No, I have always worked in the entertainment business so that wasn't an issue for me. I respect the talent and experience of those people I work with, just as they respect mine on the same basis, but they are actors doing a job and human beings, although some fans may disagree!
I was originally a television presenter on Wire TV and journalist here in the UK. I went out to Oz to send some reports back and stayed, buying into a theatrical agency over there. I only returned to the UK due to the continued interest in employing Australian actors over here and sadly only get to go back to Sydney on business about twice a year. So in other words I've always been working in the entertainment industry and representing artists, whatever aspect of the profession they may come from, doesn't daunt me.
Well frustrating, annoying and to be honest a total waste of everyone's time and effort! I was simply supplying my artists to appear at the event of course but it became clear that the producers of the convention did not have the funds to pay the artists which they had agreed to book. The whole thing was run terribly badly and descended into a total farce. The actors were disappointed as they were looking forward to taking part, many having lost out on other paying work, and I only hope that all of the fans who booked receive total refunds.
The only good thing to come out of all of this was that Lyn James (Helen Gordon, The Young Doctors) won the Best Actress Award in the Oz Soap Awards so I had the honour of presenting her the award with Alan Coleman (who wrote, produced and directed The Young Doctors) during my last trip to Australia.
Ok, well this is a tricky one as every day is different. I work seven days a week, every week of the year, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I begin my day with a coffee and cigarette (Marlboro Lights if anyone wants to know what to get me for Xmas!) and then its straight onto the computer around 5.30am to deal with any e-mails or phone calls to Australia, the time difference makes this very important. If I'm in the office I'll be answering the phone and booking in work and arranging auditions for actors, talking to producers and dealing with the press and media in regard to publicity and promotions.
Other days I'll be on a train for meetings in London, I generally tend to use the BAFTA Club House (I am a member of BAFTA) and then Joe Allen's for lunch or dinner- I may be wineing and dining a producer. The mobile tends to be going constantly of course. I'm also often at TV studios and sitting in on press interviews which the actors are doing. In the evening I might go to the theatre to see one of my actors in a play, or I may be at a nightclub where an artist has been booked to do a PA. Other days I'll be on a plane going over to Europe where one of my directors will be working, or doing the long haul flight to Sydney. Then its a late night answering calls from Australia (it will be morning over there).
So no one day is ever the same, but that's a bit of an over-view for you.
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