. 2008 March | Academy of Cinema and Television Blog
Student News
Mar 26

The staff and instructors at the Academy of Cinema and Television are always thrilled to hear from parents of students regarding their industry successes! Here is some exciting news from one of our moms, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did:

We have some exciting news to share with you - Torrey is signing with Rising Talent Management (Ed Goldstone and Debbie Entin) and Defining Artists (Dede Binder Goldsmith and Kim Dorr). Ed and Debbie will be managing Torrey and Dede and Kim will serve as her agents (theatre and film). Also, Ed wants to introduce Torrey to another agent (commercial) in a few weeks.

Torrey was called back by Dede several months ago at a Phoenix audition sponsored by the Academy of Cinema and Television, and she was called back by Ed recently at IMTA in LA. After sending out a DVD (monologue), both firms asked Torrey to come out to LA (Burbank and Beverly Hills) for another audition (cold read). Torrey just really enjoyed the whole experience and after a couple of meetings we all agreed to move forward. Both firms seem really excited to represent Torrey!

We want to thank you for providing us with an opportunity to meet these types of industry professionals (www.definingartists.com and www.risingtalent.net) so quickly. It’s amazing what can happen in 6 months.

The Academy of Cinema and Television has been a great experience for Torrey. We have been very pleased with the quality of the coaching she has received and we are grateful for the guidance you and your staff have provided us. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Vickie Pine

Everyone at the school is excited for Torrey, especially her instructor Jimmy Flowers, and we all wish her great success working with her new talent agent and managers.

March 26th, 2008 by Admin2 Comments »
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Our Program, Student News, acting
Mar 26

The Academy of Cinema and Television strives to bring our blog readers and students as much information on a weekly basis as possible. And recently a teen blog reader emailed and asked just “how she could become a professional actor.” In one sense, all of us are actors, even if we don’t get paid to perform. Acting is a skill most of us develop as children in order to get what we want from others. Watch any 2 or 3 year old shopping with a parent in a toy store when the child sees something they want!

However, these natural instincts to perform or mimic others is often replaced with the reality of interacting with others in a more mundane and social world. A successful teen actor must learn to tap back into that imaginative world–like the world of early childhood–in order to turn fictional characters into a palpable, if temporary, reality.

Becoming a professional teen actor can simply be a matter of being in the right place at the right time, if the raw talent is in place. But typically, raw talent needs some assistance. Only a small percentage of working teen actors ever reach the lucrative ranks of Raven-Symoné or Miley Cyrus, but it is possible for teens to experience success as an actor if they are willing to do the legwork. Here are some tips for becoming a professional teen actor.

  1. Take professional lessons. You may be saying to yourself, “you are a performing arts school, so of course you are telling me to take classes.” But take a moment and stop and think: can you really become successful at anything if you don’t strive to educate yourself on the subject? Mario Lopez, a professional actor since his tween years, has told our students time and again the importance of training and taking classes. He, and many other adult actors, continue to use acting coaches throughout their careers.
  2. Enroll in dance classes or learn a musical instrument. This is an excellent way to learn how to interact as a solo artist or as part of a group. Professional teen actors often take ‘movement’ classes, which is just another way of saying basic dance instruction. Actors who can play an instrument often have an advantage over others who must learn to pantomime the action. Dance classes can help develop the self-discipline and physical stamina many acting roles require.
  3. Become a better observer of the world around you. Few professional teen actors create their characters completely from scratch. Spend time watching the people you see every day. Listen for different accents or observe how different people walk. Someday you may have an opportunity to base a character on someone you knew as a child or tween. All actors must be a keen observers of the smaller details many people may not notice, like facial expressions or body language.
  4. Take drama, literature and English courses in high school. Acting and creative writing work hand-in-hand, so a teen actor should understand how language and composition work. Since many movies and theatrical plays are based on literary works, teen actors should start early learning as much as they can about the major authors and genres. Also keep in mind that our program is always on the look-out for raw talent that is willing to work. Our students are generally at the top of their academic classes working hard to balance their classes here at the academy as well as their academic school work.
  5. Professional acting is 10% work, 90% auditions. One of the hardest things for beginning teen actors to learn is patience, and auditioning for roles requires a lot of it. The more a teen can go out and audition, the more at ease they become with the process. Auditions can be very intimidating and stressful to the unprepared teen. Especially if the audition waiting room is filled with dozens or hundreds of other teen actors who look exactly right for the part you want! Some casting directors want you to be prepared to perform a short monologue or sing a song, while others might just videotape your responses to seemingly random questions. Casting directors know exactly what they are looking for and the teens auditioning don’t. Never forget that producers and directors are usually looking for specific physical attributes as well as talent during an audition. If you have blonde hair and blue eyes and they are casting to fit a teen into an Greek family grouping, you are not going to be selected no matter how much talent you possess. You must also realize that auditioning is rarely a one-step process, and you must be prepared to return for more call-backs and more thorough scrutiny.

