Archive for 'Success Story'
THEN & NOW: Christina Ricci Thankful She Is Not A Child Star in Today’s World
Posted on 23. Oct, 2011 by Hollywood Mom.
Christina Ricci (PAN AM) became a household name in the 1990′s at age nine working on film projects like The Addams Family, Now and Then, Sleepy Hollow, Mermaids, The Ice Storm, Casper, and quickly graduated to respected indie fare like Pumpkin, The Opposite of Sex and Monster.
Unlike today’s teen and child stars who are under constant media scrutiny, Christina reveals that she was not pursued by paparazzi in the 90′s and led a normal teen life.
“You know, I made all the mistakes a lot of young stars are making today. I partied, I drank. But during my time there weren’t that many photographers around. I had more freedom,” she said.
Christina further states that when pressures of fame overwhelm her she reacts by chilling out at her home.
“If I feel stressed, I take a personal day, which basically entails me being on my couch with a book and my puppy! I don’t leave the house. And I like to visit my friends, and just hang out with my family,” she said.
You can watch Christina on Sunday nights 10/9 pm on ABC. If you’d like to dress like Christina and the other Pan Am Stewardesses for Halloween this year, ABC has made posted the step by step instructional manual complete with print outs!
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Former “Naked Brothers Band” Child Stars, Nat & Alex Wolff, Release Indie-Feel Album “Black Sheep”
Posted on 11. Oct, 2011 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
Brothers, recording artists and actors Nat and Alex Wolff were destined to be stars from the start and they have the resumes to prove it. “Black Sheep,” their very first album as Nat & Alex Wolff, was produced by Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More, O.A.R., The Replacements) and shows these two coming into their own with serious musical chops and the songwriting skills to back them.
The first single off “Black Sheep” and video for the track “Thump Thump Thump,” features Academy Award Nominee Abigail Breslin and Alex Wolff alongside a ton of puppy love, both literally and figuratively. The video for the second single, “Maybe” features Nat Wolff and a mannequin in a modern love triangle straight out of a movie (ala Lars and the Real Girl). Although the band would not be complete without the talents of the two brothers, it is each of their unique, yet complementing, personalities that sets this indie-rock duo head and shoulders above the rest.
“Black Sheep” was written entirely by Nat and Alex Wolff and is a step in a different, more sophisticated direction for the duo as evidenced by the release of the first two singles, “Thump Thump Thump” and “Maybe.” The two have cited their major influences for the album as Bob Dylan, Green Day, The Velvet Underground, and The Rolling Stones. It’s evident that these brothers have done much maturing in the years since their last album, allowing them to remain relevant without being forced to reinvent themselves.
Eldest brother Nat Wolff, 16, was only in pre-school when he formed his first band, The Silver Boulders, and younger brother Alex, now 13, learned to play the saxophone before the age of three. After begging their mother and father (actor and screenwriter Polly Draper and jazz pianist and composer Michael Wolff) repeatedly for the chance to be child stars, they finally agreed to let the boys record in the studio with their father. While in the studio, Polly came up with the idea for a mock documentary, treating the boys’ band as if they were huge like The Beatles, and The Naked Brothers Band was born. Originally the stars of Nickelodeon’s The Naked Brothers Band, the TV series went on to have an incredible run, garnering Nat and Alex many accolades including a 2007 BMI Cable Award for their work on the show (making them the youngest award recipients ever), a nomination for best band at the 2009 Australian Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards, and a performance at the Song Writers Hall of Fame at the request of John Sebastian.
After the successful multi-year run on Nickelodeon, two full-length albums, a DVD, cross-country touring and appearances on ABC’s Good Morning America and The View, the brothers were ready to shed their old moniker and graduate to the next level: Nat & Alex Wolff the recording duo was born. The talented brothers have since traversed the country, playing everywhere from Pop-Con 2010 alongside Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez to New York’s 2010 Earth Day concert. For the past two years, the brothers have been hard at work on their first album as Nat & Alex Wolff. Recorded in LA and New York over several weeks in 2009 and 2010, their album Black Sheep released today, October 11, 2011.
