1. What are the projects that you are currently working on? Please tell us a little about it.
Three kids find a friendly Sea Monster and try to keep it a secret. 2. Please tell us what do you feel is your biggest achievement? Being part of the best family and help making it work. 3. Besides acting, what are you passionate about? I love to sing, dance and practice Karate 4. How do you prepare for a role? I figure out what the character wants and then I mold my performance around that. 5. Why and when did you decide to start you acting career? I followed in my brothers footstep in 2012. 6. Would you please tell us a little about your role in Amazon’s Sigmund And The Sea Monsters? How would you describe Robyn? Robyn is an adult in a kid’s body. She looks after her two cousins and her mom. 7. Please tell us what do you feel is the biggest challenge in your acting career? Preparing for new auditions. 8. So many young actresses are committed to public service, setting a great example for their peers in terms of being involved with charities and the community. What causes are important to you, and what do you do to support them? Common Cause is important to me. 9. As a teen actress, how do you strike the balance between schoolwork and your career? I communicate closely with my set teacher and my school teacher to keep current. 10. If you were not a teen actress, what would you be up to now? Karate and Gymnastics. 11. If you have the chance to choose any other stars at your age to be your classmate, whom would you like to? I want to spend time with Emma Watson at any age 12. Have you ever taken acting classes before? And do you think acting classes are necessary for aspiring teen actors or actresses? I have been taking classes for four years and believe study is vital to being successful. 13. How can your fans interact with you online? And what’s your fan mail address? Twitter and Instagram Rebeccabloom12 14. Favorite Sport: Baseball Favorite Music: Meagan Trainor Travel Destination: Italy Favorite TV Show: Girl meets World Dream College: Harvard 15. Now for my last question: what do you want to say to those who wish to pursue their careers in Hollywood? Make sure you allow for all the preparation you will need. Find good classes and make sure you really want to do this. Be ready to face rejection and never say “I can’t.”
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1. What are the projects that you are currently working on? Please tell us a little about it.
- I just completed filming five weeks for a new show coming out the first week of June! - I am performing this Thursday with a very big artiest at WE Day. - I will be traveling to Florida May 4 - May 8th to perform at Playlist with the app, musical.ly and also perform with Nia Sioux from Dance Moms. - Also, an episode of Nickelodeon’s Henry Danger I was in should be airing this Saturday! 2. Please tell us what do you feel is your biggest achievement? I think my biggest achievement is dancing at Super Bowl 49 with Katy Perry and Missy Elliott. My friends and I were the first and only kids to ever perform for Super Bowl. It was a long, hard two weeks of rehearsals and I had to learn a flip that everyone could do but me. If I didn’t learn it, I couldn’t be in the performance. So I took gymnastics privates almost everyday for two weeks and my body was killing me. But I learned the flip! 3. Besides dancing, what are you passionate about? I am very passionate about acting. I aspire to be the next Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman or Will Smith. I have booked acting jobs and even a movie. I love being able to transform during a scene and become someone completely different. Acting is very different than dance. Your words and body language have to be in sync to effectively convey a character. 4. How do you prepare for a public performance? For some reason, I do not get very nervous before a performance. I make sure to always be prepared and to have fun. But, I do have a tradition where I do not go to the restroom before a performance, No matter how bad I have to go! I know that’s weird, but it’s what I do. 5. Why and when did you decide to start you dancing career? I started almost nine years ago. I was doing a lot of hip-hop dancing and popping. I was having such a good time, my mom thought maybe I could find a dance agent. She took me to an audition and I got in. I’ve been working professionally ever since! 6. If you could travel the world with anyone whom would you take? I would take my dad for sure. He is a history nerd and knows just about anything for any subject. 7. Please tell us what do you feel is the biggest challenge in your dancing career? I find the biggest challenge is making sure I am continually growing and evolving my dance craft. It’s difficult to stay consistent in dance classes when you work a lot. So, I try to take technique classes as much as possible during my down time as well as practice on my own. 8. So many young celebrities are committed to public service, setting a great example for their peers in terms of being involved with charities and the community. What causes are important to you, and what do you do to support them? There a few causes that are important to me. One being teaching dance to underprivileged kids. I know not everyone grows up the same and have the same opportunities. It is important for me to reach out to kids who may not be able to afford dance classes and teach a little class to them and spend time answering questions. I love to teach and make people happy. I am also the ambassador for “Kid Smartz,” a program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The program has a number of kid-friendly ideas to make sure kids know not to talk to strangers. So, I was part of a social media campaign and Safety Dance video that contained a rap and dance about how to stay safe from strangers and what to do if a stranger approached them. 9. As a teen dancer, how do you strike the balance between schoolwork and your career? That’s a hard one! I’m still trying to figure it out. Since I am homeschooled, I’m finding what works best for me is to always be ahead of my course work. That way, if something comes up I don’t have to stress about school and working at the same time. 10. If you were not a dancer, what would you be up to now? I would be an awesome gymnasts. I use to compete before I started dancing. 11. If you have the chance to choose any other stars at your age to be your classmate, whom would you like to? The dopest class ever would be like this: Casey Simpson - Cause he’s too crazy and funny. He would always have jokes for the teachers. Kyla-Drew = She's for sure the smartest in the class. I would get the answers to all the test from her. Kristen Li = She’s the voice of “Bubbles” from Power Puff Girls. I would have her transform her voice to be my mom and get me out of school all the time. Isabela Moner = Every class needs a super-pretty girl. She would be the most popular girl in the whole school. Breanna Yde & Carson Lueders = So everyday can be like High School Musical And… Gabe DeGuzman & Jaheem Toombs = So I will have someone to dance and get turnt up with! 12. What is it like working with Sean Lew? It’s fun. 13. How can your fans interact with you online? And what’s your fan mail address? My fans can find me at @bigwillsimmons on the following: Instagram, Youtube, Twitter, musical.ly, Snapchat For facebook, my fan page is: William “Big Will” Simmons 14. Favorite Sport: Gymnastics & Baseball Favorite Music: Rap Travel Destination: Japan (I know Japanese) Favorite TV Show: Empire and Big Bang Theory Dream College: Howard University would be a dream. They have one of the top Theatre Art programs. 15. Now for my last question: what do you want to say to those who wish to pursue their dancing careers? Start today!! Do your research! Take a Chance! There are so many avenues to learn dance. Maybe you live in a place where there aren’t dance classes available, don’t let that stop you! You can learn from Youtube! I know people who have learned dance from Youtube, they posted what they learned on Instagram, tagged the choreographer and was invited to come to LA to train with them. So, Instagram is your friend. If you learn a dance piece from a choreographer, put the dance on your Insta and tag, tag, tag! You may think the choreographer doesn’t see them, but most of the time they do. No dream is too Big. As long as you work hard, your dream can become a reality. Remember, “Where there’s a WILL, there’s a WAY!” 1. What are the projects that you are currently working on? Please tell us a little about it.
