03 Mar 2026
David Jenkins, founder of Brilliant Academies, reflects on recent comments by actor Reese Witherspoon urging budding stars to chase their talents, not their dreams…
Dreams and reality are equally important.
Dreams give young people direction. They spark imagination, ambition and belief.
But reality, and the structure, discipline and skill behind the scenes, is what turns those dreams into something tangible.
The recent debate sparked by Reese Witherspoon’s comments about focusing on talent rather than simply “chasing dreams” has struck a chord. For me, it’s not about choosing one over the other. It’s about understanding that dreams without development rarely become careers.
Here in Hertfordshire, we are seeing extraordinary growth in the creative industries.
The film and television sector continues to expand, with Warner Bros Studios Leavesden adding around 400,000 sq ft of production space and increasing its soundstages from 19 to 29 – a move expected to create up to 4,000 jobs and contribute more than £200 million annually to the UK economy.
But the same principle applies across theatre, dance and performance more broadly – opportunity is growing, standards are rising and expectations are real. But having the opportunity and a dream are not enough.
Young people need more than inspiration. They need structured training, clear expectations, expert guidance and the chance to make mistakes in a safe but disciplined environment. That belief is what led us to establish the Brilliant Academies, providing hands-on training for seven to 19-year-olds across theatre, dance and film – designed to bridge the gap between passion and profession.
We do not tell students to stop dreaming. We help them build the skills that give those dreams weight and meaning.
In film, that means writing scripts, operating cameras, managing sound and understanding how a professional set functions. In theatre, it means vocal training,
stagecraft, rehearsal discipline and learning to command a stage with confidence and control. In dance, it means technical precision, physical stamina, musicality and the resilience that comes from repetition and correction.
Across all three disciplines, students learn that creativity and discipline are not opposites; they are equal partners.
And the results speak for themselves. We see young people grow in confidence, secure places at leading training institutions, step into professional environments and develop the communication, teamwork and leadership skills that serve them far beyond performance.
As Hertfordshire’s creative sector continues to grow, the responsibility is clear. If we want local young people to benefit from these opportunities – whether that’s on a film set, on stage or in a studio we must invest not only in infrastructure, but in young people.
Big ambition needs strong foundations. Let’s help young people be as well-prepared as they can to embrace the opportunities on our doorstep and beyond.
www.brillianttheatreacademy.co.uk
www.brilliantfilmacademy.co.uk
