Up and Coming - the Podcast for Real People in the Entertainment Industry

James Webber is a director, writer and producer with more than 10 years experience making short films, music videos, promos, and commercials.  James' films have won dozens of awards including the prestigious ‘Coup de Coeur’ at Cannes, he has been nominated for multiple awards at festivals like the British Urban Film Festival and was long-listed for both a BAFTA and BIFA for 'Best Short Film'.  His commercial clients include Disney, Google and Amnesty International. James' first feature film, Sorority, is due for release in 2021. You can watch the trailer here.    Find James on Twitter @DirectorJWebber Instagram @directorjwebber Find more about James at directorjwebber.com

Lol Hammond is a Music Supervisor & Composer at @VertigoFilms, his credits include The Football Factory, Bronson & Bullet Proof seasons 1 & 2. Lol is also an established musician and DJ; he has been making music as part of groups and under his own name since the 1990s. Lol's new album with Duncan Forbes is out now and available here. You can also watch this awesome promo for the single 'Sorry Kids We Left You A Black Sun' by Lol Hammond & Duncan Forbes feat. Eva Abraham on YouTube. Find Lol on Twitter @Lol_Vertigo. Show notes here.  

Eddie Webber is an actor known for roles in The Business, The Firm and Rise of the Footsoldier. His new book Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee: From the Streets of Bermondsey to Lights, Camera, Action! is out now and available on Amazon. This wide-ranging conversation starts with Eddie's brush with the law in early life and covers his fascinating life and career from there.  Eddie is on Instagram @eddie.webber Music for this episode was provided by Comforts, Eddie's son's band which you can find here.  The Comforts on Facebook.  

“the whole plan was get into TV - we didn’t know how to, we had no blueprint…we were just using our instincts, learning as we go ” Percelle Acott is an actor, writer, producer and businessman who has featured in films such as X + Y and shows like Youngers and the Innocents. Percy attended the BRIT school but the way he has come up in the business proves that there is more than one way to carve your own niche in the industry than by going the traditional route; In 2011 Percelle and his friends and partners Joivan Wade and Dee Kaate released the first episode of their Youtube series Mandem on the Wall. In it’s first day Mandem clocked around 30,000 views and their channel, Wall of Comedy now has 470,000 followers. The success and quality of the show led to the E4 program Youngers and, more recently, their three-part short film Shiro’s Story (which has amassed around 17 million views and grown a dedicated following) has led them to sign a major development deal with E4 . In this episode Sam and Percelle discuss mental health, Percy’s non-traditional path through the business as well as the difficulties or being a actor starting out in their career inspiration - particularly those faced by working class actors and the challenges (and advantages) that brings. Find Percelle here: Instagram: @percelleascott Twitter: @PercelleAscott Find the Wall of Comedy here: YouTube: Wall of Comedy Instagram: @WallofProductions Facebook: @TheWallofComedy

Jake Davies is an actor working in TV, Film and Theatre; his back catalogue includes Black Mirror, feature film X+Y and the BBC’s The Missing. Jake has also featured in lead role’s at Royal Court. the Old Vic and on the the West End. You will see Jake as Chix Verbil in Disney's Artemis Fowl by Kenneth Brannagh, coming out in cinemas worldwide on 29th May 2020. In addition to all this Jake also attended the BRIT School with our host Sam Gittins - tune in to hear the two of them discuss how they keep on an even keel in the frantic and sometimes difficult world of auditions, sets and stages as well as Jake’s first experiences in TV and theatre and his more recent work on Artemis Fowl with Kenneth Brannagh. Find Jake here: Instagram: @jhdake Twitter: @jakehdavies

Alan Jones is a world renowned film critic, broadcaster and author as well as the leading figure and co-founder of London FrightFest Film Festival. Alan has written for film magazines such as Empire, Premiere and Total Film, to name just a few and started his career at the influential magazine Cinefantatistique. Tune in to hear about Alan’s fascinating and star studded career, from the first Stat Wars film to FrightFest - this is one you don’t want to miss. Find Alan here: Twitter: @alanfrightfest

