Quick note to let all our readers know that we now have three videos on YouTube that were developed from the footage taken during the Academy of Cinema and Television event featuring Madison Pettis and her mom Michelle. Go view all three, and don’t forget to leave your comments — both at YouTube and HERE. Here is the link to the Madison Pettis Edu Event Part 1:
Victoria Cosner landed a large role as the Drowned Girl ghost, one of the few good spirits in the horror film The Between.
Victoria has been on the road to success for some time now. When ACT arranged an audition with Jimmy Villareal with URGE Artists in Beverly Hills some time back, Villareal was immediately impressed and she was introduced to her current Manager, Robert Costanzo. Since that day Victoria has continued to study, audition, and grow as an child actor.
The staff and instructors are all pleased to hear that Victoria has landed a good-sized role in the new film for a major Hollywood studio. Her raw talent and beauty have been obvious since the first day she auditioned for admission into the Academy of Cinema and Television.
Victoria is not an unusual student success story. The talent scouts for the Academy of Cinema and Television know what to look for in a child actor. The raw talent that attracts the attention of trained scouts and staff members is very obvious. Training and developing the natural talent is where the school comes in. The school hires some of the most talented instructors in the business to guide and enhance the natural talents of its students. Young actors of Victoria’s caliber are the norm at the school. It is just a matter of time and exposure until additional kids get their big break.
Student Brenna Justine won a good role in this film as well and three other students — Anna Clark, Caiti Currey, and Lexie Rich — were also cast as understudies for the film. For more information on The Between, visit http://www.thebetweenmovie.com.
Starting off as an actress, Ivy Isenberg graduated from USC’s theatre and film schools. Before deciding on Casting as her career, she worked at talent agencies, managed actors, and worked in feature development. Ivy Isenberg spent five and half years casting at MGM Studios with Paul Weber.
Here is a listing of the Satellite Students that Ivy Isenberg, a well-known Hollywood Casting Director called back:
Hanna Harrison (IL), Amelia Hogstrom (IL), Megan Gorecki (IL), Maheep Bhramra (IL), Chloe Grzegorczyk (IL), Annalise Palatine (IL), Paige Marnell (IL), Juan Macias-Sanchez (IL), Mackenzie Mityas (IL),Victoria Roman (IL), Celeste Roxas (IL), Angie Fogliatti (IL), Sydney Kudlinski (Midwest), Anthony Sayles (Midwest), Christian Sanchez (Midwest) Nadia Gumm (Midwest), Nina Zepeda (Midwest), Peter Mascal (Midwest), Isabel Thomas (Midwest), Lacy Goettling (Midwest), Alivia Aten (Midwest), Lexi Tebbe (Midwest), Katya Jones (Midwest), Morgan Brown (Midwest), and Chase Lawrence (Midwest)
The Academy of Cinema and Television strives to furnish quality Industry News that will be of value to both the school’s students and our faithful Internet readers. Since many of our students seem to end-up in the Los Angeles area, both temporarily and permanently, we felt this article from Washingtonpost.com would be great interest.
L.A. Apartment Complex Caters To Child Actors Chasing Dreams
By John Rogers
Associated Press
Saturday, June 16, 2007; Page F21
LOS ANGELES — From the street, it may look like just another apartment complex, but to a kid with dreams of stardom, it’s the Emerald City at the end of the Yellow Brick Road.
Oakwood Toluca Hills is the place where aspiring child stars arrive by the hundreds every year to take up residence as they pursue fame.
“Everyone in the business, everyone who knows about acting, knows about it,” said teen star Devon Werkheiser, who arrived with his mother four years ago with one small film role to his credit.
He left for better digs after landing the starring role in one of the most popular teen shows on television, Nickelodeon’s “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.”
Just one visit to the complex of 1,151 furnished residences carved into of the Hollywood Hills reveals this is no ordinary cluster of three-story, beige-and-tile apartment buildings.
