SOLD OUT: Spotlight on Kids: Careers for Children and Teens

2:30–3:30 P.M. – 4th Floor, Class C
For kids and teens, acting can be fun, but if you and your child are ready to take it seriously, this session is a must. A top agent who specializes in young talent and a casting director for the Nickelodeon network give you the lowdown on starting and sustaining a career.

Speakers
-- Barbara Coleman, Agent, Innovative Artists Talent and Literary Agency
-- Leslie Zaslower, Director of Casting–New York, Nickelodeon

SPEAKER BIOS

Barbara Coleman, Agent, Innovative Artists Talent and Literary Agency
Barbara Coleman has been an agent for children, teens, and young adults since 1981. She is part of a team at Innovative Artists representing talent for commercials, theater, film, TV, and animation. Innovative Artists is a national talent agency with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.

Current clients working on up-and-coming new shows include Zach Roerig ("The Vampire Diaries," CW), Tony and Andrew Terraciano and Sami Gayle ("Blue Bloods," CBS), James Lukens ("Running Wilde," Fox), Emma Kenney ("Shameless," Showtime), Dylan Blue ("Big Lake," Comedy Central), and Michael Algieri ("Young America," FF). Current Broadway clients include Rachel Resheff ("Mary Poppins," "Shrek," "Billy Elliot"), Joshua Jackson ("The Lion King"), Eden Duncin Smith ("Fences"), and Tony nominee Jennifer Damiano ("Spider-Man," "Next to Normal").

You may recognize some of her clients in spots for Disney World, Ikea, AT&T, Verizon, Band-Aid, McDonald's, Kellogg's, etc. Their voices are also featured in radio spots, television commercials, and video games (Thrillville, Grand Theft Auto, The Bully, etc.).

Barbara's division specializes in animation, with many clients currently working on "Chuggington," "The Backyardigans," "Team Umizoomi," "Dora the Explorer," and Disney's "Little Einsteins," and client Danica Lee is a two-time Emmy-nominated actress for her work as Ming-Ming the Duckling on Nickelodeon's "The Wonder Pets."

Barbara has represented many high-profile actors you may know, such as Macaulay Culkin, Ethan Hawke, James Van Der Beek, Christina Ricci, Laura Bell Bundy, Marlon Wayans, Melissa Joan Hart, Lauryn Hill, and Jennifer Connelly.

Her career path has also included working with Julia Stiles, Lindsay Lohan, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, Lacey Chabert, Matt LeBlanc, and Cynthia Nixon when they were children. Innovative Artists is a full-service agency representing actors, writers, directors, film editors, and models.

Leslie Zaslower, Director of Casting–New York, Nickelodeon
Leslie Zaslower has 15-plus years of experience in the entertainment industry, formerly as a talent agent and currently as a casting director at Nickelodeon/MTV Kids & Family (New York office).

As the director of casting for all MTV Kids & Family Networks, Leslie oversees casting out of New York for Nickelodeon, Nick Preschool Television, Nick@Nite, and TeenNick. Areas of casting include voiceovers, live action (drama and comedy), hosting, promos, and Web series.

Her casting credits include "Victorious," "The Troop," "Go Diego Go," "Dora the Explorer" (Season 7), "The Fresh Beat Band" (Season 3), "The Backyardigans," "Team Umizoomi," "Bubble Guppies," "Summer Camp" (pilot), "Last Day of Summer" (MFT), "How to Rock," "Rags," "Me:TV," "The Hunt," "Bet the House," and "Blue's Room."

Leslie has also been a voice director on various Nickelodeon projects, including the 2011 Emmy-nominated "Nickelodeon Presents History and Heritage."