The Complete Package- Inside and Out: Everything in context.

The Complete Package- Inside and Out

Everything in context.

Guest post from successful actor and coach in Los Angeles , Pamela Daly.

When my kids were little, I taught them context- they learned that it was not appropriate to run and yell in church, but the playground was a perfect place to express all that amazing energy. In church, it would be disruptive to folks who are trying to pray or worship. And you may run down the older saint making his way to the pew. 

Everything in context.

I am an artist. And the very last thing I want to focus on is my external presentation. I don’t judge a book by it’s cover, and I see the beauty of the inside of a person. But I know how important the external presentation is to the success of the actor. I am not talking about fake, external, over- adornment, but authenticity both inside and out. And as I grow in this area, it may cause my craft to suffer temporarily as I spend more time on it. But eventually, I know that it will make me more of a complete package. Ultimately, that much deeper and more marketable.

And since we are talking about the complete package, I have reasserted myself to the external presentation of the branding aspect of the business. Here, again, my exterior needs to match my interior. I have a message to send to the world. I once felt that things like self-promotion and social media were unnecessary or daunting, I’ve now found that the use of my website, Twitter, and Facebook accounts have increased my ability to network and share my talent with the world.

I just hate it when amazing actors don’t get the opportunities they deserve simply because their exterior doesn’t match their interior. Walk in to light up the room with your glow coming from both inside and out.

Now, I am the first one to lounge around in my yoga comfort clothes, but I save those for my yoga classes, my acting movement classes, and my down times around the house. Or if the casting calls for it.

Everything in context.

On camera makeup techniques and hairstyling skills are practical skills needed to be successful in this business too. The camera truly sees everything. The right “camera ready” makeup and hair immediately speaks to the client.

Our exterior appearance is an expression of what is happening on the inside. How I feel about myself, and the respect I have for others. It is also a staple of the business world. And this is a business, Mr. Artist. Our exterior says, “I feel good about me, and I feel good about you too. I took the time to invest in us today.” It is also saying, “I am successful.”

So, decide that you already have success, dress the part, and then watch it unfold before your eyes. You are the complete package-both inside and out.

Connect with Pamela Daly:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PamelaDalyActress
Twitter - https://twitter.com/dalyactress
Website - http://www.pameladaly.com

The Science Behind Great Acting

Hi, Pro-Model & Talent Mgmt. family. With the JW workshops coming up, we thought it would be neat to share this information with you all. Definitely a different type of post from us, but we guarantee you'll find it interesting... Plus it re-affirms what we're always telling you: acting is a craft and it is important to keep up with the craft! Read on to see just why it is so important to practice, practice, practice from a scientific standpoint! This great piece is from our friends at Backstage and was written by accomplished actor/ producer Douglas Taurel.

Deliberate Practice + Time = Myelin = Talent

But what the heck is myelin?

Myelin is a layer of dense fat that wraps around the nerve fibers in your central nervous system. Myelin works the same way that rubber insulation works on a wire, it keeps the signal strong by preventing electrical impulses from leaking out. It allows impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along your nervous system.

The more myelination you have, the more talented you are in that skill. The more you practice on your craft, the thicker and stronger myelination becomes in your brain.

Gifted athletes, artists, and talents of all endeavors have one thing in common, thick and strong myelination from hours and hours of consistent practice. They end up, after all their training, with a super insulated wire—lots of bandwidth.

The more you practice a specific skill, the faster the brain optimizes the circuitry to complete that skill. Each
time you practice technique for the screen, microphone, and stage, your myelination thickens and builds a little more insulation along your wires (nervous system), which adds a bit more bandwidth and precision to your circuit. Translating into an infinitesimal bit more skill and speed.

George Bartzokis, professor of neurology at U.C.L. says it best, “Myelin is both practice and mastery, cause and effect. Myelin thickness is our Achilles strength, and it's our Achilles' heel. It is what makes us human.”

Personally, as a young actor, I always had some trouble with cold reads and reading off the script—visually I would get lost. So I took it as a personal challenge to work diligently on my memory and to have the ability to memorize text quickly. Through my practice and many hours of memorizing monologues, text, and numbers, I can fully memorize a full page of text in about an hour. My myelination has thickened substantially and I have become more talented in this area of my craft. But it's really not talent, it's myelination thickness in my brain and central nervous system from hours of practice which allow my signals to travel faster.

