Hollywood Mom Blog | Archive

Casting Call: Baby 6-18 months for Baby Einstein Commercial – Swimming Skills Are Key!

Posted on01. Sep, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Jeff Gerrard Casting is seeking a baby ages 6-16 months for a Baby Einstein commerical.

The rate is $3500.00 plus 20% for those with agents. Baby MUST have taken swimming lessons and be able to Swim Underwater.

Please, DO NOT CALL IF YOUR BABY CAN NOT SWIM UNDER WATER.

This Is Open To Single Babies/Twins/Triplets/etc.

If your baby fits the bill, please call Jeff at (818)782-9900.

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HMB Exclusive Interview: Challen Cates (Nick’s Big Time Rush) Proves TV’s Newest Boy Band Momager ROCKS!

Posted on28. Aug, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Photo by Jennings Paige

I’ve known Challen Cates for almost two decades now but until our interview last week the most I could tell you about her is that she is from Virginia, is a talented actress and as you can see in these amazing accompanying photographs taken by Jennings Paige – She Never Ages. Just like the character Mrs. Knight she plays on Nickelodeon’s break out hit “Big Time Rush,” I’ve learned there is much more to Challen than meets the eye. Television Star? Yes. But she also proudly plays the real roles of wife, mother and advocate for the prevention of childhood sexual abuse. Oh, and she’s really funny too.

HMB: Looking at your body of work, I’d said your acting background is varied, some prime time TV guest spots, independent film roles, even producing. What attracted you to the role of Mrs. Knight?

CC: I was actually watching a competing show and I said to my husband, ” I’d like to play the mom on a show like this,” et voila that’s exactly what happened. Be careful what you wish for, right?! I love comedy and I really love working on a broad comedy. Mrs. Knight is such a cool and trusting mom and she’s a single mom. I have an incredible amount of respect for single mothers so it is an honor to play one.

HMB: Did you have any hesitations about becoming a series regular or was it more like a dream come true?

CC: This really is a perfect job for me at this point in my life. It’s great that I am working on a show that shoots 15 minutes from my house and a show that my kids like to watch! However, I am an actor and as much as I love playing Mrs. Knight there are also other roles that I want to experience. I love playing against type. Anything that involves totally losing myself in a character that is a departure from me.

HMB: What process did you go through to get the role on “Big Time Rush?”

CC: Besides the obvious sexual favors? Just kidding. Oddly enough, it happened through normal channels. I didn’t know anyone involved with the project. No nepotism. I just auditioned and got the part. As an actor, you go on so many auditions. Sometimes you walk out of the room feeling great and sometimes not so great. This time is just felt right. I was completely at ease with the character, even though we have different backgrounds and lifestyles. I think Mrs Knight and I approach life in much the same way–with a healthy sense of humor to get you through the day.

Challen Cates with Husband Aaron MacPherson, son Colton and daughter Jasper. Photo by by Jennings Paige

HMB: Every actress has to ask herself when the right time is to go from ingenue to more mature roles. Is this the first time you’ve played a mom?

CC: Ha! Moving from ingenue to mature roles wasn’t something that I decided, it was sort of decided for me. But really, aren’t mature role more interesting and multi-faceted!
I’ve been playing a mom for a long time. I’m just better at it now because I have real experience to draw from. And honestly, I think that having children has made me a better person and a much better actor.

HMB: When the show debuted, it was a huge ratings score for Nickelodeon garnering more than 6 million viewers, making it the top premiere in Nick’s history. How rewarding was that for you and the other cast members? Did it put any unexpected pressure on you to continue that kind of ratings success?

CC: We are all very excited that the show came out of the gate with such a bang. The ratings continue to perform incredibly well and we are all very proud of the show. And of course there is pressure to keep the fans in our new season. The creator of the show is Scott Fellows and I think he is sort of the John Hughes of television. He just speaks kid. I guess it helps that he is a father of 4. He really understands kids, their language, their humor. As long as he can continue to tap into that wavelength I think the show will continue to be a success.

Kendall Schmidt and Ciaro Bravo

HMB: What is the biggest challenge of playing mom to Kendall Schmidt and Ciara Bravo?

