Irish Enterprise Awards 2021

50 EU BUSINESS NEWS / 2021 Irish Enterprise Awards , Best All-Ages Talent Agency Established in 2002, MVWTalent Agency is renowned for providing clients of all ages with varied professional entertainment opportunities in Ireland and abroad in feature film, television, theatre, musical production, modelling, commercials, voiceover, andmore. Feb21027 An extension of the successful Talented Kids Agency Ireland, MVW Talent Agency Ireland represents adult actors, singers, dancers and models, and features some younger clients who have a wealth of professional experience. Both agencies are run by respected agent and coach, Maureen V. Ward. Talented Kids Agency offers classes and workshops in dance, drama, singing and musical theatre for budding young performers aged 3 to 18. Experienced and qualified teachers encourage the students to express themselves through performing arts and nurture them until they are ready to step into the limelight. The agency prides itself on its inclusivity and ability to cater to all needs, whether a student is looking to find a career in showbusiness or would just like to develop their confidence. However, these classes were unfortunately closed due to the pandemic, but staff took this time as an opportunity to further their own skills via online courses and research. They also took part in COVID training courses and put together a full COVID policy for when the classes do reopen. Meanwhile, although classes were closed, the agency motivated its students from the outset to use their performing arts skills and hobbies as an escape to help them cope with being tied to the house during lockdown. It encouraged creative and exciting artistic challenges on a weekly/fortnightly basis such as song writing, poetry writing, script writing, creative make-up looks, costume design and making, visual art competitions and filmmaking challenges. One family created a TikTok video as part of the challenge, which led to them being seen online by a supermarket who decided to cast them in an advertising campaign! During the entire time, the agency remained open, but many jobs that people had been cast in or that were being cast at the time were either cancelled or postponed. All auditions were done via self-tapes and online via Zoom and because filming would have been difficult during lockdowns with regards to social distancing, the agency managed to secure re-runs of commercials from the year previous. There were also clients who were sent recording equipment directly to their house from animation companies for voiceover work. In one instance, young Caleb Mason was featured in one of the first adverts filmed during lockdown for the telecommunications company, Three. He was sent full camera and sound equipment so that his parents, Brian and Michelle could film the commercial from their house with instruction from the director online via Zoom. Here is said commercial: (click me) In addition, the agency has offered some online tuition, as there were students booked in for singing, speech and drama exams pre-lockdown, which were eventually examined from self-tapes for the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM). Students received Distinctions and Honours results for these. During lockdown, the agency also secured some phenomenal castings, most notably, 11-year- old Alisha Weir, who, following an audition described as ‘unforgettable’ by Director Matthew Warchus, has been cast in the title role of the new Netflix film musical ‘Matilda’ alongside the actor Emma Thompson, who will play Miss Trunchbull. Maureen and her team have been able to celebrate the successes of many other clients as well, including Robyn Dempsey, who has been nominated for a Discovery Award at the 2021 Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival for Best Actress in the film, ‘TINA TIMES TWO’. Susie Power was recently featured in The Sunday World as number 11 of 50 in a US poll of the World’s Hardest Working Actresses, in which she was the only Irish youth to feature, while two other MVW clients saw their animated film, ‘Two by Two Overboard’, released just prior to the Christmas lockdown. Max Carolan, who plays the voice of ‘Finny’, and Ava Connolly Ross, who lends her voice to ‘Leah’, play starring roles in the film. It goes without saying that many young stars have been born out of the impressive work of Maureen and her team; her students have made names for themselves, competing in national competitions and winning titles in the U.S.A such as ‘World Champion’ in drama and singing, and many have been lucky and talented enough to be cast in award- winning films. Young performers who come through the agency are truly being given the best possible start to their professional lives. Company: MVW Talent Agency Contact Name: Maureen V Ward Website: www.maureenvwardtalentagencyireland.com