The last 4 days have been very exciting. It all started when I inquired on an ad for a company that helps parents get their children a talent agent who will in turn help the kid get acting/modeling jobs. I submitted Miles picture and got an interview with Carl Carranza, owner of Fabulous Flashcast Co., Inc. http://www.fabulousflashcast.com/ The appointment was on July 13, 2008. This was no ordinary day for Carl at Flashcast because he is the subject of a TV pilot that will most likely be picked up by cable channel TLC and filming began Sunday. (The fact that he's involved in the pilot assurred me he's the real deal and made me more excited to meet him and see what he can do for us.) Carl had appointments with families lined up all day and to add excitement for the tv show he had guest appearances by Mickey Mouse and Elmo, and an amazing balloon guy. There were some really crazy parents, a few to mention: one lady was seen giving her 4 yr old Redbull and another accused Carl of racism for not accepting her child -Carl said the little girl clearly wasn't interested in acting/modeling, Liza (who I'll introduce later) told me about a total "stage mom" (the exact type of person Carl isn't looking for as boldly stated in any and all of his literature) who wouldn't allow her child to acknowledge Elmo because she wanted her to stay "focused" for the interview. Sounds like good reality tv to me! Unfortunately we missed the action, but did enjoy the balloon guys talents as several balloons were left for us to enjoy... flowers, monkeys... really really cool stuff. As a result of all the filming, Carl was rediculously behind schedule. Four hours behind schedule! Luckily his office is a toy jungle. Miles was perfectly happy playing. Across the street is a huge Nissan Car Dealership. James was perfectly happy looking at cars while Miles and I waited for our time with Carl. When we arrived at 4 p.m. the film crew was just wrapping up. Miles did get some camera time though. He was filmed playing with the Barbie Kitchen. Not so manly! But very cute. Miles is very methodical with his toys. With the kitchen he went through the same steps over and over. (ok, it's a little OCD, but don't worry he's perfectly normal!) Put the plate in the microwave. close the door. push the buttons. open the door. take out the plate. close the door. open the door. put in the plate... etc. and all the while he has a very serious look on his face which involves sticking out his lips and furrowing his brow. The camera guy mentioned something like: he's really into this!
Carl came out of his office here and there and so I got to say hi a few times. Knowing all the chaos, with so many parents and kids waiting, Carl was really upbeat and energetic and I liked him immediately. He seemed genuinly nice as I observed him stoping to pat a kid on the head and make cute comments about how nice they looked, or how he loved their curly hair.
With all the waiting, I thought Miles did really well. The only problems came when he wouldn't share with another kid and I made him. This would usually just end bad for me because he'd just bite me...uh, any advise parents? Today I have bruises... I never knew my skin could stretch so far! He'd bite and pull. OUCH!
It was 8pm when we got to see Carl (there was only one family after us) James was happy because he had just finalized a super deal on a new car.... the car he's been searching for and researching and wanting for ages... ok maybe months but we're talking James and cars. He has to change his car more often than anyone I know (this is the third purchase in 2 years folks!) so for James months of research is ages. Once the meeting started so did the compliments. Carl was impressed with me smiling all the time, I was impressed with him being so upbeat and energetic... and Miles, well. Carl couldn't say enough about how adorable Miles is... We didn't know, but Carl has cameras secretly filming everything, he has a monitor in his office that shows him what's going on. He had been observing Miles and me and thought Miles was such a character. He told us yes! I want him (Miles) if you are ready to do this! James was in such a good mood he didn't mind parting with the signing fee... actually it's coming out of Miles savings so he is paying for it, hopefully we as parents made the right investment decision. In the meeting Carl told me he didn't usually do it, but he wanted me to go with him Wednesday to meet a talent agent. I agreed. Some questions were asked, papers were signed, 20 minutes and we were on our way. James drove his new Pathfinder home (pictures to follow) and Miles and I went home in the other beautiful new car (Toyota Camry) James bought me in January.
As soon as I got home, I checked my email and sure enough. Carl had already sent me tons of information and I got to work. He selected 4 photographs I had of Miles to be emailed to perspective talent agents. I went to bed, but couldn't really sleep.
By Tuesday I had heard from 4 of the 10 agents, 3 interested, 1 not, and I got a call from Kim Kanter, Producer for the reality TV show telling me she and her crew will be there on Wednesday with Carl when Miles and I and another mom and her son meet the talent agent. YIKES!! She told me to meet them at 10:30 a.m. as the talent agent only meets potential clients between 11-12. After the meeting, Miles and I needed to go to Kim's office and do an interview for the show and then at 5:30 there would be another meeting this time at the Casting Director's office. I didn't ask, but I should have. I assumed it was another talent agent we were going to meet. I was wrong. I found out on Wednesday when I met Carl at the first meeting that the 2nd meeting was actually an audition! AAAHH. I wasn't told what to take or expect. But things worked out!
So here's how crazy Wednesday was. It's 1 hour drive to Universal City. We left at 8:30 but 10 minutes into our drive had to turn around because Kim called and asked if I could bring extra shirts for Miles, I figured I had plenty of time so I went ahead and turned around. We were on the road again at 9. I had to take the Pathfinder to the Nissan Dealership so they could program the 2nd key. This takes a few hours so I was given a free rental car. Car seats are so fun when it comes to switching cars. The service department is on one end of the dealership, the car rental place is clear at the other end... I had 30 minutes to get everything done at the dealership and drive to talent agent's office which I had never before seen. Luckily the service department and the Enterprise car rental people were accommodating and worked really fast to get everything taken care of so I could be on my way.
