SYNOPSIS

For young performers working in the entertainment industry, it is easy to let career aspirations take priority while other important aspects of life are put on the back burner. In an effort to best prepare young performers beginning their careers, this panel will provide parents and young actors insight on how to balance life and work, being competitive within the industry and practical advice on how to plan for the road ahead. What is the role of the parent in a child’s professional career? How important is social media in my child’s professional profile? How can the parent aid in the decision making process? How can the young person ensure they don’t miss out on all the valuable experiences of youth?

PANELIST BIOS

Pamela Fisher, Abrams Artists Agency
Pamela is a Vice President and head of the youth and young adult division at Abrams Artists Agency. As a respected talent agent for 14 years, she has been a large part of launching the careers of many Disney and Nickelodeon stars while representing kids in both feature films and other television projects. In 2004, Fisher moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming a youth talent agent, so she would be able to help kids take it to the next level in reaching for their dreams. An advocate for keeping the arts in public school education, in 2014 Pamela and her husband Jay Winnick were awarded the Barrack Obama Volunteer of the Year award for creating, donating and teaching the curriculum for the K-5th grade drama program at Lanai Road Elementary school. She has created and implemented similar curriculum for programs in several other elementary schools and middle schools including Bay Laurel, Hesby, and Portola. The arts in education is something that Pamela feels very strongly about as she was introduced to the arts at a young age which sparked a passion that lasted a lifetime and helped to build a successful and fulfilling career.

Nicole Jolley, Amsel, Eisenstadt, Frazier & Hinojosa Inc.
Nicole has been a talent agent for young actors for the past 15 years, and has served as the head of the youth and young adult division for the last decade at Amsel, Eisenstadt, Frazier and Hinojosa, Inc. (AEFH) Before her foray into the entertainment business, she worked as a behavioral therapist for elementary school children, and graduated college in child psychology. Because of this background, she has a unique insight into the development of both young people and young actors. She works will all the major studios and recently has placed young actors on leading roles such as Amiah Miller on, "War for the Planet of the Apes" and Tayler Buck on, "Annabelle Creation". She loves working with both Disney and Nickelodeon and currently has series regulars on both such as Brandon Severs and Jillian Spaeder on, "Walk the Prank" and Ethan Wacker, on "Bizzaardvark" and Jack Griffo on, "The Thundermans" and Siena Agudong, "Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn". She also has Hala Finely on CBS's, "Man with a Plan" starring Matthew LeBlanc and Sarah Gilman on ABC's, "Last Man Standing"-- of course these are just to name a few.

Sharon Lieblein, casting director
Sharon was the VP of Talent & Casting at Nickelodeon Networks for 13 years, then the VP of Casting and Talent Development at Cartoon Network for 3 years, and has since partnered with Fern Champion to cast numerous series, films, TV movies and New Media projects including; the CMT limited series Sun Records, Lifetime movies Beaches and Surviving Compton, Netflix series Greenhouse Academy, Nickelodeon series Mutt & Stuff, Awestruck/Awesomeness TV limited series Confess. Upcoming feature Nightmare Cinema, among others.

Judy Taylor, casting director
For the past 13 years, Judy has served as the SVP of Casting & Talent Relations at Disney Channel. She began her casting career in 1973 working as a casting assistant to feature film casting directors, Mike Fenton & Jane Feinberg. What was supposed to be a 4 month temporary position turned into a 17 year commitment during which she became a partner in the independent company and cast films including ‘The Goonies’ and ‘Back to the Future’. With two small children, she decided to free-lance on her own from 1992-2004, working with various partners, continuing to cast primarily features such as ‘Sister Act’ and ‘Mighty Ducks 2 & 3 for Disney’. This led to her current job at Disney Channel, where she oversees casting for all live-action series and movies – highlights include past hits, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL and series that launched careers for Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, as well as the current hit, KC Undercover starring Zendaya.

Moderator - David Michael Paul
David, a native of Arizona, moved to the city of angels to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time, professional actor. Once in LA, his growing dream led him to appear in TV, film and commercials. David is a 10 year veteran of The Looking Ahead Program. As an alumni of Looking Ahead, he has volunteered as a group facilitator for the Leadership Program and has presented at the Looking Ahead Awards. In David’s journey as an artist, he gives tribute to Looking Ahead as supporting his life transitions and giving him the chance to have fun with fellow artists and providing the opportunity to give back to society through their many community service activities. He quotes “Looking Ahead will always have a treasured place in my heart for allowing me to be a teenager in a business that often tries to make child actors, adults too quickly.”

LIVESTREAM & ARCHIVE

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