. Academy of Cinema and Television Blog
Industry News

Talent agencies and booming youth business
By Shannon L. Bowen

In May, a mini-earthquake rocked the small but fragile world of children’s talent agencies. Mitchell Gossett, one of the best-known kids reps and the man behind the career of Miley Cyrus, left his longtime home at Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty (CESD) for powerhouse UTA.

At 15, Cyrus, the lead of Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana,” is not only a household name, she is the force behind a billion-dollar empire of television programming, chart-topping albums and a huge concert tour. A slightly revealing Vanity Fair spread of Cyrus had alone caused analysts to fear that the Walt Disney Co.’s stock might tumble.

So while Gossett’s move was good news for UTA, it was a disaster for CESD, which also lost other Gossett clients, including Taylor Momsen (the CW’s “Gossip Girl”) and Victoria Justice (Nickelodeon’s upcoming “Spectacular!”). The agency will continue to reap revenues from Cyrus for years to come based on contracts already in place, but her future income will now go to Gossett and UTA. And if Cyrus manages to make the difficult transition from teen phenomenon to adult star, as many expect, that could mean hundreds of millions of dollars in lost fees for CESD.

UTA’s entry into the youth market marks a shift in the direction many of the Big Five agencies are taking as they seek to expand their bases, replace revenues from declining star salaries and tap into the burgeoning appetite for younger performers. Click here to read full article.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Industry News

What does it take to create a lasting career for kids in show business today?

The Hollywood Reporter’s Matt Belloni and Noela Hueso asked five people with first-hand knowledge:

Danny Bonaduce, best known for his role as Danny Partridge on “The Partridge Family,” who has found a new career as a radio talk show host and producer of the VH1 reality series “I Know My Kid’s a Star”; UTA’s Mitchell Gossett, who counts Miley Cyrus, Taylor Momsen (the CW’s “Gossip Girl”) and Victoria Justice (Nickelodeon’s “Spectacular!”) among his clients; William Morris Agency’s Bonnie Liedtke, whose youth roster includes Corbin Bleu (the Disney “High School Musical” franchise), Taylor Lautner (Summit Entertainment’s “Twilight”) and Cole and Dylan Sprouse (Disney Channel’s “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”); Judy Taylor, vp casting and talent relations at Disney Channel; and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, whose acting and directing career has thrived, years after he starred in “The Cosby Show.”  Click here to read the Q&As.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Industry News, acting

CULVER CITY, Calif., Sept 03, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — When “RENT,” Broadway’s landmark musical, marks the end of an era and closes its historic run, Sony Pictures Releasing’s new special programming division The Hot Ticket will be there. For the first time ever, audiences across the country who are unable to attend a Broadway show will be able to see this once-in-a-lifetime event as The Hot Ticket presents the closing of “RENT” in select movie theaters with special limited engagement performances September 24th, 25th, 27th, and 28th.

 

Commenting on the announcement, Rory Bruer, president of Sony Pictures Releasing, said, “This is the first time that a Broadway show has been available in movie theaters across the U.S. and Canada, and I can’t think of a better occasion than the closing of ‘RENT.’ It’s the show that defined Broadway for a generation and now that it’s ending its long run, The Hot Ticket presentation is a perfect way for the show to celebrate with its many fans — no matter where they live.”

 

The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical will end its 12-year run on Broadway on Sunday, September 7th and the Academy Award(R) winning company @radical.media will be there to capture the emotional and poignant evening. Utilizing the latest in High-Definition video and digital audio technology, the cinecast of RENT, directed by Michael Warren, will take the audience on an enhanced journey through the music, lyrics, and images of this storied piece of live entertainment. The audience will experience this production like never before — not only from the best seats in the Nederlander Theatre, but from the stage and wings, where cameras will capture the raw emotion of the cast’s performance.

 

“As groundbreaking as RENT was in its Broadway debut, it is a privilege for us to be part of bringing it in an innovative way to the screen.” said @radical.media CEO Jon Kamen. “We’re excited to explore an amazing opportunity for live theater and capture the minds and imaginations of cinema- goers across the country. Perhaps it’s ironic that RENT will be as groundbreaking again when it closes.”

 

The final production of RENT features Will Chase as Roger, Adam Kantor as Mark, Michael McElroy as Tom, Rodney Hicks as Benjamin, Tracie Thoms as Joanne, Justin Johnston as Angel, Renee Elise Goldsberry as Mimi, and Eden Espinoza as Maureen. Michael Grief, who stage directed the original production of RENT, returns to stage-direct the final production.

 

A first-class production team, including the award-winning Cinematographer Declan Quinn (Leaving Las Vegas, Monsoon Wedding) and recent Grammy Award- winning Music Producer Giles Martin (Cirque du Soleil’s Love) has been assembled to heighten the visual and audio elements of the presentation. In collaboration with All Mobile Video, Outpost Digital, Sound One, and the new Deluxe facility in New York, this cinecast will create a one-of-a-kind visceral experience for the audience.

