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Culture

Ella Lentini
Actress, Ella Lentini, talks LGBT issues in Hollywood
Davis Desmond
Davis Desmond: Industry Lessons from a Teen Actor
Grace Baldridge
Young Turks, Grace Baldridge, talks Pop Trigger
Nikki Hahn
Nikki Hahn: Exploring the Business of Teen Actors
Rachelle Henry
Teen Actress, Rachelle Henry, ready to take on Hollywood
Katie Wilson
Youtube Star Katie Wilson, talks podcast Kingdom Geek

Teen actor Nathan Gamble talks featured role in Babel with Brad Pitt, and success of the Dolphin Tale movies

8/7/2017

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By: Rachelle Henry | PHOTOS COURTESY  Lesley Bryce
​- 
Los Angeles, California
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Teen Actor Nathan Gamble talks about playing Brad Pitt's son in Babel, and success of the Dolphin Tale movies. Also Nathan talks about attending the Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards.
Your first major motion picture role was in the critically acclaimed film, “Babel,” as Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett’s son, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. You were six years old! Congratulations! What a start! Tell us about how you found yourself auditioning for the role, getting to film in Mexico with those A-Listers, and being directed by such an iconic director? Please share some special memories from that experience
Babel has a special place in my heart, it was the movie where it all started. I remember very clearly having to go to LA with my mom and pop so I could audition with not only Alejandro, but also Elle Fanning! I couldn't believe it, because at the time I was just an unknown actor from Tacoma, Washington whose only other job was a microsoft commercial! So you could say this LA audition was a whole new world for me! I'm very blessed that I received the role, and before I knew it, I was rehearsing scenes on the streets of Tijuana! The only thing that was a slight bummer about filming was that I didn't actually get to have any scenes with Brad Pitt or Cate Blanchett. Thankfully, I did get to meet both of them at the premiere!
Your breakthrough role came in Joe Dante’s “The Hole,” a supernatural thriller released in 2009 where you played Lucas, one of the three main characters. The three of you uncover a haunted crawl space in their basement and in one scene, you fought off a possessed clown doll. What special inside info can you share about the making of “The Hole.” If you could create a film, what genre would you prefer and what character would you like to play?
The Hole is still to this day, the most fun I've ever had on a set. The cast was exceptional, Joe Dante was a joy to work with, and the script was fun, silly, exciting, and spooky. It was my cup of tea! I don't want to spoil too much for anyone who hasn't seen the movie yet, but let's just say that a certain someone got to keep a stuffed jester clown after the movie was done shooting. I've probably said too much already! I love suspense-thriller movies, so if I could write, direct, and star in a suspenseful film, my dreams would come true!
You’ve had the opportunity to play the 10-year-old son of Jennifer Anniston and Owen Wilson in “Marley and Me,” and Donnie Wahlberg’s son on the CW drama “Runaway.” You’ve been in dozens of other films. Television shows including “NCIS,” “Private Practice,” “House,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Good Luck Charlie,” “Without a Trace,” guest appearance on “CSI” and a recurring role on ‘The Goldbergs.” Since you work in both television and film, what similarities and what differences do you experience in each form of media? Do you have a preference?
It's hard to choose between film and television, I've experienced such great memories with both forms of media! But if I had to pick between the two, I tend to lean towards movies. On movie sets, you get to really build up a special relationship with the cast and crew since the filming can last from 4 weeks to 12 weeks! On most TV sets, filming one episode is only about a week, so it doesn't give you enough time to really get to know your fellow workers.
“The Dark Knight” is considered by many critics to be one of the best films of the 2000’s, as well as one of the best superhero films of all time. You played Gary Oldman’s son, James Gordon, Jr. in the Batman film. You worked alongside great talent such as Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, just to name a few. What did you learn from working with them in such an intense film? Can you tell us what direction Christopher Nolan gave you? Did you have any idea of how popular this film would be?
I was like a kid in a candy store on the set of The Dark Knight. Not just because I was filming scenes with the caped crusader, but also because I got to work with such impressive actors! Gary Oldman was amazing to work with and taught me how to keep a level head in Hollywood. All I remember about Christopher Nolan was that he wore suits everyday of filming! It still blows me away that I got to work with such a high caliber director, on such a massive movie set!
Nathan Gamble
Teen sensation Nathan Gamble has quite the resume having played son of both Brad Pitt, and Jennifer Anniston.
You starred in “Dolphin Tale,” and the sequel, “Dolphin Tale 2,” that co-starred Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr. and Kris Kristofferson. Your character, Sawyer, finds a dolphin, Winter, that has to have its tail surgically removed. The films are based on true events. Did you get to meet any of the marine biologists or family members that were involved in Winter’s survival story? Did you get to meet the real dolphin? What have you learned about marine conservation from being a part of this film?
Over the course of filming both Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2, I have met countless marine biologists who helped Winter keep fighting, and each individuals stories are just as inspiring as the last. I am very fortunate that on both films, I got to swim and shoot with the real Winter at the real aquarium! How cool is that?! For the past 3 years, I have been the spokesperson for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, so you can imagine that I've learned a lot about marine life conservation! Even the smallest deed can go a long way. If you see any trash on the beach, pick it up; you could be saving endangered fish, or even dolphins!
Congratulations on your nominations for six Young Artist Awards, a nomination for a MovieGuide Award, and a nomination for a Fright Meter Award! You also attended the Teen Choice Awards, Young Hollywood Awards, and Nickelodeon Kids Sports Choice Awards. Share with us some of the highlights of the award ceremonies (I heard that Russell Wilson was at the Nickelodeon Kids Sports Choice Awards). What do you enjoy about being on the red carpet to promote films and other red-carpet events?
My favorite part about award ceremonies are the red carpet events before! Mostly because I can meet actors, or in my case, sports stars. It was over 3 years ago, but I remember the day i met my hero, Russell Wilson, like it was yesterday. It was a cool interaction because he noticed that I was wearing his jersey under my suit. I still have our picture together as my screen saver.
Eddie Lacy or Marshawn Lynch? Trevone Boykin or Austin Davis? How about those Seahawks! I got to sit on your left in the classroom scene in “All My Presidents,” and I would have liked that film to become a feature. You did an amazing job! You are a WA native and have trained some in the PNW. Tell us about doing TheFilmSchool’s Prodigy Camps here in WA State and what you have learned about the writing, directing and producing side of filmmaking.
These are easy. Even though he’s not on the Hawks anymore, I have to go with Lynch. And from what little I've seen from Boykin, I have to choose him. He's so dang fast! You know me well, clearly, because I can talk about the Hawks for days! Regarding the Prodigy Camp, I was a student for one year and on staff for five years! It's a wonderful experience for aspiring filmmakers who want to learn the in's and out's on how to tell a good story! I've written and directed four short films now, and the lesson from all of them that keeps coming up is, preparation. The harder you prepare, the better your final product will be!
“Swiped” is in Post-Production, and you have “A Dark Horse” and “Skate God” are in Pre-Production. What can you share about these upcoming films and what else should we be on the lookout for?
Swiped was a fun independent film I shot last summer in Florida. The premise is a couple guys create a new dating app that back fires tremendously! A Dark Horse will be shooting this September, and I couldn't be more excited about it!
Follow Nathan on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  ​
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Teen entertainment sensation Asia Monet Ray talks American Crime Story, fashion line at Target, and StarPower Dance competition