In addition to writing and recording “Black Sheep,” the brothers have kept busy with acting roles; most recently Nat filmed roles in the upcoming movies New Years Eve and Peace, Love and Misunderstanding, while Alex appeared on episodes of hit TV shows Monk and In Treatment, as well as in the Fall Out Boy video for “The Take Over, The Break’s Over.” Additionally, Alex wrote and both boys starred in the 2010 play What Would Woody Do? at New York’s Flea Theater.
Today’s release of Black Sheep represents an exciting step into new territory for Nat & Alex Wolff, and one the duo is ready to take by storm.
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Former Teen Star Mandy Moore, Voice of Rapunzel in “TANGLED,” Says Success Boils Down to a Strong Support System
Posted on 28. Nov, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
Mandy Moore plays Rapunzel in the updated fairytale, "Tangled."
Former Teen Actor Mandy Moore, the star of this weekend’s animated Disney release “Tangled,” managed to weather her adolescent years in the spotlight to become a lovely young woman. Although perhaps not as widely known as some of her teen songstress counterparts like Britney Spears and Christina Aguiliara, Moore, who began her career as a teen in Orlando, Florida, is the perfect expample of a teen star who remained successful and scandal-free well into her adulthood.
Mandy Moore during her Teen Star years.
She recently shared why she didn’t take the path of some of her contemporaries: “It makes me feel lucky to have a strong support system. I had Mom and Dad traveling with me at a young age, and they were concerned for my welfare. That’s why I’m able to do what I do.”
Moore originally broke into the business when an executive from Epic Records overhead her singing in a recording studio. She went on to record soundtracks for multiple films and starred in her own films, “A Walk to Remember” and “How to Deal,” among many others.
Disney’s “Rapunzel” adaptation “Tangled” debuted to $69 million over the five-day Thanksgiving-holiday weekend, according to studio estimates, earning the title of the second best Thanksgiving premiere ever. The biggest Turkey Day-weekend premiere came in 1999, with Pixar’s “Toy Story 2″ grossing $80.1 million over the five-day holiday frame. ”Tangled” additionally made $13.8 million internationally. Read a review by Cinema Blend here.
Mandy Moore today.
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Hollywood’s Newest Discovery: Child Star Landry Bender with an Update from Mom Amy Bender!
Posted on 22. Sep, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
UPDATE from Amy Bender, Landry’s mom: “We do live in LA [now]. We moved here about a year ago. My husband and I have a business that gave us the freedom to relocate and Landry benefited from that move. Her last stage show in Arizona ended in May of 2009. Before booking “The Sitter,” Landry auditioned about 100 times which only resulted in two non-union commercials.”
Remember a few months ago in June when HMB posted the open casting call for Jonah Hill’s comedy “The Sitter?” Well cutie patootie Landry Bender has just secured the role of the youngest child in the terrible trio of kids Hill babysits in the film. Bender will play Blithe, the youngest of the troublemaking kids, in the Fox comedy which starts filming Monday in New York. Jonah Hill helms the film playing a suspended college student in for a crazy night when he is forced to babysit the kids who live next door to his single mother.
David Gordon Green (“Pineapple Express”) is directing from a script from Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka for a July 15 2011 release. Michael De Luca is producing.
For those of you who ask me, “Can my kid make it in Hollywood if we live outside California?” Here’s your answer: This is the first film role for Bender, whose only credits thus far include plays at the Desert Stages Theatre in Arizona. This child is so new that as of this post she doesn’t even have an IMDB page. Seriously.
I don’t know about you but I find it astounding that a talented kid like Landry wasn’t discovered sooner and it gives me hope when the kidlet doesn’t book on commercial auditions.
Amy kindly went on to say: I love your blog. I read it a lot. Thanks for letting me share a part of Landry’s journey with you. All the best, Amy (Landry’s Mom)
Landry Bender is now repped by Greene & Associates and MC Talent Management. We hope to have a full length interview with Amy Bender in the near future.
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Leonardo di Caprio’s Career Advice to Zac Efron, “Don’t Do Heroin.”
