few interesting days coming up. Filming workshop with Act Up North on Sunday followed by a trip to Leeds on Tuesday. Really looking forward to an interview/audition that I have on Tuesday. More details if it works out well :-)

 

22 March 2016

 

Well I'm very pleased to say that it DID work out and as a result I am now represented by Emma Thornton of Redwood Talent. I have to say that I felt comfortable with Emma from the moment that I met her. I'm sure things will work out very well and I can't wait to go 'live' with Redwood. Another step forward! :-)

 

14 April 2016

 

Great headshot session with top photographer Michael Pollard in Manchester. Really enjoyed the session and really looking forward to seeing the results.

 

15-23 April 2016

 

A week cruising on the high seas with the family. Really nice break, but looking forward to getting back to some work.

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28 June 2016

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I can't believe it's been two months since I posted here. So much has happened. Some health issues with my eyes, but all on the mend now. Also done quite a bit of filming, including some pick ups for a wonderful film by Craig Ash McKenna that we started last year. Looking forward to seeing that. Our film "The Waiting Room" is now out of post production, ready to be submitted to some good festivals. I also shot my 6 minute monologue (in one take!) for Shivilenco, as well as a micro short "The G Word" for Carl Loughlin. All good stuff. 

 

12 September 2016

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Well Summer got in the way there, but I haven't been idle. Shot an interesting film trailer for the new "War Dogs" movie for Warner Brothers, playing a Russian general. Immediately after that my superb agent, Emma, went off on maternity leave for three months, so I decided to use the down time to complete a couple of writing projects, which I am glad to say are moving along nicely. Off to beautiful Selby in Yorkshire to audition for a production of the Dickens classic, 'A Christmas Carol.' Looking forward to today's audition. I was last in a production of 'Scrooge' in about 1971 so it would be great to come full circle on that. Also looking forward to the premiere night for our film "The Waiting Room" which has been well received by all who have so far seen it. It should be a great evening and all proceeds raised on the night are going towards the Burney Breast Unit where we shot the piece.  It's on 29th September at the Village Hotel in Whiston. Tickets are ten pounds, including a meal and a drink on arrival. Message me if you want any.

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9 October 2016

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Well it's been an eventful month or so. Roles have been coming in thick and fast both on a professional and a local level. Landed roles in two cracking feature films (to be announced soon) and also accepted roles in several good quality local productions. Writing continues to go well, and I managed to finish the screenplay for a short I have been planning for over a year as well as moving forwards with my stage play. All in all, it's been a great month, and all happening while my super agent, Emma, has been on maternity leave. I can't wait to see what happens once she returns on the first of November!

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26 October 2016

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October's been a funny old month on the acting front. A real mixed bag of ups and downs, with the ups far outweighing the downs. The main down was that despite getting to the shortlist for the great part of the Sheriff of Nottingham for Runestone Pictures' upcoming feature, Robin Hood, I didn't quite make the cut. "Pipped at the post" despite a "fantastic audition" to quote the exact words of the casting director. Oh well. That'll teach me to listen to people who said I was made for the role! You never quite know what they're looking for and their chosen actor looked so different to me and was at least 25 years younger than me, so perhaps I shouldn't feel disappointed. Nothing much more I could have done. On a positive note, I had already secured a role in Runestone's other upcoming feature, A Christmas Carol, so they must like me - a little bit ;-)

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One other negative to announce shortly though, but I'm sworn to secrecy for a few more days.

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On the positive side, I did two days of filming with the superb team led by Director Mike Clarke and concept artist Paul Gerrard for their horror feature Five Hells For A Thief. I was re-cast only a week before shooting to play the much larger role of Reverend Turner, who features very prominently in the opening scenes of the film. We had a superb two days filming with a truly professional crew and outstanding cast. This is going to be a very special film indeed.

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Still in pre-production for my role as Terry in the upcoming Times of XIII company's "Twelve Rounds". I actually have to get into some sort of shape for this boxing-based film written by Craig Ash McKenna. I've worked with Craig before and really look forward to this one. Also coming up is Lauren Warwick's "Our House" in which I play Mr Poplar. The cast includes lots of children so I will have to eschew the advice of the great W C Fields and get on with it. I know it will be great fun, as Lauren's child actors are of the very highest quality.

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My mates at Shivilenco, to whom I shall always remain indebted, want me to do some more work with them, including a series of radio plays, which will definitely be a lot of fun.

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Writing is going along like a train and the short I wrote earlier this month has been so well received by one production company that they want me to write it as a feature, which I am currently doing. Other projects are also coming along nicely, including my first stage play, currently in the second stage of editing.

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All in all, things are going really well. Onward and upward is always my motto. Setting the bar ever higher as I go along. Let's see what the future holds! :-)

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2 November 2016

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Well the negative was that I have had to part company with my lovely agent, Emma, of Redwood Talent. Recent motherhood has prevented her from re-opening her agency after a period of maternity leave, so reluctantly she has closed her agency and released us all. The great news is that I have landed right on my feet and been taken on by CallBack Management, who impressed me right from the moment I first spoke to Sandy. I get a great feeling about the CallBack team and I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with them.

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16 January 2017

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Life's been getting a bit hectic lately with far more stuff going on than I can deal with. It's all good positive stuff, but it means that my availability is severely limited at present so I've decided to take a break from seeking professional roles at the moment. However, once the dust has settled - I'll be back!

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