Supporting Artistes

Col Needham is probably not a household name that everyday people would recognise. Some would say, neither are his image results from a Google search instantly recognisable. That is so until you realise his beaming smile in those image results and the associated article links that he's tagged in, all connect to a very popular 4-letter, internet acronym. The story behind those 4-letters are as wide as the radiance of his toothy grin. Then you realise, upon opening one of those search results and learn who he is; he has every reason to smile because those 4-letters have risen to become a globally acclaimed, digital enterprise, borne innocently out of a hobby.

Recently The Actors’ Post and Cultivated Entertainment, a talent booking agency based in California have been in contact and we are proud to announce a series of guest articles to be published on the platform, over the coming weeks.

It is near impossible for one to possess the “drawing skills of an 8 year old” and ever realistically have their work be showcased and shared all over the world on social media, various websites, posters, in newspapers and as part of a globally acclaimed video game franchise. As all the motivational phrases profess- yes, anything is possible. However, how many of us can actually pull that feat off? Becoming an accomplished, professional artist, with seemingly basic “artistic” talent, as jokingly implied by our next featured artiste?

Many things compete for our short attention spans in 2019. Going down the YouTube rabbit-hole almost guarantees amusing videos for some; uploading, scrolling and swiping through pictures and videos on our favourite social media applications, waiting for the “likes” to flood in is another. Music videos, binge watching popular box sets or reality tv-series, wildfire circulation of social media memes that take a life of their own and video games are some of the old and new favourites we engage with for entertainment. Maybe this example is generational but even BBC Parliament’s coverage of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit vote, which “hit an all-time [television] ratings high” for its cacophony of grumbles and posh disses that were flung across the floor in Westminster with a Brexit deadline looming, was highly entertaining…if not a bit disturbing. The British public and global political aficionados may also miss the bellowing of former Speaker of the House John Bercow’s “Ooorrrdddaaaahhhh!” as he retires. The forever-content-giving Donald Trump in a re-election bid and the impending airing of Boris’ dirty laundry are also bound to be high stakes, news-worthy drama too!

The alliteration in their names isn’t the only thing that Alister Albert and Darren Darnborough have in common. They are two CEOs of growing companies who aim to use their companies and associated platforms to provide actors and entertainers everywhere with a space to be seen and promoted and help aid in the development of aspiring and established actors/entertainers.

“I never dreamt [of being] a ballet dancer, I dreamt [of being] an actor. I fell in love with ballet. Does that make any sense?” (chuckles)

Imagine being a 10 or 13-year-old boy, living in Yorkshire, United Kingdom, black, raised mainly by your mother, in pre-Brexit England and into performance arts; acting and dance- specifically ballet. Reading this, you may (or may not) be inclined to think that those are several odds already stacked against a young ethnic minority boy growing up in the U.K. But what if we told you it didn’t have to be?

So, I returned from a short break in the Caribbean to the UK and immediately resumed my job as a Business Analyst for local government.