Who is this kid? Acting? Why? Matt lights up a conversation. Every teacher that he has had in elementary school commented about his engaging personality. Matt discovered he enjoyed acting in a 3rd grade play. Since then he has done comical local plays and shows.
He wanted to see if he could take his acting a step further, so we researched the internet and found The Hollywood Group. We made an appointment with Mitra in August of 2006, and she explained how contacts are the key to being in “the business.” Mitra encouraged us to sign on, and we did. Our family together supported Matt in his decision to continue to further his “actucation” (yes, this is a made up word!). He completed the classes by the end of November, and he went to his first showcase in December. His dad and I helped him make a commercial for the showcase! We thought Matt was going to be nervous about this: His reaction was very calm. As a result, Matt learned 2 out of 6 agents were, “interested but not presently.” We thought, “Not too bad for his first time!”
Consequently, Matt tried out for the next showcase on his birthday in February. He told us to let him do his own commercial, so we did. On this showcase he received 3 out of 6 calls from agents! This was very exciting. He signed with Kazarian, Spencer and Associates. Since then, he has been on auditions for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel voice over, commercials and has had his first experience on set in a project, “The 90’s Were Not Long Ago.”
As reluctant and skeptical parents with absolutely no experience in this business, we found that The Hollywood Group has helped us get contacts and experience that [otherwise might’ve been] impossible to receive! Thanks to The Hollywood Group: Mitra, Perla, Candice, Constance and John.
Jim and Annette Kelly
(Matt’s parents)
