AIA ARTIST SUCCESSES
AIA Founder Katy Wallin to Executive Produce Pilot for NBC
Katy Wallin, (founder of AIA Actor's Studio and President
of MysticArt Pictures) has partnered up and will
executive produce a pilot called "Welcome to the Family"
with Reveille (Ugly Betty, The Office and
The Biggest Loser).
Comedian Bernie Mac is serving as the voice and Executive
Producer in this delightful real life romantic comedy.
Katy is currently conducting a nationwide search for the perfect couple in love from 2 very different backgrounds.
Visit www.mysticartpictures.com for more information about this unscripted pilot.
Find out more information about this nationwide search.
Finding Self Esteem in Rejection, with Jess Weiner
Thank you to Jess Weiner for joining us at the Studio on March
15
Hear from Jason Alexander, Emmy Nominated and Tony Award Winning actor
AIA Studio's Master Class Instructor and an Emmy Nominated and Tony Award Winning actor.
(QuickTime Video File, 10.6MB)
AIA Studios says "thank you" to Jane Jenkins, CSA and Janet Hirshenson, CSA who launched the Signature Series at AIA Studios on January 31st.
The Q&A with Jane and Janet
provided the actors with so much insight and information. It was an honor to have these
remarkable casting directors join us for an evening at the Studio.
We look forward to the next Signature Series speaker, Gary Zuckerbrod, CSA who will join us on February 27th.
Scott Baio spent an evening with us at AIA Studios talking about his extensive acting career and his forays into writing, producing and directing. It was so nice to hear from someone who has had such huge success in the television industry. We are looking forward to having Scott visit again in the future!. Please add picture here and in rotation of pictures.
Thank You to Director Jeff Probst and All of the Industry Guests Who Participated in Our Feature Film Intensive!
"Jeff brought something special to the table because he approached the work from a directors perspective, what I learned from him will stick with me my entire life." Jeff has just optioned his next film he will be directing, "A Fish out of Water". He has partnered with Katy Wallin of MysticArt Pictures who will be producing the film. Jeff will be teaching a 1 Day Feature Film Master Class at the studio. There is limited space in this class. Please call The Studio today to enroll in this amazing 1 day intensive.
Also many thanks to John Ferriter, Adam Lieblein, Robin Nassif, Pamela Rack-Guest, Wendy O'Brien, Caroline Liem, Valorie Massalas, Bryan Michael Stoller, Donald Zuckerman, Ricki Maslar and Rosemary Welden for your time and your commitment to the acting community!
iStudio's Industry Online Now Available to Members
In continuing our commitment to provide our members with valuable resources, iStudio has launched Industry Online. Industry Online is a multimedia library of educational resources for actors. iStudio is proud to be the only online service that provides online career guidance from the leaders in the motion picture and television industry. To access this feature: members can simply login to their iStudio account and choose the new option from your navbar.
Hear from Jason Alexander, AIA Studio's Master Class Instructor and an Emmy Nominated and Tony Award Winning actor. (QuickTime Video File, 10.6MB)
FOLLOW-UP FROM OUR INDUSTRY SPEAKS EVENTHear First-Hand from These CSA Casting Directors
View video clips and hear what our Industry Speaks guests had to say about our most recent event at The Motion Picture Academy. Guests include: CSA Casting Directors April Webster, Mindy Marin, Wendy O'Brien, Peggy Kennedy, Pamela Rack Guest and CSA President Chemin Bernard.
Also, be sure to sign up if you'd like to be reminded when registration opens for our next Industry Speaks event, scheduled for this September.
Many Thanks to Jason Alexander!
Our Master Class on demystifying the audition process with the Emmy-nominated actor Jason Alexander completed last week and was a resounding success.
Comments from a packed class include: "I would just like to let you know that Jason's class was possibly the single most beneficial acting class I have ever taken. His patience and humor mixed with the challenging decisions he forced us to make made for a truly phenomenal workshop. He was passionate and energetic yet extremely approachable. I was inspired to say the least!"
We're planning a Master Comedy Class with Jason! If you'd like to be notified when it becomes available, just fill out our Contact form with your name and email address and we'll contact you.
Coming Soon: Members will have access to video footage from the day.
Thanks to Founder Matty Simmons, Founder of National Lampoon, Inc. for Last Night's Free Event
Our free event with Matty last night was a wonderful success. It was an excellent opportunity for our Members to come talk to and connect with a legend in this industry and hear about his experience. The evening was designed as an open forum to get our members' questions answered and there were many wonderful insights to be had.