7/17/2017

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By: Rachelle Henry | PHOTOS COURTESY Birdie Thompson​
​- Los Angeles, California

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Teen entertainment sensation Asia Monet Ray talks about playing Sydney Simpson in American Crime Story, and teaming up with Gen Z Kids for fashion line at Target. Also Asia tell us about winning the StarPower National Championship dance competition.
Congratulations, on your successes as a Quadruple Threat! You recently played Sydney Simpson in the critically acclaimed and award-winning American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson. Did you research a lot about the case and how did you prepare to portray the young daughter of the infamous football star turned murder suspect? Did you get to meet the real Sydney?
Thank you! When I booked the role of Sydney Simpson I was really excited to be a part of such an amazing cast and crew, and happy to be under Mr. Ryan Murphy's watch. Right away, since I am always on my computer, I started researching what I could about the case and of course Googled as much as I could about Sydney.

​The information I found focused a lot on her current years and not much on when she was 9 years old. That being said, I just focused on making sure I portrayed the role in a natural way that a daughter at Sydney’s age would feel. My body language in the scenes as well as facial expressions should say it all without speaking a word. 
​
You made history when you won the StarPower National Championship dance competition as a 5 year old. Tell us your ice skating and gymnastics start and journey and how it segued into a dancing, singing and actor career to make you a Quaduple Threat.
Wow, it's been awhile since I've been on a StarPower stage, but so many great memories. I just loved competition weekends and I remember begging my mom to have a solo to compete with when I was 5 years old and promising my parents that I'd work hard. I never imagined that from that moment on, I would receive several national titles at that age and start my crazy journey from the competition stage, to reality TV, to being cast on two major series and recording original music. I am so grateful for so many opportunities and to have support from family and friends. I couldn’t do all this without them.
You’ve worked with two of the biggest TV producers/writers, Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy, and have worked with star-studded casts. What have you learned from working with such seasoned professionals and what advice would you give to aspiring actors?
Well, being 11 years old I have so much to learn and with everything I do. I believe you can never stop learning and becoming better at your craft. When I'm on set with season professionals I stay focused, and watch and learn. When I take the time to just watch and observe I feel I learn and appreciate how amazing these actors are. Acting is not easy, but so rewarding when you continue to grow. My advice would be to put in the time to learn the craft of acting and enjoy the process.
Tell us about your clothing line at Target where you teamed up with Gen Z Kids “Art Class.” What was the creative process behind creating your clothing line and how did you get into clothing design? Do you have future plans for more clothing lines and can you give us some sneak peeks into what your dreams are for them?
Yes! Such a great experience with Target. Art Class 2017 was a success and I was so excited to be able to collaborate with their design team this year. I have been sketching fashion designs on my free time or when I'm in the car for a while now, so when they asked for me to be a part of this cool campaign I was ready to show them my sketch book. The whole process was amazing. Hopefully in the future there will be more clothing line opportunities with purses, shoes and accessories. I love fashion.
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As one of the most popular girls on Dance Moms, Asia was offered her own docu-series, Raising Asia, which premiered on Lifetime.
What charities are you involved with and can you share with us about how you personally are working to help make a difference in them?
Throughout the years, I have supported many charities. Personally, I think it is so important to give back when I have the time. I support several cancer awareness foundations as well as support many animal charities. Recently, I loved working with the ''In A Perfect World'' non- profit foundation, which is doing great work helping and empowering youth in need around the world. I think there is always more we can do to make a difference in this world.
You are incredibly busy. How do you balance all those opportunities with school, friends and family life? What special tips can you give other entertainers about how to achieve goals and maintain a good balance?
