ARTS + CULTURE REACH FOR THE STARS “Catch a Falling Star and put it in your Pocket” - no “Catch a Shining Star” and send it on its way to gainful employment. Elizabeth Skeen’s Talent agency in Ponsonby, IBrand has all the hallmarks of success. An actor herself, one who has had major roles in Shortland Street, Whale Rider, Xena,Street Legal,The Adventures of Johnny Lingo and other theatre projects over the years, she has plenty of insight as to how the industry works. She dropped out of the limelight because of family commitments but now has popped up behind the scenes with her own agency. How come this change of direction? Well a couple of aspiring actor friends came to her for advice on what avenues they should go down to get auditioned. She helped them then ping, a light bulb went on in her head and she decided to set up in business. That was in October 2009 and a year later she has about 260 hopefuls on her books. Elizabeth believes the reason her venture has grown so fast is because even though a commercial enterprise is completely out of the norm for her and was a huge risk, she’s an actor and she knows how to walk the talk. Now she is involved again in the industry she loves with people like herself, and helping them get jobs is such fun. The word ‘clients’ doesn’t apply; they’ve become a family. She feels their pain when they miss out and when they do succeed she is overjoyed. At the beginning of her new venture she had a business mentor because, she needed help to become au fait with finances, taxes, GST and so on but now has an accountant to look after the admin because the business has grown so rapidly. She also employs a senior to handle bookings and is looking at employing a junior as well. Elizabeth doesn’t think the term ‘agent’ is applicable to the way she works. She sees herself as a mentor or even a manager. To start with most of her clients were actors, then there are people who have done background work and want to progress further. The third group are people who want to be actors but haven’t made it as yet and need guidance. She never turns them away but directs them towards the right sort of training courses. Some untried actors may have natural talent and others will do better at auditions as a result of training. Elizabeth herself enjoyed a golden ride to success as an actor. At sixteen Maisie Bestall-Cohen discovered her and by happenstance Shortland Street needed a Polynesian actor. She was one of the first brown faces on TV and even made the cover of Womans Day. Now she’s having success placing people, several on television commercials already. “I can’t go out and buy a yacht yet but I see the potential after breaking into a very competitive market quite quickly”. It seems Elizabeth already has that shining star in her pocket but I don’t think she’ll be needing it for a rainy day. IBRAND MANAGEMENT, 12 McKelvie Street T: 09 360 0854 or M: 021 840 040 E: liz@ibrandpeople.co.nz (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN
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MY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION... is I resolved not to make one because I never keep them.
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WHAT I LOVE ABOUT PONSONBY... is the eclectic mix. I love the way it looks - the architecture and the leafy streets and the character. I love the rich diversity of the people –different ethnicities/philosophies/modes of dressing - such a mixture! A rich soup! SUSAN DUCKWORTH - VANILLA INK
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118 PONSONBY NEWS+ February 2011
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)