Niamh Morrison is an eminent hair and make-up designer who has worked in TV and film for years. Niamh’s filmography is extensive (check out her IMDB Profile to see what I mean) and features films like Filth, Valhalla Rising and Bronson. Niamh is well-known for her work in prosthetics and special effect make-up. In addition to working in TV and film Niamh also teaches at the Delamar Academy - the most highly regarded school for make-up and hair courses in the United Kingdom. This experience shines through in this episode as Niamh doles out practical advice for aspiring hair and make-up artists on such topics as starting out, getting your first jobs and the importance of real-world experience. Find Niamh here: Instagram: @niamhmorrisonmakeup Website: www.niamhmorrison.com

Stuart Worden is the Principal of the BRIT School, the leading non-fee paying Performing Arts school in the country, with alumni including Adele, Tom Holland, Katy B, Loyle Carner and Joivan Wade - as well as our very own host, Sam Gittins: ”The BRIT School is the leading Performing and Creative Arts school in the UK and completely FREE to attend.  It provides a unique education for over 1,300 pupils aged between 14 and 19 in the fields of music, film, digital design, community arts, visual arts and design, production and performing arts as well as a full academic programme of GCSEs and A Levels.” - from the BRIT Website To support the BRIT please donate here or, to buy tickets to one of their more than 250 shows per year, go to their Box Office. Interested in BRIT Kids for you and yours? Check out their website https://www.britkids.org/ to see if they have BRIT Kids Weekend Centres near you: ”BRIT Kids are creative weekend centres working in partnership with schools. We offer a safe place for children to explore their creativity and to challenge what they think the performing and creative arts can give them. These are fee-paying classes. Our values are ‘Creativity, Challenge, Community’. We are proud to be part of The BRIT School.” - from their website. Find out more about BOA, Birmingham’s own non-fee paying school for the arts, here:https://www.boa-academy.co.uk/ Find Stuart and the BRIT here: Website: https://www.brit.croydon.sch.uk/ Twitter: @TheBRITSchool BRIT Box Office: http://boxoffice.brit.croydon.sch.uk/centreStage/showHome.php?scubaAppName=centreStage Donate to BRIT: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/11055#/DonationDetails Interested in BRIT Kids for you and yours? Check out their website https://www.britkids.org/ to see if they have classes near you.

Sophie Kennedy Clark is a BAFTA winning actress, a producer and writer. Sophie is from Aberdeen, Scotland and is best known for her roles in Philomena, Nymphomaniac Vol. I and Vol. II and she also appeared in the very first episode of Black Mirror (you remember the one…).  In this episode Sophie and Sam discuss: -        Getting into acting and finding an agent -        Some unconventional advice on shooting sex scenes -        Self-starting and forging your own path -        Auditioning and handling rejection  -        How to get your nose broken with a BAFTA… Sophie has produced and appeared in two upcoming films; Gutterpunks and Sorority - the latter of which happens to feature our very own host.  “For any young actor who hasn't gone to drama school it is such a chicken and egg scenario; You can't get an agent without a job and I can't get a job without an agent...” Find Sophie here: Instagram: @sophiekennedyclark

Jasmine Jobson is a break through young actress recently featured in Top Boy and, with feature films on the way, Jasmine sat down with Sam to discuss the ups and downs of growing up in foster care, her discovery of acting as a tool to support struggling young people and her own jump onto our screens... Jasmine's training has been through The Big House, a charitable organisation which nurtures young talent who have experiences of the care system, providing them with support and therapy through drama. Jasmine has hit the ground running and has most recently been cast as the next series lead Jaq in TOP BOY for Netflix and has just finished filming opposite Ben Whishaw in the feature film SURGE.  Other Television credits include, Susie Moon in Pan Tau (Calgari Films), Jigga in Five By Five (BBC), Sally Watkins in Dark Heart. Additional Film credits include, Lily in Surge (Rooks Nest Films/ BBC), Little M in Obey, Invincible (BBC), May in The Generation of Vipers. Jasmine also played Amy in Good Thanks, You? (DMC Film), Abby in The Silver Mask (Rasp Films), Kaila in Uni (Media Thirsty Productions), Mean Girl in Little Sh*t (Post Panic) Jasmine's Theatre credits include Latitia in Phoenix: A Girl on Fire (The Big House), Wild Diamonds.