CC: Um well it is probably that Kendall is so cute and funny it’s hard not to break down and laugh in the middle of a scene. And that Ciara is so darn cute I just want to scoop her up and squeeze her! She is also so sweet and innocent that I feel a natural maternal instinct to protect her. My own kids are only 2 and 5 so I am learning a lot about teenagers!

HMB: Your character is hilarious. I read a description online that Katie (Ciaro Bravo) is “always shown to have more tricks up her sleeve than her mother, who is portrayed as being very naive with regard to Hollywood machinations.” What’s your take on your character? Do you think she’s really that naive?

CC: Scott and I discussed this and we agreed that Katie gets her antics from her mother but Mrs. Knight just can’t see that. I mean seriously, this is the mother who attacked another mother at an audition, dressed up in a chef’s uniform to get an autograph for her daughter, knocked the maintenance man out with a frying pan, and pretended to be a hotel manager so that her kids could stay in Los Angeles. I love it and I can’t wait to do more shenanigans. Mrs. Knight does come from a more innocent place and perhaps she wants to hang on to some of that naivety because she wants her kids to be happy, and like every mother, hopes that they won’t grow up too fast.

HMB: Admittedly, this is me being an armchair writer/director but I would love to see Mrs. Knight have a larger role and more of a good cop/bad cop relationship with Gustavo Rocque (Stephen Kramer Glickman) who plays the boys manager, sort of reminiscent of the relationship Mrs. Partridge (Shirley Jones) had with Reuben Kincaid (Dave Madden) in “The Partridge Family.” It would be a kick to see more of Katie and Gustavo play off each other too. Any chance of this happening?

CC: Will you please call the show and pitch your ideas?! It would be great to go toe to toe with Gustavo. I don’t think he has a clue how fierce a mother can be when protecting her cubs. Right?! Katie is great with him and of course it’s hilarious because she is such a little peanut. I think that in the future there will definitely be more interaction between family and business. Watch out Mr. Rocque. And Griffin too!

HMB: Speaking of Shirley Jones, how does it feel to tackle the iconic role of “Mom of the Band?” How would you like to see your character develop?

CC: I love it! I just wish I could sing like Shirley Jones. I would like to see Mrs. Knight take a bigger interest in Kendall’s (and the guys) future as a musician and singer and in Katie’s future as an entrepreneur. I would also like to see Mrs. Knight be more involved in Kendall’s personal relationships as well. Heck, I’d like to see Mrs. Knight have a first name!

Photo by Jennings Paige

HMB: I love the fact that your family and the other boys are all transplants and end up living in a hip version of the Oakwood Apartments. Have you or any of the cast members ever stayed in the Oakwoods during your own acting careers?

CC: I almost moved into the Oakwood when I first moved to LA but at the last minute I stumbled onto a beautiful apartment on Crescent Heights in West Hollywood. The drawback was I shared the apartment and bathroom with two testonterone laden young guys. And apparently it’s come full circle!

HMB: How has life changed for you since Big Time Rush? Do kids recognize you wherever you go?

CC: Yeah I get recognized when I’m with my kids on the playground and at Colton’s preschool. Some of his friends are huge fans of the show which totally ups my cool factor. It’s hilarious. I love kids who are fans of the show. I especially love it when they know more about the show than I do. They can recite my dialogue, sing the songs, and correct me on the minute details of the show.

HMB: And an obvious questions, are the boys swarmed with fans?

CC: Oh gosh, yes they are all swarmed with fans and are getting an enormous amount of attention which all seems to be evenly distributed. Kids (and adults) love to tell me who their favorite guy is and I have to say it is very even. It was obviously great casting because there is a btr boy for everyone. The guys are all amazing and they are handling fame beautifully. They are all very close with their real parents which I think really helps keep them grounded.

HMB: You’re a mother and wife in real life also. How do you balance that with your shooting schedule?

