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NEW TALENT: Child Actor David Mazouz Tackles a Tough Role in TOUCH

Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by Hollywood Mom.

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David Mazouz plays Jake, a mute child with an obsession with numbers and patterns which, if deciphered properly by his father (Sutherland), lead to worldwide human connections.

Kiefer Sutherland returns to primetime Wednesday in the Fox drama Touch, as the father of a child who has never spoken and doesn’t communicate in any traditional ways. Touch was created by Tim Kring, (Heroes).

Like the heroic characters in Hereos, in Touch Jake has super abilities only his are with numbers and patterns which, if deciphered properly by his father, lead to connections among people worldwide.

Child Actor David Mazouz

According to Kring, finding the right actor fir the part was difficult as the role requires an ability to affect the blank, isolated look often seen in children who have autism, yet also to suggest there is a lot going on behind the eyes.

Kring told the NY Times, “David is an extraordinary child. He is extremely focused, and you can see the internal life in him. He’s also very still. Most kids we auditioned, you’d catch moments here and there between their general fidgetiness.”

Jake is silent to the other characters but his thoughts are heard in voice-over. “Because we hear his internal voice, we have an understanding of just how intelligent he is, so we had to cast someone who fit that,” Kring said.

Mazouz is represented theatrically by Wendi Green, Paradigm, and Jeremy Apody, Abrams Artists, commercially. Prior to landing the role of Jake, David worked on episodes of Mike and Molly, Criminal Minds, Private Practice and the tv movie Amish Grace.

Kring and his team try to establish early on that, although Jake might look autistic, Touch is not about autism, and Jake’s condition is something else entirely.

“In the pilot, we were pretty set on trying to state that as early as possible,” Kring said. “Clearly, the autism community deserves to have champions out there, but, by the same token, we wanted to have the ability as storytellers to float above reality a little bit. There’s something special going on with this child — something metaphysical, almost supernatural.”

In the premiere, Sutherland finds his way to a some answers when he meets a character played by Danny Glover, who tells him that Jake essentially has psychic powers.

“Your son sees everything,” the character says: “the past, the present, the future. He sees how it’s all connected.”

Then he adds, “It’s a road map, and your job now, your purpose, is to follow it for him.”

*Sources: Fox, NY Times

Click here for the Huffington Post Interview with the stars of Touch

Mazouz played Ryan Hall in an episode of Criminal Minds (2011), called "The Bittersweet Science."

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NEW TALENT: Cindy Crawford’s Daughter Kaia Gerber, 10, Joins the Family Business

Posted on 24. Jan, 2012 by Hollywood Mom.

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Super Model Cindy Crawford‘s 10-year-old daugher Kaia Jordan Gerber (daughter of nightlife entrepreneur Rande Gerber) is the new face of Young Versace. That’s right – at the tender age of 10 this child has joined the ranks of full-fledged mini model. It ‘s well known that Cindy Crawford (along with Stephanie Seymour, Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell) was Gianni Versace’s muse of sorts back in the day so this is a true passing of the high-fashion torch for the Crawford-Gerber household.

Kaia Gerber has just made Cindy Crawford a Momager by landing Young Versace's launch ad campaign. Who knew rocking socks with sandals could be chic?

“Like her mother, Kaia has a very special gift,” Donatella Versace said in a release to the press. “The camera really, really loves her. Having Cindy on-set for the shoot took me back to all the amazing Avedon shoots we worked on together. It was such a special treat watching Kaia walk in her mother’s footsteps!”

Cindy Crawford had this to say about her progeny:

“I’m so thrilled that Kaia was chosen to be part of the first Young Versace Campaign. I have so many fond memories of the times I spent with Gianni and Donatella. There is something so very special about the House of Versace. Being on-set with my daughter watching her in front of the camera was a fantastic experience. I am so proud of her.”

Famed Photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot shot the campaign for the line which will debut during Pitti Immagine Bimbo in Florence. The line fits kids ages 0-12 and stays true to many of Versace’s signature themes like the iconic Greek key motif and Medusa head logo.