My current projects are Disney’s, ‘Walk the Prank’ and my YouTube channel: @thebrandonsevers. ‘Walk the Prank’ is a Hidden-Camera Comedy Prank Show where children prank unaware adults. My YouTube channel is a combination of myself and a character I created named, “Uncle Harold.” Uncle Harold is in his mid-seventies, has a fun and quirky personality and, always references things back to the Vietnam War and to vinegar. Oh and by the way, Uncle Harold despises lettuce; he calls it the devil’s food. Both projects bring me joy. 2. Please tell us what do you feel is your biggest achievement? My biggest achievement in life, so far, was my booking of the Disney show, ‘Walk the Prank’! In fact, I remember the first thing I told my managers and agents after being asked, “How do you feel?” My response was, “I can’t feel my legs!” So, I would most definitely say that booking and working ‘Walk the Prank,’ has been one of my biggest life achievements. 3. Besides acting, what are you passionate about? My other passion, I would have to say, is music. I feel like music, opens the soul to new things, while set to a jazzy beat. 4. Would you please tell us a little bit about your character in ‘Walk the Prank?’ How would you describe him? My character, “Dusty,” on ‘Walk the Prank,’ is a boy who loves pranking with his 3 best friends who call themselves, “Walk the Prank.” Dusty isn’t the smartest kid around. He doesn’t like school, and the only reason he goes to school, is to hang out with his friends and to laugh at his eccentric teachers. 5. Why and when did you decide to start you acting career? There has always been a bit of a dramatic side to me, and my passion for acting was always greater than all the other things I enjoyed doing. I also had a great memory and wanted to do something that combined my memory skills with my ability to be dramatic. And well, I started acting when I was 8 years old. 6. If you could travel the world with anyone whom would you take? I would take my father. My father passed away over 2 years ago. So, if I had the opportunity to take anyone around the world with me, it would definitely be my father! 7. Please tell us what do you feel is the biggest challenge in your acting career? The biggest challenge of my acting career is occasionally having to deal with negative people. Despite the negativity, I often seek to find the brighter or better side of the person no matter how they’re acting or treating others in the moment. 8. So many young actors are committed to public service, setting a great example for their peers in terms of being involved with charities and the community. What causes are important to you, and what do you do to support them? I enjoy charity work more than most things. I feel humbled when I’m allowed to do charity work. I don’t have a favorite charity because I love them all! The more the merrier. 9. As a teen actor, how do you strike the balance between schoolwork and your career? School is very important to me, in fact, it is one of my top priorities. Each day I make sure I finish all my school work and homework, in between filming blocks on ‘Walk the Prank.’ Finding a balance between schoolwork and career can be tricky but, I think I’ve found mine. 10. If you were not a teen actor, what would you be up to now? I would probably be working at my favorite coffee shop, so I could grab of cup of decaf and read my favorite book on my break. 11. If you have the chance to choose any other stars at your age to be your classmate, whom would you like to? I would choose The Rock, for sure. The Rock is so funny and buff. I bet, by his size alone, he could get us out of having to do homework. 12. Have you ever taken acting classes before? And do you think acting classes are necessary for aspiring teen actors or actresses? Yes, I started my acting career and took acting classes at Hollywood Access, Inc. in Las Vegas, Nevada. I feel like acting classes are a necessity to any actor, at any stage of their career. 13. How can your fans interact with you online? And what’s your fan mail address? I have a Facebook fan page where my fans can message me and I answer them personally. My fans can also interact with me on the following social media sites: Instagram- @thebrandonsevers Twitter- brandon_severs Musical.ly- Brandon_severs 14. My Favorites: Favorite Sport: Basketball Favorite Music: R&B Favorite Travel Destination: Hawaii Favorite TV Show: Once Upon a Time Dream Colleges: Juilliard or Berkeley 15. Now for my last question: what do you want to say to those who wish to pursue their careers in Hollywood? I would say, in the words of Winston Churchill, “Never, never, never give up!” I know it sounds a bit cliché but, it’s the best advice that anyone can give. Also, don’t ever let anyone set your boundaries for you. Set your boundaries as big and as wide as you want them to be. And if anyone tells you “no,” it’s just because they are afraid to say, “yes.” Follow Brandon Severs on all social media! 1. What are the projects that you are currently working on? Please tell us a little about it.