CC: I am a mom in real life to my son Colton who is 5 and my daughter Jasper who is 2. My schedule on the show varies so we take it one week at a time. Every night Aaron (Challen’s husband) and I discuss our plans for the next day so that we can make sure that everyone is covered. It can get pretty tricky since both of us are actors and Aaron is also an acting coach (www.aaronmcphersonstudio.com). My kids have a wonderful nanny who helps us when Aaron or I can’t be there. Even when I’m not working on the show I am still running around this crazy city going to auditions and working on other projects. Sometimes I take the kids with me to auditions, especially commercial and voice over auditions. We just make it work out and we try our best to make it a fun adventure.

HMB: What do your kids think of their mom starring on Big Time Rush?

CC: Colton and Jasper just think it is completely normal. Colton says things like, “How was work today mom? Are you going to see Kendall today?” They love to come and visit me on set. They love the cast and crew and the awesome sets. They are also big fans of the show and the music. I love that it is actually a show they can watch. Nothing horrible happens to me on Big Time Rush. Thank goodness!

Challen Cates with Husband Aaron, son Colton and daughter Jasper. Photo by by Jennings Paige

HMB: Do you think either of your kids have the acting gene? How would you handle it if they asked to become child actors?

CC: I don’t know. It’s too soon to really know. At this point Colton seems like a director and Jasper is my little comedienne. It is just such a hard profession. It is hard emotionally. The rejection is brutal and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. However, if they decide they want to be actors, we will do everything we can to support their decision and give them the encouragement and help they need.

HMB: What other projects are you involved with or have slated for the near future?

CC: I did a feature called Foosteps which should be coming out soon. I play a mom in that as well but it’s a chilling thriller and definitely not something my kids can watch. I am actively reading scripts because I would love to produce another feature but it really comes down to finding the right material.

Challen also works closely with the charity Darkness 2 Light, the world’s leading non-profit working to prevent child sexual abuse.

CC: I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and so it is a cause that is very close to my heart. One is 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused. We need to increase awareness and educate adults and children in how to prevent childhood sexual abuse.

ABOUT the Darkness to Light Organization

In 2000, Anne Lee, Darkness to Light’s President/CEO, developed and implemented a strategy for a non-profit primary prevention program with the mission of reducing the incidence of child sexual abuse through public awareness and education. With tremendous community support, over $100,000 was raised and an award-winning Darkness to Light media campaign was developed and launched in June of 2001. Darkness to Light’s public awareness campaign seeks to raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse. Their ads are a “call to action” encouraging adults to call or go online for free materials that educate adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Darkness to Light is also actively educating adults through its newest initiative, Stewards of Children, a sexual abuse prevention training program that provides frontline training for organizations and corporations that serve children and youth.

Love these Pictures? Photographer Jennings Paige can be reached at jenningspaige@yahoo.com

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OPEN CASTING CALL: 6 Teen Girls & Boys Sought for MARVEL Movie: “RUNAWAYS”

Posted on27. Aug, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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An open casting call has been announced for Runaways, the Marvel Studios adaptation set to begin filming in January 2011 and which will complete filming in July 2011.

Created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, Runaways centers on six teens who discover their parents are super-villains known as the Pride. Fleeing from their homes, the kids band together to learn about their inherited powers, defeat the Pride and make up for the evil deeds of their villainous parents.

Casting for the roles of Alex Wilder, Chase Stein, Nico Minoru, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean and Molly Hayes — the original six Runaways:

BOYS
Boy 1: Very smart, natural leader, in need of a father figure
Male, African American, must play 16-18
Must be at least 16 by January 2011

Boy 2: A rebel, ignores rules and authority, wounded inside
Male, must play 16-18
Must be at least 16 by January 2011

GIRLS
Girl 1: Uniquely beautiful, nurturing but guarded
Asian-American Female, must play 16-18
Must be at least 16 by January 2011

Girl 2: Chubby oddball, smart and verbal
Female, must play 16-18
Must be at least 16 by January 2011

Girl 3: Conventionally beautiful blonde, with an unchecked ego
Female, must play 15-18
Must be at least 16 by January 2011

Girl 4: An innocent, wide-eyed and overprotected
Female, must play 8-10
Must be at least 9 years old as of January 2011

Runaways will be directed by Peter Sollett (Nick And Nora’s Infinite Playlist) from a script by Drew Pearce (No Heroics) and Vaughan. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige will serve as executive producer.

