Success Story Update: Tanner Buchanan

Tanner Buchanan first came to Starbound Talent in 2008 a native of the Findlay Ohio area, when he was still a wee lad at the tender age of 10. His first audition was with Starbound’s owner Wendi Davis. When I spoke to her about what she remembers about his audition with him, I’m told initially he came in to dance and auditioned with a tap dance routine. Which according to Wendi was spectacular and amazing, to say the least. He ended the dance with a back flip…in his TAP SHOES, which Wendi says caused her to scream “So loud”! After that there was no choice but to accept him, and he began to work on his acting skills, since he was already a great dancer. Once he was ready with his acting skills, he attended IMTA in New York City in 2008 with other Starbound Talent, where he won a few awards in his categories. This lead to Tanner being seen by many different agencies, and agents and he found a match with Talent Works Agency. He then began booking commercials and getting his feet wet in Tinsel town.  

Tanner now has been in many other commercials, movies, and television shows. A few you may recognize him from such as his recurring role in “Game Shakers” (Nickelodeon) where he plays Mason Kendall a student and Babe’s (Main actor) crush. Also (formally ABC Family, now Freeform) “The Fosters”, where he played Jack Downey; a quirky foster care teen that Callie and Jude (2 of the main characters of the show) meet at foster care youth event. If you watch this show you know his character was recently killed in the season 3 finally. He has also had guest starring roles in other shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Modern Family”, “Girl Meets World”, and “Major Crimes” just to name a few others. 

But this is not the last you will see from Tanner Buchanan…No, No my friend! He recently booked the new political drama on ABC this fall called “Designated Survivor”. Which stars Kiefer Sutherland, as the former Secretary of Housing and Development turned President of the United States Tom Kirkman. Due to an explosion during the State of the Union address he is the only successor remaining next in line. Tanner Buchanan stars opposite Sutherland as his teenage son, named Leo Kirkman, who will have to now deal (along with his family) with with a father who is thrust into the Presidency.  

This new show is set to air on ABC network, beginning September 21, 2016. So set your DVR’s and watch this Ohio native in his new role. We here at Starbound are proud of Tanner and wish him continued success!   

Why A Good Headshot Is Important

A good headshot is important in the entertainment industry. A headshot is a professional photograph, where the face is used as the main focus to grab attention. Headshots are a way to promote yourself to agents, casting directors, or any auditions you may attend. The main goal of the headshot is to get you noticed and help get you work. It is important that you keep your headshot current with your look. It needs to reflect who you are now, if you have any changes in your look, you should get an updated photo. Remember the main reason for a headshot is to identify who you are, so be yourself! 

Here are some tips for a great headshot:

1. The day before you have your headshot scheduled get enough sleep, drink plenty of water, and eat well. This will help you look and feel better while at the photo shoot.

2. The most IMPORTANT thing to remember is you need to look like your headshot. You want them to know it is you when you walk in the room. A headshot is supposed to be the best representation of who you are.

3. DO NOT wear too much make up. You want to go for a more natural look and be recognizable. You do not want your picture to look like it was from a beauty pageant. 

4. Keep your clothing simple:

    • Stay away from a lot of patterns and large logos

    • Choose a color that looks good with your skin tone (no neon!)

    • Keep jewelry to a minimal

    • Do not wear all white, it can wash you out

    • Pick a shirt that falls well on your shoulders and neck and that won’t be too revealing.

5. Try to show as much of your personality as you can. You want whoever is looking at your headshot to see how unique and authentic you are.

6. Your eyes say a lot about who you are. Try to really connect with the camera and show that you’re smiling with your eyes.

7. Mix up your expressions. Don’t just give one look. Show the different sides of you, so the photographer can capture the best look.

8. BE RELAXED. If you are nervous or worried, it will show, have fun and don’t sweat the small stuff. If you have a zit or blemish, it will get edited out of the photo.