Mozart studied some 3,500 hours of music with his instructor father by his sixth birthday. Anthony Hopkins reads each script of the role he performs 200 times and if we multiply that to the amount of roles he has performed, we would come up with a lot of hours. We’ve all heard of the well-known and documented stories of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods’ hours among hours of consistent and deliberate practice. Ted Williams, considered to be one of the most gifted baseball players and to have the purest baseball swing, spent hours to almost a fanatical degree practicing and perfecting his baseball swing in front of a mirror.

So yes, practice, practice, practice is how we get to Carnegie Hall. Although, now we know that we can attribute talent to the thickened myelin which makes the skill easier and wouldn’t be possible without the repetitive hours of specific practice.

So, how do you make the world’s greatest actor?

Deliberate Practice + Time = Thicker Myelin = Talent

Spring 2014 Male Fashion Trends

At Pro-Model & Talent Mgmt., we have been scoping out all of the great Spring seasoned fashion shows to bring the best trends to light for our Pro-Model & Talent Mgmt. family! Below are some of our favorite trends for our handsome men this spring. If you're looking for a fresh look, try incorporating some of these trends for the new season.

Double Breasted Blazers- They're nice and chic. Great for dressing in layers! Pair with a button down shirt. Ties are optional for a more casual look.

Floral Print- We know, it doesn't sound very manly... But this daring print definitely has a high pay off! This vintage look screams class and will help you stand out in a big way. It's the print of the season!

White Out- Head-to-Toe white is the most noticeable trend that
was hitting the catwalk in the Spring and Summer shows for this year. Try an all white suit accented with your choice of color for interest.

Pink- It was all over the runways for this season! The great thing about this color is that it comes in so many different shades. Try it out in pastel for a softer bout of color, or go all out with the "highlighter pink" statement.

Blocked Stripes- Last season it was big squares, this season, big stripes are all of the rage. Horizontal stripes are the way to go when wearing this great trend.

Spring 2014 Fashion Trends

We know, it's still freezing and there is still snow on the ground... But when it comes to fashion, we can't help but to get in the spirit of springtime! Listed below are some of our favorite trends that will be making an appearance this spring. Try them out for yourself if you're looking for a fresh, new look!

Wide Legs- That's right, they made a huge comeback on the spring runways for this year. They're easy to wear and ultra-chic. And the good news is, they come in varying widths, so you can find ones that fit your frame no matter your body type!

Bomber Jackets- Layering just got edgier! These sporty pieces come in a variety of colors and patterns, so you can mate them with just about any outfit. They can help balance out an uber girly dress or compliment the athletic chicness of a pair of dressy shorts.

Tea-Length Skirts- Caught between midi and maxi, tea-length skirts are perfect for spring! You can pair them with crop tops to help elongate your body, making you appear taller. You can also try out Tea-Length dresses, but keep them sleeveless to look more modern.

The Shift Blouse- Feel like slumming it in a T-shirt, but the occasion calls for something dressier? The shift blouse is the perfect compromise! With wide half-sleeves and a boxy silhouette, the blouses look both flattering and versatile while not jeopardizing your comfort.

Collarless Coats- Looking to mix things up when it comes to your layers? Try one of these out! You can play it safe with a solid color, or mix things up even more with a fun pattern. They look great with dressy trousers or a pencil skirt while in the office, and pair nicely with leather spring pants or a body-con dress for a date night!

Those are our five favorite looks for this spring. If you plan on trying one out, let us know on the Pro-Model & Talent Mgmt. Facebook page! We hope this helps you look as fresh as the newly blossoming flowers this spring!

Kid Search Part 2!

Quick note from Katie M., Director of Bookings:

Hi There!

I’m Katie, and I head up local bookings here at PMTM.  I’ve been involved in the model/talent industry for over 20 years.  I’m also a mom of 2 precocious, imaginative, adventurous children who keep me on my toes.  I mention this, because when it comes to kiddos working locally, I genuinely have an understanding from both sides of the table:  as an agent, and as a parent.  HUGE.  Here are 2 completely different POVs.

As an Agent:  Kids are so fun to book for projects!  They have a desire for life, laugh that comes from the soul, and a bright innocence to their eyes that makes everyone just want to smile.  That’s why ad agencies, production firms and photographers like them too.  Talented kids can bring a project to life.  Key word here being talented.

Even locally, when we work with clients like JC Toys, Step 2, JoAnn, American Greetings and so many others … the success of shooting a child relies heavily on his or her ability to perform (yes, even in print).  Movement must be natural, smile must be relaxed, the child absolutely must be able to follow direction, and also be a little person with whom others enjoy working.  There is little patience and no time for tantrums or attitude on set (from the child OR the parent).  There are 10 kids right behind yours waiting for the opportunity to be in that very spot.

