Welcome back to Acting Up! This week Megan and Jordan are catching up and diving into the historical world of female film directors!

Jordan kicks it off by discussing the statistics and state of affairs for female directors today (shocker - it’s not looking great) despite the quality and cult impact of the work being made. Are things even changing for the better?

Jordan then dives into the life and work of Alice Guy-Blaché, who is widely regarded to be the first woman to direct a film and one of the first filmmakers to make a narrative fiction film. Her fairytale film ‘La Fée aux Choux’ was created to demonstrate the capabilities of the camera used and the potential it had for creating fiction entertainment. Your hosts did indeed watch the film and share their thoughts (poor babies?).

Megan then dives into the achievements of Lois Weber, an American silent film director, screenwriter, producer and actress. Her work was pioneering, demonstrating the inner lives of women and including the first non pornographic depiction of a naked woman her film ‘Hypocrites’. A artist in all aspects, her work was infinitely detailed. Lois has since been inducted into Jordan’s dream blunt rotation.

Megan then discusses the work of Madeline Anderson, a black American filmmaker, television and documentary producer, film director, editor and screenwriter who is credited as being the first black woman to produce and direct a televised documentary film, the first black employee at New York-based public television station WNET and so much more. She was truly an incredible woman.

Ending with a healthy dose of incredible films directed by women for your convenience.

Tangents include catching up, booking a short film, pre BIG CHOP discussion, men stealing women’s ideas, letting your crusty boyfriends be your personality in 2025, unioniosisionation and trigger warning: French accents.

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏

Today Megan and Jordan are Acting Up with the wonderful Morgan Beale! Colleague of Megan (shocking) and shockingly talented Actor, Morgan is here to share his unconventional journey into the industry, and how he found himself on the set of Wednesday!

Morgan’s journey started as many of ours do, in a school play that ignited a love for theatre he’s still trying to understand. Studying GCSE and then A Level drama Morgan ended up doing a degree in… American Studies? Thank god for student lead theatre! Morgan then discusses a trip to fringe that lead to drama school auditions, discussing auditioning the school while they audition you and why it wasn’t the right path for him.

Short courses, workshops and community theatre lead to signing with an agent and Morgan’s career began! Morgan then discusses the highs and lows of auditioning and how he landed his role in Wednesday season 1! How one round of auditions lead to 4 months in Romania, and as far as first times on set go, this experience was HUGE.

Morgan also gets candid about managing expectations when you think you’ve got it all sorted and things don’t go as planned and the auditions seemed to dry up. Discussions then turn to writing and directing and potentially creating your own work, with aspirations to create a short film!

Discussions then turn to scratch nights, fast moving sets, being trained on the job, self tape training, screen acting confessionals, where are the stage auditions at and what’s been good (drinks?), not so good (bashing Jenna Ortega?!) and what’s coming next (who knows!)!

Tangents include chubby kittens, Letterbox favourites, directing playtime, unspoken Elves and of course Moblin.

Also featuring a hello from Florence of the @sleeplesscreativespodcast - check out her wonderful work!

Sending love to anyone struggling with the weight of it all right now, please look after yourselves <3

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏

In the effort of drumming up suspense for the finale of our GIFF 2 series, enjoy a simple catchup with your hosts Megan and Jordan! But not TOO simple, as nothing ever is. Sorry about the immediate chronic wheeze.

The long overdue catch-up includes: Megan booked a short film (!), the audition process for said short, upcoming auditions and lack of auditions, filling the void with other voids, standing by selectiveness, the myth of “just put yourself out there”, has the podcast served its purpose, “Just make your own stuff” and hula no hooping on camera and battling the ‘if I don’t try I can’t fail’ mindset.

Discussions then turn to the girls upcoming adventure… THE LOXWOOD JOUST! There will be archery, goblins, sword and shield training, goblins, fighting for the kingdom, goblins, purchasing weapons, gambling on jousting, goblins, jesters and generally having a wonderful, whimsical time!

Tangents include, coughing up George Michael, revoking the BBL, matcha, crispy tattoo removal, currently watching, celebrity crushes, charity shop wins and more on fan fiction…

You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;)
We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids
Artwork by @those_who.try
Wanna be on the pod? Email actingupthepodcast@gmail.com 🃏