Posted on 21. Jul, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
Zac Efron, 22, soon to be seen in Charlie St. Cloud, apparently learns from the mistakes of his celebrity peers. Efron may have also learned a few things about the perils of “over-exposure” from girlfriend and High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens (pictured left), who received a wave of bad press for nude photos she took of herself which subsequently leaked to the internet.
Unlike his love interest, Zac takes precautions to be known solely for his acting career. He regularly studies how other young stars are perceived in the media and changes his own behavior as a result. Efron states, “Every time something does happen [in the media] – and I notice when those things happen – people go through those things and experience that kind of stuff. I take note of it, a mental note, ‘Wow, that didn’t work’, so from that point on I sort of look out for that. I kind of adapt.”
The former teen star admits his own film idol is himself a former teen heart throb – film star and activist, Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception, 2010). “He’s super-talented, grounded and focused and that’s everything I want to be in the future,” states Efron, “He’s experienced the good times, the bad times, the scary times and the amazing times and [he's] still escalating. It gives me some hope. It inspires me to keep going.”
Zac Efron, who is regularly seated next to Di Caprio at the Lakers games says that the Titanic star isn’t spilling any great industry secrets and that their conversations are “nothing out of the ordinary.”
Efron tells MTV News that Di Caprio is a “normal guy” and that while they don’t regularly discuss business, there are times when DiCaprio helps Efron out with his career. “He’s a cool guy and he is helpful,” Efron said. “I ask him questions every once in a while, and he gives advice to the best of his abilities, but he’s not like a life coach.”
In the May issue of GQ, Efron shared that DiCaprio told him to avoid heroin at all costs. “I thought I was gonna ask him questions,” Efron said. “He ended up asking me questions, and in that, he told me a lot. He said, ‘There’s one way that you can really f— this all up. Just do heroin. If you steer clear of that — the other obstacles you’ll be able to navigate.’”
Efron also defends that he was never “programmed by Disney” to behave properly in public. “It’s common sense” he says,”If you’re gonna be drunk with your friends, don’t get wasted at the Chateau Marmont and hook up with some famous chick. It’s not rocket science. I don’t want to be famous [as a] personality.”
In regards to his private life Efron wisely states, ” I keep that under wraps.”
Sources: MTV News, GQ Magazine,
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Dakota Fanning on Growing Up in Marie Claire’s August Issue
Posted on 13. Jul, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
Soon-to-be “Former” Child Star, Dakota Fanning, 16, graces the cover of Marie Claire’s August issue. The “Eclipse” and “The Runaways” starlet continues to evolve into a mature actress, trading in yesteryear’s’ Kaiya Eve Pettiskirts for a a leather-trimmed blue graphic-print Proenza Schouler dress among other sophisticated but age appropriate looks. My fave is Fanning with teased-out hair donning a gun-metal metallic sheath with blue short shorts, topped with a 3.1 Phillip Lim tuxedo jacket and Nina Ricci sweater.
Photos courtesy of Marie Claire
The Campbell Hall high school student dishes to the magazine on her “transition” from child actor to screen star. “When you start out young, people get really attached to who you are at 6 years old,” Fanning tells Marie Claire. “I hope that ‘The Runaways‘ was kind of a moment to be like, ‘You know, I’m not that young little girl anymore, but I’m still not all grown up, either.’” The critics have taken notice of Fanning’s blossoming talent as well. The New York Times, A.O. Scott states: “Ms. Fanning, who has shown herself a remarkably disciplined and self-aware actress almost since toddlerhood, displays heartbreaking vulnerability as well as frightening poise,” of her performance in the “Runaways.” And like a fine wine aged to perfection, The Denver Post simply called her performance, “uncorked.”
The seasoned actress is practical about the future of her career. “As you get older, there’s so much more that you can do in films,” Fanning says. “I’ve never wanted to rush that; I’ve always wanted to do what’s right for my age, but as you approach 18, a whole new world opens up to you as an actor, and I really look forward to that.”
Visit the magazine’s Web site and pick up the August issue of Marie Claire, on sale July 13, 2010 for the full interview and more fab pics.
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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.
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
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Who are the Top Paid Child Stars of TV & What Do They Have in Common?
Posted on 12. May, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
#1 is Angus T. Jones - seriously, who knew?