I get asked this question a lot. It is definitely a challenge but I have 24hrs a day to work it out. My mom since day one has kept me straight and always keeps everything balanced and makes sure school, and schedule down time is a priority. You always need your rest to be at your best!
What advice can you give to aspiring actors, dancers, singers, performers?
My advice is no matter what your passion is, always stay focused, believe in yourself, work hard, accept that it's not going to be easy and never lose the love for your dreams by comparing yourself to someone else’s success. ​
Follow Asia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Youtube personality Katie Wilson talks podcast Kingdom Geek, Black Nerd, and Pokemon Go Craze

5/10/2017

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Daniel Hoyos
By: Daniel Hoyos | PHOTOS COURTESY Ryan West
- Los Angeles, California 

Katie Wilson
Los Angeles Youtube personality Katie Wilson talks exclusively about her podcast Kingdom Geek, collaborating with Black Nerd (Andre Meadows), and the Pokemon Go Craze. Also Katie tries to explain the difference between a geek, and nerd.
You've made a name for yourself as a very popular Youtube personality. Can you tell us how you got started in the vlogging craze?
I was getting cast as an actress for large YouTube sketches/parodies and was gaining subscribers from those. I loved the idea of sharing my geeky passions with an audience so I started making videos. YouTube was also a great outlet for me to produce my own content to act and sing in.
Your friend, Andre Meadows, is also a pretty well known Youtuber who talks about pop culture topics. Why did you start collaborate with Andre (aka "Black Nerd")? ​
I love working with Andre! We have a great chemistry that's extremely hard to come by which makes collaborating with him so easy! We really are like a ying & yang. ​
Kingdom Geek is an interesting podcast which, features some pretty amazing celebrity guests. Can you tell us some more about Kingdom Geek?
Kingdom Geek explores pop culture and nerdy topics with geeks of all kinds! With special celebrity guests, crazy games, and fun debates, Andre and I try to create an inviting atmosphere, no matter what level of geekdom you are, with open discussions, friendly conversations and a lot of laughs. Whether you're noob or expert, medieval or future, retro or millennial, Team Cap or Team Iron Man, everyone is welcome to the Kingdom!
The Lindsey Stirling spoof which, has over 200k views, is one my favorite videos. How did you come up with the idea, and did you hear from Lindsey?
I've been a big fan of Lindsey from the beginning of her YouTube career. I love the way she incorporates her music with beautiful cinematography and I wanted to make a video in a similar way. Since I don't play any instruments I thought it would be hilarious to play a kazoo! Turned out to be a really funny video! Lindsey did see it, and she loved it!
We often talk with teenagers who are looking to break into the business. What advice would you give teenagers who are interested making Youtube videos?    ​
Don't try to do what everyone else is doing. Create videos on topics that you are truly passionate about and your audience will find you.
Katie Wilson
Katie Wilson is a YouTube star who creates videos about gaming, and pop culture.
At just 26 years old, you've accomplished quite a bit in the entertainment business. How do you prepare for an audition in front of casting directors?
I always want to be prepared as possible. I make sure I've memorized my lines, am comfortable with them and have my headshot/resume ready to go. I think learning to relax in an audition is very important and takes experience to master. A good piece of advice I was given is to "care less." When you want something so bad, you tend to obsess over it and it could possibly mess you up in an audition. So I always try to minimize the audition in my head, and it helps me to relax and not be nervous. That can prove to be difficult especially when auditioning for one of your favorite shows! OH! Also, give yourself time to find parking! Last thing you want to be is frantic about being late before auditioning. ​
You're also a heavy gamer on Youtube having done the hilarious Pokemon parody, "Don't Mess With Pikachu". What did you think of the whole Pokemon Go craze?
I love Pokemon Go... I'm still playing it! 6 year old Katie would've died to know that this game would exist in the future! Kids are so lucky these days! ​
I've always wondered what the difference is between a geek and a nerd. Can you explain the difference between the two?  ​
Honestly I have no clue! Call me a geek or a nerd... I don't mind! Haha!
Follow Katie Wilson on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
​Subscribe to Katie Wilson on YouTube.
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Teen Actress Rachelle Henry ready to take on Hollywood, talks Slamdance, and Young Artist Awards

