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Justin Shenkarow Actor Chair, Screen Actors Guild Young Performer's Committee Panelist: How to Avoid Scams, Industry Insight and Union Membership - A Panel Discussion Moderator: Talent Agents 101

Justin Shenkarow has starred in television and film for over 17 years. He received three Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Blockbuster Award for his ensemble work as an actor on "Picket Fences." He has starred in television shows including Eerie Indiana, Home Improvement, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Strong Medicine, and Boston Public. His production company,“"Shake That Fro Productions” has produced three short films which he has directed and starred in, and they are currently hitting the festival market. He has a comedy pilot in development, and has recently wrapped shooting two films, one co-starring Eric Roberts entitled “Comedy Hell,” and the other entitled “House of the Dead 2.”

He is a graduate of Stanford University, where he studied business, and also spent a year studying art history in Paris. In 2004, he was elected to the Screen Actors Board and was recently elected to chair the Young Performer's Committee. He is determined to improve the conditions of young actors and provide them with every opportunity. He recently championed a Mentoring Event which takes successful previous young performers who have transitioned into adult actors and places them in a group setting to mentor young actors who are facing similar challenges, so that they can learn from them and hopefully make better choices for their future. He is also a member of the Stanford Leaders Alumni Board, Looking Ahead Advisory Board, and is a Big Brother to two wonderful young twin girls-Erica and Danielle.

Mark Sikes Casting Director Panelist: Insight from Casting Directors in TV, Film, and Commercials

Mark Sikes is a well-known casting director in the film and television industry. During the past 11 years, he has cast more than 70 films and television series. He also teaches acting and audition classes in Los Angeles and produces actors showcases for industry professionals.

Tess Skorczewski Kids Acting Coach, Margie Haber Studios Speaker: Audition Techniques Seminar

Tess Skorczewski is a Professional Acting Coach, Producer, and Actor. She recently worked as the on-set coach to the three young heroes of Monster House, a Sony Pictures Feature Film to be released next year. She has also just produced Shaggs: The Philosophy of the World, Winner of LA Weekly's Musical of the Year, 2004, at the John Anson Ford Theatre.

Tess has performed on stage, both in New York (Zena Group Theatre) and in Los Angeles, in films and on TV. She studied acting at the Howard Fine Studios under the auspices of Bob Krakower. Mr. Krakower is a renowned instructor at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. It was from Bob that Tess learned to use the "story" to immerse herself in her characters and to approach each and every role from the "I am." Tess continued her studies with Diana Castle offspring Saxon Trainer and Beverly Sanders, The Mary Tyler Moore Show & Rhoda.

In 1992 - 1994, the Zena Group Theatre sponsored Tess in an educational Manhattan school tour of Tommy Saves the Day, which Tess wrote and performed. In 1998, Tess started a 10-minute scriptwriting course for children in Galway, Ireland.

She has since trained hundreds of young actors at the Margie Haber Studios where she heads the Reel Kids department. She has worked with many young performers as private clients helping them to enhance and deepen their performances. Tess specializes in working through children's preconceived notions as to how they should "perform" and other blocks caused by memorization and emotional inhibitions.

Wesley Staples President, Local 884 Studio Teachers Panelist: Panelist: Staying Smart: Education for Child Actors

Wesley Staples has taught for 33 years. He is a graduate of New York University and attended The Neuhaus School in Houston to specialize in teaching children with learning disabilities. Before becoming a Studio Teacher 25 years ago he was a tenured teacher in the New York City school system, and before that he had, in his words, a "short, insignificant and delusional career" as a dancer/actor on Broadway.

He has served on the Board of Local 884, Studio Teachers, for 12 years and has been President of that Board for 10 years. Along with Polly Businger, he teaches a 12-hour class at the Labor Department to new studio teachers. They also teach the DGA seminar for trainees, and are members of the Looking Ahead Committee at the Actor's Guild of America. As the Political Action Committee of Local 884, he and Ms. Businger often travel to Sacramento to lobby for bills relating to the protection of minors in the Entertainment Industry, and have been instrumental in the passage of several of those bills.

Julie Stevens Actress, Teacher Emcee: Lunchtime Performances

Julie Stevens began performing at age nine when she was cast as one of the orphans in the hit Broadway musical, ANNIE. She played Pepper in the final cast when Annie closed on Broadway after 2,377 performances.

Julie went on to earn a BFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and a Masters Degree in Education from Bank Street College. Julie was able to utilize her acting skills and teaching degree as a teaching artist for many well-known theatre companies in New York, including The Roundabout, National Actor's Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club. She helped create educational outreach programs, led pre and post-show discussions, and facilitated drama workshops with New York City public school children. Julie also became an on-set Studio Teacher for professional children working in commercials, studio films, and independent films.

After moving to Los Angeles, Julie once again combined her acting and teaching skills, along with an entrepreneurial spirit, to create a motivational deck of cards for performing artists, called ACTING OUTSIDE THE BOX, available online and in specialty stores nationwide.