Below are some examples of our actors headshots. All of the headshots were taken by Rick Luettke.

Alyson Stoner: Taking The Industry By Storm

Alyson Stoner was born to be a star. When she first came to Starbound, she was young and spunky. Her firecracker-like energy translated into her dance routines and acting material. Her talent did not go unnoticed at IMTA. She was sought after by dozens of agents.  

Alyson Stoner took her acting and dancing skills to Los Angeles shortly after competing at IMTA in New York 1999.  She landed her first job acting on a Hallmark commercial. Soon after, she was seen dancing in a JC Penny commercial. Missy Elliott then cast her in the iconic role as the little girl in the pink jumpsuit and pigtails in her ‘Work It’ music video. 

Alyson’s big break came when she landed the role of Sally on Disney’s ‘Mike’s Super Short Show’. Disney loved the young actress and had her guest starring in shows such as ‘Suite Life of Zack and Cody’. Years later, Alyson starred on Disney’s ‘Camp Rock’ alongside Demi Levato and the Jonas Brothers. Alyson has broken into the voice over world as she voices ‘Isabella’ on the show ‘Phineas and Ferb’. 

Not only has Alyson starred on the Disney Channel, she can be seen on the big screen in movies such as ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ alongside Steve Martin. She also stars in the ‘Step Up’ series. 

Between TV movies, TV series, Movies, commercials, and continuous dance classes, the busy superstar has now began her music career! Alyson started releasing covers on her YouTube channel while she was writing and recording her on original music. Alyson released her first single ‘Woman’ this year! She performed this single here in Toledo at the Lexus Rocks the Runway fashion show. 

Currently, Alyson is performing her newest single ‘Dragon’ throughout the country on the ‘Girls Night In’ tour.! 

Alyson’s talent and hard work has lead her to be the 16th most searched star on IMDb and lead her to have a major social media presence. Make sure you keep up with Starbound’s amazing alumni Alyson on social media as she takes the industry by storm!

Starbound's IMTA Success: The Adult Actors

       

Starbound’s group of teenage and adult actors performed exceptionally well at in NYC at IMTA. Each of them arrived to NYC with a determination to prove they were the best and with goals to start a career in the industry. By the end of the week, the group fell in love with the city and were even more excited to move forward with their acting careers. 

Shirley came to us from New Jersey and was a part of the Starbound NYC team. She had been pursuing acting for a few years and was ready to take the next step and find an agent or manager who would represent her in the industry. She auditioned for IMTA and with the help of her acting coach, she was able to impress the judges and receive a scholarship to the New York Film Academy. 

Abby, avid in her high school plays and productions, came to Starbound knowing she wanted to be an actress. Her love for the craft caused her desire for a bigger stage to grow. The combination of her workshops at Starbound and her high school stage experience prepared her for the big stage in NYC!

Kelly came to Starbound with no prior acting experience. Her family knew she light up in front of the camera. After auditioning with Starbound, her natural talents came to light. Kelly was able to increase her confidence in workshops preparing her to take on the stage in NYC.

Asia knew acting was her passion at a young age. This passion took her to Toledo School for the Arts where she honed her acting and dancing crafts. Coming to Starbound was the next step in her acting experience. She worked with Starbound in preparation for NYC.

Vince’s love for film and acting lead him to Toledo School for the Arts. After attending TSA, Vince found a talent for music as well. The combination of music and acting sent Vince throughout the country as he went on tour and acting gigs. Vince was able to encourage everyone in workshops and better his fellow actors while bettering himself. His natural instinct and passion showed as he competed at IMTA in NYC.

Lande had a craving for the entertainment industry that lead her to star in short films throughout the area. With aspirations to start a career in the industry, Lande auditioned for Starbound. Her talent and versatility were enhanced as she spent time in workshops. She was able to take NYC by storm once she hit the stage!

