Ep 291: When the Phone Stops Ringing: Chantelle Levene on Acting & Resilience

Episode Show Notes What happens when the dream of becoming an actor collides with the reality of earning a living? In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, Damien Swaby sits down with actor Chantelle Levene for an open conversation about ambition, rejection, resilience and what it really takes to keep pursuing a creative career when opportunities become harder to find. Chantelle reflects on the EastEnders performances that first inspired her to act, how the audition landscape has changed, and why she misses the days when aspiring actors had greater access to open auditions. She also discusses her frustrations with self-tapes and the difficult experience of going four years without booking an acting role.The conversation goes beyond auditions. Chantelle talks about agents, independent filmmaking and the importance of creating your own opportunities rather than waiting for permission from an industry that may not always make space for you. She and Damien also explore a reality familiar to many working creatives: how do you balance a 9-to-5 job, financial responsibilities and everyday life with a creative purpose that refuses to disappear? It’s a conversation about the less glamorous side of pursuing a career in film and television — and about finding ways to keep moving forward when the phone stops ringing.In this episode The EastEnders performances that made Chantelle want to become an actor Why open auditions seem to have disappeared The realities and frustrations of self-tape culture Going four years without booking an acting role What actors should expect from their agents Balancing acting with a 9-to-5 career Independent filmmaking and creating your own work Staying visible in an increasingly competitive industry Resilience, reinvention and maintaining a sense of creative purpose As Chantelle's story demonstrates, the route may change and the industry may change, but the desire to tell meaningful stories can remain. Follow Filmmaking Conversations for more candid conversations with actors, filmmakers and other creatives about the craft, careers and realities behind working in the film industry.