UAE wannabes geared up for talent event

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: UAE wannabes geared up for talent event Hundreds of aspiring actors, dancers and models are expected to audition for a talent recruitment firm that lays claim to launching the Hollywood careers of stars such as Ashton Kutcher and Jessica Biel. The New York and Los Angeles-based International Modelling and Acting Asso­ciation (IMTA) will be holding try-outs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and want actors, dan­cers, singers and models to take part. Successful candidates will be taken on and promoted by the agency, primarily in the US. The firm, set up in 1987, said that candidates will have to audition in front of talent scouts from Hollywood who have discovered young stars such as Davis Cleveland from Disney’s Shake It Up and actor Josh Duhamel from the movie Transformers. The auditions are on January 16 at the Dubai Hilton Jumeirah Resort and on January 18 at Abu Dhabi’s Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana. IMTA posted on their Facebook page: “Hollywood’s hottest actors that got discovered at this convention include Moises Arias (Hannah Montana, Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Phineas and Ferb) and Ashley Greene from the Twilight Saga. We accept a wide range of ages – but for specific upcoming projects we are concentrating on younger per­formers, four to 18 years old. However, performers of other ages are still welcome to attend.” Several young and aspiring stars who spoke to 7DAYS said their aim was to move to Hollywood to pursue their dreams. Nousheen Ali Sherazi, a 22-year-old Pakistani fashion designer living in Dubai, said she hopes to be selected so she can start a career in modelling and advance in fashion designing. “Modelling and designing go hand in hand. I design clothes that I personally would like to wear or model myself. I think it’s really important to wear stuff that’s comfortable and looks good on your body type. I’ve been into designing for roughly about a year. Growing up, I would put on my sister’s heels and throw on outfits and pretend to be a model. Con­sidering the fact that my sister did pursue modelling when she was my age, it has always been an influence on me too.” She added: “I’ve done around two exhibitions so far, where I showcased my collection. I’ve sold out half of my previous collection and a new one is coming out in a few weeks. My brand name is ‘Ms Loud’.” The firm hosts a fashion show in New York and Los Angeles each year with their models who get a chance to take to the catwalk in high-profile clothing brands. One acting hopeful, 25-year-old Pakistani marketing professional Akram Bhutto, said he wants to move to Hollywood. Bhutto said: “I’m not sure if I would have the ‘wow factor’, but why not try my luck? It would be a dream to shift to Hollywood and live like a celebrity. I’ve never given an acting audition before, so I am a bit nervous. But better to try than never know, right?” And 24-year-old Canadian job-seeker Ana Habib said: “I’m not taking the audition too seriously, but when I get there I don’t want it to be a joke because, hey, who wouldn’t want to be in Hollywood?” Auditions are free of charge. Registration is open online at talentaudition.net. sarwat@7days.ae Read the original story at: UAE wannabes geared up for talent event