On The Hill: Radar Hill Blog

From Drama Class to a New Calling

Helena's passion for acting has deep roots, originating in her middle and high school years when she was actively involved in drama class. After graduating, acting wasn't something she thought about for a long time. However, the desire to act began to "nag" at her, gradually growing into a persistent thought that occupied her mind daily until she decided to take action. With the flexibility provided by her work at Radar Hill, she was able to dedicate herself to a year-long drama program, which launched her into her current career as an actor.

The Philosophy of "Fake It Till You Make It"

A central theme in Helena's approach to life and her career is the idea of "fake it till you make it." This philosophy is not about dishonesty, but rather about training oneself to become the person they aspire to be. Helena admitted that she has been essentially "acting like a confident person" while moving ahead with her life, which eventually allowed her to truly become that confident person.

For Helena, this meant playing the part even when she felt nervous and unsure of herself, allowing the action of "playing the part" to bridge the gap between her current state and her goals.

The Reality of the Craft

Helena describes her current life as an actor as being primarily about the "numbers game" of auditioning. She notes that auditioning is, for all intents and purposes, the job itself, and it requires persistent effort to get the necessary repetitions in, building relationships and demonstrating her commitment.

At school she also learned the technical differences between stage acting and acting for film and TV. On a film set, she has had to learn to manage:

• Multiple Takes and Coverages: Unlike the single, linear flow of stage acting, film work involves repeated takes, master coverage, scene partner coverage, and prop inserts.

• Continuity: She must meticulously remember where she left off in a scene to maintain consistency across different takes and camera angles.

• ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement): Helena also notes the technical process of re-recording lines in a booth during post-production to replace audio that didn't record well on set, which provides another opportunity to refine her delivery.

Through it all, Helena remains deeply committed, viewing her work on student and independent projects as an investment in the future, confident that her persistence will pay off. We are so proud to support Helena in this journey.