How Can My Child Meet Disney and Nickelodeon Casting Directors?

http://www.secretsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com

Wendy Alane Wright is a Hollywood Talent Manager with WAW Entertainment. Her clients have appeared in numerous national commercials, movies, webisodes, short films, and on television networks such as ABC, NBC, Comedy Central, BIO, Lifetime, plus many more. Previous to being a Manager and a Talent Agent at Burn Down Entertainment, she assisted many high profile Managers, Agents and Publicists in the careers of Neil Patrick Harris, Johnny Galecki, Sarah Michelle Geller, The Four Tops, The Bee Gees, Meatloaf, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Guttenberg, The Cranberries Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, and Neil Diamond. Wendy is also a Recording Artist, Actress, Author and Music Producer all  giving her a 360-degree perspective of the industry.

In Los Angeles, child actors have the opportunity of doing workshops and 3-week intensives with Disney and Nickelodeon Casting Directors all year long. These CDs see these kids regularly so they know their talent, skill level and in fact, watch them grow up.  They know which kids are ready for the small roles, and which ones are ready to star in a series. They are following their progress.

When kids live out of state that don't have that luxury. Out of state kids don't have that continuous exposure to these very important people. If you live in LA, I always suggest to my clients and their parents to attend classes and workshops with Disney and Nickelodeon Casting Directors at least 3-4 times a year. There are 3 training schools in LA that I highly recommend that have these Casting Directors in regularly, as well as OUTSTANDING acting training for kids. They are, in no particular order:

Actor Training in LA

 

Actorsite 

Talent House Academy

My advice is go to their websites, get on all 3 of their mailing lists and stay updated about upcoming workshops. Be sure to enroll your child in them often. 

But FIRST BE SURE your child is ready to do CD workshops by having your children take numerous acting, improv, and audition classes  at these 3 schools first. Many series regulars go to classes at these schools 5 times a week. So be prepared to live there.

If you live out of state and are planning a visit to LA for spring break or the summer, those are perfect times to visit these 3 schools and take classes. The level of training is professional and invaluable. Be sure to tell then Wendy Alane Wright sent you.

To get you familiar with who's who, here are some of the important CDs you should be looking out for for your children to do workshops with.

Disney Casting Directors

Carol Goldwasser

Barbie Block
Sally Stiner
Gayle Pillsbury (Zane/Pillsbury)
Bonnie Zane
Dana Gergely (Brice/Gergely)
Brandi Brice
Howard Meltzer
Suzanne Goddard- Smythe
Ruth Lambert
Robert McGee
Sheryl Levine

Nickelodeon Casting Directors

Barbara Stordahl

Angela Terry

Daniel Aufierro

Amber Horn

Jamie Snow

Lori Wyman

Harriet Greenspan

Sean Cossey

J.J. Oglivy

Krisha Bullock 

Of course when your agent or manager submits your child for roles being cast by the above TV royalty they bring in the kids they want to see for auditions. It's important that you realize Casting Directors receive about 1,500 pictures for every role. They typically call in about 100- 200 to audition in person or see tapes, 25 or so are called back and only 5 are in the finally running for a job. ONE lucky person will book the role. So those are the odds 1 in 1,500. I think doing the workshops help your child become recognizable to the casting directors and therefore increasing the odds of getting the chance to audition at all.

My company WAW Entertainment is always looking for new & talented kids and teens. If you have a child who is serious about acting feel free to email me their headshot, pictures, resume and demo reel if you have them to wawentertainment@yahoo.com If you child is what I am looking when I receive your email I will get back to you to set up a Skype Consultation. 

But FIRST read another one of my blogs to learn what is expected of you if a manager in Los Angeles is interested in your child: http://secretsofatalentmanager.blogspot.com/2015/01/what-happens-if-la-agent-or-manager.html

See you on the Red Carpet! 

Wendy Alane Wright

President WAW Entertainment