Thursday, December 28, 2017

MMA/ Model Management Agency: Good Service/ Seasoned Talent Inside and Out of the Office

MMA/ Model Mangement Agency is recognized as one of the most respected talent agencies in the Philadelphia and Tri-State area since it was founded in 1989. They are known for good service through excellent agents over the years in business and have represent seasoned, professional models and talent.

Candace Cihocki – Senior Booking Agent



Cihocki was born in Massachusetts and began dancing when she was four years old. She developed her passion for ballet and cheerleading into musical theater and acting by the time she reached high school.

She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in acting from Adelphi University in 2001. Her goal was to be a working actor and a director.

I lived in New York from 1998 through 2007, and then started to create work for some of my acting friends,” said Cihocki.

By 2010, Cihocki earned a Masters in Fine Arts degree from Florida State University. By that time she had developed a broad range of skills, took various classes and acquired several certifications.

Being in the arts you have to be a jack of all trades. Any skill you can acquire can build you as an actor, a director, or just as a general artist.”

After moving to Philadelphia she managed a theater company, directed for several companies in Philadelphia, coached actors who were applying to get, or attempting to get their MFA, and built an acrobatic festival with a partner that has been running the last four years.

Cihocki has also been working with Leila Ghavnavi, who owns Pantea Productions, for the past six years. The company produces a mix of physical theater, puppetry, and plays. Cihocki directs the shows that Ghavnavi writes.

Seeing and reading talent

MMA clients benefit by availing themselves of Cihocki’s varied life's experiences, and sound instincts.

Her functions as a Senior Booking Agent are varied. She submits MMA talent through Casting Networks, ensures that everyone fits the specs and are available. 

Cihocki also collects voice over demos and submits them for VO work, confirms and declines models for various bookings, uploads images to a Modelwire link to promote models/talent, handles billing and other important tasks.

We typically screen through our info@mmaagency.com submittals and then we invite those with potential and experience to our open call. After they've been screened through an email process they come and do a commercial read or a monologue. We look at them, their book, their resume and then we pick and choose who we think would be marketable, (and) has talent to represent here at MMA.

Are they a print model? Are they a commercial actor? How many lines can they do?

We really want people that are polished and positive. Obviously, we want them to be talented. Either they're a beauty and they move well, or they have great potential to get to that point.

The same thing with actors. We want them to have experience, or at least be that diamond in the rough that's a super go-getter so we can help them along the way and develop them. But ideally we want them to have all of those things in place when we put them in Ellen's office.”

Ellen Wasser-Hrin is the Director of Model Management Agency – MMA.

"Ellen is very easy-going. She's upbeat as a person. She makes a business that could be cutthroat, more kind; She's very down-to-earth. She tries to genuinely help people, which is one of the reasons why I would ever enter into this industry, as I have." 

Smart investments

Different types of investments can be made by various aspiring artists. Some people can afford to take classes, while others can't. Cihocki recommends constant practice and also familiarizing oneself with the language and terms that are used within the industry.

If you don't have money to invest in acting classes, or photos, at least start using the world wide web as your greatest teacher.

If you have the money to invest, if you're an aspiring model, you look at fashion magazines. Try to do tests with reputable photographers.”

Acting, background acting, or movement classes are also recommended, as is a gym class membership.  

Even the most seasoned actors and models; they are constantly studying, improving and working at their craft.

Get one really good head shot. Do indie films (or) student projects, if you are interested in acting.”

Know the industry

Cihocki also recommended that models who are building their resumes participate in Philly Fashion Week, or local charity fashion shows.

A potential model/talent is appealing when that person isn't green and knows a little more about the industry.

Educate themselves and gain as broad a range of experience as possible. They become more marketable that way,” Candace Cihocki said.

Fortune Walker – Booking Agent


I feel everyone has their moment. So, if you're supposed to be an actor, you're supposed to be a model….you feel that. That's your goal and your passion to not give up,” said Walker.

The Hawaiian native possesses an ability to read people by assessing their outward qualities, inward traits, and intangible factors.

Walker's family history led her to become involved in acting, modeling, and pageants as she was growing up. 

She tapped into her personal experience when helping her son sign a modeling contract. Walker had been working as his manager for years, giving her more experience with clients, castings, and bookings. 

