BY BELINDA BREMNER
Time to get out "The Book" or "Act One Reports" and start updating your mailing lists. Trust me, you’ll have the extra time this summer. There are a lot of new faces at Linda Jack Talent. They’ve landed some of the best, most experienced agents in town. Vanessa Lanier, most recently with Baker Rowley, has replaced Brian Bragg in the voice-over department. Bragg, whose other career direction has long been community health care, left to take an impressive position with Advocate Health Care. Amie Richardson, recently with Aria, has come on board to head up their children’s division. Both talented ladies started in mid-June. Earlier in the year, Linda Jack was lucky to land Shelley Carlson who has worked with Tenner Paskal and who will now be full time in both the on camera and voice-over departments. Welcome all.
Also on the voice-over front, Naked Voices is looking for experienced African American voice-over talent. Please send tapes or CD’s.
So, what’s happening? It’s a bit quiet, but thank you for asking. With the absence of film and television work, the usual easy pace of summer has slowed to a semi-glacial crawl. According to the Illinois Film Office, as stated in our last issue, this is gonna be a dry July and August. Anything that’s scouting–and that includes projects for HBO, Paramount, Universal, Lakeshore and Disney–are all looking for fall start-ups. Stay tuned.
Chicago Casting Center is still seeking submissions for The Lion King. They are also happy to announce that they cast David New in the new Harry Connick Jr. Broadway show Thou Shalt Not.
Commercials are on the books at Claire Simon Casting. She cast Rich Talarico and Frank Fowle for HG TV. Jose Morales was cast for Coca Cola. Other projects include Disney World.
Tenner Paskal is casting the independent film Barefoot to Jerusalem. Jaz Casting checks in to say that they cast commercials with Melissa Carlson, Kelli Bowen, Sandra Delgado, Charlie Stone, Giola Manolis, Timmy Murtaugh, Elizabeth Calvert, Jennifer Smith, Cindy Laning, Lydia Mitchell, Vianess Santiago and Melissa Soso.
Commercials went to the following Lily’s clients: Clover Campbell, Elizabeth Isibue, Jennifer Smith, Randy Craig, Giola Manolis, Allen Alvarado, James Randle and Albena Dodevna. Allen Alvarado also booked a film and Cary Joy had a voice-over. Industrials went to Brielle Meged, Lisa Marie Velez, Mitchell Joyner, Darryl Moffett and Danielle Miure. The "Lucky Seven" for July are: Donatas Vievesis, Kessler Wallace, Courtney Stump, Alesia Prince, Chuck Shishida and Larry Kuchanik.
Judy at Emilia Lorence informed us that industrials were booked by Angie Stavrianas, Tom Higgins, Cathy Breslin and Bob Kaliebe. Sophia Thomas and Gail Freeman booked voice-overs and commercial work went to James Wernak, Jocelyn Chambers, Keith Duton, Jenna Jimenez, Cupid Hayes, Alicia Skindall, Dawn Bach, Danielle Dyson, Kahae Sammore, Rayra Craft, Dominic Capone and Deb Johnson. Additional bookings went to Pam Mack, Michael Naggi, Samantha Grimes, Vanessa Grimes and David Cohn.
Peace.