4/2/2017

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Daniel Hoyos
 By: Daniel Hoyos | PHOTOS COURTESY  Rachelle Henry
​- 
Los Angeles, California

Rachelle Henry
Seattle teen actress Rachelle Henry, looks to take on Hollywood after elevating her acting skills with two award winning short films. Rachelle also discusses attending the Slamdance Film Festival, and the Young Artist Awards cemeteries in Los Angeles.
You started acting at six years old in local productions around the city of Seattle. How did Rachelle get started in the business?
​I was always performing: Preschool programs, dance recitals, gymnastic performances. When I was six, I was at a cheerleading camp and heard about auditioning for Nickelodeon. I ended up going to an audition, and through that audition, I started training, auditioning and working in theater and then film.
Congratulations on your performance in Creased, which is about an Asian American girl who wants double-eyelid surgery. Can you tell us more about your character?
I played the role of Syd, who is the best friend of the main character, Kayla. Syd can be brash and insensitive some of the time, especially when she's partying, but she truly has a heart of gold and cares deeply about her best friend. Syd is complex, attempting to hide her own insecurities, and eventually tries to help Kayla with hers. She is the only one in the Kayla's circle of influence who considers the Asian eyelid surgery unnecessary because she thinks her best friend is beautiful just the way she is and that she shouldn't conform to society's vision of how she should look.
Rachelle Henry
Rachelle Henry in two publicity stills from the shorts films Creased, and Losing It.
Losing It was your last short film about a girl on her prom night which, premiered at Slamdance. What was it was attending the Slamdance Film Festival? 
It was an amazing experience. I remember how excited I was when I got the news of the film getting in! I didn't realize that Slamdance is in Park ​City, UT during the same time period as Sundance! Because of that, producers, directors, actors and industry people can go to both festivals and I got to meet some really great filmmakers and see great films from both festivals! What an exciting place to premiere "Losing It." It was amazing to experience the audience's reaction to what's happening to my character in the film!
We always hear if you want to pursue a career in acting move to Hollywood. Do you think actors can build a successful career outside of Los Angeles? 
​For me personally, I've been blessed to be able to develop my craft and build a resume, and even been able to learn so many facets of the business by working in a smaller market before joining the Hollywood scene. Being in a smaller market has given me the opportunity to explore my range in acting, and also given me opportunity to begin directing and producing, which brings me full circle to being a better actor. ​The larger markets like Hollywood and New York offer more opportunities, and the smaller can help prepare before the move. 
Rachelle Henry
Rachelle Henry won "Best Teen Actress" at Young Artist Awards.
You recently won two awards at The Young Artists Awards, and Young Entertainer Awards. Can you tell about your experience attending the award ceremonies in Los Angeles?
It's really exciting and such an honor to receive nominations, let alone sitting with my peers and sharing the experience with them. It's surreal to win because it could be any one of the nominees! Thrilling! Something very special was that right as I was leaving the stage at ​Young Artist Awards is that Danny Glover came out and addressed the future of the young actors in front of him, challenging us to remain true to the craft, reminding us that artists are the gatekeepers of truth, and that we represent the future. Both the Young Artist Awards and the Young Entertainer Awards ceremonies encourage and honor those ideals and the youth are stronger for it! A big THANK YOU to both!
A large part of the audition process is rejection. How does Rachelle personally handle rejection?
​The best thing I can do as an actor is to do my very best at every audition. I can't control the other parts of the audition. We all hear that we as actors could be too tall, too short, too dark, too light, smile too much, not friendly enough. I just have to bring the best performance I can, and leave it at that. That being said, some losses are harder than others. 
You’re only 16 years old but, If you could look ahead 5 years into the future. Where do you hope to be professionally, in regards to your acting career?
I plan to continue my education. As an actor, of course I hope not only to be working with my A-List idols and developing as an actor, but I look forward to working with the many other talented people that aren't well known yet. What I do know is that I will keep looking for the opportunity to keep creating and doing what I love.
Follow Rachelle on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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The Young Turks Grace Baldridge talks, Pop Trigger, Murder with Friends, and LGBT issues

3/10/2017

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Daniel Hoyos
By: Daniel Hoyos | PHOTOS COURTESY TYTnetwork.com/Youtube
​- 
Los Angeles, California

