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!

Bonnie Gillespie, an author and casting director, has taught seminars to
working actors in Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles. Her books include
"Casting Qs: A Collection of Casting Director Interviews ," "Self-Management
for Actors: Getting Down to (Show) Business," and "Acting Qs: Conversations
with Working Actors." Bonnie specializes in casting SAG indie feature films
and provides career consulting services to actors. She is co-founder and
co-host of Hollywood Happy Hour and co-founder of the Flickering Image Short
Film Festival. Her weekly column, "The Actors Voice," is available at
Showfax.com. Bonnie lives in Santa Monica with her husband and three cats.

Macy Gray Recording Artist; Founder, M. Gray Music Academy Panelist: Staying Smart: Education for Child Actors

From her award winning music career, to her memorable character roles, Macy Gray has proven to be not only a triple threat in the entertainment community, but a true superstar sensation. Macy exploded onto the music scene with her incredibly successful debut album, "On How Life Is." Her single "I Try" landed her a Grammy in 1999 for "Best New Artist" and the album went on to sell over 7 million copies worldwide. In her second album, "The Id," Macy was immensely successful with such eclectic songs as "Psychopath," "Sexual Revolution," and "Sweet Baby."

In July 2003, Macy Gray released her highly anticipated third album, "The Trouble with Being Myself." Music critics universally hailed the album as her best yet. Macy is currently in the studio finishing off her latest album "BIG" which will be released in Fall 2005. The album is being produced by will.i.am (from the Black Eyed Peas) and features collaborations with Justin Timberlake, Sleepy Brown, Linda Perry and Natalie Cole.

Macy has also managed to find time to spread her acting wings as well. She most recently appeared in the HBO television movie "Lackawanna Blues" which just received seven Emmy Award nominations. She has also appeared in the ABC television drama, "MDs" where she played a talented singer who was diagnosed with a career damaging disease in her throat. Many television critics applauded her sensitive portrayal of this character.

With roles in Warner Bros. Training Day starring Denzel Washington and a cameo in the blockbuster hit Spider Man, Macy's film career is taking off. Macy is currently developing her own animated cartoon with Warner Bros., which will be based on her own childhood. She will lend her unique voice as the central character in this cartoon.

In her latest role, Macy joins another talented and diverse cast in New Line Cinema's Domino and will be in theaters October 14th. The film features Macy as Lashandra, one of two twin cousins being chased by a 19-year-old bounty hunter played by Keira Knightley, and a determined FBI agent played by Lucy Liu. She will also be seen in Shadowboxer opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr. and in Speakerboxx, the musical featuring Outkast.

In addition to her acting and music career, Macy has proliferated into the world of fashion. The Natalie Hinds Collection by Macy Gray delivers beautiful clothes designed in the spirit of the world's most beautiful places. Like Macy, this brand new clothing line is bold and exquisite, with enough attitude to stand out from the crowd.

Macy is also working on opening her own music school, The M. Gray Music Academy, in the "NoHo Arts District" (North Hollywood, CA) in September 2005.

Michael A. Greer Financial Advisor, Certified Financial Manager Merrill Lynch Panelist: Financial Advising for Families of Young Actors

Michael Greer is a Financial Advisor in the downtown Los Angeles office. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2001 and earned his CFM designation in 2002.

Michael offers a comprehensive financial relationship to his clients, from a thorough, planning-based foundation that highlights his clients' personal index--that is, the average annual rate of return that they need to meet all of their objectives--to a sound investment strategy that focuses on the proper asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing of their portfolio. He brings to his clients the best in equity and fixed-income separate account managers, as well as exclusive private equity and hedge fund offerings. Many of Michael's clients are retirees and pre-retirees who take comfort in his providing to them income strategies for retirement.

Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, his Master's Degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and he is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of California Los Angeles. Prior to joining the Private Client Group at Merrill Lynch, Michael traded foreign currencies, commodities, and options on futures. Michael lives in Los Angeles with Jenny Park and their son, Jonas.

Margie Haber Margie Haber Studios Speaker: Audition Techniques Seminar

For the past 20 years, Margie Haber has taught many of Hollywood's rising stars and working actors. Her clients have appeared in hit movies, TV shows, and cult classics and in a variety of media. Here are a few names on her list of growing clients: Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn, Halle Berry, Heather Locklear, Eric Close, Kristin Davis, Laura Innes, Stephen Collins, Traylor Howard, Vondie Curtis Hall, Sophia Bush, Amy Smart, Jeri Ryan, Traylor Howard and Sherry Shephard.

What is it that Margie teaches? She's an acting coach, but the real answer to that question is the title of her book. Margie teaches actors How to Get the Part Without Falling Apart. Based on her 25 years of experience as an actress and teacher, Margie takes away the three P's of pain, panic and performance anxiety from the cold reading process and gives back the big P, POWER, to the actor. She teaches actors how to get out of their own way in auditions, how to break down the scene for the best approach, and how to use her unique technique in breaking down the phrases in a scene or script.

Margie was an audition coach in the 1980's, when two of her clients, Brad Pitt and Michael Easton wound up testing for the same role in the film, "Thelma & Louise." That was Brad's breakthrough role. Margie helped him prepare for the test and the role, and has been doing the same for other successful actors ever since.

A highly respected acting coach on both coasts, as well as nationally and internationally, Margie is perhaps best known for her development of a successful audition technique that has helped hundreds of actors prepare and succeed.

