Going Solo: MN Awards

I have a deep affection for theatre, which might seem odd considering I'm part of a team promoting the UK's first Ofqualrecognised awarding body specialising in film and TV. Theatre was my initial passion – I cherished it in school, participated in amateur dramatics, studied it in college, and went onto study at drama school. Despite this initial direction, my professional career shifted towards film and TV casting, a domain which I was comparatively less experienced in when I secured my first position. I presumed my acting days were over when I received my first offer of work in casting, trading stage lights for an office job, albeit in the creative sector.

However, life's unforeseen twists brought me to work for casting director Gail Stevens, who required assistance with young actors at the time. I was hired to scout for Mowgli in a new adaptation of The Jungle Book, not Jon Faverau's 2016 version, but an earlier adaptation that ultimately didn't see the light of day. Despite this, Gail kept me on, assigning me a role in the audition room where actors would come and go all day. I would read the opposing lines for the numerous film projects she and the team were involved in, recording and uploading the tapes. I loved it my work. I got to act all day and got paid for it! The projects were fantastic and the people I got to meet and work with were great.

I spent months in Gail's audition room and eventually years working within casting, every day reading scripts, delivering lines, discussing what worked and what didn't. I quickly became adept at coaxing performances from auditioning actors that I knew directors would appreciate, even landing a few small roles myself. Why am I sharing this, and what does it have to do with screen acting exams, you might wonder? Through my experiences in various audition rooms, observing countless actors – young, old, seasoned, and those fresh out of drama school – I often reflected on my own unsuccessful acting journey and constantly questioned … why oh why, when there is all this opportunity on screen, hadn't anyone taught me to act for camera?

Why screen acting and why now?

Setting aside the universally acknowledged skills gained from all creative examinations, such as enhanced communication, heightened confidence and team-building prowess, official BFI statistics today reveal a £4.23 billion film and high-end television production spend in the UK. There's no doubt the vast majority of creative job opportunities, not only for actors but also the numerous other roles involved in film production, are found within the screen industry. However, from a purely performance perspective, even at drama school level, there remains a distinct lack of training in this area.

Equipping aspiring artists with up-to-date, real-world industry skills makes sense. It compliments theatre training, is a great way to introduce film into the classroom – a popular medium with all young people, and is a fun, rewarding skill to learn and teach. By engaging with and understanding the technical aspects of film through enjoyable performance activities, young people gain insight into the multifaceted challenges of film production. This exposure not only enriches their appreciation of the craft but also sows the seeds for the emergence of future talents in editing, writing, set design, makeup artistry, and beyond, thereby nurturing the next generation of creative professionals in the film industry. The pertinent question shouldn't be ‘why screen acting and why now?’, rather it should be ‘why not?’.

This discrepancy in skill-based knowledge, which I encountered frequently in casting, s the foundation behind MN Awards. Exams focus on vocal, physical, internal and technical skills that cross a broad range of film production, including green screen and mo-cap. (Teachers do not need a green screen or mocap equipment to teach our grades). The learner has a number of practical challenges and is tasked with performing a variety of extracts, including devised, monologue and multi-character scenes, responding to live direction, physical green screen demonstrations and more. Each grade is split into three sections: Acting for Screen, Acting for Green Screen & Motion Capture, and reflection-based questions.

Who is MN?

Founded in 2012 by the Middleweek Newton Group, MN Talent Management began as an acting agency dedicated to representing professional actors across Film, TV, and Theatre. MN's initial venture into education was realised through the establishment of MN Academy, a specialised performing arts academy that focuses on screen acting. MN Actors Academy has spent the last decade developing an entirely new and unique set of creative principles.

MN Awards stands as the UK's first Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisation to specialise in Film and TV exams, offering levels 1 to 3, grades 1 to 8. All exams are officially recognised and regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). Additionally, MN Screen Acting Grades 6, 7, and 8 are awarded points on the UCAS tariff. The establishment of MN Awards represents a significant milestone, marking the fruition of our extensive work in the industry and our commitment to advancing the field of performing arts for teachers interested in expanding their teaching methodologies. You can find and download the MN Screen Acting syllabus and all the materials you need, for free, at mnawards.co.uk

Our grades have no minimum learner requirements, and you can submit students for assessment as and when they are ready. All exams are conducted online, either live or through a ‘centre’ examination, without the need for special equipment – only a mobile device is required.

For more information visit mnawards.co.uk.