Grace Baldridge
The Young Turks Grace Baldridge talks about co-hosting Pop Trigger, creating Murder with Friends, and LGBT issues in the mainstream media. The Belgium native also discusses a typical day on the set of Pop Trigger.  
Pop Trigger is a very popular show on the The Young Turks, network that mixes entertainment and, political topics. Can you tell us how you became one of the co-hosts?
It was just a case of being in the right place at the right time. I had recently quit my office job to pursue comedy right around the time Pop Trigger was looking for a third host. I knew the executive producer through a mutual friend who was kind enough to recommend me for an audition.
In addition to co-hosting Pop Trigger we, can watch you on the main channel of “The Young Turks”. Can you tell us where your interest in politics started?
American history and politics were fairly common dinner conversations when I was growing up, so I think that cultivated a general curiosity that persisted as I got older.
Most people don’t know Grace Baldridge, is also a hilarious stand-up comedian. What is a typical set-list look like for you?
I don’t know that there’s a typical set list, I try to change up my material depending on where I am and who’s watching. That said, I tend to talk a lot about queer culture. 
Hollywood has come a long way to bring LGBT issues into the forefront, but it’s still a taboo subject. What do you think Hollywood has to do in order for us to see more gay roles in the mainstream media?
I think it comes down to opportunity and visibility. I would like to see more queer projects get sufficient funding and distribution from major networks and studios and I would like to see more queer faces included in the mainstream media.
Grace Baldridge
Pop Trigger has become one of the most popular shows on TYT with over 400,000 subscribers. What does a typical workday look like for you?
We get our Pop Trigger stories the night before, so on the morning of a taping I like to wake up early and see if there have been any developments to those stories. Then I think of my “Five Words Or Less” while walking my dog. After that I drive over to the studio and catch up with our team over coffee.
You created another popular TYT show “Murder with Friends”, that deals with unsolved mysteries. How did you come-up with the idea?
"Murder With Friends” is a show where friends get together and discuss the darker sides of history. I wanted to create an informal, yet informed show about true crime cases and figures. I have a longstanding fascination with the macabre so this show is an extension of that bizarre interest.
If one of our LGBT readers wanted to get in front of the camera and start their own Youtube show, but was afraid. What would you tell them? 
I would say, go for it! I know Youtube can be intimidating, but people will surprise you with their kindness and encouragement. Work hard, be creative, and be proud of who you are. Now more than ever we need to empower queer voices - so raise yours!
Follow Grace on Twitter and Instagram.  
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Actress Ella Lentini tells stories of working with Selena Gomez, Playstation's Until Dawn, and LGBT issues 

3/9/2017

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By: Daniel Hoyos | PHOTOS COURTESY Jackson Davis
​- 
Los Angeles, California

Ella Lentini
Los Angles based actress Ella Lentini chats exclusively with We Blab Entertainment Magazine about, working with Selena Gomez, writing her first project "Piece of Cake", and highlighting LGBT issues through her passion project "The Riot Life". 
Piece of Cake is a brilliant short film about, sarcastic Jessie and her free-spirited girlfriend Alex. Can you tell us how you come to write this film? 

Thank you so much!! Oh man...When I first wrote this project, I was making sense of my own identity. It's really cool how my Generation is becoming more and more accepting; rejecting labels and embracing gender fluidity, but there still are people who don't understand... And self-acceptance is hard enough. We don't need other people telling us who we should be or how we should love... So I guess you could say I wrote because I HAD to write. It was the only place I could be honest and felt safe. To me that's the beauty of film - often it says what we aren't quite able to say in our real lives. I think any artist can relate to that, at times it's almost like being creatively possessed, by a character, or place, or feeling, that needs to be expressed.

​I also read this beautiful article about a girl who come to her parents with a cake, and it made me realize I'm not the only feeling alone, and what if I could just reach one person. I gave my Producer-Co-Founder, R.W Reinhardt, four honest, messy pages, and he said "This is Great. Now let's make it better." And really Piece of Cake is what it is because of our team, and I'm so grateful to have that creative community. 
You’re the founder of The Riot Life, which helps LGBT teens with bullying issues. Can you tell us why you started The Riot Life?

The Riot Life supports LGBT teens, and beyond that, humans everywhere. I was inspired to help create this community because I felt like there wasn't one for me. It really is more of an idea than a brand. It's a lifestyle and an attitude. An inviting place where creatives are encouraged to collaborate and make that inspires the world to "Live Free. Love Endlessly. Stay Weird."
Ella Lentini
Hollywood has come along way in bringing LGBT issues into the forefront, but it’s still a taboo subject. What do you think Hollywood has to do in order for us to see more gay roles in mainstream entertainment? 
​I think it starts with young filmmakers, like myself and the people I work with who are passionate to tell diverse stories and are not afraid of voicing their own experiences and struggles through film and TV. As storytellers we have to be extremely empathetic and listen. Listening is the key to acting, and I think the key to directing and writing as well. If you listen close enough, and I think Moonlight winning best picture (the first LGBT film to ever win best picture) is a testament that we not only need but want authentic LGBT stories and characters.