Howard Talent Agency is hidden luckily Kim warned me ahead of time. There is limited parking, which meant parking on the street. Metered parking. Thanks to Carl's info packet, I was prepared with plenty of coinage. We got inside the office and wow. Reality of Reality TV hit. It's hard work! They had to figure out how they were going to film everyone in the small space, how everyone would be positioned.... it was nearly 12 when they were ready. I was seriously regretting my wardrobe choice. I knew it was too black and drab, but I just didn't have anything else that was "professional" since I've lost weight (yea me!) and my old work clothes are too big. They had us wait outside and enter when they were ready. Had us pretend we were just showing up when we'd already been there for ages!!! Miles did very well. All this time he was just playing with the toys and we were getting to know Andrew (an adorable blonde hair, blue eyes 4 year old) and his mom Liza, the other Flashcast family. It was hot waiting outside. We were in some shade but it didn't help much... especially in my black clothes. I felt so self conscious because I was sweating and my hair was matting.... is this the way anyone would want to look on tv?! Miles was hungry, and getting very tired. I had snacks in my bag, but they weren't enough. He needed real food. When we walked in, it was so fun. Carl talked to us, answered some questions. Lynn, the agent, came out and introductions went great. the kids were cute. It was then that they realized the camera was blocked and they had to do it over! The second time Miles didn't do so well. I think he wanted to get a toy and I was trying to get his attention to Lynn and he got mad. Unfortunately the second take, both kids didn't do so well.
To test how well Miles does without me there, they took him into her office while I waited. Carl told me later that it went well. It wasn't long before they had me join them. Miles doesn't go to strangers. Good - but not good if he is going to do well in "the business". We are going to work on that. Otherwise Lynn was very complimenting of Miles and said she would sign Miles. Now we need to make sure she is the right one for us.
While Liza and Andrew went in to see Lynn, Miles and I went out to the car to re-stock the snacks and his water. He was happy for the break, oh and we were filmed going to the car, putting Miles in his Car seat. Then to pretend they filmed us arriving: Taking Miles out of his car seat, getting the bag. Walking into another office to give the impression that the office is on the street.... Interesting!! Miles liked to look at the camera, not good when you're supposed to pretend it's not there. We'll see how good that goes over assuming the show goes on the air!
Before we left the talent agency Kim interviewed me. Miles fell asleep so I was holding him while he slept. Kim would say: Tell us why you decided to get Miles an agent? And I'd have to give the question in my answer because they don't want her voice on the show. So I'd say, I decided to get Miles an agent.... Man and some of the questions were really hard to answer. I'm not good at this!!!
After that, Miles continued to sleep. We drove to the Production company's office. They do the Big Brother show which is in it's 10th season... pretty impressive. There I was taken to a room that had lots of bright lights, and the a/c couldn't be on because of the noise. Miles kept sleeping so I had to hold him once again. It was so hot. Poor Miles was sweating so much, so was I. We were there until about 2:30.
When he woke up (I just drove around in the nice a/c car until Miles woke up) we went to eat and then I bought some new clothes!! I was not going to spend another minute in the hot clothes. We returned the rental car and then went across the street to the building Carl has his office in and joined Liza and Andrew for the audition. Before long the place was packed with kids and parents. Miles loved it. He was so excited when he saw Andrew again. He was exhausted though. There was a delay when the power in the building had a problem and shut off in the room we were to do the audition in. Once again the film crew arrived and got to work. They talked to kids and parents. The people working on the audition staff gave us all numbers and each child had their picture taken. Miles did great at first. The picture that was taken was perfect only Miles did not have his eyes on the camera. This is not like Kiddie Kandids where they have something cute to get the kid's attention and then snap the picture...unfortunately. Finally they were all set up and Kim had Miles go first for the audition. Carl was there to. They filmed Carl walking with us down the hall toward the office, in the audition and then leaving. I did not have the pictures I was supposed to give to the Casting Director so I had to go back to the car and take them to one of his assistants. Good thing because when we got off the elevator to go to the car, Liza and one of the camera guys saw me and told me I need to go back and re-do the audition because Kim wanted something different done. Sad!! I was so excited to get Miles home. But YAY! because I was happy for a second try! This time Carl and I held Miles' hands and walked with him to the office, Miles laughed and people that saw him were saying how cute he is. I learned from my first try to sit back and let Miles be the center of attention and to wait to introduce myself later. We met with two people. Kevin, the Casting Director and Lila ( I think that is her name?) I'm not sure of her role, but she was super complimenting of Miles and soo sweet. I really liked them both. Kevin just talked to us and tried to hold Miles to see how comfortable Miles is with him. He did a little better this time, but not great.
All in all it was a great experience. Exhausting. But really fun and now I think I know what is going on!!
We'll have to see how Miles does. He may want nothing to do with any of this. But I can't say I didn't give it a shot. Now with today's experience, I don't feel so clueless. So that is the story. I'll update the blog with more information on what comes of all of this. Next step is to decide which talent agent to go with and then we'll hope to get him some little jobs like modeling for huggies or gap or something like that so he can earn some money for his college. It would be really fun, but again it all depends on him. So, we'll see.
