In this post, we’ll be learning more about Matthew Marshall, head of film production, acting coach, director, producer, casting director, & writer. Get ready for this!
Check out Matthew’s bio:
Matthew Marshall is an award-winning producer, director and playwright with over thirty-five years in the Film, Theatre and Digital Media Production industry. Matthew graduated from Fanshawe College’s Audio Visual Multi Media Production, and Broadcast Television Digital Applications. Matthew has his own production company of m & s Marshall Productions, as well as being the co-founder of iFilmGroup and being iFilmGroups Head of Film Production and Training. He is the lead teacher and mentor of iFilmGroup Training Module Program.
Matthew has won over one hundred awards for his various films. His vast production experience covers almost all of the crew positions within the ranks of film and theatre production.
Pauline: Matthew! You wear a lot of hats—casting director, editor, director, and producer. On top of all that, you run your own production company and co-founded the acting support service, iFilmGroup. Do you ever worry you’ll run out of momentum? What pushes you to continue moving forward in the film industry?
Matthew: Keeping the momentum to always move forward with wearing as many hats as I do, in the industry is a bit of a juggling act. Especially as the years pass and for how long I have been doing production. I try to reframe what needs to be done and accomplish it all into a manageable system that I control.
Especially now with the iFilmGroup Training Module Program. The key is trying to diversify and get more hands involved to make lighter work. Wearing multiple hats is actually what keeps me moving forward. Losing momentum is always in the back of my mind.
What pushes me forward is the natural high I get from being creative and seeing the lives we are changing through the film and actor training program.
P: Who are your mentors or role models? Tell us about one person who has inspired or supported you in your journey in the film industry.
M: I have had a lot of great mentors in my career. Too many to mention all within one interview. A lot of teachers and industry people come to mind. They have shaped me to be who I am and have left me with a lot of great advice. It is part of why I was inspired to create iFilmGroup and give back to the people who are coming after me. To pay it forward to the next generation. To be able to build on the values, self-awareness and career alignment that others have shown me allows me to pass it on.
If I had to pick one person that stood out as a mentor in my life, it would be my grandfather Smith, who I lost when I was 16 years old. But he left me with a treasure chest of wisdom that in some cases I didn’t figure out till years later. I admired him and missed him greatly. But I know he is with me.
P: Are there any online resources that you recommend for budding filmmakers?
M: There are a lot of online resources for filmmaking and acting. The nearest and dearest to me is what we have created through iFilmGroup in both our website and especially the online Training Module Program for acting and film crew training. We add a training segment every month and continue to grow.
Creating a program for Acting Training in London, Ontario is a passion of mine. We are not to the level of an acting school system. But iFilmGroup provides acting training, workshops, mentoring and practical film / TV experiences. Both in person and through our training module program.
P: How has the audition process evolved over the past five years? What does this mean for aspiring actors still looking to get noticed?
M: The process of casting and auditions has changed a lot even in the last ten years. There used to be a lot of in-person auditions. But with Covid and the advancement of digital and recording monologues in your own home, the virtual world and remote self-tapes has become the new standard.
Instead of having to have a space for actors to come to audition. Actors can now submit their self-tapes. Then casting and the production team can view them at any time that works for them in a 24hr day. It now means more than ever that someone submitting for a casting call needs to stand out and make bold choices in their audition self-tape.
Having a self-tape with good sound, good lighting and a great performance with solid choices for your character, all matter and can decide if you get selected or not.
P: Matthew, you give back to the community by offering workshops for aspiring actors. How did this come about? What’s been the most surprising element about conducting these workshops?
M: The iFilmGroup community based program of workshops and training sessions for people interested in acting comes from the aspect that at the heart of acting is networking and building community.
We used to train on set prior to Covid and we saw how that real life experience built friendships and skills. I am a hands-on learner. So that is the best way I can teach is by showing. Theory is important, but acting out what the theory is, I feel is the best way for people to learn, especially with the art of acting.
With iFilmGroup we are always thinking about how we can help more people. Plus we want to create something that people could go to on their own schedule to learn. It is why we created the Training Module Program. It does not take the place of in-person learning but it gives an option of learning from home and then being able to then go out and learn in the in-person opportunities that a person gets.
Seeing people that have come through online learning and in-person learning and seeing them grow and advance in acting is something I really love to see. To watch people grow so much and know that it comes back to things that myself and the iFilmGroup team have created. Sometimes it takes my breath away and makes me smile.
P: Tell us how interested readers can help support the work you do with iFilmGroup.
M: The iFilmGroup acting training and mentoring support program runs and operates by the generous funding of corporate and individual donations. There is a page on our website that offers opportunities for individuals to donate to the acting training and mentoring program, which supports us in paying for location for workshops and filming days.
It also can go towards paying actors for particular filming days we are doing on various dramatic or acting related topics. We have had donations go towards the website and Training Platform.
As for the Training Module Program part of the site it is a $20 per month subscription base program, that is another way people learn the art of acting for the monthly subscription. It could be a great gift for someone who knows a person interested in learning acting. The program has 30 + segments at this point and is growing each month with at least one segment being added each month.
P: Matthew, what’s on the horizon for you? What can we expect to see from you next?
M: The iFilmGroup is looking towards the future and sees lots of opportunities on the horizon. London, Ontario and area, which is a growing hot spot for filming and film companies to come to the area. The real focus is to create a successful and growing Acting Training Program in London, Ontario that can be accessed by the world.
On the home front of London, Ontario and area, we see our part in that growth, being the training and development of actors and crew. The better and more training the people are in the area, the more success they will have on set, and that is positive for the area to get more production.
The focus of the iFilmGroup for the coming year is to grow the online Training Module Program in both segments and also subscribers. We also look to offer more workshops and training days. All with the focus of strengthening the knowledge of acting and crew within the area.
More Matthew Marshall & iFilm Group online:
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