I just finished filming my own TV show with the DanceOn TV Channel and also VerizonGo90. It was an amazing experience & I am excited that it will show off my hip hop dance skills. Sorry I can't tell you more about it but stay tuned, DanceOn will be announcing & promoting it soon!! It's going to be lit 2. Please tell us what do you feel is your biggest achievement? Being a KidzBop kid for the last three years has been my biggest achievement so far!! We toured the nation performing in 163 live shows, 123 cities, & 48 states!! I recordered 9 CD's (KidzBop 25-33) that were all in the top 10 on the Billboard charts. We shot multiple music videos that have millions of views on YouTube. We had the honor of opening for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall & got to perform on the Today Show!! We also had a Sirius XM channel. It was an amazing experience that has prepared me for my future goal of being a solo artist. 3. Besides singing, what are you passionate about? I started dancing when I was 7 years old so that is something I am definitely passionate about. I also love to act & have recently been auditioning for some big & exciting roles!! I also play piano and write songs. I produce all my own music, I can programme the music, record the vocals and produce the finished record! 4. What have you learned since you became a celebrity? I choose not to get caught up in status or view myself as a celebrity. I like to stay focused & keep working hard because I have a lot of goals to achieve to get to where I want to be. I have learned that this business is not easy & requires a lot of hard work & dedication to make it. 5. Why and when did you decide to start your singing career? I started dancing at 7 years old. I taught myself how to play piano off YouTube at 9 & started singing to the songs I learned on piano. I dance, play the piano, & sing all through the love of music. KidzBop gave me the opportunity to start my career & do what I love which is perform & share my passion with others. I am blessed to do what I love!! 6. If you could travel the world with anyone whom would you take? I just recently went to Italy for vacation & had a blast with my family. We have so much fun together & there never seems to be a dull moment. If I could choose anyone, I think Ellen DeGeneres would be cool to travel the world with!! She is really funny & would have lots of good stories. I think we would have a blast!! 7. Please tell us what do you feel is the biggest challenge in your singing career? So far my biggest challenge has been singing through puberty!! It is really hard to sing when your voice is changing. I think I have grown a foot in the last year & my voice has dropped a lot!! The best way to overcome it is to do my daily vocal exercises. 8. So many young celebrities are committed to public service, setting a great example for their peers in terms of being involved with charities and the community. What causes are important to you, and what do you do to support them? I am involved in many charities & feel that it is important to give back & inspire others. I am on the board of a charity called Hearts of Maya which provides educational scholarships to youth in financial need who have a desire to pursue music, acting, or dance. I have performed to raise money for City House which is a homeless shelter for kids in Frisco, Texas. When I was out on tour with KidzBop we had the honor to perform & visit childrens hospitals that treat terminally ill kids. When I have time I like to visit local elementary schools with my dad. I sing & dance for them & we talk to them about finding their passion, being extraordinary, & inspiring others. Doing charity work will always be a part of me & it is very fulfilling to make a difference for others in need. 9. As a teen celebrity, how do you strike the balance between schoolwork and your career? It is very hard to balance my career & do schooling. Schooling is very important. I am able to do it by being homeschooled. I do my schooling with an online program called K12. When on tour or on set, a set teacher is always provided which adds extra help if I need it. 10. If you were not a teen singer, what would you be up to now? Since I love to sing, dance, act, & model. I have other options besides just singing. My goal is to be able to do all of them in the future. Kind of like a Justin Timberlake. 11. If you have the chance to choose any other stars at your age to be your classmate, whom would you like to? Ohhhh, good question, that's a tough one!! I am friends with Maddie Ziegler & she is really nice. She is a dancer & actress so we have a lot in common. I think she would be a good classmate. 12. Have you ever taken singing classes before? And do you think acting classes are necessary for aspiring teen singers? I have been taking singing, dancing, acting, & music lessons for many years now. I think it is very important to work on your craft if you want to get better. There is always something to learn & room for improvement. 13. How can your fans interact with you online? And what’s your fan mail address? Social media is a big part of my life & it is a great way to connect me with my fans!! I love my fans & am so thankful for them. They inspire me to keep doing what I love & help support me chase my dreams. My Instagram & Musical.ly accounts are @GrantKnoche. My Twitter & SnapChat are @GrantCKnoche. I have a FaceBook Artist page under GrantChristian Knoche. Finally my YouTube account is under Grant Knoche. 14. Favorite Sport: Dance Favorite Music: Pop & EDM Travel Destination: Bora Bora, Tahiti Favorite TV Show: Stranger Things Dream College: Berklee College Of Music 15. Now for my last question: what do you want to say to those who wish to pursue their singing careers? Sing because you love it & you are passionate about it. Work really hard & don't take "NO" for an answer. Inspire & help others along the way. You can do it!! Best of luck 1. What are the projects that you are currently working on? Please tell us a little about it. I’m excited to be cast as a series regular in an amazing Amazon Original Pilot. I’m not able to give too many details at this time but I can’t wait for people to see this project. The cast, production team, and crew are a dream to work with. You can also see me in recurring roles on Henry Danger as “Narlee” and on Walk the Prank as “Nice Nancy” and guest star as Emily Campbell, Boris Kodjoe’s daughter, on Code Black. 2. Please tell us what do you feel is your biggest achievement? I consider my journey to this point to be a huge achievement; let’s face it, I’m only 13 years old. I even call myself the “ultimate dreamer”. Each accomplishment is seen as significant and important to accomplishing my dreams. Being cast as “Young Nala” in the iconic Disney’s the Lion King was definitely a dream come true. Over 500 kids auditioned with me and countless others across the country. For a theater geek like me, it was humbling to be a part of this phenomenal production. 