Actor and alumni Joseph Casling along with fellow grads Oscar Fitchett and Connor Dorian have been shortlisted for film festival AIMAFF 2023, with their silent film project Frame x Frame. Born from their love of clowning, this project is a love letter to that classic era of film. We spoke to Joseph to find out more about it and what it’s like taking those first steps into acting after study.

Tell us about Frame x Frame!

Frame x Frame is a multimedia art piece that follows two Cinema Ushers being chased by their Boss for running the bills too high. The film explores the question of ‘How Does Art Survive?’ and is a cinematic love letter to the Silent Film Era. The film was made in Collaboration with current and former Northern School of Art Students, Including Oscar W. Fitchett (RnQ Films) Graduate Connor Dorrian, and Current Level 6 Acting Students Darcey Dawson, Luke Smith-Hogan & Ruby Allen.

The project is a silent film, can you tell us more about that?

Whilst studying on the BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen Course I fell in love with Clowning, even winning the 2021 ARC Award for my Clowning show ‘Conked Out’ in my third year, when I moved onto the Master’s I made a conscious effort to focus on this area of my craft bringing it to the forefront of all my work. Including Ashtray – with the BrainSoup Collective which just finished its run at fringe and most recently Frame x Frame. Falling in love with Silent Films was a by-product of my time studying clowning and I hope to expand and make a much larger one in future. I find silent/physical language helps us explore topics and emotions too complex for words

The project is an AIMAFF 2023 Finalist tell us more about the festival, how does it feel to be shortlisted?

Being Shortlisted felt amazing. Oscar is an extremely talented filmmaker and many of his films have been successful. – It was such a huge privilege for him to come on board and I knew he’d capture the story I wanted to tell. Likewise with my Actors and Composers (Lewis Hamilton Music) who did such an amazing job, I honestly don’t think I could have assembled a better team which is a testament to the talent we have here at the Northern School of Art.

You finished your studies here with an award and placement with our partners The Arc, Stockton Arts Centre. Can you tell us about it, has there been any further opportunities that have come from it?

Studying at the Northern School of Art afforded me to work closely with ARC Stockton and even win the ARC Award for my piece ‘Conked Out’ which I just finished my first round of R&D for. Working with ARC & Northern School of Art helped me gain Arts Council Funding. I hope to perform the full piece at the ARC soon as we have such a wonderful relationship, I even began working there recently as a Network Builder for the graduate program ‘The Tees Valley New Creatives.’

Tell us about any other projects you are working on!

I’ve got quite a variety of projects coming up! I’m working as a scare actor this Halloween before getting ready for a lengthy run as Prince Charming for a panto this Christmas. BrainSoup Collective are also planning for our new show which has gained a residency at a Newcastle Theatre will be announced soon on our Social Media, so keep an eye out!

How do you feel your degree prepared you for life in the stage & screen industry?

The Degree’s really prepared me for the industry by giving me an open mindset to realise anything is possible and then giving me the tools to achieve my wildest expectations. Not too mention the industry links I left my time studying with, I genuinely can’t think of a better place to study!

Keep up to date with joseph and his work on social media:

Instagram: @josephcasling & @BrainSoup_Collective

X/Twitter: @joeqef & @BrainSoupCo

If you are interested in studying acting at degree level we offer an intensive industry focused degree programme, find out more here.