​We need to break the stereotypes - enough with the comedic gay best friend - it may be a characteristic but sexuality is not an archetype and it needs to stop being treated that way in film and TV. An archetype is the hero, the rebel, the wanderer - and last time I checked the hero, or heroine, can be LGBT too.
​I feel like our readers would, be surprised to learn you had an acting role in The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex. Can you tell us what it was like working with Selena Gomez?
That was my first big job in LA! I worked on Law & Order: SVU in NYC, so I was familiar with TV sets but The Wizards Return was multi-cam which is a whole other format. I played Selena’s cousin, Francesca. It was a blast. Selena is so talented & hilarious, just such a badass. I have so much respect for her; especially after hearing that speech she gave at AMA’s about feeling broken. When she said, “I don’t want to see your bodies, I want to see what’s inside here {your heart}.” I was like, “YAS QUEEN, SLAY.” I always tell people, I don’t care what you do; tell me what sets your heart on fire.
Ella Lentini
​You also voiced the character of Hannah, and Beth for the Until Dawn Playstation 4 video game. What was that experience like?
​Working on Until Dawn was one of my favorite experiences. We worked with motion capture - which is such a cool new technology. We shot on a sound stage, in large a green room, wearing these helmet-back-brace contraptions and had dots drawn on our faces. It wasn’t glamorous at all, but that almost made it better. We had to use 100% of our imaginations to create the world we were supposed to be in, while acting with each other through these Daft Punk style helmets. Also the cast was so incredible. Rami Malek, who plays my brother, Josh, brings so much vulnerability to the character… That’s the kind of acting career I would love to emulate. Just need my Mr. Robot.
We often speak to students who want to enter the film industry. What advice would you give someone if they wanted to move to Hollywood, and a career in the film business?
​My main advice is, just make stuff. Make plays. Make films. On your iPhone or a DSLR, it doesn’t matter. Get on any set you can and learn from anyone who will teach you. And most importantly make it for yourself. Stay true to what it is you really want to say. Originality is always in demand.
Ella Lentini
Can you tell us about any future projects your working on currently?
​I’m directing and acting in another short I wrote with The Riot Life, Chasing Unicorns. It’s super fantastical and stylized. My DP, Corey C. Waters has spent a lot of time on rollerblades to get the shots we need. Lol. A feature film I acted in, Art Show Bingo, should be released later this year… I’m also launching/directing a YouTube series called #RIOTGIRL on The Riot Life’s channel which will feature some badass female collaborators.

​I really want to inspire girls to break barriers. As a little girl I wished I was a boy, not because I physically wanted to be a boy but because I hated being what I was told to be as a girl - so I’m hoping the #RIOTGIRL series will speak to those little girls all over who feel the same way.
Follow Ella Lentini on Twitter and Instagram.
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Davis Desmond: Industry Lessons from a Teen Actor

2/12/2017

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Daniel Hoyos
By: Daniel Hoyos | PHOTOS COURTESY Dave Desmond
- Los Angeles, California
Davis Desmond
Whether in film, or television more teens are getting interested in the arts. 14-year old Los Angles native Davis Desmond, the youngest actor ever nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at VisionFest film festival at Tribeca.

You first hit the national stage on The Drew Carey Show. How did Davis get started in the business?
 
My dad worked with a guy whose son was a fairly successful actor. His friend gave my dad the number of their agent and told him to call them and tell them he was friends with them. When my dad called, the agency said ”Yeah, we know. You think your kid is beautiful and would be great in show business. Here’s our address. Send us a couple of pictures and we’ll decide if your kid is beautiful and get back to you.” Fortunately, they got back to my parents.
 
Having a great support system is essential in the entertainment industry. To what extent is dad involved with your career?
 
He’s my official chauffeur and nag. He’s also in charge of making sure I have snacks and something to drink on the way to auditions, and he yells across the house to me when he sees a commercial air that I didn’t get. In all honesty, kid actors obviously need a lot more help and support than an adult actor. I realize that. Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in school, acting classes, auditions and everything else we’re doing and lose sight of the fact that our parents have to sacrifice a lot to help make things happen for us. I’m lucky that my dad has his own business and can just drop everything if he gets a call at noon telling him I have to be somewhere at 2.

Playing such a wide range of characters from Nickelodeon’s Victorious, The Middle, and Modern Family. How do you prepare for a role?
 