3. Besides acting, what are you passionate about? I love musical theater. I could eat, breath, and sleep anything dealing with musicals. You can always find me listening to scores or reading whatever I can to find out what inspires the creative process. Hamilton is still my current obsession along with Dear Evan Hansen. Another new passion is martial arts/XMA style training. I know, that’s an extreme leap from musical theater. 4. How do you prepare for a role? Great question! I keep an acting journal that I use for character study and research. First I read through the character description and the sides. Then I determine the characteristics that the character and I have in common and write that out in my journal. This helps me relate to the character as well as bring my natural self to the project. I also research the director and writer/s of the show to get an idea of their tone and style, if that information is available. Once I have an understanding of what's happening with my character and the other characters in the scenes with me, I make my choices on how to deliver the lines. Lastly, I make my choices on acting in the “white” of the script; which is a new term that I recently learned. That’s the part of the scene/s that isn’t written - the beats, the looks, the gestures, the sounds, etc. that really make the character come alive. I also make sure that I am completely off-book. Oh and most importantly, I always pray. 5. Why and when did you decide to start you acting career? To be honest I’ve always gravitated to the arts. I’m that kid who forced my friends to put on “shows” for our parents. I always participated in the school talent show and any event or activity where I could act, sing, or dance. In August of 2013, my parents allowed me to participate in a talent show case in Washington, DC. After the showcase I was invited to fly to New York and LA for personal meetings with the agents who attended the showcase. I was fortunate to be offered representation with two amazing agencies and my journey officially started. I was cast in my first professional role in October of 2103, in “A Christmas Carol” at the Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC. 6. If you could travel the world with anyone whom would you take? Ahh, this question could get me in trouble but I would take my mom. Of course I love both my mom and dad very much! My mom travels with me a lot now. We have a great relationship and she keeps me focused. The two of us have an amazing time together and she does a great job of keeping me balanced. For the record, I would want my dad and nana to come visit often; just saying! 7. Please tell us what do you feel is the biggest challenge in your acting career? Initially understanding that this doesn’t happen overnight was a bit challenging; it’s a process. I’ve learned not to let the “no’s” discourage me. Each potential opportunity is part of the overall journey. 8. So many young actresses are committed to public service, setting a great example for their peers in terms of being involved with charities and the community. What causes are important to you, and what do you do to support them? I am passionate about issues related to kids such as anti-bullying, inclusion and diversity, and equitable accessibility to resources. I want to use my platform to give back and raise awareness on issues that impact children both locally and globally. I give back either through donations of time or money to organizations such as No Kid Hungry, Say NO Bullying, Free to Luv, Sophie’s Voice Foundation, and RosieG Style for Cystic Fibrosis . 9. As a teen actress, how do you strike the balance between schoolwork and your career? That balancing thing is hard but necessary! I’m currently homeschooled and on the high honors dean’s list. Education is extremely important to my family and me. Education gives you options. My parents have agreed to support me with my passion for acting as long as my education is not compromised. To be honest, it can get difficult sometimes when I’m busy with work. Last semester was especially tough but I learned some important lessons on setting priorities. My mom helps to keep me organized and focused. I have a daily school schedule that I maintain to make sure I don’t get behind in my subjects. 10. If you were not a teen actress, what would you be up to now? Gosh, I can’t imagine doing anything else. If so, I would be in Washington, DC, attending DC International school, hanging out with my amazing group of friends, playing soccer with the “Tricky Tigers”, and still forcing my friends to put on “shows” for our parents. 11. If you have the chance to choose any other stars at your age to be your classmate, whom would you like to? I would choose them all - can you image that class - HA! If I have to give an answer, all though they aren’t my age, I would say Yara Shahidi, Amandla Stenberg, and Rowan Blanchard and of course Lin-Manuel Miranda would be our teacher. 12. Have you ever taken acting classes before? And do you think acting classes are necessary for aspiring teen actors or actresses? I have taken acting classes and received one-on-one coaching. Classes can be important, especially for new actors. You can learn great techniques for improv, cold reading, auditioning techniques, creating back stories, and active listening. Remember taking classes and coaching is an individual decision. There’s no one size fits all solution. You have to do what works for you. The best advice I can give is trust your instincts. 13. How can your fans interact with you online? And what’s your fan mail address? I love to interact with fans! Your support is amazing and appreciated. Here’s how we can stay connected: Instagram: @officiallexiunderwood Twitter: @lexiunderwood03 Snapchat: folowurdreamz Facebook: Alexandra Underwood Fan email address: [email protected] 14. Favorite Sport: martial arts/XMA and soccer Favorite Music: Pop and musical theater Travel Destination: Italy or New York Favorite TV Show: 13 Reasons Why Dream College: NYU of Yale 15. Now for my last question: what do you want to say to those who wish to pursue their careers in Hollywood? Follow your dreams and never give up. Pursue your passion with courage and patience. Even when you hear “no” or when it seems impossible; keep going. Show-up prepared, professional, humble, and fearless. Be yourself and know that you are enough. Love yourself so you can can love others. Be kind to yourself so you can be kind to others. Trust the process. Embrace the learning lessons. Surround yourself with positive people who support you. Listen to your parents and those that have your best interest at heart. Always be true to yourself, trust me, the rest will come. 1. What are the projects that you are currently working on?
