Help Daniel fund AADA placement
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Hello everyone, for those of you who don't know me my name is Daniel Harris, I'm twenty years old and I live in Britain, England. My interests include boxing and fitness, writing and nature. But my passion is acting.
Since I was fourteen and took drama as my 'art' subject at school because my best friend loved acting, I have always wanted to act. I fell in love with it the moment I realised I could make people laugh, and pretend to be anything I wanted to be. The possibilities were limitless.
Acting made me happy, beyond words, and I felt free. I decided from that day I would devote my life to pursuing it as a career, and I went on to study drama for my GSCE and A level (earning one hundred percent marks for both my solo and group performances in A level.) I took classes outside of school too, but no matter how hard you prepare if you are not ready, you are not ready. I failed to get into drama school because of nerves, and I was devastated.
For the past two years I have been working on my craft, both with my acting and writing. I decided to take time off work so I could write full time, and between November 2013 and now I have managed to produce two and a third worth of novels. For acting I found a part time screen acting class in London, auditioned and secured my place. It taught me so much, it was an invaluable experience, and it gave me the confidence to audition for something I could never see myself participating in at all, especially at my age. The Hollywood Immersive.
It came through as an email, and I didn't know much about it, but when I looked and saw that this company offered actors the chance to train in Los Angeles for a week with top industry experts I couldn't pass it up. I auditioned and secured a place, and after a whirlwind of a couple months sorting out the logistics and finance, I was on my way to America for the first time in my life. What an experience.
I made friends there for life, all of whom I have stayed in contact with, and never plan to let go. It was an incredible, life-changing, truly special experience, and it left me with one goal. I have to get back. Los Angeles is my home.
Originally I planned to secure a work placement there, and fly back on an unskilled visa, but this was a harder process than I thought. Then one night, as I was browsing facebook a pop-up appeared. 'See if you qualify for an Acting Scholarship.' I clicked on it, entered my grades...turns out I did.
Where was it based? Los Angeles. When did the course start? January (the month I always intended to move there.) When were the auditions? Two weeks, in London. I had to do it. After sending off my application and booking the audition I contacted Adam, one of the teachers at The Hollywood Immersive. He was excited, and from the kindness of his own heart...he trained me for the audition.
The audition itself was terrifying, but I knew I had given it my best. I had practised every day from the moment I applied to the audition day itself, and there was nothing more I could do. Two-four weeks was the response time. That's not what I got, though. It's very hard to contain your excitement when you're accepted into something so radical, particularly when you receive the email at work after just six days. Let me tell you, the shift couldn't have finished quicker.
I had secured a $10k scholarship too.
So here I am, one of around thirty people worldwide to be admitted to the Academy for their Winter 2016 class, and what a journey. It's been difficult, at times unbearable, but I hope it inspires people that perseverance truly is key. I'm still young, believe me I know, but it doesn't make the process any easier. Rejections hurt regardless of your age, and when you finally conquer that hurdle...boy is that a moment of impact.
With victories come new challenges, however, namely a five figure number telling me I could never afford it, and I am destined to live a life of financial captivity. To that voice, like I said to the other voice telling me not to audition, I say I have faith. I believe this is what I've been called to do. As a kid I always wanted to be a superhero (I mean, who didn't?), and though I know no amount of pushups will ever get me there, I do have a heart for the media and reaching people through those means.
My dream is not just to act, but to inspire, to help, and to be a postive influence in the industry. I want to produce movies and television which reflect some of humanity's greatest struggles, and speak messages of hope into people's lives, and I want to use the resources it provides to change people's lives. Just how people have done for me. I can't be a superhero, but I can make a difference. That's what I've made my life goal, and now, humbly, I ask that you help me, so one day I can help others.
Between now and January I plan to work, and do everything in my power to come up with the funds, however if my story has touched you, and you would like to take a chance on me, I can assure you that no level of gratitude will ever be enough to thank you for your donation. I can't do this without support, I do not come from a background of wealth, but I know this is the right path. My hope is that people will see this victory, and through it they will be blessed. I know one day they will.