To be honest, most of the roles I’ve booked so far for network TV have been kind of small and the roles haven’t been very demanding. No matter what the role, though, a good night’s sleep the night before is pretty important. I’d say the most demanding role of the ones you mentioned was Victorious. You know how tired and stiff you feel after getting off a cross-country flight? Yeah, well my episode was entirely in an airplane so I spent four straight days sitting in an airplane seat. I played an obnoxious kid who was kicking Daniella Monet’s seat. I was pretty stiff after about two days, so I had to make sure and do a lot of stretching. Let’s go ahead and call that preparation for the role, OK? By the way, when I got that role, we had to postpone a family vacation to Disney World.
 
You did an outstanding job playing Johnny in the short film, The First Hope. Do you have any memories from being on-set?

Thank you! I was in sixth grade when we shot The First Hope. I was totally not into girls at the time, so the closing scene where I kiss my older sister was kind of stressful for me. Lili Reinhart (my sister in the movie) was really cool about everything and made me feel more comfortable, but I really wasn’t looking forward to that shooting day. My dad was a different story. He kept telling me ”You could do a lot worse for your first kiss, Davis. You’re kissing a beautiful, older actress! Once this movie comes out, you’ll be a stud with your buddies at school.” Unfortunately, Jeremy White, the awesome director of The First Hope, couldn’t convince LucasFilms to grant rights to show the film at anything other than film festivals, so it never got a wider release and none of my buddies ever really saw it. On the positive side, the breakdown of the part said Johnny was totally into Star Wars. I had never seen any of the Star Wars movies, so we borrowed the original three from our neighbors, the Parkers. I immediately fell in love with all of them and had a good understanding of them when I went in to audition.

Actors tend to get overwhelmed when seeking out representation. How did you find the right agent?
 
Finding the right agent and manager is huge. I had an incredible print and commercial agent when I was little, but they didn’t handle theatrical and I wanted to do that, so I had to leave. That was a sad time because I loved them so much. The first step was looking for a manager and I got totally lucky by finding Myrna Lieberman Management almost right away. She helped connect me to the agencies. After that, I bounced around a little, trying to find the right ones. The right one for one actor might not be the right one for someone else. I learned that. I was at some great agencies, but sometimes you get stuck behind other boys in your same category that the agency apparently likes better. That meant that I didn’t go out as much. We left with no hard feelings. Finally, we found Avalon Artists Group. It was the perfect fit. I’ve been there about three years now and couldn’t be happier.
 
You grew up in Los Angeles right in the heart of Hollywood. Can you give us some real world advice on how to book network TV roles?
 
That’s a great question. I have no freaking idea in the world. Sometimes, I read a breakdown or script and think this character is totally me,that I couldn’t possibly picture anyone but me in that role. I go in, think I nail the audition, then don’t even get a callback. Other times, I walk out thinking I totally tanked and blew it, then I’m on set the next day. I’m totally the wrong person to be asked this question. The best answer I can give is to go into every audition convinced that this one is The One, give it your best, then move on and do the same thing on the next opportunity. The odds are against any one person for any one role. Big time. But keep doing it and never give up. If you work hard enough, believe in yourself and keep at it, you’ll eventually hit something good.
 
A large part of the audition process is rejection. How do you personally handle rejection?
 
I am the king of rejection! Last year, I went to network approval on four different pilots and didn’t book any of them. All four not only got picked up, but have been renewed for second seasons. That was kind of tough. One of them was extremely disappointing because I was kind of getting the vibe they were building a sibling cast around me. I think casting liked me, but maybe Network wasn’t quite feeling me as much. My acting coach, Kimberly Crandall, has always told me that my job is to audition. When you book a job, it’s like icing on the cake.
 
For me, what’s tougher than audition rejections is getting edited out. Two straight years, I booked under-5 jobs (less than five lines) on Halloween episodes of shows, both times as a trick-or-treater. The first one was for Modern Family. The second one was for Anger Management. My scenes never made it to air. The year after that, I booked a co-star role on the Halloween episode of Kirby Buckets. Luckily, I wasn’t edited it out of that one. That broke my Halloween jinx and it was one of my favorite jobs ever.
 
Have you taken any acting lessons? If yes, how has that helped you?

I also belong to an improve group, which helps you to think quickly on your feet. It’s absolutely the funniest group of people I’ve ever been a part of. Improv helps a lot with audition technique and strategy. It’s just a side benefit that I can now think and react fast enough to effectively mouth off to my parents and teachers and leave them laughing instead of wanting to throw books or sharp things at me.
 
I also have a private coach, Kimberly Crandall. I love her! Whenever I have a big audition, I work my lines on my own, commit them and the character to memory, then meet with her and we work together on making the scene the best it can be before going to casting. She’s awesome. Some of the jobs I’ve booked I couldn’t have gotten without her. Have I mentioned that I love her? Yeah. I love her.
 
Is there anybody in the industry you would love to work with someday?
 
Pewdiepie! He’s an Internet-Gamer star and my idol. I know that doesn’t sound like a normal answer for an actor, but that’s my first choice. I’m weird like that.
 