 

Anthony Rapp, an original cast member of “RENT,” added, “For the many ‘RENT’ fans across the country who love the show but never got to see it on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre, it’s great that the cinecast will get them as close as possible to that magical experience without actually being there. I’m very happy that such a momentous occasion as the final Broadway performance will be captured forever.”

For further information and to purchase tickets for RENT: FILMED LIVE ON BROADWAY please visit http://www.thehotticket.net/rent.

 

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 100 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

 

SOURCE The Hot Ticket


Fashion

The teen age students at the Academy of Cinema and Television want their own look and style, but always based upon the current fashion trends of the day.

Part of any teen’s style is about breaking away from the surrounding adults to find a unique and individual identity. It is also fun, plain and simple, to keep up with latest and greatest in teen fashion design. After all, anytime is the right time to hit the mall! If you are a teen looking to update her/his look this season, we have the tips you need to hit the school campus, your auditions or the mall in style.

Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize
Some of the pieces in a teen’s closet may look so yesterday, but what if they were paired with one of the trendiest new accessories?

Whether it is a pair of earrings or a funky belt, you can update any of the basics in your closet with a whole new look. This allows you to keep up on the latest teen fashion design without spending your entire allowance amount to do so. Other great accessories to watch out for include a new pair of shoes, a fabulous handbag or an all the rage necklace to wear over your favorite tee.

Wardrobe
What’s your favorite color?  When you begin to build a wardrobe for yourself, it is best to work it around a couple of basic colors that you love and that you look positively great in.  From that base palette, you can build an entire wardrobe by adding a hot colored camisole or some wild beads. If you stick with basics like great-fitting blue jeans, solid colored t-shirts and a few fashion forward skirts, you will be able to mix and match in the latest teen fashion design.

Once you have assembled a wardrobe that you love for the current season, take care of it by keeping the pieces clean, pressed and hung properly in your closet. To ensure that you can find all of the necessary items for a complete ensemble, keep your closet tidy with the clothing hung on hangers instead of heaped on the floor. The latest teen fashion design can be yours with these simple tips and a little bit of shopping savvy.

Miscellaneous


Acting Blog Directory

Auditions, Auditions for Kids, Student News, acting

For anyone that missed the news broadcast in June, we are posting the link to the footage here so any new blog visitors can hear and see Academy of Cinema and Television students that have experienced outstanding successes in the Entertainment Industry.  Click to view the Newscast and Interview.

Industry News

Teen favorites continue to relish their time in spotlight. . .

Source: Sun Times. com

The story begins: “The Jonas Brothers — the greatest exports of Wyckoff, N.J., since Tara Reid –steamrolled Sunday night into Tinley Park, filling every square inch of the Midwest Bank Amphitheatre with the relentless shrieks and screams of feverish young ladies.”

The story ends: “When it comes to teen heartthrobs like the Jonas Brothers, history tells us that these heroes inevitably will fall from that pop chart at some point. Those who fail to recapture their fleeting (albeit ferocious) fame far outnumber those who do.

Justin Timberlake, the break-out star of ‘N Sync, continues to find post teeny-bopper success by supplementing his multiplatinum solo music career with memorable stints on “Saturday Night Live” and a few movie roles.

Others haven’t fared so well. Michael Jackson of the Jackson Five indulged in plastic surgery and was slapped with molestation charges. And Danny Bonaduce of the Partridge Family found heavy drugs. Whether the Jonas Brothers possess the self-awareness required to parlay their fleeting popularity to a level on par with Timberlake will be reason to continue to tune in. But until then, they remain the type of floppy-haired phenomenon that only a mother could understand and a father could merely roll his eyes at.

Yet for those thousands of shrieking fans to whom the Jonas Brothers pander, it was, indeed, the best night of their lives.”

Moral of the story:  As an upcoming performer or parent of a performer, it is important to follow the stories of current teen throbs and pay attention to what they do right as well as wrong.  The Academy of Cinema and Television’s staff strives to help all students obtain entertainment successes that last as long as the student wants them to, but a large portion of the job is up to the student and the student’s parents.

Here is a link so you can read the entire story:

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/1124630,CST-FTR-jonas25.article

Workshops, acting

What are acting workshops?
An acting workshop at the Academy of Cinema and Television is usually a series of instruction provided by our professional acting staff at our professional institution, which provides skill training in the field of acting to beginners and advanced students who show a natural talent for acting at one of our auditions.

Why take workshops if I have raw talent?
Even seasoned actors take acting courses for many of these reasons:
» To allow you to learn how to act,
» To become a skilled actor from professional actors,
» To learn the ins and outs of the business,
» To take your natural talent and turn it into something more,
» To make your dream of becoming an actor real,
> To expose you to talent agents and producers looking for new faces with talent.