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SCHOOL NEWS

April 2008

 

 

Ellen Jones

         Director, Agent, Actor, Casting, Instructor Ellen Jones does it all, working predominately as a Director and has over 22 years of experience in theatre, TV and film from NY to LA. She formally was an agent at the Hurt Graver Talent Agency and assisted Traci Danielle in the development of Brevard Talent Agency. She also assists casting directors such as John Peros and Lori Wyman Casting (to name a few) and with Screen Actors Guild Agencies.  She was a professor at the University of Central Florida , Rollins College and her Alma Mater, Florida State University . She teaches here at The Maile School in our basic and advanced acting programs and also offers private coaching preparing actors for big auditions. She recently created an advanced program titled “Essentials of Scene Analysis” helping experienced actors perfect their craft, stay sharp and current for the industry. Ellen holds a Masters Degree in Fine Arts in Directing and is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association. She has assisted with castings for prestigious clients such as Coors Light, Sea World, Papa John’s, NASCAR, Nickelodeon, and Brighthouse. Ellen also worked on the acclaimed production of “Menopause” the musical. We are proud to have Ellen Jones and her impressive credentials  at The Maile School .   

 

 

Star Talent!

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   Seven year old Tristan Baumann has been on a roll booking jobs since graduating from the Maile School ’s Children’s Program.  Ever since his commercial with Garth Brooks for the NASCAR Day Foundation promotion, he has been very busy.  Tristan completed a photo shoot for BJs Spring 2008 catalogue and another with Mickey Mouse for Virgin Travel for their 2008-2009 International Brochures featured on the cover.  He booked a commercial for Sports Time Ohio which will be shown during the Cleveland Indians pre-season and season games and on the website.  He shot a commercial at Leu Gardens and the Bill Frederick Park for "Baby Boost" - a comcast reality show. 

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   Graduate Briana Frank is 11 years old and has been cast as the Gabriela the lead in the Orlando Youth Theatre production of Disney's “High School Musical”.  Performances are scheduled for April 24th through April 27th.  Briana also performed in the Bob Carr production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, at the Southern Women's Show, and is continuing to take ballet (on point), jazz, hip-hop and tap at the Columbus Center Dance Studio.  

 

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Graduate Brandi Hanson booked commercials for the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort and “ Party like a Rockstar “ as Hannah Montana for Kidz Club Studios, where she got to sing and dance to Pumping up the Party. Brandi was picked by fellow Maile School acting graduate Bre Morgan to play her girlfriend in her new music video "Crush". Brandi also booked a part in Ace Ventura III as Tara 's friend. She will soon work on the film "Gutterking" which begins filming in a couple weeks! Mom Franceine says “Thanks for your help and support and a big THANKS to acting instructor Kevin O’Neill for his support in “Gutterking"

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         Modeling and Acting graduate Jeff Cox, an eighth grader at the Crenshaw School recently returned from IMTA, International Modeling and Talent in Los Angeles with 15 awards, including Winner of Soaps, Team Dance, Team Song, 1st runner-up Pre-teen Actor of the Year,  2nd runner up for Model of the Year. Since returning he was cast as a lead character in an independent film, “Ninjas vs. the Landlord”, booked print work for Disney, and auditioned in New Orleans for the feature film “Chess”, executive produced by Beyonce Knowles.

 

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    Good Luck to modeling student Maria Leon for being selected to appear as a contestant in “Nuestra Belleza Latina ” for those of you who do not speak Spanish it means “Our Latin Beauty”.  She will be flown to Miami for the reality based show. She was selected from over 300 girls from all over the United States . Maria studied in the Professional Modeling program as well as working privately with a variety of our modeling instructors. She will compete in challenges and the winner of each challenge wins $10,0000 and the overall winner receives $200,000, a 1 year contract with Univision, an all expense paid trip to New York plus more. Maria is 21 years old and is the daughter of Ray and Carolina Leon from Oviedo . Maria, says “Working with the coaches at The Maile School has really built up my confidence and I really feel I can follow my dream of being in the entertainment industry”.

 

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Children’s Acting grad Haley Brooke Walker booked a Disney print job in which she played a dragonfly and also a field trip student in the movie “The Fallen Faithful” written by Elizabeth Regen.  In this film Haley Brooke and her mom Patina who is also a graduate worked with actors Sonny Marinelli, Jacqueline Pinol, Obba Babatunde and many more.  Mom Patina also played a teacher in the film. Way to go mom and daughter!

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Graduate Haley Simon has done work for “Harcourt”, a Disney commercial and was in the movie "Saudade" for Florida State Film School as well as a local independent movie "Essence of Irwin" currently being shopped at film festivals.  She has been Tiny Miss Leesburg, Little Miss Leesburg, Tiny Miss Lake County and is currently Jr. St. Augustine Sweetheart.  She won overall SuperModel for her age division at the Gasparilla pageant in Tampa this January.  She was second runner-up in the Florida Hometown USA and won the interview competition for her age group (10-12).  In July, she will be a Florida Sunshine Princess for Miss Jacksonville at the Miss Florida pageant in St. Pete.  Last year she got to meet Miss America !  Last but not least she was selected to go back stage at the Hannah Montana Concert.

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    Congrats to Image and Professional Modeling Graduate Nikki Waitt for a nice write up in South Lake Magazine . Nikki is the daughter of Ken and Rosa Waitt.  She has competed in water skiing since the age of 10. She was on the 2007 Allstar Water Ski team and 2007 & 2008 National Junior Development Water Ski Team. Nikki proudest moment is beating her personal best performance in Slalom to win the 2006 Water Ski National Championships in Bakersfield, California .

