I just wanted to thank you guys for the phenomenal experience that Keontae has had with your program. He is doing a lot of things and having a blast.
Everything started when I was approached in the mall. At first, I didn’t pay any attention, then I finally called the number and scheduled the first appointment to go to a screening. Next up, I signed up with The Hollywood Group. Keontae took all of the required classes allowing him to participate in the showcase. He performed his monologue and got mixed reviews, but I got a call from Rising Stars even before signing up for the next showcase. The rest was kind of history. In the interim I signed him up with Kids Management and he got his first Payless commercial in May. It wasn’t until August that he actually saw his face on TV. The commercial was on and he screamed MY COMMERCIAL and from that point on he said “this is what I want to do.” Ever since then he has been working almost every week on something.
Keontae recently worked on the set of ER. He was interviewed and picked to play the photo double for the principle kid that plays the son of Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance. He was on the set for a whole week and had a wonderful time playing Daryl Banfield. Ultimately his character is diagnosed with leukemia and had to die, but just having all the fake blood on him and getting hooked up to all the machines in the hospital room was so much fun for him. He is really taking this acting so serious. We were walking to the set of ER and saw Ellen Degeneres’ parking space and he said “soon I am going to have my own parking space with my name on it.” He loves acting and all the challenges it has for them.
Keontae has worked on TV shows such as, ER, Hannah Montana, Desperate Housewives, 24, Bad Mothers Handbook and, Samantha Who. He also worked on commercials for Hallmark, Payless and, XS4all. With all the things he has been doing these past three weeks, he still manages to get straight A’s, he even received a big trophy for straight A’s last year. He placed third in the school spelling bee, fifth in the speech contest and, had perfect attendance all year. This year he’s in choir and learning to play the violin, so with all his school and acting he still has time to play soccer and baseball and hang out with his friends. He truly has a passion for acting!!!
Keontae just landed a national Acura commercial. He is sooooooooooooooo thrilled about this. Wow it’s a wonderful thing. I’m so ecstatic. He told me “mom I just went in there and owned this commercial.” I told him if you want it bad enough go in there and own it and that’s exactly what he did. I am so proud of him!
Thanks so much for everyting. The Hollywood Group is a wonderful program, it really helped Keontae to get his face out there. He’s just getting started in the business but I really see a great future in it for him. Thank you all for this wonderful start!
Dana
