Dear Toni,

My name is Shantelle Canzanese and I am a twenty-three year old actress, singer and dancer.  For as long as I can remember, I have always expressed a love for the arts.  At the age of fifteen I auditioned for Wexford C.I., a high school for the performing arts.  There, I gained life-changing experiences that made me realize that acting was my calling, and after graduating, I decided to turn my love for acting into a career.  I then went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at the University of Windsor. 

I now have over eight years experience in the Industry and I’m lucky to have been a part of several independent short and feature films, several music videos, television show pilots, radio commercials, print ads, television commercials, plays, and multiple musical theatre productions.  I am a versatile performer and my drive is very evident with strengths in sketch, improv and physical comedy.   I am also an improv Instructor and have studied at the famed Second City Conservatory in Toronto.  I have a well-trained singing voice and having studied with several vocal coaches over the past few years, my musical focus is in rhythm and blues and musical theatre with an Alto/Soprano vocal range.  I can honestly say that I take pride in my ability to be a young, fearless performer and I strongly believe that failure is not an option.

This is my question for you Toni.   When an actress moves to a new city, where does she begin?  I have experience, but I feel as though I’m starting from the bottom again.  Do you have any strategies for becoming successful in this city?

Sincerely,
Shantelle Canzanese

Dear Shantelle,

You really sound like a very strong, determined woman.  I hear Helen Reddy singing “I am woman, hear me roar…” You have done a very brave thing.  To leave one’s own country and come here all alone with no real contacts would terrify the average performer.  You have youth and beauty on your side.  My suggestion is to align yourself with one or two producers or directors that can get you in with a small production house doing independent films going straight to video. Getting two or three independent films under your belt will enable you to shop yourself to agents with the excerpts from the shorts you have done.  You can still make money as an actress from independent films.

A good thing for you to do right now is go to the San Fernando Valley International Film Festival running March 17-22, 2006 at the Beverly Garland hotel.  For more information go to the website www.viffi.com or call 818-623-9122.  On the 25th at 12 noon I will be hosting a seminar titled “Acting and Representation” with some very well known agents and managers from the industry.  This festival is free to the public.  I suggest you and anyone else interested in the business take advantage of this event.

Thank you for taking the time to write.
Toni Attell

Toni Attell is a hypnotherapist and acting coach. For people interested in her acting classes please call (818) 787-8685. For hypnotherapy go to www.hypnosis4you.net