ABC Developing 2 Musical Series, Including A Bob Kushell Drama Starring Idina Menzel

Article Credit:  NELLIE ANDREEVA of Deadline|TV

Primetime musical series are red-hot courtesy of Fox's Glee, and ABC, whose sibling Disney Channel started the genre's resurgence with High School Musical and Hannah Montana, is developing a couple of music-themed series for next fall. Leading the pack is a drama with musical elements from writer Bob Kushell  (Samantha Who?) starring Tony winner Idina Menzel. Another one is a musical comedy from Robert Horn, who penned 2 Disney Channel movie musicals this year: the High School Musical-spinoff Sharpay Fabulous, starring Ashley Tisdale, and The Suite Life: The Movie.
Hot off her recurring role on Glee last season, Idina Menzel is headlining her own musical hourlong project, a mother-daughter relationship drama in the vein of Gilmore Girls. It will star the Broadway actress as the single mother of a teenager who, to make ends meet, waits tables and performs at weddings and bar mitzvahs, odd jobs that Menzel herself worked early on while pursuing a Broadway career. Kushell, who had been looking to do a musical series for the past 10 years, is writing the script for ABC Studios and will executive produce with David Knoller (Big Love). Menzel and her manager Heather Reynolds will serve as producers. Menzel, who originated the roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, earned Tony nominations  for both and won for Wicked. She will make her New York Philharmonic debut on Feb. 5 and may also return to Glee, where she plays the mother of star Lea Michele, later this season. The ABC project was packaged by ICM; Menzel is managed by One Entertainment. This is one of 3 sales for Kushell this development season. He also has in the works a multi-camera comedy at NBC and an animated comedy at Fox.
The untitled Robert Horn project, from Sony TV, is described as a half-hour female-driven musical comedy. It is based on a concept by UTA-repped producers Lindy Ascher and Susan Cartsonis (Beastly) who will executive produce with Horn. Horn, who co-penned the Broadway musical 13, will write the script. Like Kushell, Horn, repped by CAA and the Shuman Co., has 2 more TV projects in the works: a half-hour at ABC Studios and a one-hour musical at ABC Family.

Box Office Update: 'Harry Potter' and 'Tangled' top Thanksgiving Day with $11.5 mil and $8.1 mil

Article Credit:  John Young of Entertainment Weekly (EW.com)

Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk

It was a Thanksgiving feast for the teenage wizard, as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 led the box office on Thursday by engulfing $11.5 million, according to early estimates. That result brings the PG-13 fantasy film’s seven-day gross to $170 million. Not far behind on Thanksgiving, and performing stronger than expected, was Disney’s animated musical Tangled, which earned $8.1 million. The PG-rated retelling of Rapunzel should continue to thrive during the weekend thanks to excellent word-of-mouth — CinemaScore audiences rated it a rare “A+”. The two family-friendly movies also dominated the box office on Wednesday, with Deathly Hallows grossing an estimated $14.5 million and Tangled snaring $11.6 million. Thanksgiving Day results are below. Check back tomorrow for a full recap of Friday’s numbers, which should provide a clearer picture of how the weekend will unfold.
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 — $11.5 mil
2. Tangled — $8.1 mil
3. Unstoppable — $2.53 mil
4. Burlesque — $2.5 mil
5. Megamind — $2.0 mil
6. Love and Other Drugs — $1.93 mil
7. Faster — $1.91 mil

The Heart Wizard

talentorium's own Heather Banks (age 15), recently starred in a short film entitled The Heart Wizard, written and directed by Keenan Kelly.  The story revolves around a young self-proclaimed wizard who attempts to woo the girl of his dreams the only way he knows how - with a love potion.
You may check out the film by clicking this link     

Spread the word!

Warner Bros Wants Zemeckis For 'Wizard Of Oz' Remake Based On Original MGM Script

Reblogged from Deadline Hollywood.  Original piece by Mike Fleming.

Whenever you remake a revered Hollywood film, there’s bound to be controversy, but going right to the original material is certainly an interesting approach. Warner Bros is in early talks with Robert Zemeckis to direct a live-action remake of theThe Wizard of Oz and plans to use the original script from the 1939 classic. Warner Bros owns the screenplay because Ted Turner bought it along with the MGM library before Warner Bros bought Turner’s empire. This latest Oz twist comes as Disney is trying very hard to mount Oz: The Great And Powerful. Sam Raimi is developing that film while he simultaneously develops World of Warcraft for Warner Bros and Legendary. Disney and Raimi want Robert Downey Jr as their star. The original Wizard of Oz script had a total of 19 writers (seems not much has changed in Hollywood) with many of them uncredited, including Bert Lahr who played the film’s Cowardly Lion. This wouldn’t be the first hugely high-profile remake for Zemeckis; he's in the middle of a Yellow Submarine animated redux for Disney, scheduled for a 2012 release. Also, after working for years in performance-capture animation, Zemeckis has been moving toward a return to a live-action films, attaching himself to Timeless also at Warner Bros.

Announcing Actor of the Month November 2010 Lauren Bray!