We hope this has helped our teen readers. And, if you have read this and you desire to attend the academy, go here: http://www.academyofcinemaandtv.com/auditons.html and request an appointment from the admissions department.

March 26th, 2008 by Admin4 Comments »
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Our Program, Student News
Mar 25

Academy of Cinema and Television hosts Madison Pettis, star of The Game Plan In just a few days, on March 30, 2008, the Academy of Cinema and Television will host an event where eligible students and their parents will meet nine year old Madison Pettis and her mother Michelle. Madison Pettis is a series regular on Cory in the House, co-starred with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in The Game Plan, and will be starring with Will Smith on his next film. Here is where parents can ask the hard questions and get answers directly from the mother of a child star.

At the Academy of Cinema and Television the staff and instructors all know that every adorable child is not necessarily star material. It’s rare that a child really wants to go into a strange room full of strangers asking strange questions — which is exactly what happens at most theatrical auditions. “Don’t do it unless the kid really wants to do it,” says Mario Lopez, who has been a successful actor since his tween years.

Jack White, Director at the academy’s Phoenix campus, offers this advice to parents on a regular basis: “Parents, never push your kid into show business or to audition. If your child starts crying and is adamant about not going to an audition or classes, don’t make him or her. Get involved because your child is passionate about performing!”

Attitude is also important, child actors spend a great deal of time waiting: waiting to audition, waiting their turn to review wardrobe, waiting for lights to be set, and so on. If a child is often out of control and throwing things or being disrespectful to everyone, they most likely won’t make it past the casting director. It doesn’t matter how talented a child is, if they don’t have the right attitude, they won’t make it because no one wants a little monster on set. This statement also goes for the parents.

This special event is where parents and students can obtain insight into the industry from a young actress who began her career at age 5 and is now one of Hollywood’s most sought after juvenile stars. At this event, Michelle Pettis, Madison’s mom will also share from a parent’s perspective and her own philosophy of not putting pressure on Madison to perform. Parents and students will be able to ask questions and receive tips from this very talented child actor and her mother.

The Academy of Cinema and Television is a private non-academic program with cutting edge training centers that have revolutionized performance education in on-camera acting, modeling, singing and dancing. It is constantly evolving to meet new technologies, new formats, and new approaches to on-camera training. The selection process at all their locations is by invitation only. The academy concentrates on preparing a select group of talented young people to enter the entertainment industry. Class size is kept small to optimize the learning environment. To learn more about the Academy of Cinema and Television call the Academy Director, Jack White, at 602-261-5800 extension 114.

March 25th, 2008 by Admin5 Comments »
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Fashion, Industry News
Mar 14

The Academy of Cinema and Television staff covering LA Fashion Week say that next autumn we can expect more bold colors, as well as masculine-inspired clothing for teens and women.

According to a mention in NYmag.com, toward the end of Fashion Week, Amy Larocca crossed paths with Mary Kate Steinmiller, an editor at Teen Vogue. A Fashion Week veteran, Steinmiller claims that “you don’t even realize you’re going from show to show because there’s so much adrenaline.” Source:NYmag.com

One LA Times reporter was not at all impressed by many of the models this year. Reporter Erin Weinger titled the story “Some amateur-hour meoments at L.A.’s rowdy runways.”  Maybe the reporter might have felt differently if the shoe were on the other foot and had to make quick clothing changes for one of the many over-styled outfits shown this year. Many were more like theatrical costumes than what is generally considered traditional high-fashion.

The Hilton family all turned out in support of Nicky Hilton’s high-end Nicholai line.

Learn more about the line here:   http://www.nickyhilton.com

March 14th, 2008 by StaffNo Comments »
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Our Program, Talent Agents
Mar 12

We have had a number of requests for us to post links to the various talent agencies the Academy of Cinema and Television schools work with. Since the list is very long, we will use a number of posts to get this information to our readers and students. This one will get you started:

Sovereign Talent Group

Defining Artists

Acme Talent & Literary

Coast to Coast Talent Group

Larry LaFond, Casting Director

CR Kids Talent

ABA Talent Agency, Inc.

