Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Young actors learn to do more for the community at Ronald McDonald red carpet benefit




Several hundred people packed into a red carpet Pool Party this weekend (Sept. 14, 2013) to help launch the Actor Training In LA (ATLA) “Homecoming” of the Parent, Young Adult, Youth & Teen Expo, 2013. The event was free to actors, but each were ask to make donations of $40 to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

For the past five years, Owner Laurie Morella, Actor Training In LA has scheduled and managed classes, showcases, camps, workshops and intensive training for both youth and teen actors in the LA market.
Morella never thought she would make such a difference to so many parents and young actors’ lives. Morella move to LA in March 2008 with her daughter, Tabitha Morella, to help her in her acting career. Today, she’s helping hundreds of young actors and their parents make the transition in the entertainment industry, but hanging on to family values and quality of life issues.

“We want these young actors to relax and enjoy life, but on the serious side we wanted them to understand the importance of charity, which was why we picked Ronald McDonald House. One of my nephews was in there when he was a baby and so we picked that charity.”

Nadji Jeter
Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2
Laurie earned her Professional Actor Life Coaching Certificate through Fowler Wainwright International and has created a trusting and secure learning environment, where actors can master their skills and grow as individuals.

A laundry list of celebrities, mainly youth actors including Nadji Jeter (Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2) Justin Prentice (Malibu Country) McCarrie McCausland (Army Wives) Alicia Sixtos (East Los High) Aedin Mincks (A.N.T. Farm) Austin Mincks (Melissa and Joey) Zach Callison (Sofia the First) Jake Short (A.N.T. Farm) and many others came out to support the four hour event at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel & Convention Center, Burbank, CA.

“ATLA invited us, Looking Ahead Program, tonight to give the young actors an idea what we’re about,” said Education Counselor Laura Renae Campbell, Looking Ahead, Los Angeles. “A lot of these kids are on the set and constantly working in entertainment with peer pressures, so we allow them to take off their industry hat and just be themselves.”

Zach Callison (Sofia the First)
Looking Ahead programs help young performers and their families tackle the unique issues associated with working in the entertainment industry. The nonprofit supports young performers between the ages of nine and 18 in developing the values, skills and confidence they need to make successful transitions to fulfilling adult lives. Looking Ahead was developed in cooperation with the Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) Young Performers Committee.

Since 2003, The Actors Fund's Looking Ahead program has helped Southern California's young performers and their families address the unique issues associated with working in the entertainment industry.

The two day Burbank workshops allowed the actors to loosen up, go swimming and have fun. They also got the chance to meet some two dozen talent agent and learn how to improve on audition techniques, on-camera techniques, script analysis, building confidence, self-respect, manners and more importantly, how to succeed in Life.

“We pride ourselves in supplying the best teacher in LA, which consist of casting directors, casting associates, casting assistants, agents, managers and acting coaches and life coaches,” said Campbell.

"I am a professional life acting coach, educator, and organizer, I offer life coaching, acting classes, seminars and educational casting director workshops for actors to learn about their craft and to help them succeed in life,” explained Laurie Morella, ATLA. For more on ATLA visit: http://actortraininginla.com/
©Photos by MAYO Communications

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