The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students, to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role.
We are recruiting student actors to take part in the development and filming of a new immersive staff training resource.
The project explores the experiences of students from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds, with a particular focus on the experiences of Black and Asian students. Through a series of student Listening Rooms, we are gathering real experiences of university, employment and other professional environments, including situations where students may have experienced microaggressions, exclusion, discrimination or other behaviours that affected their sense of belonging.
These experiences will be used to develop a small number of fictionalised scenarios informed by student experiences. The scenarios will be filmed and developed into an immersive simulation resource for university staff. The aim is to help staff understand situations from a student perspective, reflect on their own practice, and develop more inclusive and supportive approaches to advising and working with students.
We are looking for students to perform in these filmed scenarios.
What you will do
As a student actor, you will:
- Take part in a briefing/rehearsal session to become familiar with the project, your character and the scenario
- Perform in one or more short, scripted or semi-scripted scenarios for filming
- Work with the project team and other student actors to create a realistic and sensitive portrayal of interactions that might occur at university or in the workplace
- Take direction and, where appropriate, contribute ideas about how an interaction can be portrayed authentically and naturally
- Participate in filming for the immersive simulation resource
Scenarios have not yet been finalised, but may include interactions such as:
- a manager and employee
- a lecturer and student
- students or colleagues interacting with one anothe
- an observer or bystander deciding whether and how to respond to an interaction
The scenarios may explore experiences including microaggressions, racial bias, direct or indirect discrimination, exclusion, or behaviours that affect someone's sense of belonging.
Choosing roles and authentic representation
This project specifically explores experiences of racial discrimination, bias and microaggressions affecting Black and Asian students. It is important that the people portrayed in the scenarios are represented authentically and that the casting makes sense in the context of the experiences on which each scenario is based.
As part of the application process, we will therefore ask you to indicate which types of character or perspective you would feel comfortable and able to represent authentically on screen. This is for casting purposes and to help us match students appropriately to the scenarios developed through the project.
You will not be expected to play a role that you do not feel is appropriate for you. We recognise that identity is personal and cannot necessarily be assumed from someone's appearance, so we will ask applicants to make their own judgement about the roles they would be comfortable being considered for.
The scenarios are likely to require a mixture of characters, including:
- A Black student or employee experiencing racial bias, discrimination or microaggressions
- An Asian student or employee experiencing racial bias, discrimination or microaggressions
- A student, lecturer, manager, colleague or peer whose actions or comments contribute to a discriminatory or excluding interaction
- A bystander, colleague or peer who witnesses an interaction and may choose to respond or intervene
Depending on the final scenarios, there may be other roles and perspectives required. Indicating that you are comfortable portraying a particular role does not mean that you personally identify with the views or behaviour of that character.
About the filming
You do not need professional acting experience to apply.
We are particularly interested in students who can portray everyday interactions in a natural and believable way, rather than giving a theatrical performance.
The project team will provide the scenarios, briefing and direction. Because the material is potentially sensitive, we will explain the content and expectations before filming and will not expect actors to improvise discriminatory language or draw on their own personal experiences.
Filming will take place in Brooks at the following times:
- Wednesday 18 November 1:00pm - 4:00pm
- Thursday 19 November 9:30am - 12:30pm
- Thursday 19 November 1:30pm - 4:30pm
We also anticipate 30 mins of paid preparation time per scenario where the selected students will read and become familiar with the script. This can be conducted at a time to suit you, prior to filming.