The New York Post reports on the highest salaries of television child stars, and you may be surprised at who comes out of on top. At 16, CBS teen actor Angus T. Jones make $250,000, per episode of his show “Two and a Half Men,”and according to their new survey, he’s also the highest-paid child star working in television today.
The second-highest-paid child actor on television is Miranda Cosgrove, 16, who earns approximately $180,000 per episode of her Nickelodeon series iCarly. Whoa.
Jordan Bobbitt & #3 Selena Gomez - an HMB favorite!
Coming is third on the list is one of our HMB favorites, Selena Gomez, at $25,000 per episode of her Disney hit “The Wizards of Waverly Place.”
Here is the remainder of the top paid television child stars list:
Jordan with #4 Cole Sprouse, one of the most polite kids in the business
4. Twin Brothers Dylan (not pictured) and Cole Sprouse, 17 of the “The Suite Life” franchise at $20,000 each, per episode.
#5 Keke Palmer with former child star Raven Simone
5. Talented Keke Palmer, 16 of “True Jackson VP” makes $20,000 per episode.
#6 Miley with Momager Tish. Don't let the list fool you though - she rakes in the big bucks in a million other ways...
6. Miley Cyrus, 17, on Disney’s “Hannah Montana” makes $15,000 each episode.
Rico Rodriguez with Billy Bush and his Sister Raina
7. Rico Rodriguez, 11 of the most hilarious “Modern Family” makes $15,000 each week.
#8 Demi Lovato
8. Demi Lovato, 17, on Disney’s “Sonny With a Chance” comes in at $12,000 per show.
#9 is relative new comer Victoria Justice
9. Victoria Justice, 17, of Nickelodeon’s “Victorious” earns $12,000 per show.
Atticus Shaffer may be #10 on the list, but he's #1 in our hearts!
10. Atticus Shaffer, 11, of “The Middle” who HMB profiled recently brings home a deserved $12,000 for his comedic contributions to the hit show.
While reviewing the list, one fact is apparent – it pays to be funny. All of the kids on the top ten list are using their comedic skills on their top-rated comedy shows. There are several talented child actors on more serious programs like Parents, Brothers and Sisters, Big Love, Medium, Ghost Whisperer – and while talented, you don’t find any of these youngsters on the big bucks list. Lesson to learn: Sign your child actor up for an improv class pronto!
The other strikingly obvious commonality for me is that most if not all of the females on list are triple threats of stage, song and dance – not to mention they all resemble each other with olive skin, dark hair and an ethnic ambiguity that seems to be so “in” at casting calls these days. As for the top paid guys and with the exception of the Blonde Sprouse brothers; they’re all what I’d call quirky and very unique.
And of course the most obvious trait all these kids possess: Talent. Truckloads of it.
The talented ensemble cast of "Sonny with a Chance." Only Lead Demi Lovato made the top ten list.
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Julia Roberts Initial Rejection by Hollywood Bigwigs Serves as Inspiration For a New Generation of Actors
Posted on 26. Apr, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
Julia Roberts with niece Emma at the premiere of their film, "Valentine's Day"
International movie star Julia Roberts (and auntie to teen star Emma Roberts, pictured left) apparently struggled to be noticed by Hollywood agents when she was starting out as an actress because they labeled her “too trailer park.” The 41-year-old actress was first seen in “Mystic Pizza” and became a household name playing a prostitute in Pretty Woman, opposite Richard Gere.
“The Cult of Celebrity,” a tell-all book reveals that Roberts’ promising talent was lost on even Hollywood’s biggest talent bookers back in earlier years. Robert Attermann, VP and Managing Director of Abrams Artists Agency admits to Cult author Cooper Lawrence that the agency made the mistake of passing on Julia, as well a handful of other future stars. According to Attermann, “Julia Roberts came in years ago, and the commercial agent who met with her at the time said, ‘Nah, she’s too trailer park’. As a matter of fact, when we moved offices, we were going through old rejection files, and in there was Annette Bening, Robin Givens, Julia Roberts and a couple of others.”
