"The staff's positive attitude and enthusiasm about
the art of acting was addictive and uplifting!"
Kirsti Manna - FABC 2000
BIOS
Here is a list of some of our
FACULTY, ADVISORS AND GUEST LECTURERS
DAWN WELLS
Dawn is hands-on in every aspect of the FABC, directing, as well as teaching
classes in voice-over, commercials, auditioning, make-up and hair -
you name it, she does it! Of course, you can read more about this
multi-talented lady by visiting her "About Dawn Wells" page.
PAT BRADY
(Talent Agent) Pat became a talent agent in 1980 when she joined the Dona Lee Davies Talent Agency in Los Angeles, CA. In the intervening years, Pat has
worked at Don Schwartz and Associates; MAX Talent and Modeling; Spotlite Entertainment, where she facilitated the commercial careers of actors like Jay
Leno, Jeff Foxworthy and Jerry Seinfeld; B&W Management Group and Twentieth Century Artists in Hollywood where she was the Department Head of
their On-Camera Commercial Talent. Since 1996 , Pat has been the "Director of Voice-Over Department" as well as a Talent Agent at Kazarian, Spencer
and Associates. There, her many clients include some of Hollywood's biggest talents - Mike Farrell, Casey Kasem, Charles Nelson Reilly, Adam West,
Phyllis Diller, Shirley Jones, Nannette Fabray and Rene Taylor. Pat's job is to oversee all the work done by three agents and one booth director, to facilitate
all bookings plus all animation and to negotiate all "over-scale" jobs as
well as renegotiate any currently running voice-over commercials.
She is a member of the Association of Talent Agents.
She is married with one child and one beautiful grandson! JOSEPH HACKER
(Actor, Producer, Media Communications Trainer) as an actor, Joseph Hacker
is a 25 year veteran of film and television, appearing in episodic series like "Diagnosis Murder", "Moonlighting", "Charlie's Angels", "Matlock" and "Highway
to Heaven" to name only a few. His credits also include the mini-series "Winds of War" and "Call to Glory". He has appeared in over 200 national television
commercials and was national spokesperson for Hills Bros. and Office Max Corporation. Joseph received his Master's from New York University Institue of
Film and Television and trained with Lee Strasburg and Stella Adler.
At Saturn Pictures, Inc. in NYC, he has wide creative and technical production
responsibilities, including casting, shooting and post production. As a media communications trainer, Joseph Hacker created a worksop called
"The Video Edge", helping to put business people and professionals
alike in command of the on-camera communication skills.
"The teaching staff was awesome - they took the time
to make sure we understood everything."
Billie Bryant - FABC 2000
SPENCER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
(Talent Agency) is one of the oldest and most respected commercial talent agencies in Los Angeles. Established in 1957 by Jack Wormser, KSA has
gone through many an evolution under the leadership of some of the most respected agents in the film and television business, such as Sandy Joseph, Roger Heldfond and Brian Rix. Their respected departments of On Camera,
Voice Over, Print and Dance were expanded beginning in 1988 to include a department of Choreography, Equity, Game Shows, Young People, Sports
and Stunts. Now located in Studio City they continue to have one of the
most select lists of actors/clients in all the above departments. CHRISTOPHER SEITER
(Producer/Unit Production Manager)
has had a prolific career in television that includes working with Steve McQueen on his early series "Dead or Alive" to
today's popular series of "Columbo" movies starring Peter Falk. He also produced "Good-bye, Miss Fourth of July" for the Disney Channel, "Today's FBI"
series, "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" series for Columbia, "Coopersmith" for Universal and "Eye to Eye" for Warner Brothers. Working with the David
Gerber Company he was Executive Production Supervisor for the eight-hour mini series "Geaorge Washington", the Movie of the Week "Women of San
Quentin" for NBC, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" for CBS and "For Love and Honor" for NBC. He was Supervising Producer for the series "Fame" and
"Lady Blue" and the Movie of the Week "Cry for the Strangers. Christopher
was Unit Production Manager for the Disney films "Pete's Dragon",
"Black Hole" and "Shaggy D.A.", TV's "Murder She Wrote",
the mini series "Enola Gay" and many others. JOSEPH D'AGOSTA
(Casting Director/Producer) has worked closely with directors such as Steven Spielberg, Barry Levinson, Ridley Scott, John Milius, Peter Weir, Henry
Hathaway and Richard Brooks. His motion pictures include "G.I.Jane", "Gloria", "Sleepers", "The Juror", "Under Seige", "White Squall", "Poltergeist II", "The Year
of Living Dangerously", "Red Dawn" and "MY FavoriteYear". In television he has worked for all major networks plus HBO, Showtime and USA on pilots, series,
MOW's, mini series and cable movies including "Star Trek", "Mission Impossible", "The Last Innocent Man" and "The Brady Bunch". He was Head of Television Casting at Paramount Studios and was in charge of casting all
special program projects at Universal Studios. On two separate occasions he served as Vice President in charge of WorldWide Casting in both television and motion pictures at MGM Studios. As a producer he has worked at
Universal Studios, Columbia Studios, Tomorrow Entertainment and
Continental Films.
