Winter Showcase / Standouts and Feedback

At Fishpond, we understand how important it is for actors to hone their craft, sharpen their audition skills, and be seen by industry professionals.  That’s why we were proud to have casting director Shauna Griffith lead our first showcase of 2026, focused on the theme of staying present.

Shauna carefully selected excerpts from E.T - The Extra Terrestrial, Love, Rosie, Knocked Up and Molly’s Game, challenging actors of all ages to submit a self-tape that showcased their interpretation. In particular, she encouraged actors to stay connected to their scene partner and the world around them, remaining present in the world they're creating on screen.

From a wealth of high-quality clips, Shauna has selected six standout performances that most inspired and impressed her. Congratulations to all for your dedication, creativity, and bringing something unique to your piece. We can’t wait to see where your talent takes you next.

Plus
Join us for a live chat with Shauna at 4.30pm on Monday 2nd of March, where she'll offer further feedback, and tips for making the most of your next opportunity. You'll find all the details here.
 

WINTER SHOWCASE STANDOUTS

Watch all six standouts here and you can read Shauna's expert feedback below.



Morgan Cooke
Script: Molly's Game
"Your posture and choice of framing for this tape helped create the atmosphere for the scene, going from broad & brave to more confined when he starts showing us that he feels shame for his actions. Your eyes were activated the whole time and the change in eye line again gave us an insight into what he was feeling. The moments of stillness are lovely. We can very clearly see the movement for this character throughout the scene and I LOVE how you held your ending and didn’t cut right away, allowing us to see his reaction to the point about the Mafia."



Nicola Devine
Script: Love, Rosie
"I was totally in the scene from start to finish! The subtlety of fixing your lipstick at the start drew me into the atmosphere of the scene. I loved watching the change of tone and emotion throughout the scene and I could really see the pride and love she has for her son while telling him about the power of naivety. The change in your demeanor when your boss calls you brought us back into a busy work environment and rounded off the scene perfectly."



Eoin Gleeson
Script: Knocked Up
"I like how this scene grew and escalated, it kept me captivated the whole time. It felt like I was watching a real conversation between a couple and I could feel the frustration from both sides. I like how your eyes were activated throughout and as an audience, I could see you processing what your partner was saying to you and trying to figure out in real time what to say next as to not upset her further, and maybe failing in that!"



Lola-Mae
Script: ET
"Thank you so much for taking the time to record this scene for me. This was a beautiful performance and your eyes were captivating! I could see the sadness in them for losing your friend, but at the same time having the respect for authority that created a really interesting conflict throughout the scene. Really good job - this is a great tape."



Rhys
Script: ET
"I loved seeing you actively thinking about what to do at the start of the scene, like you were weighing up your options before deciding to tell the truth. This scene has great range - you played with your voice and your face was alive & human. I really enjoyed watching this scene unfold so a big well done to you!"



Lola Le Guan
Script: Molly's Game
"You did a really gorgeous job here keeping it natural and feeling real, rather than performative. I liked how still and quiet it was & I could really see in your eyes that you were listening to what your dad was saying and taking in the information for the first time. I thought your choice to avert your gaze while your dad was talking about tripping over a stick was lovely – it felt human and gave us an insight into the characters’ relationship with her dad – not always comfortable but still wanting to hear him."
 

Thank you again to all who took part, and to Shauna for taking the time to offer so much feedback. Keep an eye out for our Spring Showcase, coming very soon.