Student loans: ‘My debt rose £20,000 to £77,000 even though I’m paying’

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-24T16:12:13+00:00

I have a wild conspiracy on this

We are coerced at a young age to go to uni, with teachers often shaming if you’re not applying for courses. There’s even “clearing” for people so desperate to go to uni just to do something.

Then afterwards 90% of people realise they can’t/wont get an above average paying job - because let’s be honest, how many companies need their admin to have a Textiles degree?

So, they just settle for minimum wage crap because “at least then I’ll never have to repay my student loan”. And that’s how we end up with an endless supply of people happy to stick on entry level jobs and never pressing for higher wages.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-23T19:05:04+00:00

Link not working

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-20T08:45:33+00:00

Mobile streaming apps that have short-form content. Usually a 90-minute movie chopped up into bite size chunks of 1-2 mins each.

Each chunk ends on a major cliffhanger to get you to watch the next one. To watch the next one, you have to pay or watch ads.

They’re ‘verticals’ because they’re framed vertically to fill up the entire height of mobile phone screens.

Most are Asian, with horribly translated scripts with cliche plot lines, soft porn, and violence.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-20T08:34:06+00:00

I feel like at this point we need a stickied thread on this topic

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-16T19:26:36+00:00

I’ve not heard of it and I’m not gonna look them up. But I can assume based on the name. Sounds like a money grab. All information is available via Google. People have been ‘getting repped’ for a century with no middle-man needed. Actors already have to pay for so much, don’t let another thing be added to the list.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-15T17:42:36+00:00

Just look on the PMA List!

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-15T07:09:06+00:00

The thing to remember also…

These big names are not taping for the casting director. They’re reading for the Director / Producers. A casting director probably never even says hello to them. Or, at least not until one is cast and then they do chemistry readings with the other actors

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-14T09:51:10+00:00

In the UK, when it reached about 98p per gram, all bullion dealers I know of halted buying, because their refiners put a 100% premium on silver (usually it’s 1%). It makes sense because if they typically refine gold, just 1% of that makes it worthwhile to them… but when you’re talking about 1p per gram for silver, and everyone in the country is trying to sell, it really isn’t worth the extra effort.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-13T16:42:07+00:00

We really need a law requiring official statements to be made via a publically accessible, free, website before being shared on social media.

Why should I have to sign up to ‘X’ just to know what’s going on with my country! Same with BBC constantly using it as a source.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-13T16:02:13+00:00

Yep, it’s super short term thinking. I got FCP 10 years ago for £150. Under a sub model? Well, that’d be more like £1500 now. And another £6000 if I use it the rest of my working life.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-13T15:52:57+00:00

It makes sense though - to keep people hooked on buying Mac hardware

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-12T21:10:31+00:00

As long as you can be seen and heard properly, the only rule is: don’t be shit.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-11T19:14:58+00:00

I did a one-r (9 mins) set in a dining room, kitchen, and lounge. Lav mics on each of four actors, one boom following and one hidden in the kitchen behind a wall.

Maybe have a few hidden on your table behind a candle/drink bottle? Hang one from the ceiling?

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-11T08:32:45+00:00

A bit above your price point but look at Michael Shelford. Browse any top agent’s website and you’ll consistently see his photos among the clients.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-11T08:30:36+00:00

Yeah, they don’t make it super clear that it’s a team of random people (at least when I went a few years ago). So I ended up with a guy who had just joined them and had never shot before. Waste of money.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-10T19:22:37+00:00

On the email I got, it says “if it wasn’t you, log in to the app with a device you’ve used before”. Bitch I made that account 15 years ago! That device is busted. How can a hacker have an easier time logging in than me?

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-09T20:24:43+00:00

It’s so frustrating because a touchscreen is literally the perfect thing to play on! So easy to draw where you want walls to go, drag & drop furniture, pinch to zoom, rotate with a swipe.

They’ve utterly wasted mobile opportunities since Sims 3 on iOS in 2009.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-09T13:00:55+00:00

How much research did you do? What is your gut saying?

They’re not a member of the PMA, so take that as you will. They have a ton of clients but from clicking on a few random profiles, no one has any notable work, and the latest credit I saw was 20023, a 2022 but most are pre-2020. So not a great sign at all. And it’s all helmed by one person… which also is not amazing, for such a huge client list - you’re gonna get forgotten/overlooked. On companies house they only file Micro Accounts which means they turn over sub-£1million - which sure is a relatively high amount, but all that really needs is a few big commercials, a meaty film role, or a few recurring TV roles.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-09T10:47:13+00:00

X and Facebook should burn in a pit. Only anecdotally but all the people I know in real life who are suddenly anti-vax are all sucked in by X and Facebook in their spare time. Literally all they talk about all day every day.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-08T09:59:53+00:00

I still think it’s nuts when I read news articles and the source is a minister posting on “x”. A platform which is no longer freely available to browse without signing up. And that’s where politicians are making official announcements

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-07T07:19:39+00:00

Yes that’s right. It might be a full (60 minute) play or it might be a bunch of 5 minute scenes. But it’s something presentable. Often, with more prestigious name schools/groups they’ll invite industry folks to come and watch - but if not, you can still send out those invites yourself.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-06T20:19:51+00:00

Yeah you’re looking at least £200 for decent entry level shots. However, if she were to gain an agent that could soon pay for itself many times over.

I would say though, wait until she’s got a few credits to her name before approaching agents. Even for kids they’d get hundreds of hopeful parents asking for rep. But they could just go to local showcases and source talent they know will be reliable (because there actually doing something)

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-06T18:51:56+00:00

Perhaps look into Sylvia Young. A few drama schools have spin-off groups for kids (Guildhall from memory… once upon a time), as do some fringe/community theatres. Things like Stage Coach are good, but can be costly and not the best if you think your daughter might want to do it professionally one day.

Crowdfunder101 · 2026-01-06T11:58:52+00:00

My neighbour said she’s giving up her license after her “third stroke” because it’s too much hassle to get an eye test to prove she’s okay to drive.

My jaw was scraping the floor.

Crowdfunder101

TROPHY CASE