In 2000, Julie launched a website, ANNIEORPHANS.COM, hoping to re-connect with her fellow cast members online. The website quickly became the premiere ANNIE site for fans worldwide and has succeeded in creating a "sisterhood" of young women who appeared in the show. The success of the website inspired Julie to direct and produce a feature documentary film, LIFE AFTER TOMORROW, reuniting more than 40 women who played orphans in the Broadway show "Annie" and taking a candid look at pluses and perils of being a childhood star. The film reveals many of the seldom-discussed aspects of professional children, including the impact on their families, friendships, schooling and the search for a "normal" childhood when the acting career stalls.

Currently, Julie's singing voice can be heard as Barbie in the animated feature film, THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER. Her voice can also be heard in the singing Barbie doll, Erika. Other voiceover characters include My Little Pony and Cheer Bear in CARE BEARS LIVE! Julie continues to perform live on stage in theatre and cabaret in Los Angeles while lending her voice to many new musicals and animated projects.

Saxon runs the Reel Teens program at the Margie Haber Studios. She is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse and the Stella Adler Conservatory in NYC. She is a professional actor in film, television and theatre. She has been an acting teacher and coach for over ten years. She has created theatrical productions with children and young adults in France, Italy, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.

Matthew Underwood Actor Emcee: Raffle Winners

Matthew Underwood brings his irresistible charm and talent to Nickelodeon's Emmy nominated series "Zoey 101. " On the show, Matthew stars alongside Jamie Lynn Spears as 'Logan,' a teenage heartthrob and scheming jock determined to make trouble when his all-boys preparatory school becomes co-ed. Matthew is currently filming the second season for the show.

Lately, Matthew has completed a number of voiceover roles. In the pilot for the Cartoon Network's animated series "Wonder Realm," Matthew plays 'Daniel,' a teenage superhero, alongside Daryl Sabara (Spy Kids). He recently completed work on the upcoming Disney animated feature My Neighbors the Yamadas. He can also be seen in the 50th Anniversary Looney Toons DVD due in stores this fall.

Interested in all aspects of the performing arts, Matthew is a member of the Theatre For A Difference Theatre Group, for which he works sound and lighting and has managed two plays. He also assistant-teaches improv drama classes for 6-12 year olds at the American National Academy in Studio City.

Kevin Craig West Director, Producer, Actor Creative Voice Development Group Moderator: Marketing Tools for the Child Actor

Kevin Craig West is a director, producer and professional union actor, working in film, television, radio and stage. Notable roles have been national commercials for Pep Boys and Adidas, roles in For Love of the Game, Autumn in New York, Law and Order, Law and Order SVU and a host of regional commercials and industrials. His stage work includes the Off Broadway shows Adam and Even, Joe Fearless and a host of regional productions.

His experience in front of the camera is what helped lead him to his current interest behind the camera. "Let's make a film," were the only words needed for his company, MoBetta Films, to spring into existence. Project Mo(u)rning, the inaugural project from MoBetta Films, was nominated one of the top five submissions to the San Francisco Black Independent Film Festival. Soon to be released are The Assassin where Kevin served as an Actor, Cinematographer and Producer as well as his feature film directorial debut, Get a Grip.

Kevin is a member of The Barrow Group in NYC and in addition to being a Voice Acting Teacher and Producer for Creative Voices Development Group, he also works as a Teacher/Artist with Symphony Space. Upcoming acting projects include To Kill a Mockingbird with Florida Rep, Metamorphoses with Capital Rep, lead role in the feature film, Life on the Run, and a supporting role in the feature film, Pawn.

Dave Sebastian Williams President, Dave & Dave Incorporated Panelist: A Guide to Voice Over Work

Where does he get his timing? Could it be from Mr. Bolerjack's High School Music Class (drummer since 4th grade). From Mr. Snyder's Public Speaking Course. Or leading the marching band as Drum Major at football games & parades or from 'hittin'-the-post' of Top 40 hits on the radio in his college years? He didn't make the 'Service' when they classified him 4-F but wanted to do his part. Dave got himself invited to join a USO Show as the youngest member, drumming, singing & dancing on a TOUR of France, Italy and Germany performing for our troops. Could some of his timing come from that fateful afternoon at a Mall Grand Opening in Central California when he sat-in with the Sons of the Pioneers (brushes in hand). Or Later, was it those long evenings at Ringo's Sunset Plaza home when he actually sat at "The Ed Sullivan Show set of drums" and traded 8's with Mr. Starr. When timing is of the essence he's always been there even during his tireless 18 years of coaching some of the voice over industry's timeless voices in his weekly VO workshops. He signed for Voice Over with the Charles Stern Agency in the 70's, then Dave's first role as an actor in a feature film came in 1979 at the same time he was the announcer for a Game Show starring Ron Ely. After hundreds of commercials both on & off camera and many TV shows & features came the mid 90's when the timing sure was right as Dave put his Film / TV / Voice Acting on hold and along with his wife Terri (a former Commercial Agent) decided to open their Dave & Dave Recording Studios AND become publishers of the Voice Over Industry's only publication, the Voice Over Resource Guide.

What ever the time, Dave Sebastian Williams always has it to give for the good of his industry.

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