Local Children and Teens Launch Modeling/Acting/Singing Careers

Elijah Gang

When Hannah Montana’s Nashville agent, Nise Davies of Advantage, held an open audition in Lawrenceburg earlier this year, over 250 people auditioned. From that audition, hosted by Karen Lanning, Advantage found several children, teens and adults that they were interested in representing for movies, TV, print and performing.

A few of the locals that have been working through Advantage are Anna Lanning, an 11 year old who booked a Disney Print job, filmed a country music video with Emma Mae Jacob, and has auditioned for several national commercials; 17 year old Zach Brazier, that signed an artist management contract in Nashville for his singing and songwriting abilities; 17 year old Kedron Matney and 13 year old Danielle Shelton booked active parts as extras in the Hannah Montana movie shot in Columbia.
Also 11 local children and teens were selected to compete at AMTC that took place just over a month ago. AMTC stands for Actors, Models and Talent Competition (also known as Actors, Models & Talent for Christ). The 26th AMTC was held at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando, FL. It is a

Bi-annual, six day competition with each contestant having the opportunity to perform in three basic categories: modeling, acting, and talent. The category breakdowns are as such:
Modeling- photography/print, runway, fashion, commercial, swimsuit, and spokes model
Acting- monologue, commercial, improvisation, scene-study, and cold read
Talent – singing, dancing, and stand up comedy

Each of the 865 participants present for AMTC Summer 2008 competed in front of over 70 of the most influential agents, managers and casting directors from the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. A sample present were 20th Century Fox VP of casting, Nickelodeon, Ford Models, Elite Models, Trump Model Mgmt., New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts, Mattel, New York Film Academy, Virgin Records, Capital Records, Provident Labels, and the list goes on & on.
At the end of the competition week, AMTC participants had the privilege of “call back” meetings with the agents and casting directors that had requested to meet them. Several of the Lawrenceburg girls ages 9-11 were requested to audition for the lead role in an upcoming film with 20th Century Fox!

Local AMTC success stories include:
Rilegh Ann: 8 years old, booked a National Gap Ad shot in NY 6 days after AMTC.
Anna Lanning: 11 years old, 20th Century Fox audition and is to sign with top New York children’s agent for TV, Film and Print, pending trip to New York.
Alexa Lanning: 13 years old, was nominated for top ten BEST COMMERCIAL MODEL and scored high in the talent competition for her singing and received multiple agent call backs.
Elijah Gang: 13 years old, signed with Shirley Grand Management, New York, for film, stage and commercial work, and Product Model Management, New York, for print work. Elijah is currently living and working in New York and has an upcoming meeting with Nickelodeon as well.
Zach Brazier: 17 years old, signed an artist management deal and has been writing with several of Nashville’s top song writers, AMTC Top 40 Talent.
Morgan Gulley: 10 years old, 20th Century Fox Audition and signed with two New York talent agents and booked her first job in New York already!
Jannia Bowden: 7 years old, received high scores and interest from agents and Sweetheart records
Faith Haynes: 10 years old, auditioned for 20th Century Fox film, & received call backs.
Meagan Jenkins: 14 years old received call backs from agents
Bailey Alexi Johnson: 7 years old, received call backs
Kedron Matney: 17 years old received a call back from Mattel and was offered an opportunity to pursue assistance at the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts.
Cole Robertson: 4 years old, received offers from top New York Children’s agents for Film, TV and Print as well as interest from Nickelodeon.
Danielle Shelton: 13 years old, received call backs and shot posters for Ziba International