To parents of teens dreaming of someday winning an Emmy for television or an Oscar for movies, take heart. Winning actors had to start somewhere, and in Northwest Ohio, they can start at Toledo Talent.
Toledo Talent is a relatively new non-profit organization of actors and film industry professionals who support local talent—children and adults—striving to be in television or film. To that end, Toledo Talent will start a class for teens.
Teen Acting Class will run from 5-6 p.m. on Mondays starting Nov. 3 for about 10 students at Toledo Talent’s offices, 5763 Talmadge Road. The cost is $50 a month for a one-hour weekly class, headshot sessions, online support and discounts on other services and workshops.
The focus will be on auditioning, said Samantha Ryan, Toledo Talent’s secretary and lead talent coach with a background in acting, casting and industry development. “It’ll be about self-taped audition techniques, how to compose yourself in public settings and casting calls. How to control your emotions to align with the character you’re portraying,” she said.
The class also will focus on acting skills, the business of acting and provide a professional photograph called a headshot, said Sadie Quinn, Toledo Talent co-founder who remains in touch while having moved on to run a talent agency.
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Quinn said the class is to prepare teens for acting commercially, such as a spokesperson talking about a product or business, promoting a brand, or in the background of a film.
Confidence is paramount. “Teenagers especially have a hard time being their authentic selves,” Ryan said. “We want them to gain confidence to audition.” As a cheerleader coach for eight years, she said she taught the squad to “be comfortable in their skin, to build character. We’re teaching them to be confident in themselves.”
“I was outspoken and very weird,” she added with a laugh. “If you can embrace those quirky parts of yourself, it brings out the fun, the confidence. We’re worried about what other people think, but this allows teens to gain confidence to be themselves.”
Confidence comes into play in another way. “We try to make sure people have realistic expectations and goals,” said Zillian Black, who manages Toledo Talent’s daily logistics, supports talent development and provides technical training. “The reality of the industry is that maybe you book one out of 20 auditions. It takes external confidence to keep doing it.”
“That’s what we talk about, that it’s difficult to feel rejection,” Ryan added. “Rejection is part of the game. We’re getting them used to that idea.”
As Toledo Talent says on its website: “No matter how good your acting chops might be, in-person auditions are all but a thing of the past. You need to have up-to-date digital resources, and we’re here to help you make them.”
“The talent on our roster is either actively training or have previously completed classes and earned endorsement from the Toledo Talent board,” Ryan said. “We encourage them to volunteer at film festivals and participate in locally cast films, as these opportunities allow them to build connections, demonstrate professionalism, and showcase their craft within the community.”
Black emphasized that through digital auditioning, “you don’t need to be anywhere near LA anymore. It is possible to be an actor in the Midwest.” While it’s not easy, he said, there are ways to enter the film community. “We help kids find the door.”