Diane Hill Hardin Acting Coach, Diane Hardin Acting Panelist: Learning from the Coaches - Advice from Acting Coaches

Diane's method of teaching grew out of a successful career as an actress in theatre, television and film. A love of the art of acting and desire to nurture young talent led to the creation of Young Actors Space, the most respected training ground for young actors in LA since 1979. YAS has trained many of the entertainment industry's brightest young stars. In 2000, Diane took her enthusiastic improv teaching style to New York, where she was welcomed with full classes and professional results. Diane now works in Los Angeles as a private coach and career consultant. Her past and present students include Jessica Biel, Kirk Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Kellie Martin, Danny Masterson, Hillary Swank, and Elijah Wood, amongst many others.

Anne Henry, Paula Dorn Biz Parentz Speakers: The Ins and Outs of The Coogan Law: A Must Attend for Parents of Child Actors

Biz Parentz is a non-profit corporation designed to provide education, advocacy and charitable support to parents and children engaged in the entertainment industry, to promote a positive public image regarding child performers, and to educate the public (including potential artists and employers) regarding the safety, education and rights of child performers. This includes, but is not limited to, education regarding child labor laws and regulations disseminated through publications for both employers and employees, a publicly accessible website, lectures, books, etc.

In 1997, Terrance Hines and Justine Hunt formed Hines and Hunt Entertainment. Hines and Hunt is a company that manages talent including Mackenzie Rosman on Seventh Heaven, Karle Warren on Judging Amy, Steve Watson on Monster House, Danica Stewart on Passions, Nick Benson on Summerland, and Chancellor Miller, who stars in the video series "Jamm X Kids." Hines and Hunt also has a number of actors currently working in feature films, including Steve Monroe, well known as "the Tabasco guy", who stars in the feature "House of the Dead II"; Jascha Washington, who recently completed leading roles in "Big Momma's House II" and "Like Mike II", and will star with Queen Latifah in "Last Holiday"; and Wes Robinson, who stars in the upcoming films, "Popstars" and "Dirty Deeds".

Terrance Hines is a graduate of Kent State University, the Stanford Film School, and the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. He has published the book, "An Actor Succeeds", which is in its 12th year of through Samuel French. Throughout his twenty plus years of managing, Terrance Hines Management has worked with actors Roxana Zal, an Emmy winner for "Something About Amelia"; Lukas Hass, "Witness"; Stephen Dorff, "The Power of One"; Lisa Bonet, "The Cosby Show"; Garett Maggart, "The Sentinel"; Mackenzie Rosman, "Seventh Heaven", and Lindsey McKeon, "Saved by the Bell" and "Guiding Light".

Hip Hop Kidz began 15 years ago in Florida when founder, Suzy Stone, decided to provide kids with a dance program where they could learn the latest hip hop moves, make new friends, learn to work as part of a team, improve their self-esteem, and become stronger and more physically fit.

Through their hard work, dedication, and love of performing, Hip Hop Kidz have opened up in concert for Destiny's Child, 98 Degrees and Jessica Simpson. Amongst their many other high profile performances, they've also danced with the Backstreet Boys in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, performed halftime shows for the Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, and several Super Bowls, won gold medals in the World Hip Hop Championships, and appeared in numerous music videos and commercials.

John has served as the Western Regional Director of Actors' Equity Association since 1997. During John's tenure with Equity, membership in the western region has increased 10%, members' annual work weeks have increased 23% and members' annual earnings have increased 33%. The new Casino Agreement was created in 2001 with John as the lead staff person, and the end of 2006 will have created over 10,000 workweeks in Las Vegas that did not exist before the Casino Agreement was crafted. John's open door policy in the Western Regional Office has engendered an atmosphere of open communication between the membership and staff, underscoring the union's stated purpose of support and advocacy for working Actors in America.

Before becoming an Equity Executive, John was a member of Equity since 1968, and has worked as a professional Actor, Stage Manager, Director, Manager and Producer. He has been actively involved as a professional in the performing arts and entertainment industry for over 35 years.

In his various capacities, John has raised funds, developed audiences, initiated educational outreach programs, and overseen national projects. He is a proven executive with well-developed skills in financial operations, theatrical production, and human relations. His ability to work well with others and to inspire and lead his associates is a matter of record.

Kristina Hughes COO, Holdon Log, LLC, Holdon Log; ActorTrack Panelist: Marketing Tools for the Child Actor

Kristina Hughes is the Chief Operating Officer of Holdon Log, LLC; the Entertainment Industry's number one provider of niche-specific organizational tools designed to give performers the professional edge they need to log, track and manage their careers in a simple, yet effective manner.

Holdon Log, a Los Angeles-based company, was founded in 2001 by actors who realized the need for organizational tools specifically designed for performers. The company launched with a single paper-based audition organizer entitled Holdon Log for Actors which was named one of "the absolute top 10 books" for actors by Back Stage West.

They have since expanded their paper-based product line to include Young Actors, Background Artists, Models, Live Performers and Pageant Planner, along with Submission Tracker and Booked Projects log books.

The company also has a software division which has created ActorTrack -The Standard In Career Management Software For Actors, reviewed by ActorPoint.com, "ActorTrack is the software program you need to organize your entire career.".

Kristina is also an accomplished actor with many film and television credits, www.Kristina Hughes.com

Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Next

Expo sponsors include: