SELF-RELIANCE IN AN AGE OF UNCERTAINTY

The pandemic has thrown up even more challenges for performers, so how can you survive while ‘resting’ between jobs? Fiona Armstrong’s solution is to write, produce and act in her own work, with a couple of like-minded creatives.

Fiona Armstrong and Mel Odedra rehearse Joint Venture, an NZ web series about a rebellious patient who finds a new purpose in life when an unlikely nurse introduces her to an ‘alternative medicine’.

As actors, we deal with rejection a lot. We are taught to be tenacious, ambitious, ever positive in the face of adversity. The perennial question is: in an industry based on momentum and ‘who you know’; when the phone isn’t ringing, how do you survive? For me, the answer is to produce my own work.

Producing across both the television and theatre industries has been my salvation. It has kept me sane, kept me working as an actor and given me the opportunity to tell my own stories.

Over the last year, I co-created a web series, Joint Venture, with fellow actor-producer-writers Jonathan James and Travis Graham. The series of seven by seven-minute episodes was born from grief at the loss of a dear friend to a little-known disease, gastroparesis. I wanted to do something to continue her advocacy. A comedy-drama, the series pokes fun at the pervasive stigma around medical cannabis, the one type of pain relief that was effective for my friend.

If you’re considering creating your own work, my first piece of advice would be: write stories that have your heart, that you care about and that you simply have to tell.

After doing the rounds of funding applications, pitching and other soul-destroying activities, we self-invested $15,000 in our company, Tiny Earl Productions, to create Joint Venture. Although this might seem a large sum for a personal investment, it’s a tiny amount for 49 minutes of television. But don’t let this stop you, or think you need to match it; I’ve seen the most incredible work made for just $500. Or nothing at all.

NZ Equity members Mirabai Pease, Fiona Armstrong and Mel Odedra in web series Joint Venture.

There are a few essentials. Firstly, you must look after your cast and crew. Have great catering (not pizza or other heavy-carb foods), insure their equipment, provide travel, and don’t skimp on such important personnel as intimacy coordinators. Find the right people. This has been the biggest lesson of my producing career.

Make sure you know your success criteria, and that everyone coming on board understands and agrees with those criteria. Nurture a whānau with shared kaupapa. Work with people for whom you can provide opportunities. And if you’re working with generous professionals, make sure you are upfront about the project.

Find an experienced mentor. I’ll be forever grateful to Emmett Skilton, an actor-producer I consider a trailblazer for creating one’s own work here in Aotearoa. He has been incredibly kind over the years, providing invaluable advice. I now return that kindness to anyone who approaches me, asking for mentorship. I do think our industry excels in offering love and support.

Know that you will face challenges during filming, which at times can feel impossible. Our project filmed during a COVID alert-level change. We picked some difficult locations to gain permits for, and our schedule was packed to the brim. All these combined could make for a very tense set and it can be so easy to forget to have fun. Ask for help when you need it, always be honest and make sure you put people first. The biggest compliment I’ve received as a producer was the lead actor telling us that ours was one of the most fun projects she had worked on.

Don’t forget to leave a large chunk of your budget and time for post-production. Find editors you can build a great relationship with and trust them with your story. Post-production companies can be unstinting with their support. If they are, make sure you return to them with your next project, which will, hopefully, be funded.

Finally, don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t have the experience or skills to do this. We only learn by doing; we all make mistakes and that’s how beautiful things are created. Remember your success criteria. I am, first and foremost, an actor. I co-created Joint Venture, co-produced and acted in the series… and why not? Just make sure you listen to advice from people without an agenda, trust others with your work and lead with kindness.

Fiona Armstrong is an actor, creative producer and writer based in Auckland. She has worked across television, film and theatre in both the United Kingdom and Aotearoa. She is represented by Gail Cowan Management and is a proud board member of Equity NZ.