To Submit for a role in ‘RUNAWAYS’ click HERE.

For Directions on what to say & how to film your audition, click HERE.

The submission deadline for all audition tapes is September 15, 2010.

About SARAH HALLEY FINN & RANDI HILLER Casting Directors:

SARAH HALLEY FINN, C.S.A. and RANDI HILLER, C.S.A. (Casting) joined forces in 2000 to form Finn/Hiller Casting, and together they have cast a broad range of films spanning every genre. From larger action-driven films like “Swat” and “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” to character-driven pieces such as “Life as a House” and “Crazy/Beautiful,” they are constantly engaged in the search for fresh ideas, unique performers and the highest caliber of work. Some of their other credits include “Miracle,” “Blue Crush,” “A Cinderella Story,” “Coach Carter,” and the upcoming films “Stealth,” “Crash,” “Into the Blue,” and “Dreamer.

In addition to casting, Finn/Hiller has begun co-producing independent films and is proud to include “Crash” and “Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School,” which premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, among their credits. They also cast and co-produced the independent film starring Johnny Knoxville, “Grand Theft Parsons.”

Randi Hiller has cast a variety of films from smaller budget independents to large action blockbusters. She won the Artios Award for Best Casting in an independent feature for her work on “In the Bedroom.” Three of the lead actors in this film received Academy Award® nominations and the entire cast was nominated for the 2001 Screen Actors’ Guild awards. Ms. Hiller has also received Artios nominations for Best Casting in an independent feature film for “Clay Pidgeons” and, along with Ms. Finn, nominations for Best Casting in a drama for the feature films “Life as a House” and “Crazy/Beautiful.” Other credits include

“The Haunting,” “The Peacemaker,” “Cheaters,” and “Sweet November.” She began her career as a casting assistant on films such as “Outbreak” and “Mi Familia,” then became a casting associate on several films including “Twister” and “Inventing the Abbots.”

Sarah Finn has a degree in theatre from Yale University and began working off-Broadway in New York City. She acted, directed and produced theater before coming to work in casting. Producing at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in 1997 with Ensemble Studio Theatre-The L.A. Project, she won the MCI Jury Award for outstanding theatre production. She then joined Paramount Pictures as Director of Feature Casting, where she cast such films as “Varsity Blues,” “200 Cigarettes” and “Mission: Impossible 2” and oversaw a range of other films.

Read More about the new trend of Digital Casting here:

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CASTING CALL UPDATE: Super Nanny to Visit Hipster Kid in Westlake Village, CA!

Posted on18. Aug, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Photo Credit: Jennings Paige

As we mentioned last week, ABC is seeking families with children, ages toddlers to teen, to take part in the hit television series “Super Nanny.”

An on-location casting will be held at our favorite childrens clothing boutique HIPSTER KID, in Westlake Village, CA on Wednesday, August 25 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Get your back-to-school shopping done at L.A.’s hippest kid store (owned by hipster sisters Julianne Zeile and Elizabeth Thompson pictured left) while applying for a family make-over from America’s favorite British nanny, Jo Frost.

Who could ask for more?!

Call SUPERNANNY CASTING at 310-499-6399 or email our friend, the beautiful Teresa at TeresaMLowther@gmail.com for more information!

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CASTING CALL UPDATE: “Dance of the Mirlitons”

Posted on16. Aug, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Couples Resort actress Kristen Bell has officially been cast as an overbearing stage mother in the currently titled “Dance of the Mirlitons,” an Evan Greenberg film, about an ambitious, slightly overweight ballerina. Mirlitons is described as as “indie ballet, black comedy,” but comparisons to Little Miss Sunshine and Mean Girls have arisen and having read portions of the script myself, I see it as a much hipper, female version of “Rudy.”

Producer Dubiecki tells the Hollywood Reporter, “Kristen’s combination of comedic timing and authenticity will bring this character to the next level, and give this crossover appeal.”

Evan Greenberg, who wrote the script, will also direct. As we at Hollywood Mom Blog posted a while back, producers are looking for an unknown to play Bell’s daughter, so submit those head shots and resumes and maybe your little star will be Hollywood’s latest discovery.