Can you believe this? Arguably one of the strongest female actress at the box office over the last two decades and she was considered a “pass” by some of the top agents in the business. It just goes to show that internal fortitude and perseverance are key in this business. I hope this uplifting story inspires you and your child today and especially on those days when rejection comes calling.
“The Cult of Celebrity” by Cooper Lawrence addresses the phenomena of today’s preteens, teens and twenty-somethings aspiring to celebrity. Our culture more often than not emphasizes the external, the superficial and the importance of fame. As a result young people are increasingly more driven towards it as any humiliating reality television show (Jersey Shore, The Hills, My Sweet Sixteen) will prove. Some young people falsely believe celebrity status or being “discovered” is the magic fairy dust needed for “happily ever after.” Author Cooper Lawrence addresses the specific issue of young girls and celebrity and provides tips and hints for parents to provide positive parenting.
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“The Middle” Child Star: Atticus Schaffer Conquers Physical Disability & Says His Parents Support His Dreams!
Posted on 19. Apr, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
Atticus Shaffer, born June 19 1998, stars as Brick Heck on ABC’s comedy, “The Middle.” Eleven-year-old Atticus lives in Acton, California, with his mother, Debbie, and father, Ron, as well as a host of rescue animals including 2 dogs, 4 cats, chickens, fish and a rabbit. He also has a 31 year old brother. People magazine recently reported that Atticus suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) a genetic bone disorder resulting in fragile bones. About his disability Schaffer says, “It’s a small portion of me and nothing more. I take extra precautions where I step to make sure it’s safe. And I shouldn’t do anything with heavy lifting or anything that could make me slip and fall.”
Shaffer was discovered by his manager in 2006 and quickly booked a guest starring role in the series “The Class.” That role led Atticus Shaffer to the role of Brick in the original ABC pilot for “The Middle.”
As mentioned in this clip with Jimmy Kimmel, Atticus is home schooled by his mom and excels in his education. Of his mom he says “we learn together.” Way to go Debbie! It obvious neither Atticus nor his parents let OI slow him down which is illustrated not only by his acting but his involvement with Boy Scouts. He loves to camp, earn Merit badges, read, play LEGOS and collect World War II memorabilia. Atticus is a wonderful example of a child who is living his life to the fullest despite his disabilities and he gives full credit to his mom and dad for enabling him to do so.
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He Can Sing! He Can Dance! Is Acting next for Teen Star Justin Bieber?
Posted on 19. Mar, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
Teen musical sensation Justin Bieber will grace the cover of Billboard Magazine this month, just another in a long line of accomplishments since being plucked from obscurity in his hometown of Stratford, Ontario. His story is unique in that he began as just another 13-year-old with a popular YouTube account. Since then Bieber has turned the music world (and the marketing world) upside down boasting both sales and social-network stats that rival those of any Disney child star but without the benefit of a high profile television series propelling him forward.
“There are other artists who have platforms and then get to the musical space, and where that goes, no one really knows,” Island Records president Steve Bartels says. “Yes, Justin is a phenom, but it’s really backed up. He’s got that viral cachet right now, but what he stands for at the end of the day is music. We’re keeping our fingers crossed, obviously, but we think we have something here that has incredible longevity.”
Bieber’s debut album, “My World,” was released last November on Island through the Raymond Braun Music Group (a 50/50 joint venture between R&B star Usher Raymond and Bieber’s manager, Scott “Scooter” Braun). It arrived at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 with 137,000 copies and has since sold 998,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan, a total likely boosted by iTunes’ Complete My Album campaign. Four tracks—“One Time,” “One Less Lonely Girl,” “Favorite Girl” and “Love Me”—were released prior to the album’s street date and have all charted, making Bieber the first solo artist to have four top 40 singles before the release of his debut album. All seven of the album’s songs have charted since, adding up to 3.3 million in individual track sales.
Not content with being a double threat, Bieber also wants to act, which would catapult him to triple threat status. His team has raised funds to develop feature film projects and Bieber is clear about one thing, “I don’t want to do the ‘Hannah Montana’ thing.”
Look for Justin in upcoming appearances on “The View,” “Saturday Night Live” and Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards. For the complete article, pick up a copy of Billboard Magazine on news stands next week.
