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Learn from top casting directors, talent agents and managers... Hear from current child actors... Gain insight from union representatives... And much, much more... Check back often as more speakers are added! |
Gary Almond has been responsible for the general management and operation of the Better Business Bureau of the Southland for nearly 14 years. Most recently, Gary created the letter grade rating system used by the Bureaus to provide inquirers an effective way to gauge the reliability of a business. He believes that the organization's innovative approach has led them to be the largest consumer affairs entity anywhere. He is frequently requested to give discussions, often quoted and interviewed by news agencies, and provides expert testimony on consumer related matters. The BBB has gathered thousands of complaints over the years on talent and modeling related issues and has challenged their advertising claims - effectively making the BBB the expert in providing advice, based on customer complaints, on what to look-out for. Gary holds a Master's degree of Business Administration. He has also been a part-time temporary faculty member for the California State University providing education in computer systems, operations research/management, and accounting.
In 1980, Betty McCormick Aggas started Creative Talent Company, the first full-service AFTRA franchised agency in Columbus, Ohio. Her efforts were rewarded when she received the "Jaycees 10 Outstanding Citizens" award. In 1996, after moving to Los Angeles, she founded Midwest Talent Management Inc. Soon after joining the Talent Managers Association, she became 2nd Vice President and served as the 1st Vice President for two terms on the TMA Board of Directors. Her work on behalf of her clients and all the unconditional TMA volunteer work were the impetus for her being chosen as the 2003 recipient of the Seymour Heller award for Excellence in the field of Talent Management. Betty and her husband Gary formed Special Story Productions so Betty can pour her creative energy into producing films and television shows. She will continue to produce new, innovative websites, benefits and seminars for the Talent Managers Association , and, of course, will keep producing the careers of her much-loved Midwest Talent client roster.
Christa knew at an early age that she wanted to be in front of the camera. She had tried dance and ice skating, but her love was always with the camera lens. After intense determination and pleading with her parents, she was finally given the opportunity to take acting lessons and her love for her art has continually grown from there. After getting an agent, she booked from her first audition. It was a small part, but Christa found that she loved the hard work and long hours. To her it is not work, but a long play-date with a whole group of grown-ups and kids. She continued to audition for the next 2 years during which time she booked a couple of commercials, a couple of student films and a voice-over. Late in 2003 she booked the role of "young Jenna" in the movie "13 Going on 30". Christa is currently in independent studies in school which allows her the time she needs to dedicate to her career. Christa has been a straight 'A' GATE student throughout school. She has received numerous "Student of the Month" awards and she hopes to start taking accelerated courses in order to graduate high school very early so that she can dedicate even more time to her acting career.
Cody Arens is an accomplished young actor who has appeared in numerous feature films and television shows. He has appeared in Meet the Parents, Riding in Cars with Boys, and Anger Management. Most recently, he is starring in the upcoming feature film, D-War. He has also played the role of Jason Frederick Marler in The Guiding Light. His television credits include Crossing Jordan, Malcom in the Middle, The Shield, Becker and Third Watch. He is also an avid athlete and a skilled impressionist.
Having grown up in a full-fledged studio since the age of four, photography has always been a part of Bill Ballerini's daily life. Whether it was pressing out the old fiber 8x10s or helping coil the cords, much of Bill's childhood and adult life was lived in the studio. Often tasked to shoot special assignments, he has photographed a little bit of everything - from custom drums to vinyl windows, from rock and roll artists to classical tenors. Bill recently shot the West Coast Customs crew from the MTV show Pimp My Ride. His passion is faces. Bill enjoys the challenges of each new person, the different bone structures and skin tones. He has learned from his own acting experience, as well as working with the many agents that have passed through his studio, that giving agents and casting directors as many options as possible is the best way to better one's chances of success. His/her true strength is in being malleable and having versatility. Exploring this malleability is where he has the most fun.
Chemin Bernard,
CSA, has worked in casting for more than 20 years.
Composer/Producer David Bourgeois has worked in professional music and audio production for more than twenty-five years. Compositions for film, televison, advertising and multi-media are all part of his resume. He is also CEO of White Lake Music & Post Recording Studios and is called upon to produce music, voice-overs, and various audio elements for a wide range of national and regional clientele. For the past ten years, David has been active in developing training methods in conversational reading and effective verbal communication. Today, David and his team of professionals at Creative Voice Development Group train and develop individuals interested in voice acting and effective verbal communication throughout the United States. Additionally, David's lectures on voice acting and conversational reading are currently offered through more than one hundred colleges and continuing education programs across the country.
Karen has represented clients that included Dee Dee Davis ("The Bernie Mac Show"), Kyle Massey ("That So Raven"), Scarlett Pomers ("Reba"), Alyson Stoner ("Cheaper By the Dozen"), Dakota Fanning ("Man on Fire"), Brie Larson ("Sleepover"), Kevin Schmidt ("Clubhouse"), Erica Christensen ("Traffic"), Gregory Smith ("Everwood"), Hilary Duff ("Lizzie McGuire"), Vanessa Lee Chester ("The Lost World-Jurassic Park"), Raven-Symone ("That's So Raven") and many others. Karen has created
HowtobeASTAR.com
as an easy resource online guide to provide comprehensive essential information
to guide families step-by-step through the process on what they need to do
to get their minor's started on a successful career in the entertainment business.
The site's topics include "How to Get Started", "How to interview
with an Agent or Manager", "A List of Agents and Managers,"
"All About Contracts", "Schooling on the Set", "The
Audition Process", "Headshots that Work", "Photographers,"
"A List of Photographers," "Casting Directors", "What
Taxes to write off", "Pilot Season", "Changing Agents,"
"Money," "Print," and many more insightful topics. In addition, HowtobeAStar.com is planning to bring HowtobeASTAR.Com Radio with tips and expert advice from Agents, Managers, Coaches, Teachers, Photographers, Casting Directors and many, many more experts.
Polly Businger is the Business Agent for IATSE Local 884 Studio Teachers/Welfare Workers. With the state labor officials, she teaches training seminars for all union and non-union studio teachers that are required for certification, and she speaks annually at the DGA trainee seminars. She compiled the Blue Book, the compilation of child labor laws that producers, SAG and parents rely on.
Jason began casting extras and commercials in his home town of Chicago, Illinois. Since arriving in Los Angeles, he has worked on over ten pilots and dozens of episodic television shows. He was the senior casting coordinator at Warner Bros. Television, (Eastwick, Zero Effect, Thieves, Harry Stone, Bull) the casting associate at Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting, (Rude Awakening, Any Day Now, The Gregory Hines Show, Glory, Glory, Rag and Bone) and the former associate at Weber & Associates Casting at MGM (Dead Like Me, She Spies, Fame Encore, Stargate -SG1, Soldier of Fortune, The Outer Limits, The Crow, 12 Angry Men, The Gingerbread Man, A Hero From Zero). Jason has been coaching and consulting clients for the past three years, teaching two on-going audition technique classes as well as a commercial intensive class. In addition, Jason is an invited keynote speaker at numerous universities, conducting marketing seminars for their graduating seniors and theatre students.
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