Right now I have been working a lot on writing. I just recently finished a TV pilot that already has distribution on Amazon Prime once it's filmed later this year. I am super excited. It’s this really great concept about this young woman who is pretending to be blind and working with the police department to get away with the murders she is committing out of vengeance. I'm working on the rest of the episodes, but have great ideas of where I want the story to go. I think the audience will love it. Lots of twists and I am basing it on strong female characters. Right now we are funding on IndieGoGo for the first six episodes. I’ve also been training to get ready to shoot a movie sequel in the fall. The first movie was about my character being really troubled and getting a second chance and starting to care about things. This second movie is her and her cousin getting in a bad situation and having to struggle to survive and get out alive. It's a really good story and I am so excited to be attached to this project. It's called "Heart of a Champion" and I'll be back on a horse. We hope to film sometime this fall. In my spare time, which is limited, I've been producing and collaborating with my friends on their projects. I just helped finish editing a music video for a friend of mine that we shot last year. My closest friend is selecting a song and I will be directing and producing his music video. I started my own production company called "Smash The Glass Pictures" and I am actively looking for a couple really good short films. I'm seeking something I can direct and submit to festivals. If I find a project that I can act in and produce, I'll ask a friend to direct. I want to be able to create both in front and behind the camera. Sometimes there is a great project like "A Blind Eye" which I wrote, where there is no part for me, so I am creating behind the camera. That's ok with me. It means doing both, I can always be busy creating. 2. Please tell us what do you feel is your biggest achievement? I would say that my biggest achievement, so far, would be a goal I had about college. My grandma started college at 16 years old. I set a goal to "beat" her to college and I started college on my 15th birthday. That’s always been really important to me. There is something exciting about doing things "out of the norm." I mean, I believe it's cool to be different. 3. Besides acting, what are you passionate about? Oh gosh, I am passionate about a lot of things. I try to have balance in my life. Faith. Exercise. The arts. Friends. Learning. Writing. I would say that I am very passionate about education and the impact that it could have or couldn't have on a child. I am also very passionate about equality and trying to be a good example of someone wanting equality instead of this bad name that feminists have because of extremists. I’m also an avid reader so I think that is why I get the passion for both. 4. How do you prepare for a role? Such a hard question to answer in such a short format. I guess the best way to explain is that I do as much research as possible. I try to find out everything I need to know to play that person and then I start filling in the holes that the script leaves out. 5. Why and when did you decide to start your acting career? As a little kid, I wanted to be on television. I watched it a lot, even though my parents tried to keep me busy with other things like puzzles, books, make-believe. What they didn't realize, what those were also things that promoted creativity. I memorized movies from watching them. I was two. I created "shows" and "commercials" and performed for my parents. We didn't know there were opportunities for me in my hometown to even be on television. So, I just did what I did. Performed for my parents, family, church and school. I remember being on set one day because my parents were film set caterers and I would just hang out with all the crew. I realized that "I fit in here" and that everyone accepted me, which is something that I never felt in a school setting. Talking to these successful people and actors made me realize that it wasn’t just some hobby but it was a career. The more I participated, the more I realized that this industry was an avenue in which I could create. I started professionally when I was around 10 and my list of credits is on my IMDB page. 6. If you could travel the world with anyone whom would you take? I used to have this answer come to me so easily, but now I am not so sure. Honestly, I would probably take my friend who was born in the Czech Republic and has traveled Europe his whole life. I would feel really safe with him and it would be helpful to be with someone who knows the culture over there. 7. Please tell us what do you feel is the biggest challenge in your acting career? I think the biggest challenge is being in a weird age right now where I’m not quite 18. The fact that adults (20-35) can play teens opens the pool of available actors for a role of say a teenager. Sometimes adults are preferred because they only need to deal with the actor and not an actor with parents. Also, when casting tries to match up, a 17 year old and puts them next to someone who is 28 playing 17 and it doesn't match. Another challenge is social media. Unfortunately, it's been playing a big aspect in casting, which I personally think shouldn’t be the case. I get it. I am producing things and I do know that someone with 1M followers could help me promote my project and that saves me money and gets my project seen. BUT, as a producer, I look for talent and quality because what I want to create is art. Popularity in this business is fleeting. Someone's hot. Then they are not. I want to tell an excellent story that will be remembered and last. To do that, I look at an actor's talent over their current popularity. 8. So many young actresses are committed to public service, setting a great example for their peers in terms of being involved with charities and the community. What causes are important to you, and what do you do to support them? I have been involved in promoting anti-bullying education. Before I started college, I used to travel around to schools in Southern California and talk to teens about bullying. It's a real problem and now, it's being done all over the internet, even by adults. So sad. Kids learn from adults. Anti bullying education is key. It's a simple premise. Teach people to identify with how words and actions impact others. If it's not a positive impact, then stop the actions. Stop the hurtful words. Tell someone. Seek help. Stand up for friends. To be effective, programs must address and introduce viable solutions that teach skills to deal with the issue, including how to be a good friend to someone who is hurting as a result of being bullied. As someone who was bullied for three years, I really have a passion for this issue. Personal experience to share: At 9 years old, what people say, sticks. I was told all kinds of mean things. I bought into everything my classmates said. They were successful in