Kazarian, Spencer, and Associates (KSA)

Cunningham, Escott, Slevin and Doherty

As our students and their parents know, the Academy of Cinema and Television is a private academy for talented students desiring to one day be involved in the world of entertainment or fashion. Our staff works with Talent Agencies, like the ones listed above, on a regular basis.
AmericasBest.com Top 10 Site

March 12th, 2008 by Staff3 Comments »
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Fashion, Industry News
Mar 11

The Academy of Cinema and Television modeling and acting students are always encouraged to informed on current and emerging styles and trends in the world of fashion. The LA Fashion Week, running March 9-13, 2008, coverage on the Internet makes staying informed much easier for students.

On this blog we try to make it effortless.

From the California Apparel News site student can view straight forward images of the 2008 trends with terse descriptions of the various trends, like this one on Demin: “Denim is freshened up this season with styling that ranges from retro to futuristic. Light denim colorations, retro-styled pockets, high waists and futuristic waxed coatings are key looks for the ever-popular category.”

Students who have been watching this season of Project Runway can now watch the auction of the collections that showed at Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week. All proceeds from these sales will benefit The HOPE Program.

If this terse post helped you, please share it on del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or Digg. We’d appreciate it. :)

March 11th, 2008 by Staff3 Comments »
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Fashion, Industry News
Mar 11

The Academy of Cinema and Television staff take a look as the LA Fashion Week events begin to influence the world of fashion.

March 9 -13, 2008, all of the fashion world will be focused on Los Angeles as the world’s most prestigious fashion shows and the world-famous models take center stage.

MTV reality star Lauren Conrad will be showcasing her  signature clothing line, The Lauren Conrad Collection.  This will be the first ever fashion for the collection.  The reality starlet says her Fall/Winter 08/09 collection was inspired during her recent trip to Paris and will sport a “very European” feel.

Lauren will showcase her own stylings today, Tuesday, March 11, 2008,  during L.A.’s Fashion Week, just in time to plug MTV’s The Hills, which returns March 24 (10 p.m. ET/PT). Conrad chats with USA TODAY about footwear, friends and her fashion pizazz.

March 11th, 2008 by Staff2 Comments »
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Industry News, Our Program, Showcases, Workshops
Mar 07

Madison Pettis coming March 30, 2008

Academy of Cinema and Television Event Featuring Actor Madison PettisMadison Pettis is a series regular on Cory in the House, co-starred with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in The Game Plan, and will be starring with Wil Smith on his next film.

This very special event will give parents and students insight into the industry from a young actress who began her career at age 5 and is now one of Hollywood’s most sought after juvenile stars.

Madison Pettis was born in Arlington, Texas, the daughter of Michelle and Steven Pettis, who works for Lear, a GM supplier. When Madison was 5, Michelle Pettis entered her daughter in an annual cover search held by FortWorthChild, a free monthly parenting magazine. Madison was chosen for a cover. The photographer was so impressed with Madison that she put Michelle in touch with a modeling agency in Dallas, which led to modeling jobs and eventually commercials for Madison.

Madison and her mom are the perfect duo to speak to the serious acting and modeling students because the private academy only accepts students that possess natural talent. Madison has always been a natural talent. According to her mother Michelle, she was carrying on conversations with strangers at the grocery store when she was 2, and when, on the set of The Game Plan, Madison was on a first name basis with everyone.

At nearly the same time as filming started on The Game Plan, she was cast on the Disney Channel show, Cory in the House, where she has become famous for her role as Sophie Martinez.

Madison and her mother Michelle will be sharing the realities of the life of a child actor in the entertainment industry at the event. Most students may not realize that Madison often acts for up to five hours a day, has three hours of schooling and takes a 30-minute lunch. And, then spends her evenings memorizing her lines and doing schoolwork. There is also the element of travel connected to film and television work, a good example is when Madison and her mom were in Los Angeles filming Cory in the House in the summer and then spent the fall in Boston filming The Game Plan.

Michelle will also share from a parent’s perspective at the school’s event and she’ll be sharing her own philosophy of not putting pressure on Madison to perform. Parents and students will be able to ask questions and receive tips from this very talented child actor and her always vigilant parent.

*Students interested in attending the event with their parents will need to confirm eligibility with their instructor or  Director, Jack White.

If you liked this press release, please share it on del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or Digg. We’d appreciate it. :)

March 7th, 2008 by Staff5 Comments »
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