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Graduate Debbie Martinez has been busy booking print work for “KidsArt Catalog” and High Definition stock photography with Digital Juice. She modeled in a runway show for Carolyn Allen Bridal. She worked on the Travel Channel with Samantha Brown which will air in April and Disney Channel on Demand with Moises Arias of Hannah Montana and Ryan and Olyisa from High School Musical. She landed commercials for “Showcase Lighting” and did film work on “Rent Control” and “A Death in the Family”.

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Grad Juan Santos booked a “Papa John’s” pizza commercial that was cast here at The Maile School through John Peros Casting. He landed an industrial video for TEK Productions and has done over 30 Full Sail films. He plays a character weekly in the “Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show”.  Juan says, “I loved all the  classes at The Maile School but even more so the relationships I have formed with the staff”. (Especially with Loretta who has been my biggest fan!)

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Words of Wisdom from School President Debbie Wisner

"A great pleasure in life is doing what
people say you can't do."

Anonymous

 

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Upcoming Seminars & Class Start Dates

 

Image

Saturday, May 3rd

 

Inner Success

Tuesday, April 22nd

 

Adult Acting

Wednesday, April 16th    

 

Scene Analysis

Tuesday, April 29th   

 

 Teen Acting

Saturday, April 12th  

 

Advanced Teen Acting

Saturday, April 12th 

 

Children’s Acting

(4-6yrs)

Tuesday, April 15th 

 

Children’s Acting

(7-10yrs)

Saturday, April 26th  

 

Advanced

Children’s Acting

(7-10yrs)

Saturday, April 12th   

 

Advanced II Children’s & Teens

Thursday, April 10th    

 

Professional Modeling

Monday April 14th

 

Children’s Modeling

Wednesday, April 16th    

 

Breaking into

the Industry

Wednesday, April 30th

 

See page 11 for

Summer Camps Dates

 

 

Featured Instructor

     Al Hubbs was born in Saskatchewan, Canada . He was introduced to drama by one of his teachers and he performed in high school plays in Toronto , local talent nights, amateur theater and stage productions. He gave up the security of a steady job to pursue a life long desire of becoming a night club comedian. He opened shows for people like Tony Bennett, Lena Horne and then spent ten years traveling the U.S. and Canada with singer Al Martino.  From comedy, the step to film and television expanded to work in Toronto , Chicago , New York and Los Angeles .

 

     Relocating to Orlando in 1985 he began writing scripts for the UCF, local video production companies, and teaching the craft of acting. Joining FMPTA he rose through the ranks to be Chapter President and finally Florida State President. A SAG actor since 1971, he served as Detroit Branch President, on the Hollywood Board and as a trustee to the SAG Pension and Health Plans out of Burbank , California . Al brought his talents and humor and taught at the Maile School for over 16 years.      For those of you who do not know last year Al was in a serious car accident and was hospitalized with a serious condition fortunately he is on the road to recovery and is expected to make a full come back. We are happy to have Al substitute in our programs.

 

 

 

 

Debby’s Points of Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TV IN PRINT LIVE

Anne Maria Aksell                 Be Still My Heart,
                                                The Bailey Case, PSA

Christian Andreas                                TEK Productions

Tammy Baker                        Freshco

Kathy Bee                              TEK Productions                 

Lynn Sobin-Comstock        Bait Shop, Beethoven,
                                                ABrowic, Krystal Hamburger,
                                                Bass Pro

Gary Defilippo                       TEK Productions

Mark Defilippo                       TEK Productions

Steven Dillard                        TEK Productions

Dan Gentry                            TEK Productions

Ivette Holley                          Wedding Events Designer

Rogene Jensen                     TEK Productions

Meghan Latare                      TEK Productions & Freshco

Kristan Lee                            Freshco  Supermarket

Jessica Lonardo                   Home Shoping Network,
                                                Kidz Club Studios

Rachelle Lucas                     St. John’s River Water
                                                Management, Halo Vacuums

Debbie Martinez                    TEK Productions

Joelli Mattison                      Ponderosa, Awana Training               Video

Jim McDonald                       TEK Productions

Linda Marie Sacks                                TEK Productions

Juan Santos                          TEK Productions

Debbie Seiber                        TEK Productions

Katie Soloman                      Little Miss Congeniality
                                                Silver Spurs Rodeo

John Smitherman                 TEK Productions

Al Stewart                              TEK Productions

Charlie Strickhouser            TEK Productions

Frank Taylor                          Tek Productions

John Weyrick                        Sun State Ford, Beethoven, & Crimebusters

Toccara Walker                     Freshco

Jennifer Wisner                     TEK Productions

 

 

 

           

 

The next session of the Professional Industry Seminar is:

 

WEDNESDAY APRIL 30th (6pm to 9pm)    

 

 

Don’t forget to register for the upcoming FREE Professional Industry Seminar!   It’s open to all Teen and Adult Acting grads and students, as well as the parents of the students in our Children’s programs. 

This seminar is a must in order to prepare you for your next steps into the entertainment industry.  Be ready for a lot of important information!

 

 

If you are unable to attend the Breaking into the Industry Seminar, don’t worry! This must-see seminar is now available on DVD for only $25! Call or see the front desk to place your order!