convincing me that I had no value. And it wasn't just mean words. I'd be invited to lunch and then told to sit in the corner and laughed at. Girls would stop talking if I walked up to them. I could hear the whispers behind my back. Sometimes they would throw things at me or a boy punch me in the stomach because he was looking for the bullies approval. I was a target. And it really had a negative impact on my life. When they shunned me at lunch or after school or on recess, I felt I wasn't good enough. I must have been ugly. When they labeled me, I cried. It was lonely. It was sad. So I know, first hand what it feels like to be picked on. How words can never be taken back because sometimes, at a weak moment, I still hear some of the mean things the kids said to me. Do you want to know the crazy thing about all of this? These are the reasons I was picked on and bullied: I was really smart. I read a ton, winning reading contests and basically reading every book I could in the library. I was an actor and starting to find a little success. I got good grades. I knew the answers when the teacher's asked. I've slowed down on my involvement with some things projects while I am fast-tracking my education. Once I am out of school, I'll pick up again and be a voice for those who have been picked on, bullied and shunned. Other causes I identify with is the importance of education and women issues, specifically issues where women don't have equal representation in storylines in film and television. I think we need to encourage girls to be strong and know they can stand on their own, and we can do this through storytelling. I have an interest in ecological issues and am really involved in my church which has some wonderful outreach programs. 9. As a teen actress, how do you strike the balance between schoolwork and your career? It definitely is hard to find a balance, but luckily I was online schooled because of bullying so I am very used to online schooling. I graduated early and went to do online college which made it easier. The important thing is to find a balance between work and school and managing your time. I suggest a planner, it’s definitely helped me. I think this thought is really important and one that I think of often: The time I am spending in school is a very short amount of time on the time continuum of my life. But the impact from what I learn during this period will last me through my lifetime. So, I embrace that I must focus now and put everything into it. Soon, my schooling will be over and what I learn will be my foundation. 10. If you were not a teen actress, what would you be up to now? Honestly, I would probably in the same position with school but doing lots of missionary work instead. People, from all walks of life, are really important to me. I care about people and their human experience. 11. If you have the chance to choose any other stars at your age to be your classmate, whom would you like to? I think that Tye Sheridan and Hailee Steinfeld would be really great to be classmates with because they have their head on their shoulders and are very serious actors and I love passionate youth. I think we would have a lot of conversations about life and life's direction. It would be cool. 12. Have you ever taken acting classes before? And do you think acting classes are necessary for aspiring teen actors or actresses? I definitely have taken acting classes and still do. I believe they are necessary because an acting class offers a safe space to be able to try new things and explore and create. It's like a chef creating first in his own kitchen, before introducing a new dish to customers on a menu. Same with Acting. Classes give an opportunity to see if something will work before putting it out there on film or TV. Acting is like a craft, similar to sports or music. It requires that practice. Practice will keep the craft sharp and used daily, otherwise an actor could start to slack off and get dull. My coach works with Oscar nominees and winners and yes, even they train. Natural talent is great. Combine natural talent with luck and you could launch. Longevity, I think, comes with scene study, improv and character development... things found in acting classes. 13. How can your fans interact with you online? And what’s your fan mail address? My fans can interact with me on any social media, as I see most of the notices and respond best in that forum. My Instagram @MandalynnCarlson, Twitter @IActSoIAm and Facebook @MandalynnCarlson. My hashtag is #MandalynnCarlson. The best way to email is through my contact button on my Instagram. My team is also involved in responding on some of the platforms. 14. List your favorites Favorite Sport: Football, hands down. Favorite Music: I love all kinds, but Country and Rock have a special place in my heart. Travel Destination: The hills of Scotland. Favorite TV Show: Supernatural, I mean come on, have you seen it? Dream College: UCLA (which i hope to transfer into from SBCC next fall) 15. Now for my last question: what do you want to say to those who wish to pursue their careers in Hollywood? Keep trying. This is a really hard career and there is a lot of competition. If there is something else that you would love just as much, do that. Because this takes everything you have and then some, and you have to give more than 100%. But if this is truly the only thing you can see yourself doing, then give it everything you’ve got and don’t get discouraged. There is a lot of rejection and judgement in this business and you’ve got to have a strong support system to be able to keep your head up and keep doing your craft. Follow us on Instagram (@entertainmentteens) and Twitter (@Teen_Insider) Photo credit to Melissa Coulier
1. What are the projects that you are currently working on? Please tell us a little about it. Right now I am working on season 3 for Fuller House. Season 3 for Fuller House is planned to release in this summer. 2. Please tell us what do you feel is your biggest achievement? Definitely it would be playing Jackson Fuller in Fuller House. 3. Besides acting, what are you passionate about? Well, besides that, I am also passionate about doing commercials, which is interesting as well. 4. How do you prepare for a role? I’ll look at the lines, making myself familiar with the character and getting myself into his shoes. Also, I will rehearse before getting officially on set. 5. Would you please tell us a little bit about your role in Fuller House? How would you describe Jackson Fuller? He is clumsy, usually doing some dumb things like setting off the sprinkler system. Also, he has a big crush on Lola. Want to read more? Read Full and Exclusive story + see his exclusive photo shoot on our May Issue, also the first issue of Entertainment Teens https://www.magzter.com/TW/Freshman-Press/Entertainment-Teens/Entertainment Mackenzie, who hails from a small town in Northern England, has been making music, acting and dancing from a young age and first peaked the interest of music fans and executives in the U.S. when he appeared on X-Factor at the age of 5. Currently Mackenzie is spending six months out of the year Stateside in order to launch his international musical career. 