Bell will show off her own dance skills in November 2010 as the rival to Christina Aguilera’s dancer character in movie musical Burlesque.

Shooting on Mirlitons is scheduled to begin this winter.

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CASTING CALL UPDATE: Kings of Leon Music Video

Posted on15. Aug, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Anissa Williams & Associates Casting is casting a music video for the popular rock group KINGS OF LEON.

UPDATE: Now also seeking Caucasian and Hispanic children ages 7-12 years and adorable African American babies 11-13 months old.

No Union Affiliation / Featured / Male or Female

Real youth and young adult gospel choirs, Male or Female, ages 10 to 25 years sought. Should be African American, Hispanic or Ethnically Ambiguous.

Real choir members are preferable with a background in singing soulful, gospel choirs. Must have soulful voices like Harlem Boys Choir but need girls also. Prefer an east coast look for all applicants.

Please email pictures and resumes ASAP to Anissa AWCASTING@YAHOO.COM

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Jackie Evancho of America’s Got Talent – A Child Star is Born!

Posted on11. Aug, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Last night yet another Child Star was born. Jackie Evancho, a 10-year-old opera singer competing on the television show, “America’s Got Talent,” wowed television viewers with her seriously mature voice. Some people even think she could be the the next Susan Boyle. The public voted overwhelmingly for her out of a whopping 20,000 YouTube video performances submitted. I’ve watched the show all summer and while I’m not an opera fan by nature and I don’t necessarily believe that “America” as a whole has talent, anyone who watched last night’s show knows that Evancho does.

Jackie Evancho, a Pittsburgh, PA native, is so talented that if one listens without looking at hear, you’d think she was a seasoned opera star, three times her age. Following her amazing performance judge PiersMorgan gushed, “That is one of the most extraordinary performances I’ve seen on ‘America’s Got Talent.’” Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne wholeheartedly agreed. Mandel related that they were looking for that pinnacle moment in the show when they would discover a gem. To Evancho Mandel proclaimed, “This is that moment and you are that star!”

Evancho should advance to the next round of eliminations without problem. On tonight’s show, the public will learn which YouTube acts will move on to the semi-finals.

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Former Child Star Mary Kate Olsen Recalls Childhood as that of “Little Monkey Performer”

Posted on04. Aug, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Mary-Kate Olsen, 24, rose to unexpected fame with her twin sister Ashley, playing the youngest Tanner sister on the hit television series Full House, and somehow graduated from the dreaded title “former child star” to the enviable moniker of “fashion icon” with relative ease in her late teens. Today, she and her sister have an astounding estimated net worth of $100 million.

After years of silence, MK is now speaking about her experiences for the first time in Marie Claire magazine. She told the publication that she and her sister were nothing shy of ‘little monkey performers’ as children. “I look at old photos of me, and I don’t feel connected to them at all,’ she said. ‘I would never wish my upbringing on anyone… but I wouldn’t take it back for the world.” The former child star said rather than envy the twins lives, her friends “feel sorry for us… because it’s kind of bittersweet.”

While twin sister Ashley has been relatively trouble-free, Mary-Kate’s problems: party-girl reputation, numerous romantic liaisons, public battle and hospitalization with anorexia and questionable involvement in the scandalous aftermath of Heath Ledger’s untimely death.

Mary Kate explained how her experiences taught her that avoiding issues can only make the problem worse. “I think it’s really important to be able to talk when something’s wrong,” she says. “I learned at a really young age that if you don’t talk about it, it can drive you insane.”

Ashley is Mary Kate’s biggest supporter. “Sometimes Ash and I have to bring each other back, or push each other more. It’s really helpful to have another half; we’re constantly checking in with each other.”

Today Mary-Kate has moved on from the past and devotes her time to the various fashion lines she and Ashley run. Together they’ve founded and designed clothing ranges at every price point – from the critically acclaimed The Row, named after London’s Savile Row, and mid-priced Elizabeth and James, to the cut-price Olsenboye collection for JC Penney. And she’s not rushing in to the design process. “It took us a year-and-a-half to make the first T-shirt,” she shares.