Around the pools, in the clubhouses, at the barbecues, they are everywhere: curly-haired, freckle-faced, good-looking kids.
They are outgoing, friendly and look a lot like the people you see on TV. Sometimes they are. At any given time, 400 to 500 child actors live at Oakwood. Click here to read the full article.
Since many of the students at the Academy of Cinema and Television are often selected for working in television and film, we encourage the parent of a child or teen actor who has begun working on projects in the industry to familiarize themselves with the child labor laws and regulations in the state where the youth is working. Not only is it important because it’s the law, but these regulations are put in place for the benefit of the child or teen and are great guidelines to follow.
States can regulate many aspects of a production when it comes to kids and teens working in the entertainment industry. Before your child walks on the set the first day, make sure you find out the answers to the following questions:
* What’s the maximum number of hours my child can work on set?
* Are the hours different for school and non-school days?
* How much light can/will my young child be exposed to?
* Is my child required to have a work permit?
* Is a studio teacher required to be on set?
* How much time does my child get for rest and recreation?
* Are there any exceptions?
In each state there always seems to be gray areas, loopholes and exceptions. For example, many regulations are determined based on the age of the actor. However while a seventeen year old student in California may only be allowed to work between certain hours, a seventeen year old who has graduated from high school is not subject to child labor laws and can work as an adult. The parent is the child’s primary advocate, even if they have an agent or personal manager. A production set can be a stressful, hectic environment and if a director is running behind schedule he may not want your child to get their mandated break time. It’s up to you to make sure your child has a healthy, balanced and enjoyable experience in the industry.
When children are taken on auditions, the process involves the parent a great deal, so for your child to have a good audition, there are several things a parent must do well.
The first, and one of the more important tasks of a parent, is to be honest with your child. Let your youngster know there are no guarantees, especially if they have never been on any type of performing arts audition.
Winning a part in an upcoming Hannah Montana episode, or any other type of performing arts role, is not guaranteed, no matter how talented or bright a child may be. The casting people have a specific criteria they must follow. They have an agenda and they must stay focused no matter how good an impression a talented child may make. This is one of the reasons our school likes to team with agents and casting people who are actively searching for specific types for a specific project. We are able to spot new talent this way and give the new talent the opportunity to further develop their talent for future opportunities.
Many successful, and talented children and teens go to dozens of auditions before they get their first part. As a parent, it is important that you prepare your child for this reality.
Children and teens are treated the same way adults are at auditions! Performing arts is a serious business. The standard auditioning rules apply just as they do in an adult audition. Arrive fifteen minutes early and come prepared and rehearsed, if you know ahead of time what is expected. For acting roles, children and teens are normally asked a 3-4 questions and then are expected to either do a “cold reading” or perform the lines thrown at them. In some auditions the parent is given a script when they arrive. It is up to the parent to “quietly” assist their child is reviewing it and preparing until the child’s name is called. All auditions follow a procedure that fits the parts they are casting, so there are too many variables to list, so simply be prepared to follow directions and QUIETLY assist your child.
Talent Agents and Casting Directors like kids who act like kids. You as a parent will usually not be able to sit-in on the audition, so don’t ask or attempt to follow the child in.
Be sure you read all the documents you are handed. If you need to ask questions, do it when staff is not busy with another parent or child. Don’t be too pushy, stage parents already have a bad rap so don’t add to it. If you are attending a dual-audition where a school has scouts present, be sure you understand that the school is looking for talented potential students. If your loved-one is talented enough for a school call-back, realize it is a positive testiment to your child’s natural ability. If you are not in a position, financially or otherwise, to allow your child to pursue professional training, if called-back and invited, prepare your child for that possibility as well. There is always tomorrow.
Be respectful and tell your child they did great afterwards, no matter how they actually performed. Constant support is necessary when the rejection rate of child acting auditions is so high. Once the audition is over, wait a few minutes before you leave. Once in a while a casting director wants your child to come back in and read again. Always say “thank you” as you leave.
