Post by MJ Ferruzza on Jun 5, 2007 1:32:09 GMT -5
As an acting coach and talent counselor, I have worked with some very talented kids over the years. I have even set up a program to get them working professionally quickly and painlessly for their parents. This is the story of one such great creative kid.
Alex joined my acting class at age 5. The very first thing he said to me when he walked through the studio door was "I want my own TV show!" This was not an unusual request from another wonderfully talented kid. I have had requests in the form of questions like:
"Can I be on TV?"
"Can I do a commercial?" and
"Can I meet ...{insert star of the day here}?"
But Alex said in no uncertain terms... "I WANT MY OWN TV SHOW!"
His mother kind of laughed it off, but I was already formulating my game plan for this next young superstar:
#1 He was already signed with a local agent so he needed a regional one.
#2 He needed his union card, so he auditioned for every union ad he could.
#3 Landing a few union jobs, he joined the union.
#4 Have him sign with a major market agency.
#5 National ads.
#6 An audition for a network TV show.
Within a year of working on his game plan, Alex landed an audition for a network TV show. He was cast instantly. His parents were asked to move to L.A. for a contractually determined time frame. I did my job!
But... Not all fairy tales end happily ever after! His parents turned down
the network show. They did not want to move. They did not want Alex to
change schools or be tutored on set. They had bought a new house. Just
joined a new church. All this was way too quick. They just said no!
Alex was devastated! So they enrolled him in martial arts to get his mind off the disappointment. He stopped auditioning and dropped his talent agency contact and contract soon afterward. Was I disappointed in his parents decision? No! They are his legal guardians. They make the very important decisions. He was not 18. This was their call! But when I do think back on his success, I remind myself what he said the very first day we met...
"I WANT MY OWN TV SHOW!"
So... I did MY job!
Alex joined my acting class at age 5. The very first thing he said to me when he walked through the studio door was "I want my own TV show!" This was not an unusual request from another wonderfully talented kid. I have had requests in the form of questions like:
"Can I be on TV?"
"Can I do a commercial?" and
"Can I meet ...{insert star of the day here}?"
But Alex said in no uncertain terms... "I WANT MY OWN TV SHOW!"
His mother kind of laughed it off, but I was already formulating my game plan for this next young superstar:
#1 He was already signed with a local agent so he needed a regional one.
#2 He needed his union card, so he auditioned for every union ad he could.
#3 Landing a few union jobs, he joined the union.
#4 Have him sign with a major market agency.
#5 National ads.
#6 An audition for a network TV show.
Within a year of working on his game plan, Alex landed an audition for a network TV show. He was cast instantly. His parents were asked to move to L.A. for a contractually determined time frame. I did my job!
But... Not all fairy tales end happily ever after! His parents turned down
the network show. They did not want to move. They did not want Alex to
change schools or be tutored on set. They had bought a new house. Just
joined a new church. All this was way too quick. They just said no!
Alex was devastated! So they enrolled him in martial arts to get his mind off the disappointment. He stopped auditioning and dropped his talent agency contact and contract soon afterward. Was I disappointed in his parents decision? No! They are his legal guardians. They make the very important decisions. He was not 18. This was their call! But when I do think back on his success, I remind myself what he said the very first day we met...
"I WANT MY OWN TV SHOW!"
So... I did MY job!