Matty Simmons founded National Lampoon Inc. in 1969. He has Produced "Animal House," "Vacation," "European Vacation" and Executive Produced "Christmas Vacation" and "Vegas Vacation." He recently completely the feature film, "The Trouble with Frank" and will be going into production on the feature film, "Completely Pathetic."
Keep your eyes peeled for more free events coming throughout the year here at AIA Stuidos.
Some Member Successes from Our Future of Hollywood Weekend
AIA would like to congratulate our Future of Hollywood weekend intensive participants on all of their successes in the past few weeks.
Tricia Ridgway, our Future of Hollywood recipient (pictured left), has signed with William Morris and has been called in to audition for Patrick Baca, C.S.A., for Monika Mikkelson, and has been called back to Robin Nassif, C.S.A. Erin Myers signed with William Morris. Jessica Bogart booked a co-starring role on "Close to Home." Susan Collins was called in by Mary Jo Slater for ABC's hit series "Commander in Chief." Larry Lee was called in for a feature film audition by Randi Hiller's office. And six other participants have signed with management.
We're are proud of all of our members who are working and achieving the results they have set for themselves!
Join Us in Volunteering for the
Young Storytellers Program
The Young Storytellers Foundation is dedicated to developing literacy, self-expression and self-esteem in elementary school children. What was started eight years ago with ten children at one elementary school has reached over 1,200 children today.
In each school that offers our program, we pair 10 elementary school students with 10 creative professionals — all volunteers, who, over the course of six weekly meetings, guide and encourage the students as they imagine, develop and write their own short screenplay. Our philosophy is to welcome each student into the program as the talented, capable and creative actor they are — from the first moment they walk into our classroom. Each mentor serves only as a facilitator; the student is the storyteller of every idea, plot, character, and word. By encouraging and coaching, mentors reveal the young writers inherent talent, giving them the opportunity to fully explore and express their individual creative voices.
At the end of each six-week session, professional actors, all volunteers, join students and mentors in staging "The Big Show," a spirited staged reading of each script for an audience of family, teachers and friends. Before each Big Show, the students meet each of the actors and each student selects the cast for their own story. After the show, the young writers take a final bow before a much-deserved standing ovation.
The YSP scripts have been brought to life by actors including: Matthew Perry (Friends), Hank Azaria (Mad About You, The Simpsons), Tate Donovan, Adam Brody, Kelly Rowan, Rachel Bilson, Ben McKenzie, and Melinda Clarke (The O.C.), Anthony LaPaglia (Without A Trace), Emily Procter (CSI: Miami), Jason Ritter (Joan of Arcadia), Jennifer Grant (Beverly Hills, 90210), Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch), Fred Savage (Austin Powers in Goldmember), Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Mary-Lynn Rajskub (Legally Blonde), Paget Brewster (Huff), Billy Campbell (Enough), Esai Morales (NYPD Blue), Kelli Williams (The Practice), Gia Caredes (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Constance Marie (The George Lopez Show), Judy Greer (13 Going on 30) and Cheri Oteri (Saturday Night Live); as well as cast members and voice actors for such popular kids' programs as Spongebob Squarepants, Lizzie McGuire, and Even Stevens.
Supported by the Young Storytellers Foundation, the program gives mentors and volunteers the opportunity to meet tons of people from their Industries. Through events, fundraisers, and other volunteer opportunities, the Young Storytellers Community is something every AIA member should be involved in.
To get involved or learn more, email the Program's Director, Lisa Goodfried.
AIA Studios and The Academy Players Directory Provide Another Extraordinary Event!
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(June 13, 2005) We would like to thank the hundreds of actors as well as our distinguished panel of industry professionals that attended the event.
Special thanks to: C.S.A. casting directors Randi Hiller, Gary Zuckerbrod, Roger Mussenden, Jane Jenkins, Richard Hicks, Shawn Dawson, and Senior VP of Talent and Casting at Showtime Beth Klein, talent agents Jeff Kolodney from The William Morris Agency, Chris Fioto from Gersh Agency, Ryan Daly from KSA and Tony Martinez from GVA.
AIA continues to follow its mission which is to provide a community of support. We are committed to working with dedicated actors and industry professionals. Both the industry guests and actors that attended this event walked away feeling empowered and inspired! Our intention is to continually provide opportunities for actors to build and expand their relationships with industry professionals and to provide on-going development, and career guidance. AIA is proud to be developing The Future of Hollywood.
We look forward to our next event at The Motion Picture Academy The date will be announced in the coming weeks and you'll be able to pre-register soon.