1. What are the projects that you are currently working on? Please tell us a little about it. I am releasing my new single “Laugh” on the 12th May, it’s going to be really fun as we have a crowd source video. Also have a movie out in the fall “Pupstar2” 2. Please tell us what do you feel is your biggest achievement? My last single got 4.5 Million views on Youtube. 3. Besides singing, what are you passionate about? Lots of things, Acting, Dancing, Magic and Soccer (I would call it football). Also love to write, play guitar, drums and piano. I’m very passionate about music on a whole 4. Would you please tell us about your latest single? How would you describe the song? The song is a lot of fun, lyrically everyone can relate. Everyone has a bad day and the song is about laughing it off. It has abit of a reggae feel which is great for the summer. 5. Why and when did you decide to start your singing career? I have sang all my life, I was on stage singing from 2 years old. Both my parents are singers, I feel it was something I was born into not something I decided. 6. If you could travel the world with anyone whom would you take? My mam, cause I can’t even fasten my own shoelaces Ha Ha. 7. Please tell us what do you feel is the biggest challenge in your acting career? All the knockbacks. 8. So many young celebrities are committed to public service, setting a great example for their peers in terms of being involved with charities and the community. What causes are important to you, and what do you do to support them? A suicide awareness charity called “If you care share”. I lost a family member to suicide which was such a hard time. We are currently in talks about releasing a single for the charity. 9. As a teen celebrity, how do you strike the balance between schoolwork and your career? It’s something I’ve always done and had to homeschool for years. 10. If you were not a singer, what would you be up to now? I would be a professional soccer player. 11. What have you learned since you became a celebrity? I wouldn’t say I was a celebrity yet, but I would say you have to work extremely hard and study your craft 12. How can your fans interact with you online? And what’s your fan mail address? On all social media platforms. My contact email address is [email protected] 13. Favorite Sport: Soccer Favorite Music: Soul and Motown Travel Destination: LA Favorite TV Show: Family Guy Dream College: 14. Now for my last question: what do you want to say to those who wish to pursue their singing careers? Work hard and never stop working. Study your own voice and be the best you can possibly be. Photo Courtesy of Alikay Photos
1. What are the projects that you are currently working on? Please tell us a little about it. My latest movie “One Under The Sun” Released late March. I have been promoting that movie. I play Amelia Voss who has terminal cancer. The movie has a message about us all being one that is very powerful and relevant, especially now. Amelia is selfless and courageous and I am really proud to be sharing the message of this film. 2. Please tell us what do you feel is your biggest achievement? My biggest achievement acting wise is that I am in a Warner Brothers feature film “Lights Out”. Its pretty cool to be in a movie that has made a profit of hundreds of millions of dollars. It is kind of mind blowing. My career goal was to be in a studio feature film as an adult. It was thrilling to reach that goal by age 15. My biggest achievement on a personal note is that I am a straight A, honor role, and honor society student. It is really challenging while working and auditioning in Hollywood. 3. Besides acting, what are you passionate about? I am really passionate about animals, science, photography, and the beach and ocean. Dream job and life would include all of the above. 4. How do you prepare for a role? I get off book first. As I memorize lines, usually the character development comes with understanding the lines. I start getting an impression of who the person is. My co-star in “One Under the Sun” , “Captain America” Gene Farber gave me some great inside tips. I then go to my manager and coach Sharon Lane and she coaches and cleans up my acting. As an actor you need to spend time working on any issues or kinks before audition. My coach Sharon really advised and assisted me with my vocals and projecting which was an issue. We are constantly working on keeping it real. 5. Would you like to share your latest Project Wildsong, with us? Yes, I am so excited to talk about Project Wildsong! We met at an earth day event and had an instant connect. Damu and Cael (the wolf boys) and I had such an instant bond. Project Wild Song was impressed with my knowledge of conservation and wildlife. They invited me to come hang out and learn more. During that time, I learned how to handle the boys, as well as more about them and how Project Wildsongs message is to connect with people and therefore connect with nature and wildlife. It is such a beautiful message. As soon as I was able to pet these wolves, I felt more connected with the world. When Project Wildsong speaks at events and schools they are able to share and connect and spread a message about wildlife. The “wolfers” as we call them are so inspiring. Together we have some really exciting things in store for the future. 6. Why and when did you decide to start you acting career? I started officially acting at age 7. I got a great agent by sending in my headshot. The agents wanted me to meet them and do two monologues. I memorized two and went in and the rest is history. I was a competitive dancer and knew how to perform “big” to get peoples attention but I had to learn to be more natural and real. I really adored it. At the time, because I was a great age for commercials I was out sometimes 3 auditions in a day. It was long drives and hard work, but I loved it. I knew it was for me. 7. If you could travel the world with anyone whom would you take? I know this sounds silly, but my dog Rodeo. He loves getting dressed up and going in the car. He is a great traveler. He's so adorable that everyone lights up when they meet him. I think he and I would have an amazing time. 8. Please tell us what do you feel is the biggest challenge in your acting career? I think a challenge is that I thought after 7 years in the business and some movies and TV shows under my belt, that it would be easier for more movies and TV. It is just as hard of work, but I am auditioning for bigger roles. I don't get too down about this though. I work hard and know there are more right roles out there for me, it just takes time and patience. 