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Success Story: Child Actor Joe Mazzello Graduates to Acting in Adulthood the Old Fashioned Way – He Earned It.
Posted on 13. Mar, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
After a month of depressing new stories about the tragic ends of former child stars, I have some encouraging news to relay about the rewards of hard work and strong parenting. This is the story of former child actor Joe Mazzello.
Former child actor Joe Mazzello [“Radio Flyer,” “Raising Helen” and “Jurassic Park”] takes an adult turn Sunday night as character Eugene Sledge in HBO’s “The Pacific.” While difficult to imagine, Mazzello is already a 20-year acting veteran at the tender age of 26. Unlike many child actors who lose their way and find their careers over by their teen years, Mazzello has transitioned to adult character actor roles with relative ease.
How was this possible? According to Mazzello: “I think all of it has to do with parenting and keeping your kid grounded, keeping them in the real world and don’t let them get caught up in it. I always lived in upstate New York in a small town. And I never moved out to L.A. and did the ‘pilot season’ thing. I never immersed myself in it. I would do the job, then I would go back home and live a regular life. I would be playing in the leaves and kickball with my friends, and I just had a very normal life. So I felt like I got to live two lives. I got to go out and do these amazing things, go to these exotic locations and have all this fun, and then go home and also be a normal kid. I think that balance is what made me always love it.”
Mazzello recalls the first time he worked with Steven Speilberg, at the age of nine, while filming “Jurassic Park. “…There was a hurricane [sic] and Steven Spielberg decided instead of being safe, going underground and making sure he was alive, he was going to film the hurricane. So he went outside and got some shots of the hurricane approaching. That moment was when I knew not only did I want to be an actor, but I probably wanted to be a director too, which set me on a course to go to college [USC] to learn about that, because that kind of dedication is just remarkable.”
His current project “The Pacific” reunited him with his mentor Speilberg, and focuses on the Marine battles of the Pacific Isles like Peleliu, Guadalcanal, Okinawa and toll war takes on the young. “It has changed my life again because I’ve transitioned from being a child actor to being an adult actor, and it’s opened up a whole new world for me,” he says.
But just because he ‘d worked with Speilberg on Jurrasic didn’t guarantee the actor his transition role to adulthood acting. Mazzello admits the audition process for “The Pacific” was the most arduous he has endured thus far in his career and that he auditioned 6 times for 3 different roles. “It was the usual [process], I went to a casting director, then the next audition was in front of one of the producers, then another for another producer and another. Finally, the fifth audition I find out, ‘You’re going to audition for [producer] Steven Spielberg.’ Getting into a room with 20 people, HBO executives, PlayTone and Steven Spielberg.” Producer Tom Hanks wasn’t able to be at the fifth audition so Mazzello had to try out yet again for him. “I felt like I’d already been through boot camp. I started auditioning in October, and [the process] ended finally in April.”
Mazzello was taught patience by his parents (dance studio owners) and that not everything depends on whether Mazzello would win a given role. “When I was in high school, my acting career took a backseat for me. I didn’t even have an agent for 3 years. I just took some time away from it. Again, it’s a credit to my parents, who raised me to feel like all these other things were just as important. So I never got that engrossed in the whole scene. SAT’s, the Prom, girls and getting into college — that all meant a lot to me, so I focused on that.
Following high school, Mazzello went to USC film school. ”I learned about the other side of the camera and as I was doing it I was thinking, ‘You know, I don’t think I’m done with acting.’ It was something I always loved and made the decision: I’ve got to give this my whole heart now instead of just a half or a third of it. When I was a kid, I was doing movie after movie. And when I came back, people said, ‘Oh, Joe Mazzello, that little kid.’ I said, ‘No, not exactly. I’m 23.’ I had to definitely reinvent myself a little bit and let people see me as an adult. I could still get into all the rooms I needed to get into because of my resume, but I had to still do it the old-fashioned way.” Working with Spielberg again was always his ambition. ‘My fondest memories of ‘Jurassic Park’ are of him, so I felt it came full circle when I auditioned for ‘The Pacific’.”
* Sources: StarPulse Entertainment News, KansasCityStar.com and Google
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