Though she hasn’t abandoned her first profession entirely (she has a role opposite Vanessa Hudgens in upcoming horror film, Beastly), fashion is now her primary focus. “I still read scripts, and if something great comes along, that’s great… but this is my day job. The Row is where I go every day. It’s kind of like a mask to hide behind,” she admits.

Source: Marie Claire

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Rumormill: Popager Joe Simpson Blows Idol Deal for daughter Jessica Simpson, Paves the Way for Judge J. Lo

Posted on04. Aug, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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“Here comes the Judge! Here comes the Judge!”

Jennifer Lopez has yet to officially announce that she’s the newest judge on “American Idol,” but according to the rumor mill she was offered this position after several legendary singers essentially said, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

According to Idol insiders “J.Lo was definitely not the first choice. In fact, she wasn’t even the second or third choice.” Before they approached Lopez, producers first asked Elton John and Barry Manilow to join the show. Both are world renown singer-songwriters who’ve mentored Idol contestants in prior seasons. Elton and Barry both declined.

Producers then began to scout celebrities whose careers were in flux and chose two musical artists who could benefit from the exposure of a national TV show as much as the Idol needed them: thus choices, Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Lopez.

According to inside sources, the job could have been Jessica Simpson’s were it not for her father and career manager aka Pop-ager, Joe Simpson. “This was definitely Jessica’s to lose and that’s exactly what her dad-manager did. Once it became clear it was going to be impossible to negotiate a deal with Papa Joe, J.Lo was snapped up. Convinced being on the show would relaunch her performing career, she accepted the new job right away.”

Rumors are also swirling that Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is set to join the show. Randy Jackson will return as a judge and Ryan Seacrest is confirmed as host.

Sources: MTV, Popeater, US Magazine

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Casting is in Session for ABC’s “Super Nanny!”

Posted on29. Jul, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Hey Momagers! Are your children driving you nuts? Had enough sassy back talk, disrespect and shenanigans to last you a life time?

ABC is now looking for families with children, ages toddlers to teen, to take part in the hit television series “Super Nanny” featuring Jo Frost, America’s #1 nanny!

Call SUPERNANNY CASTING at 310-499-6399 or email our friend, the beautiful Teresa at TeresaMLowther@gmail.com

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Lance Kerwin, “James at 16″ Child Star, Guilty of Theft

Posted on28. Jul, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Ugh. Lance Kerwin, former child star of popular 1970’s television series “James at 15,” and then “James at 16″ has been found guilty of second-degree theft and placed on five years probation in Kauai, Hawaii. Collective sigh.

The actor has been ordered to carry out 300 hours of community service and was given credit for time already served during sentencing last week.

Kerwin, who quit acting to become a pastor (ironic yes), was found guilty of faking documents to get state medical assistance and free food stamps – despite the face that he owns 3 homes. To date he has repaid $21,822.

When sentenced to community service and placed on probation, Kerwin stated, “I’m sorry. The last thing I want to do is to make a statement to minimize what I have done.”

A look back at better years for Kerwin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ABX2-4RTrY

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NATIONWIDE CASTING CALL: 3 Kids Roles for Cameron Crowe Movie W/ Extended Audition Deadline!

Posted on21. Jul, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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UPDATE: NEW AUDITION DEADLINE: October 2010

This is an Open Casting Call for MAJOR Motion Picture for 20th Century Fox, “WE BOUGHT A ZOO,” directed by Cameron Crowe the Oscar-winning director of Jerry Maguire & Almost Famous. “We Bought A Zoo” is based on the true life story of Benjamin Mee and his family and how he and his family used their life savings to buy a dilapidated zoo and restored it to its former glory.

Casting for the roles of:

Rosie: Enthusiastic and positive, wise beyond her years… loves animals. A girl, 6 – 8 years old – a lead role. Benjamin’s 6-year-old and extremely lively daughter (submit 6-8 to play 6). Rosie is a loving and disarmingly adorable child, even with the death of her mother, which she seems to handle better than her father and brother. She’s an old soul and is able to share her love for just about everything, especially the animals at the zoo. One might forget that she is only 6 years old, as Rosie seems to be the glue keeping her family together, but she needs her family as much as any other child.

