Dear Marla,
First, I would like to thank you for everything! Thank you so much for the great advice you gave me about callbacks. I followed your recommendations and advice exactly. I was so amazed and proud of Ellalyn that day we went to her callback with Paul Williams at Commercials Unlimited. I told her what you had said to me and she simply said “ok.” We got to his office, she walked right in, greeted everyone and announced “Ellalyn is here!” She walked right into his office and had an absolutely fabulous conversation with him. I tried to keep my mouth from falling open! She spoke so brilliantly, with poise and maturity. Paul was amazed and asked if she was always this way. I simply stated that she is a very confident child. He called that following Monday and wanted to sign her! I always knew that she was a wonderful child whom her father and I thought of as exceptionally perfect, but since she joined The Hollywood Group we have seen a big change in our Ellalyn. She holds herself in a way that draws people to her, and she answers and speaks to adults so well now.
It is so wonderful to see her so committed to learning the craft of acting. After she finished all the classes referred by The Hollywood Group, she signed with an agent after just one Talent Showcase! She is now taking on-going classes with Constance Tillotson at Sterling Studios. She is so eager to go every Saturday to see what Constance has in store for the class. Constance always sends her emails with an inspirational note that we discuss all week, so that she can mentally prepare for the class coming that Saturday. In July, we rented a small house in Los Angeles so that Ellalyn will always be there when needed. It has been so beneficial to have a residence in Los Angeles. Ellalyn has made many sacrifices; she is so committed to her acting career that she doesn’t even mind missing birthday parties, soccer games and family events. We always give her the choice and she chooses acting!
She recently had an audition for Kath & Kim through KBT. She wore her favorite red gingham sunglasses into the room for the audition and the director loved her confidence and precociousness, and so he cast her. They went through rehearsal two times; then the director said they wanted her on a one-day contract with NBC/Universal and they expanded her role and lines. Everyone on the set told her that the day was all about her. She had the time of her life! She had her hair done that day close to Molly Shannon so she got to talk with her. Then the director introduced her to Selma Blair. Ellalyn’s dad took her to the set and was so amazed at how well she did. It made him so emotional to just stand there and watch Ellalyn do just as the director told her to do, and to act so well. She has done background work on Desperate Housewives, Bad Mother’s Handbook, Dirty Sexy Money, Starter Wife and Knight Rider. It is still hard to believe that Ellalyn just started this journey 6 months ago! She has been given so many opportunities in such a short amount of time. Ellalyn has a very big day on Monday, she has an audition for a new Harrison Ford movie! So please keep her in your thoughts. It’s a long shot, but amazingly enough she isn’t nervous in the least! To her, it’s just another day of work. Thank you so much, Marla for believing in Ellalyn. Without your help and The Hollywood Group she would not be where she is today. We are truly grateful for everything!
Once again, Many Thanks! - Kristy & Reece Haile