        Jay’s outgoing personality and natural acting instincts brought him to Starbound. Honing his craft was no issue as he performed in workshops. In workshops, Jay was able to pick the perfect piece for his personality allowing him to shine on stage in NYC!

Anna’s spunk and sass showed when she auditioned for Starbound. After performing in workshops, she was able to show her versatility as she took on dramatic roles as well. Her talent showed at each audition she had in NYC.

Awards

Lande

Cold Read – 4^th Place

Improvisation – 4^th Place

Monologue – 4^th Place

Singing – 4^th Place

TV Real People – 4^th Place

Shirley

Monologue – 4^th Place

Abby

Improvisation – 4^th Place

Monologue – 4^th Place

Vince

Improvisation – 4^th Place

Jay

Monologue – 4^th Place

Anna 

Female Young Adult Actor of the Year – Honorable Mention

Monologue – 4^th Place

Screen Test – 4^th Place

Kelly

Monologue – 4^th Place

Tips From An Industry Mom

Brianna Lanzen

After her daughter Brianna competed in IMTA NYC 2014, she signed with an agency and manager in NYC and LA!  Brianna and her mom Jennifer spent pilot season in LA shortly after. Jennifer quickly learned the ropes of the industry from a parent’s viewpoint. 

Here are Jennifer’s top 4 tips to all the new industry parents.

1. Celebrate everything!  From finishing an audition tape correctly, to getting an actual audition, to receiving a call back...even if you don't get it...every step is important.  I have heard a million times already, "It's a game of chess, not checkers."  It takes awhile to make connections and learn.  Celebrate those steps along the way!

2. Don't wait for your agent and manager to do all the work.  Sure, they are working hard but nobody will look for every small opportunity for your child like you do. Check out local film schools for short films, call local production companies for local commercial work and do extra work!  Even though the extra work shouldn't go on a professional resume, it is great experience and there is so much terminology used on set that your child can start getting used to in a safe group environment.

3. Get your child in improv classes....they seem to help in literally every situation.

4. Leave early for auditions.  There is nothing worse than your child blowing an audition because they were stressed  about being late.  Leave early, stop at a smoothie shop across the street, take a deep breath and have fun with the audition!

Hopefully, these tips aid in the success of you and your child as you enter the entertainment industry! 

Starbound's IMTA Success: The Little Stars

       

Our Little Stars had an amazing time in NYC competing at IMTA! We had five amazing youth actors competing this year. Each young actor had to impress the judges, agents, and managers while standing out against 100 other kids in their division. With the training provided by Starbound Talent, each kid was ready to take the stage!

       Sisters Dana and Desiree McCreary came to Starbound in March with nothing less than energy and excitement. Both sisters loved acting and excelled in Starbound’s workshops. After seeing their progress, Starbound noticed that they were ready to take on NYC and perform for the agents and managers at IMTA. 

       Nikki Johnson auditioned for Starbound’s ‘Actor of the Year’ contest in February. She was just a few points away from making the top 10 but she didn’t let that discourage her. Soon after, Nikki started workshops at Starbound. Her spunky attitude showed in class and it was obvious that she had pure talent. This talent and positivity lead her to IMTA in NYC!

       Evan Boyers joined Starbound after performing in his school’s winter play. He loved every minute of it and craved more! Evan auditioned for Starbound and was immediately accepted to attend IMTA in NYC. His talent spoke for itself and his love for acting helped him shine in every workshop. 

       Johnny’s lip sync to the song “Uptown Funk” secured him a spot in Starbound Talent’s IMTA group in early December. His charisma carried over into his acting workshops and material. Johnny’s dedication to workshops allowed him to excel on stage at IMTA. 

       Our kid actors were decorated in awards by the end of the week! Congratulations to each of our talented youth actors for a week well done at IMTA! 

