Faces of the North provides aspiring talent with safe pathway to success
The opportunities to get involved in performance industries are plentiful — but that doesn't mean they are all equal.
Doing it right can go a long way in landing a successful career, or simply exploring a rewarding part-time hobby. Doing it wrong can be an expensive endeavour that puts an individual into unnecessarily tough situations.
Benita Dellelce, director of Faces of the North and owner of Charm Plus Modelling School, said there are definite advantages to pursuing modelling, acting and performing with some professional guidance.
Given then ever-growing film and entertainment industries that exist in Greater Sudbury, performance jobs are more readily available — becoming real options for young Sudburians.
“When you don't follow up with longtime professionals in the industry you are tyring to advance in, you could be spending a lot more money than you have to and you could find yourself in 'tricky' situations with people money-wise and morally,” she said. “An agency is there to guide you and protect you.”
The benefits of working with an agent are worth the time and effort it takes to get set up with a reputable one, she said.
The have connections, an understanding of the industry and the ability to market a model to the most suitable lines of work. They also ensure their client is paid a fair wage for the work they do.
“They protect you,” Dellelce said.
The relationship with a mother agency often begins at a local level — which is where Dellelce fits in. From her school, she gives aspiring models the knowledge and skills they need to put their best foot forward when meeting with agents capable of providing them further opportunities, at the provincial and national level.
She also has the ability to match up models with agencies that are most reflective of their goals.
“There are different types of modelling,” Dellelce said. “Acting, speciality modelling, commercial print, fashion editorials.”
Of course, part of her job is helping keep models safe.
“The best way is to go to local agencies in your hometown and talk to them face to face,” she said. Ask questions, be suspicious of anyone who doesn't want to talk to a parent or other adult, and exercise caution when approached by someone claiming to be an industry professional.
Dellelce said agencies do sometimes find their stars in casual settings, but its highly uncommon.
“Agencies should find their talent professionally,” she said. “There are some success stories that are too good to be true, but they're one in a million.”
One way to get involved in the industry in a safe way is to check out Faces of the North 2013. The March 24 event combines the Sudbury Youth Contest with the Northern Model Search.
Youth up to the age of 19 are invited to compete for titles like Mr and Ms Sudbury, as well as Little Mr, Little Ms, and Mr and Ms Teen. Youth contest participants, as well as anyone else interested, also have the chance to meet agents from Hero Artists Agency and compete for the opportunity to be represented by the agency.
The company was part of Dellelce's premier model search, and have found involved, paying jobs for a number of the faces they discovered.
For more information about the contest, visit Charm Plus at 1400 Kingsway, or phone 705-560-6604. Entries for both the youth contest and model search are due by March 18.
