How did you and your family become interested in modeling and acting?

Mary: One of our daughters found Barbizon of Akron on the internet and we took her to the initial meeting. As parents we were concerned about what she might be getting into, but after meeting the Directors at Barbizon of Akron and Pro Model & Talent Management (PMTM) we were very impressed with their sincerity and concern for young people. They even stated that grades and school must come first. After hearing the information in the first meeting and realizing that actors can be any age, size, and type, my husband, William, and I signed up for the Barbizon classes along with our daughters!

How did Barbizon of Akron and the extensive training help you and William?

Mary: My husband William gained a new-found confidence in himself. His attire changed to meet our children’s approval and his speech-diction improved immensely. William now has the ability to capture people’s attention through his dynamic and learned communication skills. Personally, I began to feel that I was more than “just a housewife”. I too gained confidence in myself. My make-up skills and dress attire improved and the acting techniques that I learned from the professionals at Barbizon of Akron were stellar. The greatest thing for me was to realize that actors come in all ages, sizes, and stages of “wrinkledness”. At the young age of 60 my modeling career is just starting!

And for your daughters?

Mary: Janaya learned acting skills and amazed me with the confidence she walked away with. She has continued to act in school and in local theater and often knows more than the other actors when it comes to stage presence, voice projection, and the ability to “live” a part because of what she learned at Barbizon of Akron. Janaya had an offer from a top agency in the Los Angeles area but as a family we decided not to take advantage of that opportunity. Now, Janaya is continuing to pursue her career with Pro Model and Talent Management (PMTM) locally. Joy on the other hand took advantage of the Barbizon of Akron training for a different reason; Joy didn’t have a strong interest in modeling and/or acting however, we got her involved in the program to help her develop important life skills, and to gain the confidence her father, sister, and I did. All-in-all I’m so pleased with my daughters and glad that William and I not only pursued Barbizon of Akron, but that our daughters took the classes also.

Since graduating from Barbizon of Akron and listing with Pro Model & Talent Management what auditions and-or assignments have you and your family done?

Mary: Our family has stayed quite busy since listing with Pro Model & Talent Management, thanks to the training we received through Barbizon of Akron. We have done work for Learning Lunch Box, Eden Pur Air Purifier, Thermotex, Serpentini, Hillcrest Hospital, Lycoming County Safety, Johnsonite Flooring, Medcentral, Kneedit knee brace, and I have graced the runway for the Q104 Bridal Show. Again without the training we would have never secured the assignments that we have.

Mary, what has been William's and your favorite job to date?

Mary: William loved the Hillcrest Hospital job playing the “grandpa” and I loved the Serpentini Chevrolet commercial that I did.

We hear people say all the time that they do not need any training to be a model or actor. What would you say to people that say that?

Mary: Like any other profession, if you want to be good you need to be trained. There are so many things to learn about this industry, and it must be taught by a professional. This knowledge, and these skills are not things people are born with or that can be learned out of a book.

Mary, is there anything else that you would like to say to any parents or anyone else who is thinking about pursuing this industry?

Mary: Barbizon of Akron is an excellent school, and I would recommend the program to anyone who desires to gain confidence and a certain “presence”. The training my family received was the difference between success in modeling and acting and a mere pipe dream.

For more information on how you can start your career off with Barbizon of Akron and Pro Model and Talent Management log onto www.barbizonakron.com or www.pmtm.com.