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Sorel
Johnson
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Work
History
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| November 1993 to present |
| I left full-time employment to return to a more active pursuit of my creative work and spent a year writing and programming music with my partner, (now my husband) Will Parnell. During that time I also worked as a freelance researcher for Felicia law Publishing on a series of educational birthday books for children.I subsequently decided to return to ‘the boards' for a while and landed a lead role in the launch campaign for the Nissan Almera. I then spent nine months at the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton playing various roles and left when I was 2 months pregnant and increasingly tired! |
| After the birth of my daughter Lola (now 5 years old), I combined acting in commercials and voiceovers with singing session work and being a full-time mum. At that time I set up and ran a 3-year course in metaphysics and series of occasional lectures with American writer, astrologer and metaphysician, Alan Oken, trained with Ilene Val-Essen, psycho-synthesis therapist and author of the Quality Parenting course as a course leader, as well as working with parenting educators, Gail Allen and Marguerite Smith-White. I also undertook some work for Jane Shaw, UK Director of the Hunger Project, to revision the outlook and operation of the UK division of the charity and was a member of the Steering Committee for Pathways Foundation, an educational charity. I returned to the theatre when Lola was 2 ½ for 4 months and have continued with occasional recording, commercial and voice-over work and recently a film appearance. I have always had a quiet sideline in designing invitations, flyers, proposals and brochures and recently worked with Naomi Landau on the image of MHMTS, a management consultation and training agency, and designed the layout for her brochure and flyers. |
| Since my pregnancy and the birth of my son, Xavier (now 14 months old), I have become more interested in photography and image manipulation. In November 2001 I won Best Portraiture in Digital Photo User magazine's annual photographic competition sponsored by Canon. I also have 4 portraits currently in the actors directory, The Spotlight. |
| The SPA Parnership – Account Manager/Creative Consultant |
| November 1992 to October 1993 |
| I joined this marketing and public relations company as an account executive and Mercury's most successful campaign ever for its paging division. I quickly became Account Manager and working on the Peoples Phone launch campaign. I was responsible for all aspects of the account: marketing and PR strategy, client liaison, journalist liaison, writing of press releases, etc. I then became the company's ‘creative' brainstorming ideas for new campaigns and pitches to clients including Bendincks Chocolates, Champagne Taittinger, MFI, Prêt à Manger and many more. I researched and wrote a two-hundred page Feasibility Study for a new film and television school commissioned by Sir John Mills. I also bought and customised software for the company. |
| Alan Crompton-Batt Associates – Freelance PA/DTP Operator/Computer Consultant |
| Summer 1989 to November 1992 |
| I worked for this public relations company specialising in food and drink on a freelance basis. I wrote, edited and designed press releases and proposals, formulated the in-house graphic style of the company, trained staff on the computer systems, customised a database programme and wrote guide manuals for the company. I also liaised with clients and journalists and set up press functions and tastings. |
| Mitchell & O'Brien – PA to MD |
| Summer 1988 to Summer 1989 |
| I was Girl Friday to Rita Cruise O'Brien from the inception of the restaurant. My duties included writing press releases and copy, organising events (notably a charity week for the Soho Jazz Festival featuring artists like Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music, amongst others) organising, publicising and overseeing functions for companies such as Palace Pictures and general day to day running of the restaurant – I could make a blinding capuccino when the occasion demanded. I also organised the booking of musicians and performed as a jazz singer myself on a weekly basis. |
| Alan Crompton-Batt Associates – PA to Proprietor |
| Summer 1987 to Spring 1988 |
| I was personal assistant to ‘eighties entrepreneur and bon vivant, Alan Crompton-Batt. Our clients included chefs like Antony Worrall-Thompson, Marco Pierre White and Nico Ladenis and various high profile restaurants and hotels like the Capital Hotel, Gidleigh Park, La Réserve, Le Boulestin, and food accounts like Häagen Dazs, Godiva Chocolates and Champagne Taittinger. I was Account Executive for the Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland, leading press trips, organising events and writing press releases, as well as extensive PA duties and client liaison. My work included bringing the company into the computer age: setting up an integrated computer system and teaching accounts executives how to use it. |
| Freelance Secretary/WP Operator |
| Spring 1987 to Summer 1987 |
| Work included a two month assignment processing and editing a confidential government report and designing and processing a management manual for a large firm in the City. |
| I also... Wrote an article for the 1993 Autumn issue of ‘Baby' Magazine on house husbands, worked as a record librarian for Capital Radio, managed a wine bar in the West End and worked part time for a financial services company keeping their books! |
| Acting & Singing Work |
| September 1981 to present |
| My work as an actress includes theatre: repertory, international tours, West End; television work for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4; two feature films and commercials, etc. I also arrange vocals, write lyric and melodies, programme music, play some keyboards and dabble at flute, recorder and percussion (I used to play timpani in my school orchestra). I worked professinally as a jazz/contemporary dancer for a year after leaving drama school. |
| EDUCATION |
| Secondary Education, 1974-1980 |
| Hampstead Comprehensive. 9 ‘O' levels, 1 ‘A' level. |
| Drama School, 1980-1981 |
| The Drama Studio, London. Postgraduate Professional Course. Diploma in Acting. |
| Secretarial College, Spring 1987 |
| Speedwriting/Speedtyping Ltd, London. Gold Diploma in Keyboard Skills, Production Typing (RSA II equivalent), Audio Typing, Office Production, Shorthand, Word Processing. I also wrote a manual for the college explaining their word processing software. |
| SKILLS |
| Office Skills |
| Shorthand 100 WPM. Typing 95 WPM. Audio. High standard of production typing and presentation. Graphic design and presentation. Word processing. Experience of reception and switchboards. |
| Languages |
| Intermediate French (but very rusty) |
| Driving Licence |
| I hold a full, clean driving licence. |