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Interview:
Darren Gray, Director, Darren Gray Management: 15th
June 2003
Darren
Gray is one of Britin's, if not the world's, most
respected Actor's Agents.
Media Man Australia's recently met one of the
actors that Darren Gray represents, Wally Green,
at Joy Hruby's book launch of "Dubbo Dazzlers",
in Sydney.
Wally
was an absolute delight to speak with (and party
with), and I was smart enough to ask for this
details. In the near future an interview with
Wally Green should appear on Media Man Australia.
Darren
Gray discusses some of the highlights of his own
career, what he does, and current projects.
How, why and when did you
establish the agency?
I had met Joy Hruby in Sydney during the early
1990s whilst out there presenting my TV show 'Darren
Gray Down Under' for the British pay-tv
channel Wire TV. Whilst over there United
Artists, who owned the channel, decided
to pull out of the pay-tv business and I was left
stranded half-way around the world - well I'd
rather be stranded in sunny Australia than anywhere-else!!
Joy
was considering going back into the agency business
after several years break from her previous agency,
Studio J, and we
ended up forming Joy's Creative
Management. After several years in Australia
I decided to return to the UK due to the continued
demand for Australian actors over there and as
these actors were being ripped off by unscrupulous
pommy agents who were ripping them off.
As
a result Darren Gray Management was created, we
specialise in representing mainly Aussie actors
and continue to go from strength to strength.
What's
your background?
I
was born, well naturally, in Portsmouth, England
and was originally a television presenter and
journalist. I hosted numerous shows, mainly about
the world of entertainment on the British pay-tv
station Wire TV which included Darren Gray Down
Under (from Australia), Darren Grays Day and the
quiz show Soap Quest.
I wrote regular columns for such publications
as Bella, Satellite Times, Cable Times, LAM, and
other reports for The Stage, Hello, TV Week and
TV Soap in Australia..... As well as founding
Darren Gray Management in the UK, and co-founding
Joy's Creative Management in Australia, I produced
Doug Moody's play 'Second
Hand Dreams' in Sydney twice - starring
Colleen Clifford and Toni Pearen, and also a sell-out
season of Colleen's one-woman show.
What
have been your career highlights?
That's
a hard one, there have been many. Bringing so
many Australian actors from Home & Away and
Neighbours into Britain I suppose. We flood British
theatres at Christmas for pantomimes every year.
I have got Annalise Braakensiek working as Bruce
Forsyth's hostess on Play
Your Cards Right (a TV game show), had
Gabrielle Richens working in the Jordanian desert
as presenter of the adventure game show The Desert
Forges, and when Rebecca Ritters joined the cast
of the long-running British soapie Coronation
Street.
On
the other side of the spectrum highlights have
been bringing Jeannie Lightbrown and Alan Coleman
(who helped found Reg Grundy's
Drama Department and is the king of serialised
drama) to tour nationally with their individual
seminars for actors. Alan then had a successful
stint directing the British soap Family
Affairs. Oh, and we even brought Liz Mullinar
to the UK to launch her books- Liz of course starting
the hugely successful Mullinars
Casting Consultancy in Oz.
What
are you most well known for?
Reprenting
Australian actors, producers, directors and writers
in Britain. I am the only agent that specialises
in doing this. Prior to this I was known for my
TV work of course.
What
media coverage have you received?
Lots
over the years, profiles in Encore Magazine and
general interviews on TV, radio and press for
both myself and the actors.
What
do you do on a day to day basis?
Talking
to casting directors on the phone, via e-mail
etc. Arranging auditions and publicity sessions
for my actors. Having business lunches and drinks
with clients. Going to the theatre in the evening
for one opening night or another.
What
is the biggest misconception about the entertainment
industry?
That
the business is easy, the general public don't
see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
Also that many viewers seem to believe that my
actors are the characters they play in a soaps,
they seem to be under the impression that they
actually are the character they portray and not
an actor.
How
do you put "the business" in show business?
By
being myself, just ask anyone that has ever worked
with me!
Who
are some of the most talented actors on your books?
That's
a very hard question to answer as I wouldn't work
with any actor that I didn't believe to be talented.
But amongst them have been the late Colleen Clifford,
Kathleen McCormack, Judy Nunn, Ian Rawlings, Rebecca
Ritters. Annalise Braakensiek.... And many more,
so if your name isn't on this list please don't
be offended!!
Where
do you find most of your work coming from?
It
depends on the time of year. At Christmas time
its panto's. During the Summer its outdoor touring
Shakespeare seasons and Summer runs of shows in
theatres. On a general note through the year its
a steady flow of theatre, film, tv, presenting,
radio, corporate events and commercials.
What
is your unique selling proposition?
I have talented actors who can do the job required,
that's simply it.
Why
do clients keep coming back to you time and time
again?
You'd
have to ask them that! I imagine its because they
get treated well by my agency and we work hard
on their behalf.
What
motivates you?
Seeing
talented people working and getting the jobs they
deserve to have. The money is nice as well of
course.
What
are your current projects?
I
have actors about to go into new TV and theatre
projects. We are looking at bringing an Australian
stage production to Britain, and I'm finalising
agreements for actors to fly over for this Christmas
for panto season.
We
are also looking at developing a new TV series
with producer Doug Moody and starring veteran
actor Wally Green from Xena
Warrior Princess.
What
else should our audience know about Darren Gray
Management?
I
think that's about it but they can keep posted
on any new developments with the agency by logging
onto the agency website at- http://www.darrengraymanagement.co.uk
...end.
Editors
note: A complicated and interesting subject, to
say the least. Media Man Australia so dam pleased
that we still have freedom on speech in Australia,
or should that be, freedom of internet!
Links:
Interview
- 27th September 2003
Darren
Gray Management
Oz
Soap 2003
Aussie
Actors
BBC
Article:
Joy's World, by Greg Tingle and Yvette Moore -
7th July 2003
Channel
31 Sydney
Channel
31 Melbourne
Media
Man Australia (Greg Tingle) Channel 31 interviews
include:
Joy
Hruby
Jennifer
Angel
Adam
Foster
Segment
Talking
Television with Greg Tingle
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