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YOUNG PERFORMERS GIVING BACK: Greyson Chance Hosts SchoolJam USA on 1/21/12 in Downtown Disney!

Posted on 10. Jan, 2012 by Hollywood Mom.

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Ellen’s protege and You Tube favorite Greyson Chance, 14, has teamed up with the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and singer/songwriter Shaun Barrowes to co-host and perform at the third annual SchoolJam USA finals event.

The event will feature a teen battle of the bands competition on Jan. 21, 2012 in Downtown Disney in Anaheim, CA, and Chance expressed his feelings on supporting such a worthy cause. Take a look at all the entered bands here!

“I am honored to be a part of a program with NAMM that is encouraging students to grow their musical talents,” Chance said. “Music is such an important part of my life and I am very excited to help shine the spotlight on some new talent – it’s important to me to support programs like SchoolJam USA and foster ongoing music education.”

On Jan. 21, 2012, the top eight bands will perform for a panel of professional judges as well as fans for the honor of “Best Teen Band in the USA.”

The winning band will get to perform at the original SchoolJam festival in Frankfurt, Germany this spring, receive a music video recording session on the John Lennon Educational Bus and also receive cash prizes to purchase new music gear and support their school’s music programs. For more on this event, visit www.schooljamusa.com.

2011 Winners PELIGRO

Why should your school be involved in SchoolJam USA?

First, there’s the obvious—potential funds for your program—but here are some other reasons we think you should get involved:

SchoolJam USA puts important music education advocacy materials into the hands of your students and local community.
The program engages music students and non-music peers in an interactive music event, building a strong community.
SchoolJam USA helps to bridge the gap between traditional music education students and non-traditional student musicians helping to expand your music education program.
Every participating school will receive notification from us, which includes advocacy messaging sent to school leaders.
SchoolJam USA is a learning experience. Students who advance to the semi-finals will get hands-on experience with promotions and marketing, as well as learning important team-building skills.

If you would like your students involved with SchoolJam USA, e-mail us at schooljamusa@namm.org and they’ll get you everything you need.

PLUS: Do you need access to music education advocacy resources? Make sure to visit www.supportmusic.com for tools and information that can be vital to helping your community make the case for your music education program.

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NEW TALENT: Khomotso Manyaka, 13, Delivers One of 2011′s Best Film Performances

Posted on 09. Jan, 2012 by Hollywood Mom.

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Life, Above All - now on DVD.

Time magazine’s list of the 10 best movie performances for 2011 includes a South African girl, Khomotso Manyaka, cast as Chanda in the film, Life, Above All, based on the Allan Stratton novel “Chanda’s Secrets.” The film is about a young girl (Khomotso), living in a small, AIDS-infested South African township who struggles to maintain the façade of normality amidst crushing odds: her stepfather is an alcoholic, her newborn sister has just died, and her mother has been diagnosed with the AIDS virus. As Chanda’s mother’s illness becomes apparent, the community turns against the family, misinterpreting the disease as some form of retribution for their sins. Now 15, Manyaka was only 13 years old at the time of filming.

Khomotso Manyaka gives the performance of a lifetime.

Khomotso said of her performance: “I’m very proud of myself – 2011 was a great year.” She went onto reveal that the recognition makes her “happy” and “surprises” her because she “never knew I had talent.” After the film, she and her co-star and friend Keaobaka Makanyane received scholarships to the National School of the Arts.

Time Magazine says of Manyaka’s performance:

“Khomotso Manyaka was no Hollywood moppet, just a South African girl who had never acted, when director Oliver Schmitz picked her for the lead role in this starkly poignant drama about a family, a village, and a people devastated by the Aids plague.

“Given the challenge, Manyaka invested the part of Chanda, the sole strength of her ravaged clan, with amazing poise, delicacy and grit.”

“Life, Above All” and Khomotso’s performance particularly as she acts in almost every scene – have gathered several high-profile accolades. Last year, Khomotso received the best actress award at the SA Film and TV Awards, and in 2010 she won the best actress award at the Durban International Film Festival.

The film was also shortlisted by the Academy Awards committee in the category of Best Foreign Film.

When it screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010, “Life, Above All,” received a 10-minute standing ovation.