Awards

Dana

Child Actor of the Year

Kids Spot - 2^nd Runner Up

Monologue – 4^th Place

Screen Test – 1^st Runner Up

Theatrical Head Shot – Winner

TV Real People – 4^th Place

TV Scene – 4^th Place

Nikki

Cold Read – 4^th Place

Kids Spot – 4^th Place

Screen Test – 4^th Place

TV Beauty – 4^th Place

Evan 

Male Pre-Teen Actor of the Year – 2^nd Runner Up

Male Pre-Teen Model of the Year – Honorable Mention

Cold Read – 4^th Place

Commercial Print– 4^th Place

Fashion Print – 4^th Place

Jean Runway – 4^th Place

Kids Spot – 4^th Place

Monologue – 2^nd Place

Fashion Runway – 4^th Place

Screen Test – 4^th Place

Swimwear Runway – 4^th Place

Theatrical Head Shots – 4^th Place

TV Beauty – Winner

TV Real People – 4^th Place

Johnny Salameh

Male Pre-Teen Actor of the Year – Honorable Mention

Male Pre-Teen Model of the Year – Honorable Mention

Cold Read – 4^th Place

Commercial Print – 4^th Place

Fashion Print – 2^nd Runner Up

Jean Runway – 2^nd Runner Up

Kids Spot – 4^th Place

Fashion Runway – 2^nd Runner Up

Screen Test – 4^th Place

Swimwear Runway – Winner

TV Beauty – 4^th Place

High Fashion vs Beauty Pageant: What's The Difference

Beauty pageants are created to celebrate women and their achievements in beauty, style, education and philanthropy. The winners receive an abundance of awards and gifts along with scholarships. The pageant participants raise money and awareness to help them to reach the top, so when they are showcased for their beauty they are also seen as hard working intelligent individuals. 

When a contestant takes the stage she is in full smile. With a natural gaited walk,  shorter stride, arms moving naturally, stiff head position moving side to side, to ensure everyone sees her smile, while moving gracefully across the stage. She is classy, friendly and full of life. This is a wonderful platform for all ages of women to gain recognition and to win a prestigious title.  

Fashion modeling is not about winning, it is a job that you can make a living doing (extremely comfortable living). The height requirement is 5’8” however the preference is 5’10”.  You would need to secure a modeling agency to be able to have a successful career.  Every model agency has their own idea of what type of looks they feel work.  

When walking on the runway as a high fashion model you need to be a hanger that is carrying the designer’s outfits.  The emphasis is always on the outfit and not the model. The models job is to sell the items she is wearing. The walk is a natural gait with long strides and a arched back.  The arms can move naturally by sides…slightly or they can be behind models back stiff or moving side to side. Head position is straight ahead with a regale look in the eyes.  The facial expression is usually a fierce look. The reason models are not smiling on the runway is because it’s not about them; it’s about the clothes!  If they were smiling everyone would be looking at their face and not the outfit.  

These two events should never be compared to one another because they are in no way related.  One is not better than the other it is a personal preference.   

Here is an example of both walks

Tanner Buchanan to Co-Star with Kiefer Sutherland

Starbound Talent is excited to update you on our star, Tanner Buchanan! Tanner has been working hard this year. In 2016, he already has been in multiple television shows. Tanner can be seen in the TV Series ‘Game Shakers’ on Nickelodeon, ‘The Fosters’ on ABC Family, and the film ‘The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards’. Currently, Tanner is filming the series ‘Designated Survivor’ with co-star, Kiefer Sutherland!  

        ‘Designated Survivor’ is a drama thriller telling the story of “A low-level Cabinet member is appointed President after a catastrophic attack kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession.” Tanner plays the character Leo Kirkman in the upcoming series. 

The first time Tanner came to Starbound, he performed a tap dance routine that included a back flip! Starbound Talent took Tanner to IMTA when he was 9 years old. After IMTA, Tanner’s career took off. He has been working in the industry for the last eight years. Keep your eye out for Tanner in ‘Designated Survivor” airing this fall! 

Below is a clip of Tanner from the TV Series "Girl Meets World"