Thank you sincerely,
Daniel Harris.
Since I was fourteen and took drama as my 'art' subject at school because my best friend loved acting, I have always wanted to act. I fell in love with it the moment I realised I could make people laugh, and pretend to be anything I wanted to be. The possibilities were limitless.
Acting made me happy, beyond words, and I felt free. I decided from that day I would devote my life to pursuing it as a career, and I went on to study drama for my GSCE and A level (earning one hundred percent marks for both my solo and group performances in A level.) I took classes outside of school too, but no matter how hard you prepare if you are not ready, you are not ready. I failed to get into drama school because of nerves, and I was devastated.
For the past two years I have been working on my craft, both with my acting and writing. I decided to take time off work so I could write full time, and between November 2013 and now I have managed to produce two and a third worth of novels. For acting I found a part time screen acting class in London, auditioned and secured my place. It taught me so much, it was an invaluable experience, and it gave me the confidence to audition for something I could never see myself participating in at all, especially at my age. The Hollywood Immersive.
It came through as an email, and I didn't know much about it, but when I looked and saw that this company offered actors the chance to train in Los Angeles for a week with top industry experts I couldn't pass it up. I auditioned and secured a place, and after a whirlwind of a couple months sorting out the logistics and finance, I was on my way to America for the first time in my life. What an experience.
I made friends there for life, all of whom I have stayed in contact with, and never plan to let go. It was an incredible, life-changing, truly special experience, and it left me with one goal. I have to get back. Los Angeles is my home.
Originally I planned to secure a work placement there, and fly back on an unskilled visa, but this was a harder process than I thought. Then one night, as I was browsing facebook a pop-up appeared. 'See if you qualify for an Acting Scholarship.' I clicked on it, entered my grades...turns out I did.
Where was it based? Los Angeles. When did the course start? January (the month I always intended to move there.) When were the auditions? Two weeks, in London. I had to do it. After sending off my application and booking the audition I contacted Adam, one of the teachers at The Hollywood Immersive. He was excited, and from the kindness of his own heart...he trained me for the audition.
The audition itself was terrifying, but I knew I had given it my best. I had practised every day from the moment I applied to the audition day itself, and there was nothing more I could do. Two-four weeks was the response time. That's not what I got, though. It's very hard to contain your excitement when you're accepted into something so radical, particularly when you receive the email at work after just six days. Let me tell you, the shift couldn't have finished quicker.
I had secured a $10k scholarship too.
So here I am, one of around thirty people worldwide to be admitted to the Academy for their Winter 2016 class, and what a journey. It's been difficult, at times unbearable, but I hope it inspires people that perseverance truly is key. I'm still young, believe me I know, but it doesn't make the process any easier. Rejections hurt regardless of your age, and when you finally conquer that hurdle...boy is that a moment of impact.
With victories come new challenges, however, namely a five figure number telling me I could never afford it, and I am destined to live a life of financial captivity. To that voice, like I said to the other voice telling me not to audition, I say I have faith. I believe this is what I've been called to do. As a kid I always wanted to be a superhero (I mean, who didn't?), and though I know no amount of pushups will ever get me there, I do have a heart for the media and reaching people through those means.
My dream is not just to act, but to inspire, to help, and to be a postive influence in the industry. I want to produce movies and television which reflect some of humanity's greatest struggles, and speak messages of hope into people's lives, and I want to use the resources it provides to change people's lives. Just how people have done for me. I can't be a superhero, but I can make a difference. That's what I've made my life goal, and now, humbly, I ask that you help me, so one day I can help others.
Between now and January I plan to work, and do everything in my power to come up with the funds, however if my story has touched you, and you would like to take a chance on me, I can assure you that no level of gratitude will ever be enough to thank you for your donation. I can't do this without support, I do not come from a background of wealth, but I know this is the right path. My hope is that people will see this victory, and through it they will be blessed. I know one day they will.
Thank you sincerely,
Daniel Harris.
Organizer
Daniel Harris
Organizer