Other movies and actors named to the list include Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain and Bryce Dallas Howard for The Help; Former Child Star
Mia Wasikowska for Jane Eyre; Brad Pitt for Tree of Life, Money Ball and Happy Feet 2 and Meryl Streep for Iron Lady.
Source: Time Magazine

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Twitter Updates: “CURLY SUE” Child Star Pregnant and Celebrity’s Child Desires Acting Career

Posted on 04. Jan, 2012 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Two child actors are making headlines via Twitter, one being 1990′s child star Alisan Porter (Parenthood, Curly Sue) and the other is aspiring child actor Damian Charles Hurley, none other than the prodigy of actress/model turned swimwear designer mom Elizabeth Hurley (Gossip Girl, Austin Powers).

Alisan Porter, a familiar face in the early to mid 1990′s, is in the news again after announcing via Twitter (@AlisanPorter) and via pictures on Instagram that she will become a mother for the first time in 2012; July 17, to be precise.

Nine Year old Damian on the other hand has just recently informed Elizabeth that he aspires to be a child star.

After her son spent the afternoon with Gossip Girl co-star Blake Lively at Serendipity, Elizabeth posted to her Twitter feed (@ElizabethHurley): “Oh lord, my son is begging me to find him an agent so he can become a child actor.”

According to the U.K.’s Daily Mirror, Hurley reported ”I was going to wrap late, Blake had wrapped early, and Damian was on the set. She asked, ‘Can I take him out?’ And they went to the Serendipity ice cream parlor and had a big sundae and a hot chocolate.” Don’t worry Elizabeth – it may just be the sugar talking.

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Child Actor Maggie Elizabeth Jones Wins Role of Rosie Mee in “We Bought a Zoo”

Posted on 03. Jan, 2012 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Maggie Elizabeth Jones

Due to popular request, I am reposting this 11/9/2010 post on child actor Maggie Elizabeth Jones.

According to IMDB, Georgia Native Maggie Elizabeth Jones is the latest child actor to be cast in “We Bought a Zoo.” As HMB reported, Colin Ford was cast as Dylan Mee a few weeks ago.

While it’s unknown whether Maggie was cast through the open call process announced in an earlier post, it seems highly unlikely as both she and her older sister Mary-Charles Jones have a list of professional credits that far outnumber their years.

Maggie and Mary-Charles are currently cast as sisters Amy and Sara Warniker in the remake of “Footloose.“ According to their mother Angela: “Maggie and Mary-Charles are very excited about Footloose. They get to play sisters in the film and are cousins of the lead actor. Not only do they get to act they get to sing and dance too. Fun Fun!!”

Mary-Charles also has a recurring role as the young Miley Stewart on the hit Disney show Hannah Montana. She’s featured in two episodes (“Hannah Montana to the Principal’s Office” & “Sweet Home Hannah Montana”).

The girls, who come from a devoutly Christian family in Georgia, are both represented by Cindy Osbrink and J Pervis Talent Agency in Atlanta, GA.

Below is a Public Service Announcement Maggie did for Anger Prevention and Awareness.

Thanks to HMB Reader Sherry for the heads up on the casting. Confirming Sources: IMDB Pro, AMTC (Actors, Models and Talent for Christ)

Maggie Elizabeth and big sister Mary Charles at the premiere of "Footloose."

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“SUPER 8″ Child Star Joel Courtney is on a Super Roll

Posted on 24. Jun, 2011 by Hollywood Mom.

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Idaho-native turned breakthrough, Hollywood child star, Joel Courtney, 15, won the nationwide search to play the lead character Joe Lamb in this summer’s hit Super 8 directed by J.J. Abrams, and now, according to Variety, the young talent will headline the indie films Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn and The Healer, as well.

In the film adaptation of Mark Twain’s most popular work, Joel will play Tom Sawyer, the “mischievous troublemaker in search of endless adventures in 1850′s Missouri.” It shoots late this summer in Bulgaria. *HMB Readers may recall this casting notice circulating earlier this year.

