We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Scott Vickers a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Scott, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

Interact Screen Actors Academy. This essentially an online acting school that I’ve set up for anyone, no matter where they are in the world can get world-class screen acting training. Training is delivered by myself and other active screen actors, casting directors and film directors.

One of the biggest issues I have with acting training is the lack of overall commitment to actors. You go do a course or a class and as soon as you walk out the door that’s it, there’s little commitment to the bigger picture, IE career pathway, mindset, connections to filmmakers, ongoing support.

I wanted to offer comprehensive training online (so you don’t need to be in LA, New York or London etc). A commitment to actors beyond techniques and training and help them to enter the industry. That’s my offering with Interact Screen Actors Academy.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been in the film and TV industry for nearly 30 years. I have had some incredible successes. Proud moments are performing on the West End production of Chicago for many years, playing a lead character in BBC Drama River City and shooting approx 200 episodes. Writing and Directing Lionsgate film Matriarch.

I never had formal training in acting or film directing. I didn’t go to drama school or film school and all throughout my journey I never managed to find a support network or training that suited me, During my acting journey I must have tried over 50 acting classes in London and I even went to New York on my search to develop myself as an actor but so often felt disappointed and often left less confident.

Everyday I hear similar stories from aspiring actors trying to find the right training and support and so many give up before they even start because they cannot find the correct support.

I’m very proud of my achievements in theatre, TV and film but also very proud of the actors I’ve helped and watching them achieve great things.

Specifically the training we offer in mindset. An actors most important tool is understanding mindset. It is the starting point, if an actor doesn’t handle their mind they will find it very difficult to achieve success in acting.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Throughout my journey I was constantly told I need to go to formal drama school to become a professional actor and then I was told the same about film school in order to become a film director. It was just not an option for me, firstly it was too expensive and getting in to these institutions are extremely difficult.

When I set my sights on screen acting I failed miserably. I was terrible at script work, I couldn’t learn scripts fast enough to be at my best in auditions and I just froze on the audition room. I was dropped by my agent and I had to dig deep in order to keep my dream alive. It was when I found a mentor that led me to success. Paul Gregory mentored me for over a year. Paul had done it all in TV, Film and theatre, trained and mentored by Sir Laurence Oliver so I had the best support and training I could ask for.

I made a huge breakthrough with my acting when I discovered mindset work and meditation. Looking back it was my lack of understanding about the mind and a mindset practice that was holding me back.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When covid hit I was about to move to LA and shoot my second feature, I was signed with 3 Arts Entertainment who are huge in the states and things were going well,

During covid it was not possible to move to LA and my wife and I had two small children so I began coaching actors via zoom and things grew from there and now much of my time is spent running Interact Screen Actors Academy.

Contact Info:

• Website: scott-vickers.com
• Instagram: scottrvickers
• Facebook: scottryanvickers
• Linkedin: scottrvickers
• Twitter: @scottrvickers
• Other: interact-hq.com (Interact Screen Acting Academy)

Image Credits
Ian Bray Rob Ashton