At the end of 2020 the Online Branch was assigned its first Staff Organiser to assist in the running of the branch. It was decided to start holding video meet ups since Equity now recognised them as ways to democratically engage in order to formally vote on branch raised business. 

​The last news updates of 2020 were sent out to members in 3 forms. As PDF providing fixed formatting. In word.docx format for screen readers and as an MP3 audio file read by the chair. ​This practice requires added time but talk of access is not enough it has to be actioned. Read or Listen below to Updates 4, 5 & 6.

​The branch are now meeting on the first Sunday of the month until July. The evolution of the branch is in the hands of those attending. Items raised are fed back to the committee and it is those suggestions and discussions that lead the strategy and actions of the committee on their behalf. We are reaching out to the US and Canada Network to invite them to join the branch. A request to facilitate official meetings with formal agendas are being scheduled following a members asking when the next one would take place not late socially on a Sunday. As Chair this make me very happy.

This book changed my life. I first read it in 1999 while on the resident stage management team at The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Read it (PDF Download above) 
​Comment below.

Equity's Bristol & West General Branch are hosting “Mental Health in the Entertainment Industry” in Bristol Old Vic Theatre's Coopers’ Hall on Wednesday 2nd October.
​
The 2019 Equity #ArtsMinds Symposium is being held on October 2nd at Bristol Old Vic Theatre as an effort to bring the workers and industry leaders within the Entertainment Industry together.

"Good mental health and wellbeing are founded on empathy, kindness, patience and understanding holistically within the workplace," says one Equity Member who has struggled with mental wellbeing issues throughout her 40+ year career in the industry.

Equity, the trade union for UK performers and production creatives in the Entertainment Industry have funded this Bristol symposium. It is not the first time Equity Members have initiated events, written reports or demanded change. For the Bristol and West General Branch of the union who meet monthly at Bristol Old Vic, one of Bristol's premier live theatre venues, it will not be the last.

Are you interested in adding MoCap to your resume this year?
Then this next general meeting below is for you!
​

​This is an online General Meeting through video-chat platform WeAudition, with top MoCap actress & specialist Victoria Atkin.

Victoria was cast as the first playable female Assassin on the next generation consoles for the Assassins Creed Franchise.

Victoria is Evie Frye, the playable female lead character for Assassins Creed Syndicate, set in Victorian London.

Victoria performed the full performance capture for the character, and provided Evie's voice. Victoria's performance as Evie has been highly acclaimed in the gaming world.

Victoria has gone on to work with Warner Bros, Sony Playstation, Guerrilla Games, Respawn Entertainment, Monolith Productions, Action Square, Kakao Games, Blizzard, Digital Domain and Activision.

Check out Victoria’s www.imdb.me/victoriaatkin
--------
Los Angeles (PT) - 9.00am Saturday 12th January 2019
Check your timezone!

Session timeframe - 30 mins.  
Please keep your meetings brief!

​NOTE: This is NOT an audition.  

​A general meeting is a chance for the Industry Expert to meet you briefly and find out a little about you and your work, and for you to ask any questions you have.

Auditions & General Meetings are always free at WeAudition and we do not pay the casting directors or experts to do them. They do it because they genuinely want to meet actors.This is a live general meeting through private video chat. 

Important:
​

• You need a laptop or desktop computer with a camera, microphone & good internet connection.
• Please use Chrome browser.
• Please be in a quiet, well-lit room.
• Be lit from the front. Being against a window makes you look bad.
• You can enter the video room before to check your equipment.
• Check the video room for any scripts, sides and notes.

Victoria and Trine C. Jensen are also running an in-person course on MoCap at Vault 501 in Santa Monica, California soon.  For full details and to book, click here.

Written for
The Stagemanagement Association’s Winter Edition of CUELINE