The Healer storyline follows “an ailing father who takes his two teenage kids into the woods to renew the bond they shared before his divorce. The trio are soon swept into a supernatural adventure in a haunted forest.” This film, from writer/director Giorgio Serafini, is scheduled to shoot in North Carolina this September.

Joel is represented by Bonnie Liedtke of William Morris Endeavor. His publicist in PMK*BNC.

Joel with older brothers Josh and Caleb.

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The Hollywood Life: Mini Darth Vader Volkswagen Super Bowl Spot is a Family Affair

Posted on 05. Feb, 2011 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Hollywood is the only place I know where you, your kids, your pets and your property can all aspire to some small shot at fame. This adorable Super Bowl half-time commercial featuring *a pint-sized Darth Vader was shot in and outside of my in-law’s lovely Tarzana, California ranch home. Kind of ironic that when it debuts on the air for the first time during Super Bowl XLV we’ll be in that very same house for the Bobbitt’s annual Super Bowl bash. Life is often funny that way in La La Land.

* Darth Vader is played to perfection by 6-year-old Max Page, of San Clemente, CA, who is over the moon with the positive reviews of his new Volkswagen commercial entitled “The Force.” In the spot, Page repeatedly tries (and fails) to harness the power of the Force to manipulate objects around him while dressed in his best “Star Wars” attire. KTLA reports that when he was 4 years old, Page was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and currently has a pacemaker. More than seven million people have viewed this ‘Darth Vader’ commercial from Volkswagen online. Page plays Reed Hellstrom on “The Young and the Restless,” and is represented commercially ad theatrically by the Buchwald Talent Group.

One last piece of trivia that will bring us full circle – this home was once owned by former child actor C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders).

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HBO’s “Shameless” Features a Family of Talented Child Actors!

Posted on 12. Jan, 2011 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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William H. Macy and the cast of "Shameless"

In a recent interview with Parent Dish, accomplished actor William H. Macy, star of the new Showtime series “Shameless,” shared that he would support his kids (with wife Felicity Huffman) going into show business but not while they’re minors.

“I’ve got no problem if they want to go into this business. I love the business certainly. I don’t want them to be child actors. If they want to do some plays in school and later on after college, if they want to pursue it, I’ll throw whatever weight I have left behind them,” Macy says.

On his take of being a Hollywood Mom or Dad Macy shares, “It’s very difficult. We have kids on our show and my hats off to their parents. But the truth of the matter is the parents have to be there all the time. I would certainly not leave my daughter on a set [alone]; I’d want to be there every second.”

So who are the lucky child actors who get to work alongside the talented Mr. Macy?

Emma Kenney

Born in Manhattan, Emma Kenney realized her passion for performing at age four. Since then, she’s appeared in numerous national commercials and voiceovers. Kenney also has enthusiasm for being behind the camera and directed her first movie, The New Girl in Town. The film was honored as a finalist at the 2009 New Jersey International Film Festival, making Emma the youngest filmmaker ever to receive that honor. Due to her directorial success, local news outlets featured stories on Kenney’s accomplishment. When she is not acting or directing, she enjoys playing with her animals and one day, hopes to open an animal shelter. Emma is now splitting her time between New Jersey and Los Angeles. She s represented by Innovative Artists and managed by Elise Koseff of J. Mitchell Management in NYC.

Cameron Monaghan

Within the last year, Cameron Monaghan has appeared in six television series including Fringe, Monk, The Mentalist,Three Rivers, Terriers and The Glades. In addition to the guest star work, Monaghan has completed filming on Safe Harbor, a television movie opposite Treat Williams and the feature film Another Harvest Moon, opposite Ernest Borgnine and Richard Schiff. Monaghan’s theatrical debut was in The Music Man in 2003, opposite Victor Garber. Other notable feature credits include Sony’s Click opposite Adam Sandler and Disney’s Three Investigator’s franchise. He will next be seen in the feature film Prom, set for release in April of 2011. He is represented by CESD and managed by Kritzer Levine Wilkins Griffin Entertainment.