Twelve-year old Lauren Bray has always exhibited a unique interest in acting: drama, comedy and improv.  One time, she caught unsuspecting family and friends by strategically placing her very real-looking plastic roach where it was ‘discovered,’ and then joined in with “surprised screams.”  Another one of Lauren‘s practical productions involved her wearing a fake bloody finger to school, lavishing concerned teachers and shocked fellow students with highly credible, sympathy-inducing stories about her “injury” until…the lack of nail polish tipped them off to the hoax.  Creator, writer, producer, director, actor…  Lauren is a solo tween entertainment powerhouse who loves to laugh, and share her joy with others.

Mitra Hosseini— Lauren’s talentorium Talent Executive—recalls the first time she met the Bray family: 

“I knew Lauren would excel from Day One! Her wonderful energy, great sense of humor and carefree demeanor stood out right away.”   

When Lauren began taking classes at talentorium, she knew she was in the perfect place to learn the valuable skills that would help her become more effective in acting and in other areas of her life.

In addition to entertaining people, Lauren diligently applies herself to her school studies, as her name’s presence on the yearly Honor Roll attests!  The lessons she learns in acting class reinforce the importance of working hard and persevering in every endeavor.  Lauren sees how rewarding it can be when she gives her best in whatever she does.  “Be on time, know your lines, do your homework, and take direction well…" …these instructions she heeds from her acting class open up myriads of opportunities for growth and success in her acting career, her middle school work, and everywhere else in life.

Lauren’s mother, Diane, explains: “The classes have helped her be more comfortable and confident in front of other people and the camera.  Cultivating improvisational skills has helped Lauren be mentally flexible and creative.  As a result, she enjoys writing her own commercials.”  Acting coach Montré Burton, one of Lauren's instructors, said 

“It is very apparent as soon as you meet and begin to work with Lauren that she has something special, both artistically and personally.  Lauren’s personality is a magnificent example of a belief I hold dear: only by putting your best foot forward in life will you become the best artist you can be.”

Lauren—who could have picked any one of several dozen commercials talentorium makes available to its students—chose instead to perform one of her original commercials at her very first Agent Showcase.  Her decision paid off!  After being invited to a callback audition, she is now thrilled to have top-notch agent and management representation.

Lauren’s parents understand the importance of training, and have enrolled her in an Advanced On-Camera class, which she attends two days a week.  Lauren attends this class so that she is fully prepared to book the job when her agent and manager send her on auditions.  A young actor with these professional skills also impresses producers, directors, casting directors, and cast and crew alike.  

Mitra adds: “having supportive parents and family is very important to any child's future, especially when it comes to pursuing acting.  Lauren is blessed to have a wonderful Mom
& Dad in her life.”

Lauren is now looking forward to upcoming auditions, adventures and…ongoing training!

A unique opportunity to work with and read for Jenn Gaw: Hollywood’s most dynamic Casting Director in the Youth space.

• TEENS and YOUNG ADULTS:  OnCamera Audition Technique
   2-Day Intensive, Sundays, December 5th & 12th from 3-6pm ($129 for 6 hours)
• KIDS:  Television Audition Technique
  1-Day Intensive, Sunday, November 21st from 9-12pm ($69 for 3 hours)

These workshops have limited space to ensure personal attention.  R.S.V.P. now at (310) 921-7587 to reserve your space!
BIO

Jenn Gaw is second in command at Carol Goldwasser Casting, the preeminent casting office wherever child, teenage and young adult acting talent intersects with major television and movie productions.  

Jenn’s current credits include the hit Disney series Hannah Montana, and a new show on Disney XD.  Jenn’s past credits
include: The Dilemma, a Ron Howard feature film starring Vince Vaughn; the hit television shows Ghost Whisperer and Castle, as well as the ABC pilot Matadors and the Comedy Central pilot The Boys and Girls Guide to Getting Down.  Moreover, she was Head Casting Director on the SAG web series Smoked! 

These days, Jenn is also resident Casting Director for Harvardwood, (a group of Harvard alumni) focused on new works in TV Pilots and Feature Films, and is in talks to serve as Head Casting Director on an independent feature.

The Workshop

Workshop Summary: These workshops are focused on teaching young people to bring their own uniqueness into the creative and technical demands of acting for television.  Teen and children actors will learn how to present a strong image during a television audition for Disney, Nickelodeon, and others.

Jenn, with a true passion for teaching, will nurture, encourage and guide the young actors on how to act with believability and effectiveness.  She will demonstrate how to break-down the television casting process from beginning to end; how to prepare television audition copy; how to audition with a scene partner; how to stand out in an audition; she’ll provide invaluable tips on what kinds of headshots and résumés impress casting directors; she’ll elaborate on the do’s and don’ts of auditioning; she’ll even have things to say about ways for you to market yourself!

Improv games and other onCamera acting techniques will be implemented to help instill in the young actor a sense of freedom and spontaneity in front of the camera.  Each actor will have the opportunity to read audition material onCamera and hear Jenn’s specific feedback and re-direction.  Jenn will also replay the performances on a flat-panel monitor in glorious high definition, and give MORE feedback!

Both the the 1-day and 2-day intensive workshops deliver the training and preparation that young adults, teens and kids will find invaluable when they audition at a casting session. Moreover, Jenn’s inside track on the highly specialized ways in which powerhouses Disney and Nickelodeon audition kids, teenagers and young adults will give attendees a leg up on the competition.