9. So many young actresses are committed to public service, setting a great example for their peers in terms of being involved with charities and the community. What causes are important to you, and what do you do to support them? I love to see all of the young actors and my peers out there using their voice for awareness. It is a beautiful thing. I am always willing to use my voice for the greater good as well. I recently shared my story about bullying at “Say No To Bullying”, I am involved with Los Angeles Mission and spend most of my holidays serving the homeless, and of course being an ambassador for Project Wildsong. 10. As a teen actress, how do you strike the balance between schoolwork and your career? Striking a balance is the most momentous thing. I choose to take honors and AP classes which makes it harder and that much more stressful. My parents have always said as long as I can successfully balance both, I can do both. School is really important to me, and if I wasn't doing well, I couldn't take the time for an acting career. On the set of “Lights Out” we were filming at an abandoned hospital with spotty internet. I got called on set, in the middle of a timed test that was a big deal. I had to go on set, nail the scene and then communicate with teacher what happened and ask for a redo and explain why. Things like this happen all of the time. I do work in the car, and I always use my hotspot and charging up my laptop so that I can work in transit. 11. If you were not a teen actress, what would you be up to now? Wow, its really hard to imagine this. If I wasn't professionally acting, I think I would be in the school drama club and Science club. 12. If you have the chance to choose any other stars at your age to be your classmate, whom would you like to? Oh my gosh, I choose them all! LOL, we all see each other at events and I feel like they are my classmates! 13. Have you ever taken acting classes before? And do you think acting classes are necessary for aspiring teen actors or actresses? I have taken acting classes at beginning of career. I do think it is important. There are classes to build audition skins, improv, and scene study. It is neccessary to have skills like that. Now, I get to coach one on one for each role, which is like a private class. I am so blessed to keep learning. The best way to learn is to do! My biggest learning has taken place on set! 14. How can your fans interact with you online? And what’s your fan mail address? My fans can interact the most with me on instagram @avacantrell as I am super interactive there. I am @theavacantrell on both Twitter and Facebook. My website is avacantrell.com and if fans look on there I will be adding a new fan mail address soon. 15. Please tell us about your role in “Lights Out” I play teen Diana in “Lights Out”. I am the explanation of the creature and why she is the way she is. What has been revealed so far is that I can possibly control people with my mind, cannot be in the light, and am desperate for a friend. I will go to any lengths to keep that friendship. I am not to be messed with. I love playing the antagonist. I also got to do my first voiceover role for “Lights Out” they called me back to be the voice of creature Diana after auditioning top voice over actors. That was huge high light to be about to do both in such a big movie! 16. Now for my last question: what do you want to say to those who wish to pursue their careers in Hollywood? I would say it is really hard to pursue this goal. There are many rejections and the competition is stiff. There are so many great actors and I wish more great roles. That being said, if you love it, you have to try it. There are so many ways to can do what you love. So many Youtube stars now too, as well as booking Hollywood roles. There seems to be a lot of room for growth. There is more internet shows that are so amazing. I would say to do the footwork. I get strangers asking me to help them out. If you can't figure out the basics, then you will not be able to navigate a career. So read about acting, take classes, do the school plays, ask your parents for help and really take initiative. Lastly, best of luck to you guys! You can do anything you put your mind to! edit. Bryana Salaz From Disney's Best Friends Whenever Talks about her passion for both singing and acting4/27/2017 1. What are the projects that you are currently working on?
Well recently I have done some studio recording and I hope to have something out this year. As for acting, I am now receiving a lot of training and doing some auditions. Anyway I am having a tight schedule right now. :) 2. Please tell us what do you feel is your biggest achievement? Definitely it would be recurring on season 2 of ‘’ Best Friends Whenever’’. 3. Besides acting and singing, what are you passionate about? In general, I love dancing and helping people. I’m also passionate about community service, which is inspiring others. 4. Why and when did you decide to start your acting and singing career? My mom signed up ‘’ The Voice’’ competition for me, and that’s how I start my singing career. And my music director is the one who referred me to acting. 5. What do you like the most about the show Best Friends Whenever? Definitely it would be the people with whom I worked in season 2. I’ve grown to love everyone on set. I was first nervous at first when I joint the cast (they’d established their relationship in season 1), but they welcomed me and soon we became good friends. 6. What have you learned since you became a celebrity? It’s hard to find friends who you can count on. 7. What did you mostly miss about Best Friends Whenever? Probably would be seeing an incredible cast and dressing up as princess Daisy. 8. What is it like working with the rest of the cast of Best Friends Whenever? They have so much fun and energy. I mean, we’re all relatively young age, although I’m few years older than them. 9. Do you plan to release your own album or EP in the future? Definitely! I’m writing a lot of songs, working on my own! Not sure when but will release an EP in the future! 11. If you were not an actress and a singer, what would you be up to now? College student, or join military school. My dad is a soldier. 12. Favorite Sport: Soccer Favorite Music: R&B Favorite TV Show: 13 Reasons Why 13. So many celebrities are committed to public service, setting a great example for their peers in terms of being involved with charities and the community. What causes are important to you, and what do you do to support them? I’m not really a part of charities. I spend sometime during charities that didn’t go public- I did it secretly. I would love to partner with charities, in the future, but not now. 14. How can your fans interact with you online? And what’s your fan mail address? Instagram: Twitter: Snapchat: Don’t have a fan mail address. 15. Please tell us what do you feel is the biggest challenge in your acting career? Well, it would be standing up for what you believed and doing something not comfortable because you’re afraid there’s no opportunity. 16. Now for my last question: what do you want to say to those who wish to pursue their careers in Hollywood? Go for it! There would be some many times you feel life is against you but I’m sure you will eventually success if you work hard. |