Report on HOLA's KICKSTART: How To Take Your Career To The Next Level event

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) presented KICKSTART: How To Take You Career To The Next Level. The event was a two-day series of career workshops and panels geared toward the Latino actor. It took place on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26, 2011 from 10am-5pm both days at the new Teatro SEA, located in the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA). A rundown of workshops and panels are below.

• Workshops on actor headshots, actor resumes and marketing oneself as a product and through the internet were led by Anthony Ruiz, A.B. Lugo, Julio Agustín and Francisco Fuertes, respectively.

• Mario Bósquez moderated the Navigating The Unions panel with panelists Adam Moore (Interim National Director, Affirmative Action/Diversity, Screen Actors Guild), Connie Best (Interactive Media Representative, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and John Fasulo (National Membership Director, Actors' Equity Association).

• Dr. Manuel A. Morán of Teatro SEA moderated the Meeting The Theater Producers and Directors You Should Know panel with panelists Ángel Gil Orrios (of Thalía Spanish Theatre), José Antonio Cruz and Fernando Then (of Repertorio Español), José Cheo Oliveras (of Teatro Círculo), José Joaquín Pérez (of INTAR) and José A. Esquea (of Teatro LATEA). The producers accepted headshots and resumes from all the attendees.

• Adam Moore moderated the Meeting The Casting Directors You Should Know panel with panelists Fern Orenstein (Vice-President of Casting, CBS Corporation), Marci Phillips (Executive Director of ABC Primetime Casting) and Kendra Carter (Director, Talent Initiatives and Diversity, NBCUniversal Casting). The casting directors also accepted headshots and resumes from all the attendees.

• Mario Bósquez moderated the Meeting The Agents You Should Know panel with Joe Thompson of Abrams Artists and Tom Celia of Cunningham, Escott, Slevin and Doherty (CESD) Talent. The agents accepted headshots and resumes from all the attendees. (Barry Kolker of the Carson-Kolker Organization was unable to attend, but he requested headshots and resumes of all the attendees.)

The KICKSTART event was quite a success. Some of the feedback from the attendees are shown below.

• "It is a great tool and opportunity for Hispanic actors."

• "Wow, the time just flew by. I thought I would get bored, but I didn't. I learned so much!"

• "I walked away learning so much about marketing myself. I feel this event is essential in educating more actors on what needs to be done to progress."

• "Excellent, helpful, very cooperative and sensitive to our questions and needs."

• "Great opportunity to further relationships and our careers. The workshop leaders, moderators and panelists were so approachable and knowledgeable."

Photos from the event were taken by Ismael Cruz Córdova. To see more photos, click here.

Special thanks to Teatro SEA, all the attendees, moderators, workshop leaders, panelists, volunteers and staff. A very special thanks go to Bárbara Matos, Mario Bósquez, María F. Nieto, Mónica Delgado, and especially Daniel D'Ambrosi for all of their work before, during and after the event.