How we met Celebrity Actors Camp

Adrian R'Mante's Celebrity Actors Camp


I did not know it at the time, but after I had made that phone call, the Universe had set into motion many events.  All we needed to do was to show up and we were going to be on our way!  A few minutes after I made the audition time, I was home.  I kept thinking of all the "good Mommy" points I would earn from my daughter as I walked in the house that evening.  Everyone was in good spirits and I called to Annika to come see me so I could tell her the news.  She was so excited that she squealed and then became very quiet.  We spent the rest of the week finding a monologue and practicing it until she could memorize it mostly.  She had selected "Falling down the Rabbit hole", a monologue by Alice from
"Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll.

On the Saturday of the audition, we dressed Annika nicely and made her hair beautiful.  The Audition was at the Convention Center in Providence.  We found street parking and were early, but eventually made it into a room with about 60 other children and their parents.  several beautiful-looking people were addressing the crowd and telling us what to expect from the presentation.  There would be 3 steps.  First a "Special Guest Speaker".  Next, a brief Interview with Talent scouts and third, the children would read their monologue to the Celebrity Guest!  I feel choked up just writing this because it was a very magical time where I felt things really came together in my heart and mind.  The synchronicity that was created by this day's events, demonstrated to me without a doubt, that this was our calling and our destiny- a mutual one between Mother and Daughter.

Our Special Celebrity Guest was the one and only and completely amazing, Phil Lewis! It just so happens that I am a HUGE fan of Phil Lewis (Mr. Moseby) who is a star on the Disney Channel Show, "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody".  Phil Lewis has also had a recurring role on my favorite comedy series, "Scrubs" where he plays Dr. Hooch.  Anyway, when it suddenly occurred to me that he was there as a spokesperson for Celebrity Actors Camp, I was thrilled, intrigued and thrilled some more!!  Annika sat quietly.  I was bouncing out of my seat.  Annika had to ask me to calm down and not make a scene.  I wasn't going to do anything!  It was another Dad who eventually jumped up and gave Phil Lewis a bear hug.  Phil was fantastic with his adoring crowd and seemed very relaxed about his celebrity.

Annika met with Michael Worth to Interview, then performed the monologue for Phil and then we left with some information to review.  We were told that 600 auditions would have taken place during the day including other presentation times from the morning and going through to the evening, after which they would select about 50 participants for the camp.  If selected, the callback would be Sunday (the following day) and at that time we would be required to register and pay for the camp.  Annika was primarily thinking about her monologue reading.  She said Phil did not say much.  He scored her very well though and Michael Worth thought she was very beautiful.  All this lead to the Callback on Sunday, which of course, she received!

So after some creative mathematics, we were able to afford the Level 1 camp option for her.  There were 4 Levels offerred and these offerred a tier-style benefit for the child including a training with a Holloywood Casting Director.  We could not afford that level, but we figured at the very least, if she was good enough to get into the camp, we could give her this special opportunity and see what comes of it!  Camp was set to start the following weekend, run through February and March and conclude March 20th with a Talent Showcase where the kids would be given the opportunity to audition for a panel of Agents and Casting Specialists. 

The experience and the training Annika would receive from these brilliant Actors would be the special ingredient for her...that little bit of magic...that paved the way to something big.  Pictured here with another friend from Camp and Cassie Casale from Nickelodeon, Annika enjoyed every moment of camp.  Honestly, everything she needed to know, she learned the very first day of camp!  In my next blog, I shall tell you about a very special man and how his dream and our dream met on the road of life!

~Many Thanks to Celebrity Actors Camp for this wonderful Direction~