Ethan Cutkosky

Ethan Cutkosky started acting at four years old in commercials and advertising campaigns. His first film break came at age seven when he appeared in Fred Clause, opposite Vince Vaughn. A year later, Cutkosky landed a major role in the horror film The Unborn with Gary Oldman. Playing “Carl Gallagher” in SHAMELESS is a perfect role for him, except that he is an animal lover in real life. He has a black cat named Bear, two anoles, a fire bellied toad and a crested gecko he calls “Colby.” Cutkosky lives in Chicago and is a second degree black belt in Taekwondo. Like his “Shameless” brother Monaghan, Ethan is with CESD across the board and managed by Kritzer Levine Wilkins Griffin Entertainment.

The Johnson twins

Blake Alexander Johnson and Brennan Kane Johnson

And let us not forget the cutie patootie twin toddlers Blake Alexander Johnson and Brennan Kane Johnson, who play Liam Gallagher. The twins are represented by Jet Set Models agent Paloma Jackson. You may recall that HMB posted for this twins role several months ago.

About Shameless: Meet the fabulously dysfunctional Gallagher family. Dad’s a drunk, Mom split long ago, eldest daughter Fiona tries to hold the family together. Eldest son Philip (Lip) trades his physics tutoring skills for sexual favors from neighborhood girls. Middle son Ian is gay. Youngest daughter Debbie is stealing money from her UNICEF collection. Ten-year-old Carl is a budding sociopath and an arsonist, and toddler Liam is – well, he might actually be black, but nobody has a clue how. Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime. Follow them all on twitter.com/SHO_Shameless

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NEW TALENT: “SPIDER-MAN” Reboot Casts Newcomer MILES ELLIOT

Posted on 11. Dec, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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As we reported in October of this year, kids casting has been underway for SPIDER-MAN. Director Marc Webb was saddled with the difficult task of casting the younger version of Welsh actor and musician, Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill, Harry Potter). Kudos to casting director, Francine Joyce Maisler, who seems to have made a brilliant look-alike choice in Miles Elliot (right), as Superhero Hype officially reveals that Elliot has been hired to play the role of Curt Connors’ son, Billy, aka “The Lizard,” in Sony’s new take on this successful super-hero franchise.

Elliot, represented by The Savage Agency, has appeared in four short films and on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Like his doppelganger Ifans, Elliot is also a musician: playing the violin and fronting for the local kid’s band, My Brother’s on Fire, with his younger brother Zeke. He’s studied at Discovery on Stage and Center Stage Dance Academy, both located in Monrovia, California. Some of Elliot’s other skills include improvisation, martial arts, cycling, swimming and baseball.

SPIDER-MAN, currently shooting in Los Angeles, will hit theaters in 3D on July 3, 2012, starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker, Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben and possibly Sally Field as Aunt May, and Denis Leary as George Stacy. Chris Zylka will play Flash Thompson.

Rhys Ifans as "The Lizard" in the Spider-Man reboot

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NEW TALENT: “BLUE VALENTINE” Debuts Faith Wladyka

Posted on 09. Dec, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Imagine this scenario: Your child auditions for her first feature film, gets the part and (shazam!) her film parents are being played by power house talents Ryan Gosling and Michele Williams. This is exactly the case for darling, six-year-old Faith Wladyka who will make her film debut as Frankie, in the gritty, dramatic love story, Blue Valentine. Faith’s acting experience prior to this huge career score included commercial work, background work on Mystery Diagnosis and an episode of soap opera One Life to Live.

The Blue Valentine web site says Faith is known for her “free spirit and bubbly personality,” and that she enjoys dancing, soccer and playing with her dog. She has one brother and one sister.

Faith is represented by super agent Ellen Gilbert at Abrams Artists Agency in NYC. Congratulations Faith!

*Thank you also to Faith’s mom Dawn Wladyka who cleared up some misinformation previously contained in this post.

ABOUT BLUE VALENTINE

According to Backstage.com: There have been many movies made about couples falling in love and many made about couples falling out of love. Few films have dared to brave showing both. But that’s precisely what Derek Cianfrance‘s “Blue Valentine” does, offering a raw, real portrayal of a young couple as they take the first tentative steps toward love—and then showing them six years later, when everything has fallen apart. It’s a devastating, emotional journey.

Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, as Dean and Cindy, go from passionate and young to jaded and aged in the blink of an eye—literally, thanks to the juxtaposition of scenes from the past and present. The pair transform themselves physically, adding weight and, in Gosling’s case, losing hair. But the actors also change internally, beautifully capturing the resentful silences [and]the meaningful glares.

Read the rest at BackStage.com

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Will Smith on Son Jaden’s Acting Career

Posted on 04. Oct, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Will Smith made his humble Hollywood debut on television’s comdey “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and quickly graduated to a string of huge Hollywood movies: “I am Legend” The Pursuit of Happyness,” ”Hitch,” “Bad Boys,” “Seven Pounds,” “Men In Black,” “Ali” and “Hancock.” If anyone knows the pitfalls and the glory of this business it would be Smith. He’s managed to keep his marriage to actress Jada Pinkett Smith in tact, healthy and out of the tabloids and now he’s venturing into new territory, Hollywood Dad to son Jaden, and daughter, Willow, who are now involved in the entertainment industry as well. Not only is he a mentor to his children, he has taken on the role of producer on 12-year-old Jaden’s starring project “The Karate Kid,” a remake of the 1980s flick. Here is an excerpt of an interview he did recently with enigma discussing his new role.

Q: How big do you think Jaden has got the potential of being? What’s the best parental career advice you’ve given him?

A: Well The Karate Kid made $56 million in its first three days in the US, which is bigger than any of my movies other than Hancock and I Am Legend. So for me I’m wondering if he still needs to live in our house! If one more person calls me the Karate Kid’s dad, I was like…alright, Men In Black III is coming out immediately!

I think the thing I really say to him and I do very often is…it’s about people. This business and what we do, a lot of people get lost and a lot of other things. But at the end of the day it’s really about people. Even in this format, you are here to feed your family. We are here to feed our families. So in this exchange I am going to give you everything I can possibly give you so you can feed your family and hopefully in exchange I can feed mine. And if we can keep it that simple then no one will get lost in a deadline… It’s about people. Your goal is about assisting that person more than it is about getting what you want. So to me, I’ve been able to navigate in this business very effectively based on that simple idea.

Q: Are you worried about Jaden falling like other child stars have done?

A: He didn’t have the shock and the radical life change that child actors usually have coming into the business. This is not his first red carpet, although it is a little bit of a shift because the attention is on him. But for the most part it’s not a shock to his life. And I think what happens to child stars is that they become the bread winner. So child stars are generally broken by the pressure of being the bread winner of a household at 14, or 16. I know at 41 that the bread winner of a household has its pressure. When you put that on to the child you almost lose your parent child relationship. A bit of your power gets destroyed in that situation. So you either have to be a dictator because you’ve got to keep the lights on or you’ve got to surrender. I hope we have a bit of a handle on it. We’re focusing very closely and paying attention to his energy and his desire and his love for it.

Q: Did you have any problems on the set of the film?

A: We got towards the end of the project and it got extended an extra month. So we were telling an 11-year-old who thought he was about to go home that he’s got an extra month in China. I left that one to mommy, ‘You go in there and tell him baby.’ But he was so focused that he started to train during lunch. So he would work the morning and then train for two hours at lunch and then go back to the set. That was how serious and focused he was about getting it done. He just had that level of commitment.

Q: Were you ever worried about Jaden hurting himself doing the technical moves in the Karate Kid?

A: That was one of the things with Jaden it was a fantastic thing to watch. Specifically the splits. There was a day he was there practicing and he had a tear running down his face. That was difficult as a father. Although as a producer it’s good!

Q: Do you think your children will want to continue working in films?

A: Oh yeah. Jaden is like Johnny Depp. He wants to do brilliant work and he absolutely loves acting. However, my daughter Willow – she’s more like Paris Hilton! She just wants to be on the TV.

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12 Yr. Old Child Actor, Bella Thorne starring in Disney’s Dance Comedy “Shake it Up!”

