Space Coast Parent - April 2018

it hard on you if he or she isn’t completely
on board.”
Due to the time-intensive nature of
the acting work, Jax is now enrolled in
Florida Virtual School. He keeps up with
his studies but has the time flexibility to
keep pursuing his dream.
“It can be hard on a family because it
is a very demanding industry,” Kerri
Geach said. “But if your child really
wants to do it, and works at it, it’s worth
it.”
Tiny Triumphs
Ella Grace Helton turned 5 in March
but has already broken through a lot of
show business “ÿrsts.” She has starred
in several commercials, including a national
Disney World push and another
for Gerber Life. She recently booked her
ÿrst role in a short ÿlm and has also
graced the cover and inside pages of a
toy catalogue.
Her parents Lee Nessel and Brandon
Helton noticed that despite their own
introverted tendencies, their then-2-
year-old was showing natural ability
performing for others. Nessel started
looking for ways to feed Ella Grace’s desire
to be on stage and enrolled her in
musical theater and acting classes.
From there, she started researching local
talent management and agencies.
Nessel also maintains The Adventures
of Ella Grace Instagram account for her
daughter where she has been able to
network with professionals all over the
country – including an agent in Los Angeles.
In March, Ella Grace had the opportunity
to play a role in the traveling show
of the Broadway hit “The Waitress.” Instead
of asking a child to travel with the
company, casting agents for the show
choose a girl to play the role in each of
the cities where it stops. Ella Grace
landed the part for Orlando.
“It’s really been such an amazing
journey so far. There is a lot to learn but
we’ve had people helping us along the
way,” Nessel said.
Nessel said her aim is to follow the
lead of her daughter and keep taking on
new and exciting projects as she shows
interest.
“Ella Grace loves doing this work,”
Nessel said. “That’s what matters.”
Family Business
For the Fider family of Palm Bay, acting
and modeling is a family a‘ air. Sixteen-year-old
Gaby, 13-year-old Elijah
and 10-year-old twins Yesenia and
Deuel Fider have all landed a variety of
roles since ÿrst starting in the business
a few years ago.
Even the parents, Wendy and Deuel
Sr., have joined in the fun, starring in
Disney Parks promotions with their
kids.
Wendy Fider ÿrst became interested
in paid acting and modeling work for her
children when she saw a local talent
management company helping ÿlm
something at her children’s dance studio.
“I saw how much fun they all were
having,” she said. “This new side of the
business really intrigued us.”
She reached out to Kelli Turner, the
talent consultant on the project, who
gave her some guidance.
“We wound up signing our kids with
a talent agency the very next week,”
Wendy Fider said.
Members of the family have appeared
in commercials or marketing
materials for Ron Jon, Disney Cruise
Line, Ashley Furniture, Kennedy Space
Center and more. Elijah, 13, recently ÿnished
ÿlming a pilot TV show where he
plays the main character.
“This experience has been great for
us,” Wendy Fider said. “My kids are getting
opportunities to travel to di‘ erent
locations and meet new people, as well
as network with people with years of experience
in the industry.”
Getting Started
Ella Grace Helton appeared in a toy
catalogue. PHOTO PROVIDED BY LEE NESSEL
Kelli Turner has spent nearly 40
years in commercial acting and modeling.
When she was 15 years old, a photographer
at a wedding told Turner’s
mother that she should consider joining
“the business” and so she started dipping
her toes in the water, eventually
ÿnding work as a stunt person and host
for Home Shopping Network commercials.
“My biggest claim to fame is that I
was cast as a stunt woman for Heather
Locklear in Miami Vice,” Turner said.
“We never did ÿlm any scenes, but I was
cast.”
Turner has also played the role of
show business parent with her own
children who are now young adults.
“We always had fun doing it and just
took the parts that made sense for our
family at that time,” Turner said.
She now shares her inside knowledge
of the commercial acting business, particularly
in the state of Florida, through
her business Turner Talent. She o‘ ers
consulting and talent management,
helping new talent navigate the sometimes-tricky
quagmire of breaking into
the business.
“When I was starting out with my
own kids, I wish there had been someone
like me. Someone who could guide
me and keep me from making mistakes,”
Turner said. “I try to ÿll that gap
between people who are interested and
landing the actual jobs.”
She does just that through teaching
people how to audition and what the actual
process of submitting for and landing
commercial work looks like.
Turner also has a database of casting
agents and jobs that she shares with her
clients when they are a good ÿt.
“I’m able to ÿnd people more opportunities
than they would on their own,
whether that’s an actual agent or landing
paying work,” Turner said.
While there are reputable agencies
out there, Turner warns families against
paying for auditions or attending auditions
that come into town for a limited
time, then leave.
“Those aren’t agencies that are really
trying to help your child’s career grow.”
she said.
Monica Toro Lisciandro is the owner
of The Viera Studio for the Performing
Arts. Her own love for theater started in
high school when she performed with
her peers in Guys and Dolls. She joined
the Stars of Tomorrow program at Cocoa
Village Playhouse and began to expand
her skills, eventually moving to
New York City to pursue a degree in the
performing arts.
“Performing arts training is an important
key in being prepared to audition
professionally,” Toro Lisciandro
said. “When children train at a studio or
other educational spot, parents can network
with each other and get industry
insight. They can also ask for recommendations
from parents and entertainment
professionals for reputable
talent agencies in the area.”
Even kids with no professional aspirations
can beneÿt from arts training,
she says.
“The performing arts helps academically,
socially and with conÿdence.
Many of our students come in wanting
to break out of their shells. In the process,
they ÿnd their voice. They develop a
passion and appreciation for the arts
and create lasting friendships.”
Learn more about Turner
Talent visiting
www.turnertalent.com or
Turner Talent on Facebook.
Learn more about the Viera
Studio by visiting
www.thevierastudio.com or
The Viera Studio on Facebook.
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APRIL 2018 2018 Space Coast Parent | 7