Follow Davis Desmond on Twitter at twitter.com/DPDez, Instagram at instagram.com/therealdavisdesmond, and visit his official website: davisdesmond.com
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Nikki Hahn: Exploring the Business of Teen Actors

2/12/2017

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Daniel Hoyos
By: Daniel Hoyos | PHOTOS COURTESY Alma Hahn
​- 
Los Angeles, California
Nikki Hahn
Whether in film, or television more teenagers are getting interested in the arts. We're talking with young actors exploring the business side of the industry starting with 12-year old Los Angles actress Nikki Hahn, who hit the national stage on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
 
I found it interesting that you started out in modeling at the age of 3-years old. How did Nikki get started in the business?
 
I was the type of child who loved playing dress up. I would actually put on a gown just to go to the grocery store. One day we met a young lady who suggested to my mom that she submit my picture to an agency. She thought I’d be perfect for print and commercials so my mom took a photo of me and submitted it to a few agencies. A couple of days later we received a call from LA Talent/LA Models asking to meet me. My mom took me to LA from North County San Diego and next thing you know, I have a contract for representation. My first print job was at age 3 for Disney Easter’s Best Nationwide Campaign and my first commercial booking was also for Disney. I played Cinderella and I was hooked!
 
We always hear if you want to pursue a career in acting move to L.A. Can you give us some real world advice on how to book network TV roles?
 
I believe that eventually it would be in your best interest to move to LA or NY but if you have a great agent in another state that submits your resume/headshot for network TV roles you will definitely have an opportunity to be seen via self-taped auditions. However, travel is a must if you are called in for a producer’s sessions.

Actors tend to get overwhelmed when seeking out representation. How did you find the right agent?
 
One step at a time. I think actors should work on building up their resumes before seeking theatrical representation. I was represented by the same agency for 4 years before seeking to add a theatrical agent to my team. At LA Talent/LA Models I built my resume by landing several Co-Star roles; CSI-Miami, NCIS-LA and iCarly. This helped to get me interviews with several top theatrical agencies at age 7. We chose Abrams Artists and a couple of years later my agents moved to Paradigm Agency to create a youth theatrical department and that is now my current representation.
 
You hit the national stage after playing Tom Hanks daughter Sophie on Jimmy Kimmel Live. What was that whole experience like?
 
I was thrilled throughout the entire process. I was excited to audition for it, to see my pageant dress, and especially to meet Tom Hanks. It was an amazing experience. However, I did not know that Toddlers & Tiaras with Tom Hanks, which was posted on YouTube by Jimmy Kimmel Live Productions would go viral that night, nor that Oprah would be showing it to her audience during an interview with Tom Hanks. To this day, people on YouTube are still discussing whether this is an actual event or just a skit and whether I’m actually Tom’s real daughter or not. So yeah, it’s an unforgettable experience.

A large part of the audition process is rejection. How do you personally handle rejection?
 
I don’t look at it as rejection. You either fit the role or you don’t. All you can do is have fun, do your best interpretation of the role and move on to the next. I’ve actually learned a great deal just by auditioning so I’ve never had to take an audition class. When I’m given feedback by casting, I use that as a learning experience for the next reading. I also don’t go audition for everything that comes my way. I like to select my auditions based on interesting roles that I can either connect with or if I’m interested in the challenge of developing a particular character. I never want to be bored. I want to keep learning, and create unforgettable characters and amazing stories. So by doing this, I think we’ve created a good balance. As for waiting around for the phone to ring…..I don’t. I’m a very active girl who loves to dance, take karate, sing and just a kid who loves hanging out and shopping with her friends.
 
Having a teenager working professionally in the industry is a full-time job for parents? To what extent is mom involved with your career?
 
100%! There really should be a parent who is committed to all the demands of this business and a parent with a job who will take care of the household needs. My mom is as busy as I am. Even though I am homeschooled and have an assigned teacher that I meet with every month, my mom is my learning coach at home. She also drives me to castings, photo shoots, traveling with me on film locations, and loves to cook homemade meals. My father is a web developer at a bank and has a degree in music; classical guitar and composition. So on weekends my dad and I like to work on music and any Science experiments that I may need for school. I have a great balanced home.
 
You did an excellent job playing Mia in the short film The Hero Pose. Do you share anything in common?
 
Mia is a precocious and optimistic child who wants to do anything but hang out and sell a car with her father but by having no choice in the matter she and her father find the time they needed to bond and create special relationship between them. In reality I have a lot in common with Mia because I am that optimistic child who will find the good in most situations.
 
Is there anybody in the industry you would love to work with someday?
 
There are so many amazing actors that I look up to and admire but right now, I would love to work with Jennifer Lawrence and all the cast from X-MEN…who wouldn’t
 
How can people keep-up with Nikki Hahn?
 
Follow Nikki Hahn on Twitter at twitter.com/missnikkihahn, Instagram at instagram.com/nikkihahnactress, and visit her official website: nikkihahn.com

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