Kids need to look “finished” but not “made up”.    Scraggly hair, wrinkled, holy or mismatched clothing doesn’t fly.  Images we use to market child models and talent must be finished and natural.  Not sloppy, not overly made up, and not obviously posed.  That takes skill – no matter if you’re 5 or 55.

In the Ohio and Western PA markets, and pretty much throughout the country, child modeling has become a form of acting.  Think about it – they are delivering a message, a mood, a thought, or feeling.  They are rarely, if ever, standing and staring blankly at the camera.  So all kids with interest working in this industry, even those interested in print modeling only, must have some acting and auditioning ability.  They need to audition confidently, and turn those nerves into on-camera magic.

We are a very family oriented company.  When we are looking at adding kids to our roster, it’s a double edged sword for me.   As a mom, I want to give every child an opportunity … however as an Agent, I know what our clients want to see, and the simple truth is that modeling or acting is not right for everyone – at least at this moment.  So we have to be selective.   You see, I’ll only make money when I book your child for work.  So I want to represent kids that will work.  Additionally, my clients value PMTM’s service because we represent talented faces.  If I wasn’t selective, I wouldn’t have happy clients, and then wouldn’t be here to give you some of this valuable insight!

So, if you are thinking about exploring the idea of your child modeling or acting – I think that’s wonderful!  Do it!  You never know where it will lead.   It must be a ball of fun for your child, but in the end, remember that it’s also a business.  The kids and families I’ve seen find the most success, personally and financially, over the years struck a beautiful balance between artistic passion and professionalism. 

Go get ‘em! 

To read Part 1 of this two part series and see Katie's point of view as a parent, click here!

PMTM Alums star as leads in new feature film!

We simply had to repost this blog by IMTA- International Models and Talent Association. To see the original blog, click here! Congratulations Brenton and Katie!

Two IMTA Alumni have been cast as the LEADS, yes they are the LEADS in a new feature film by Director Michael Ray!!! Katie Ross will play the leading female role and Brenton Duplessie will be the male lead! They start filming "The Unwanted" in March in Florida! Katie Ross competed at IMTA in New York in 1999 and Brenton Duplessie competed at IMTA in New York in 2007! Both of these talented actors came to IMTA with Pro-Model & Talent Management!

Kid Search Part 1

Quick note from Katie M., Director of Bookings:

Hi There!

I’m Katie, and I head up local bookings here at Pro-Model & Talent Mgmt..  I’ve been involved in the model/ talent industry for over 20 years.  I’m also a mom of 2 precocious, imaginative, adventurous children who keep me on my toes.  I mention this, because when it comes to kiddos working locally, I genuinely have an understanding from both sides of the table:  as an agent, and as a parent.  HUGE.  Here are 2 completely different POVs (Point of Views).

As a Parent:  I believe in the awesome, unlimited potential of my children, as I’m confident so do you.  We

want to support, encourage and engage them in their activities.  We also tend to worry incessantly if we are making wise decisions on their behalf and leading them towards confidence in their own individuality and eventual (sigh) independence. 

There are all kinds of stories and shocking reality shows, that are far from, well, reality.  If your child is interested in modeling or acting, says she can be on this TV show or in that film, or claims he could work that Lego Star Wars Light Sabre “way cooler” than that kid and that he should be on the cover of the catalog … then explore that option for him.  Just as with all things in life, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about things.

If an agency is currently looking at children in your child’s age range, set up a time for an audition or open call.  Meet the staff.  See their work and client list.  Get the vibe of the company, and then make some decisions from there. The amount of potential opportunities will vary, depending on the market you are in.  Here in OH and Western PA, there are fantastic and fun opportunities, but they are sporadic.  They really don’t interfere with school or a semi-flexible work schedule. 

It’s all a learning experience, so there is little to lose.  Maybe your child will get there and freeze – it all seemed like a glittery ball of fame and recognition … until she actually had to read 1 line from a commercial. REPEAT: It must be fun for the child. 

  Maybe your child will be shy and reserved and jump in front of the camera and explode with energy and verve like you’ve never seen.  Who knows what will happen, but you both will learn if it’s fun – and that’s the key.  It must be fun.  For the child. 

If your child DOES have FUN and the agency is interested, then talk more about what’s expected from you, your child, and the agency.  Just like anything else, transparency and an open line of communication are essential for a good relationship.  In the end, if your child does end up in a commercial, on film, or the cover of the next Lego catalog, you’ve just started a sweet little college fund … which can quickly grow.

To read Part 2 of this two part series and see Katie's point of view as an agent, click here!