Posted on 31. May, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Disney Channel has ordered “Shake It Up!,” a buddy comedy centered around a teen dance show, created by Chris Thompson (“Laverne and Shirley,” “Bosom Buddies,” “The Naked Truth,” “Action”) and executive-produced by Thompson and Rob Lotterstein (“The War at Home,” “Ellen”). It stars 12-year-old child actress Bella Thorne (pictured above center modeling my favorite pettiskirts by Kaiya Eve) and 13-year-old Zendaya (pictured below). The multi-camera series will begin production in Hollywood, California, in July for a scheduled Fall 2010 premiere on Disney Channel. The announcement was made today by Gary Marsh, president, Entertainment, and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide.

Marsh said, “Newcomers Bella Thorne and Zendaya make for one of the most likable and engaging BFF duos we’ve ever seen. And while buddy comedies have been around since the start of television, what makes ‘Shake It Up’ unique is that this is the first time anyone has incorporated dancing into the underlying premise of a sitcom.”

The comedy series introduces two high-spirited characters, best friends CeCe Jones and Raquel “Rocky” Blue, whose dreams of becoming professional dancers are realized when they become background dancers on the most popular teen dance show, “Shake it Up, Chicago,” a gig they land thanks to their longtime and well-connected friend, Deuce. Between learning a wide range of new dance styles, navigating the backstage antics at the show (especially with their rivals, Tinka and Gunther) and their newfound social status at school, the girls are on their way to new and fun adventures, some that will test their friendship.

Shake it Up Co-star, Zendaya plays Raquel “Rocky” Blue

Starring are Bella Thorne as CeCe Jones; Zendaya as Raquel “Rocky” Blue; Kenton Duty (“Lost”) as Gunther; Adam Irigoyen (“Wizards of Waverly Place”) as Deuce; and Davis Cleveland (“Good Luck Charlie,” “Desperate Housewives”) as Flynn Jones, CeCe’s precocious younger brother. The series was created by Chris Thompson and will be executive-produced by Rob Lotterstein and Thompson. Rosero McCoy (“Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam”) choreographed the pilot episode. “Shake It Up!” is a production of “It’s a Laugh Productions, Inc.”

Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 99 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney/ABC Television Group.

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REMINDER: Meet A Top Casting Director for DISNEY this Saturday May 22 in Woodland Hills!

Posted on 19. May, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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New date for this event is Saturday May 22, 2010 from 1 pm to 3 pm

Meeting top Casting Directors is one of the single most important steps your skilled child actor can take on their journey to becoming a “working” child actor.

Talented Child Actors who met with Debbie Entin at her last Casting Workshop with a Nickelodeon Casting Director - 3 kids from the session were later called in to read with her!

On Saturday May 22 at 1pm. to 3:00 pm, Valley West Actors Space (one of our favorite acting studios in Los Angeles) will host a casting workshop with Niner Parikkh of Joey Paul Casting who is currently casting the feature films “Honey 2″ and “Bring it On: Fight to the Finish.” They just completed casting the true story “Soul Surfer” with Anna Sophia Robb, Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt. Joey Paul also cast Disney shows, “Phil of The Future,” “That’s So Raven,” “Cory In The House,” and “Imagination Movers.” This is a great opportunity for child actors interested in television and film because Joey Paul Casting does a lot of both. Please bring 2 head shots with resumes attached to the class.

The talented Debbie Entin of Rising Talent Management will also be heading up this workshop. Her clients have recently appeared on the TV Shows “Suite Life on Deck”, “iCarly,” “Las Vegas” and “Cold Case.” After her last workshop at VWAS (which my daughter attended) two of the child actors were called in by the Casting Director from Nickelodeon and three were asked to meet with Debbie for possible representation. This class is for children ages 6-18.

Valley West Actors Space is located at 22743 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills. Each participant will receive written feedback and the cost of the workshop is a very reasonable $75 and only$50 for registered members of VWAS. Please enroll quickly as the class is limited to only 25 lucky students!

For more information email actingshowcase1@gmail.com or 818-222-7484

Archive for 'New talent'

Emma Kenney

Cameron Monaghan

Ethan Cutkosky

Blake Alexander Johnson and Brennan Kane Johnson