In the meantime, you can enjoy these comments from some of the industry guests and actors in attendance, with even more photos coming soon!
Some Quotes from Our Guests
Shawn Dawson, C.S.A. Casting Director — "I knew that this would be a beneficial and well-run event when I found out Katy Wallin and AIA was involved!"
Randi Hiller, C.S.A. Casting Director — "Knowledge is power and this event gave you the access to knowledge that you bring to your arsenal of talents."
Roger Mussenden, C.S.A. Casting Director — "This is a wonderful outlet — I'm a big stickler that actors need this information. It is a big deal to educate yourself. This event helped to demystify the process."
Ryan Daly, Talent Agent —"In any business you need to educate yourself. This is a great opportunity to get connected with A-list casting directors. This is like your college and provides a great education for all actors."
Jeff Kolodney, Talent Agent —"This is a great opportunity to get real knowledge from honest and trustworthy people in industry."
Jane Jenkins, C.S.A. Casting Director —"Any place where actors can gather to learn and navigate the craggy shoals of this business is a good thing."
Gary Zuckerbrod, C.S.A. Casting Director —"Just remember it is only a job! Life is more important!"
Chris Fioto, Talent Agent —"It's great to be proactive and prepared. This was a great opportunity for actors!"
Tony Martinez — "This was a great opportunity to empower the actor! Thank you AIA Studios!"
Our Free Industy Speaks Event was a Wonderful Success!
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All of us at AIA Studios and The Academy Players Directory want to give a big "thank you" to the 900 actors who attended the event, as well as the industry professionals who contributed to making it possible, including C.S.A. Casting Directors Jane Jenkins and Debbie Zane.
Everyone thought it was a great experience, including John Ferriter, Agent for The William Morris Agency, who said we were "providing remarkable opportunities for actors and industry professionals" and that "there is not a company out there providing the career development services and that has such impeccable relationships with the leaders in our industry." (Thanks, John!)
In the meantime, you can enjoy these comments from some of the industry guests and actors in attendance, with even more photos coming soon!
Some Quotes from Our Guests
April Webster, C.S.A. — "I get a tremendous amount out of speaking at these events. One important message is self-empowerment."
Carol Goldwasser, C.S.A. — "I enjoyed participating. I appreciate AIA Studios doing this for actors."
Megan McConnell, C.S.A. — "I enjoyed the experience here today. It was great to talk to so many actors at once."
Donna Ekholt, C.S.A. — "It was a pleasure to offer insight to actors who didn't even have to pay a nickel."
Beth Klein — "I love this event. I get just as much out of it as the actors. I learn something new every day."
Linda Phillips-Palo, C.S.A. — "Slow down and think that when you were born, you won the lottery."
Richard Hicks, C.S.A. — "Good questions from actors, and a great opportunity to make your life work as an actor. If I had the opportunity to attend events such as this, I might be acting today."
Ronnie Yeskel, C.S.A. — "I enjoyed myself at the event. There were insightful questions and this is a great resource for actors."
Some Quotes from Attending Actors
"Thank you for the amazing experience Saturday. I went in with an idea of what that day would be like and left with an experience not even close. It was amazing to see you in action creating a future for the people who took their Saturday to go to work and create what is next for them in business." — Boise Thomas
"I just wanted to say how great it was to be apart of what you and the AIA staff accomplished yesterday. It was an event you should all be proud of. It was executed with style, grace and professionalism and it is what will set your company apart in the entertainment industry. You, Audrey and your amazing staff are just beginning to create something that matters and I am thrilled to be able to watch it take flight and evolve." — Angelo Surmelis
"This was the most extraordinary opportunity that I have had in the entertainment industry. AIA is not only a remarkable leader in the industry, but they are so committed to helping actors succeed" — Pauline Lee
"There is not a company out there that provides the support, and guidance like AIA Studios. My experience has been nothing less than amazing. Thank you for your commitment to actors and thank you for allowing me to be a part of today" — David Gottfredson
"I was so inspired by all of the panelists. It is so refreshing to see so many C.S.A. casting directors support this event. I walked away truly empowered and inspired but what you have created. Thank you AIA" — Carol Markquart
"I walked into the event enthused to meet Debbie Zane, Jane Jenkins and Juel Bestrop. I walked out feeling inspired and rewarded by the whole experience." — Kevin Lounsbury
"Thank you AIA and Katy Wallin for bringing your vision to life, and creating a company that inspires and motivates both actors, and the Industry" — Debbie Mercier