"The Teaching staff was FANTASTIC! I was really, truly impressed!"
Andrew Howe - FABC '99
MICHAEL RHODES
(Producer/Writer)
has held the office of Vice President in charge of Creative Affairs for both Disney and Viacom. He was also Senior Vice President of
Motion Pictures and Television for Magic Maker Films and Vice President in charge of Development for Qintex Entertainment. As a producer he has worked
for all the major network overseeing Movies of the Week ("Alibi" starring Tori Spelling and "Captive" starring Joanna Kerns, John Stamos and Barry Bostwick for ABC, "Return of Frank Cannon" for CBS and "Bay Coven" for
NBC), One-hour series "Ellery Queen" for NBC, "Cutter to Houston" starring Alec Baldwin and "Delvecchio" starring Judd Hirsh for CBS and
"Mariah" for ABC) and the six-hour mini series "Loose Change" for NBC. With
Steven Bochco he created the series "Turnabout" starring Sharon Gless and wrote many of the episodes. He has also written for the acclaimed series
"The Larry Sanders Show" and is the author of several feature films
and many TV series episodes. BARBARA BALDAVIN
(Actress/Casting Director) combines her talent as an actress with the business of being a casting director on such series as "Dynasty", "Trapper John",
"Hagen", "Matt Houston" and "Strike Force". Movies of the Week include "Don't Go to Sleep", "Dark Mirror", "Velvet", "Shooting Stars" and "Beekman's Place".
"Fallen Arches", "Suicide the Comedy" and "Popcorn" are feature films where her casting hand can be seen. As an actress Barbara stays busy doing
commercials, series television, Movies of the Week and voice overs. Some of her appearances have been on the MOW's "Houston, We've Got a Problem" and "Women in Chains" as well as "Star Trek", "Medical Center",
"Quincy", "Vegas", "Doctors Hospital", "Barretta", "Adam 12",
"McMillan and Wife" and "Charlie's Angels. LARRY GERMAIN
(Producer/Personal Manager) was also head of the Theatrical Division
of AFH Talent Agency where he represented over 80 actors featured in many
films, pilots and television series. As an Executive Producer in development and production of television and radio he produced "Brady Bunch Home
Movies" for CBS and is currently developing numerous television and theatre projects. As an agent for the Burton Moss Agency he represented major
talents including Cyd Charisse, William Shatner, June Allyson, Tom Bosley
and sports stars Doug Flutie and Joe Theismann. He was also Director of
Live Entertainment for Landmark Entertainment where he produced
"HurlyBurly" starring Sean Penn, Danny Aiello and Mare Winningham and directed by David Rabe. Larry also produced "A Piece of My Heart"
starring Scott Valentine and Catherine Mary Stewart, and served as
Associate Director of Development for Theatreworks USA. JACK HELLER
(Actor/Coach) is a popular actor with an international reputation. On Broadway he starred in "Luv" with Barbara Bell Geddes and Larry Blyden, directed by
Mike Nichols. His major film appearances include "Beverly Hills Cop", "Trapped in Paradise", "Into the Sun" and "The Last Samurai". Television audiences will
remember him from his many roles on such programs as "The Bold and the Beautiful", "Beverly Hills 91210", "L.A. Law", "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air",
"Bodies of Evidence", "Matlock", "Family Ties" and "Dynasty". On stage he toured with Mercedes McCambridge in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?",
Tom Bosley and Dorothy Loudon in "Luv" , and performed "Gaslight" in Rome and Milano, Italy. Jack trained at New York University in Communications Arts, TV, Film and Radio. He has won the DramaLogue Award for Best Actor
as well as the Dore Schary Acting Award. DAVID BLAIR
(Film Hair Stylist) began his professional film career working with some
of the best in the business: Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, James
Franciscus and Melanie Griffith in "The Drowning Pool". He has had a long-running association with country music great, Dolly Parton, who remains his most steady client. Over the last 13 years David estimates he has
