Previous McKinnon Artist Minigrants

As a student in the Theatre Studies program, we are required to attend 10 shows throughout our time here, nine that we see as a class on Thursday evenings, and one that we get to choose to see on our own. Already, we have seen a wide range of shows from West End productions to fringe shows, from musicals to plays, from large ensemble productions to a one- woman show, and I have found myself being inspired by or drawn to different elements of each show, learning so much about the craft of acting/theatre production just by going to the theatre.

In the Spring of 2023, I will be directing my first short fillm for UVa’s Overcranked Film Festival. The script I am currently working on and planning to put forward into production involves elements of magical realism, meaning it takes place in the regular world but has an abnormal fantastical element invading the space of the characters. I am requesting $500 to purchase some practical elements for the film to bring the supernatural to life, as well funds to pay festival submission fees.

I need to have professional headshots taken. I was accepted to and participated in the Joffrey Musical Theater Intensive this past summer, and a point that many of my instructors made was that it is essential to make a positive impression upon everyone involved in any audition process, especially when there could be thousands of individuals going out for the same role or opportunity as you. High quality, accurate headshots are vital when it comes to making that positive impression upon casting teams so that they remember who you are as a performer and the work that you did in the audition room.

I have two exciting ideas for this summer. I may audition for high quality community theatre /professional Summer Shows at Heritage, Live Arts, The Hartford Stage, Connecticut Theatre Company, etc. My other option is to apply to study abroad this summer in Dublin, Ireland at the Gaiety School of Acting- National Theatre School of Ireland. Having quality headshots to market myself will be essential to me achieving either of these summer goals. After I graduate college, I am going to need the tools to market myself to professionals in order to get auditions in the competitive theatre world.

I am applying to fund new headshots to carry into my first year-round audition season. My headshots are majorly outdated, and for this reason I need to take new photos before entering my next audition season.

I am looking to turn the storage room in my basement into a darkroom so I could learn how to develop my own photography. This semester I couldn’t make it back to Charlottesville, so I had to drop all of my art classes, one of those classes being Introduction to Photography (for my studio art minor). I want to start exploring photography separate from the instant gratification of my iPhone’s perfect picture quality. I’ve been thinking a lot about rebuilding and overall patience because of the nature of our world’s chaos recently, and I wonder what it’s like to cultivate patience through photography.

I am proposing a minigrant project to help me gain more experience as a theatre and film director through a combination of observation, instruction, and practice.

I am applying to the Artist Mini Grant to pay for tickets to attend 16 diverse plays and musicals over the course of three months of research in London. I will be attending these shows during the months of October, November, and December. These 16 shows represent a diverse selection of theatre, and each production will teach me something else about the kind of theatre I want to create and the type of actor I want to be.

In seeking professional acting opportunities, I often use Backstage to find and apply for film and television roles. By purchasing the domain name maille-rosesmith.com, I can enhance my applications for roles in film, TV, and theatre; steer casting directors toward my full resume and videos of my monologues and demo reels; and more effectively promote myself as an artist.

I am currently in the process of applying to several summer theatre internships, the majority of which are located in Washington, D.C. My top choice is a part-time literary internship at Studio Theatre. As a literary intern, I would be compiling dramaturgical research on current and upcoming shows, analyzing scripts for upcoming seasons, and assisting with various writing and editing assignments for the Studio Theatre Literary Department. This internship is unpaid, however I would be provided with a monthly metro card, complimentary tickets, opportunities to attend educational seminars led by the theatre professionals who work there, and half-price tuition for classes and workshops at the Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory. The application for this particular internship is due on March 23rd, so it is unlikely that I will know about my acceptance until mid-April.

I am requesting a Minigrant to help fund the education and equipment I need to explore this medium of dramatic writing and production. The most integral expense to this project is a highly-rated online class called “How to Start a Podcast” from an arts education service called Creative Live. This course has four different sections “Podcasting 101,” “Essential Storytelling Techniques,” “Start Your Profitable Podcast & Build a Brand,” and “Power Your Podcast with Storytelling.”

If were to receive this minigrant I would begin by filming family gatherings and unplanned events around the home in order to get comfortable with the new equipment. I would then proceed to edit the films together on Adobe. After I felt confident doing that I would start shooting my own stories or helping other people with their films using my equipment.

We, Wesley Diener, Jack Gereski, and Maelisa Singer, are applying for Art Scholar Minigrants to fund our participation in the Lab Series production of The Last Five Years. The Department of Drama’s Lab Series will present Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years on November 18 and 19. Wesley will direct the musical, Jack will portray Jamie, and Maelisa will design the costumes. This production provides unparalleled opportunities for undergraduate drama students to take on larger responsibility within a professional theatrical environment. Our active participation in classes and departmental productions has equipped us with the necessary skills to stand on our own as artists.

Heidi will purchase supplies to support her work in film production.

Aspen received an Artist Minigrant to support further study of the importance of sound in filmmaking and storytelling.