Dylan: Shy, creative, awkward but soulful. He’s an artist, loves to draw. A boy, 14- 16 years old – a lead role. Benjamin’s 14-year-old son (submit 13-18 to play 14). Dylan took his mother’s death very hard and retreated into his world of drawing but took it to an oddly dark place. He is a creative & talented young artist but outside observers worry about what he is actually drawing… and what it’s missing. Constantly in trouble at school, he gets suspended and expelled often – not a bad kid, just a misunderstood misfit. Dylan isn’t much of a big brother or a son until the journey of the zoo sheds new light on his dark world. He has deep feelings behind his eyes with an edgy style, not unlike what a young Tim Burton must have been like.

Lily: A 14-16 year old girl who is smart and appealing, a horse lover who has grown up living a country life. Curious and open, the opposite of Dylan. A great supporting role! 15-years-old and a rural beauty (submit 14-19 to play 15). She works at the zoo’s restaurant but she’s too young to work legally so she’s paid under the table and she, too, lives on the property. Her only parental figure seems to be Kelly from whom she learns to be at great ease with the animals. When Dylan arrives at the zoo, she finds him immediately fascinating. Her little world is rocked by his city boy looks and she doesn’t hold back in her quirky flirtatiousness and daily sandwich deliveries.

Please visit http://www.weboughtazoocasting.com/ for details on how to audition.

This website submission is not intended for children who have agents and managers, and those who are represented should submit through their representation only. If you get stuck with the filming of your audition, contact tapinghelp@weboughtazoocasting.com

ABOUT BENJAMIN MEE (Courtesy HarperCollins):

“Chuck it all in and buy a zoo? Why not?” thought Benjamin Mee, unaware of the grim living conditions, creditors and escaped big cat that lay in wait…

In 2006 Benjamin Mee left an idyllic life in France to run a dilapidated zoo on the edge of Dartmoor complete with 200 wild animals. He had no previous experience of managing staff, running a visitor attraction, or looking after animals. Nor had his wife, Katherine, his 76-year-old mother or his brother, all of whom he persuaded to join him in pursuing his dream. What they lacked in experience they made up for with enthusiasm and in July 2007, the Dartmoor Zoological Park, as it had become, was reopened to the public. The amazing story of how Ben and his family turned a dream into reality is told in We Bought a Zoo.

When Ben arrived at the zoo he found his extended family included African lions, Siberian tigers and European brown bears not to mention wolves, monkeys, ostriches and snakes. Within days he was coping with a major ‘Code Red’ situation as the jaguar, Sovereign, executed a cunning escape plan. Luckily, his escape route led him straight into the tiger enclosure where he was recaptured some hours later but Ben knew that the dream could have ended there had the jaguar run off.

Escaped jaguars, big cats with toothache (the vet’s bill for dentistry was £8000!), warring vervet monkeys, fighting off creditors and securing loans from banks, were just some of the problems that Ben had to deal with during the first few months. However, none of them compared with the tragedy that struck the family soon after arriving in Devon.

Ben’s wife Katherine, having already survived and recovered from the removal of a brain tumour, became ill once more. Looking after her in her final days became another task to add to the day-to-day complexities of running the zoo an preparing for the opening. In March 2007 Katherine died leaving Ben alone to bring up their two small children, Milo and Ella, as well as the ever growing menagerie of animals.

We Bought a Zoo charts the family’s attempts to rebuild the park, and their lives following Katherine’s death. It’s an amazing true story of following a dream and coping with personal tragedy which is both inspiring and at times deeply moving. The reopening of the park was chronicled in the four-part BBC2 series, Ben’s Zoo. A former bricklayer, decorator and Guardian columnist on DIY, Benjamin Mee also studied and wrote about animal behaviour. It was while living in France and writing a book on the Evolution of Humour in Man and Animals that the zoo came up for sale.

Thank you to Casting Workbook for making us aware of this open call.

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Leonardo di Caprio’s Career Advice to Zac Efron, “Don’t Do Heroin.”

Posted on21. Jul, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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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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