designed nearly 10,000 wigs for the irrepressible Dolly. He first met Dawn Wells on location in Louisiana on the film "Return to Boggy Creek" and
she was instrumental in convincing him to move to LA. Once in Los Angeles,
he worked on "The Tonight Show", "Days of Our Lives" and the films
"Rich and Famous", "Winds of War" and "Gangster Chronicles". In addition
to designing for Dolly Parton, David works with Terry Murphy from
"Hard Copy", Mary Hart and Julie Moran from "Entertainment Tonight"
as well as Angie Dickinson and Barbara Sinatra.
"The individualized attention in our small class was a real assett."
Cela Scott - FABC '99
TINA CASTALDI
(Actor, Stuntwoman, Personal Trainer) overcame a bone crippling disease which confined her to a wheelchair at age 11. Given less than a five per cent
chance of ever walking without the aid of crutches, she finally recovered and went on to become a top stuntwoman at Universal Studios as well as a highly
sought after personal trainer. Born in Washington D.C. she attended the University of Maryland on a full Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship. She
has appeared on stage in "Midsummer Night's Dream", "Hamlet", "Grease", "Same Time Next Year" and others. Tina has also been a featured actor on several television shows. Tina combines her animated, enthusiastic
personality with her excellent instructional skills as an aerobics instructor
and is certified through the Aerobics and Fitness Association as well
as the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Past faculty and advisers have included: CHUCK SHEFFIELD
(Boot Camp Supervisor/Drama Coach) brings a unique combination of talents to the Boot Camp. He is an experienced and highly respected teacher and an
avid lover of the outdoors. Chuck received his MFA Degree in 1974 from the University of Texas at Austin. He has been the Director of Theatre at Richland
College in Dallas, Texas for 25 years and is the Assistant to the Dean of Arts and Humanities. He has designed and/or directed over 150 productions at
Richland and serves as a Critic Judge for theatre in Texas, Oklahoma and surrounding states. When not in the classroom he takes every opportunity to
head out to his favorite hunting and fishing spots, but freely admits it's
more of an excuse to "just get outdoors."
JEANNE EVERTON
(Teacher/Drama Coach)
is also an experienced talent agent, casting director, actress and corporate film producer as well as a highly respected teacher in the acting profession. All these talents and experiences have given her a unique
perspective in aiding actors to make the transition into the world of professional acting and therefore her classes and seminars in all phases of film, television
and commercial performances are in high demand throughout the country. Her former students work in feature films, soaps, television and a wide range of
industrials and commercials. In addition to her busy professional schedule, Mrs. Everton is currently head of the acting program at Texas Woman's University.
LARRY RANDOLPH
(Drama Coach/Actor/Director) in addition to his theatre work has worked
extensively in film and television as well as being a Dialogue Director for series
television in the Los Angeles market. Recent acting credits include the Turner Network Television mini series "Rough Riders" directed by John Milius and the
ABC drama "Two Mothers for Zachary" starring Vanessa Redgrave. He has also had a recurring role on "Days of Our Lives" and has appeared in "Beverly
Hills 91210", "Walker Texas Ranger", "Columbo", "Who's the Boss", "Get a Life", the long-running "Hotel and on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno".
Feature film credits include "Chaplin" directed by Sir Richard Attenborough,
"Prime Target" starring Tony Curtis and the art house hit "It's in the Water".
As an acting teacher he was on the faculty of Purdue University, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas and the College of William and Mary
and has worked in theatres across the country.
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