I come from a long line of models. My grandmother and mother were models.”

She worked for the Actor's Center (Philadelphia) earlier this decade and also studied there under Rodney Rob and Boni Wolf. 

They took me under their wing. It was a hands-on education.”

Walker enables MMA's models and talent to advance their interests. Each individual that is signed is seen as someone who possesses the ability to succeed. Yes, a balance of effort and patience will be needed. But Walker works to help MMA's models and talent realize achievable goals. 

She underscored a unique advantage that Model Management Agency - MMA offers every represented talent.

Ellen is a truly amazing person. She's very dedicated and passionate. She loves what she does and I think that comes across in her work.”

The Star Factor

Walker's passion for helping people to advance was evident as she described actors and models who have the 'star' factor.

You can see this spark as they become the character. As far as acting is concerned, you can see it right away. Okay, this person has something. Successful models embody different skill sets.

Models are supposed to have a symmetrical face, be a certain size, a certain height. But even then you will always have that one special person who maybe just has an amazing walk, just a gorgeous face.

You always have that one person that just stands out and has the personality for it.”

Embracing your moment

Be prepared to make a sacrifice. Definitely be dedicated if it's something you really want. If it's a dream and a goal for you.” 

An effective booking agent helps careers to advance, which also includes learning how to handle rejection.

There are going to be times when you get frustrated. There are going to be times when you get no's. It doesn't mean it's time to give up. It just means it wasn't your moment.

Regardless of whether you are (just starting at) 70, or you are seven, you're going to have that audition where you just know that you got it. That point could be the beginning of a great career.

You have to be able to sacrifice. There are times when you want to give up and you can't.”

Walker has lived the advice she offers. The success she's achieved in her career is passed on.

My experience as a 'momanger', I refuse to just wait for an opportunity.”

Believe in the future

I enjoy it. I love the whole industry, the talent, the searching, the casting, the auditions, and the bookings for our talent. The thrill of everything about it.

I'm really happy to be working at MMA. I'm excited for the future with the talent and the agency,” Fortune Walker said.

(Company logo and Fortune Walker photo credit - MMA/ Model Management Agency. Candace Cihocki photo credit - Candace Cihocki by Kadish.)

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

MMA/ Model Management Agency: Good Service/ Seasoned Talent Inside and Out of the Office

MMA/ Model Mangement Agency is recognized as one of the most respected talent agencies in the Philadelphia and Tri-State area since it was founded in 1989. They are known for good service thru excellent agents over the years in business and represent seasoned, professional models and talent.


Candace Cihocki – Senior Booking Agent



Cihocki was born in Massachusetts and began dancing when she was four years old. She developed her passion for ballet and cheerleading into musical theater and acting by the time she reached high school.

She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in acting from Adelphi University in 2001. Her goal was to be a working actor and a director.

I lived in New York from 1998 through 2007, and then started to create work for some of my acting friends,” said Cihocki.

By 2010, Cihocki earned a Masters in Fine Arts degree from Florida State University. By that time she had developed a broad range of skills, took various classes and acquired several certifications.

Being in the arts you have to be a jack of all trades. Any skill you can acquire can build you as an actor, a director, or just as a general artist.”

After moving to Philadelphia she managed a theater company, directed for several companies in Philadelphia, coached actors who were applying to get, or attempting to get their MFA, and built an acrobatic festival with a partner that has been running the last four years.

Cihocki has also been working with Leila Ghavnavi, who owns Pantea Productions, for the past six years. The company produces a mix of physical theater, puppetry, and plays. Cihocki directs the shows that Ghavnavi writes.

Seeing and reading talent

MMA clients benefit by availing themselves of Cihocki’s varied life's experiences, and sound instincts.

Her functions as a Senior Booking Agent are varied. She submits MMA talent through Casting Networks, ensures that everyone fits the specs and are available. 

Cihocki also collects voice over demos and submits them for VO work, confirms and declines models for various bookings, uploads images to a Modelwire link to promote models/talent, handles billing and other important tasks.

We typically screen through our info@mmaagency.com submittals and then we invite those with potential and experience to our open call. After they've been screened through an email process they come and do a commercial read or a monologue. We look at them, their book, their resume and then we pick and choose who we think would be marketable, (and) has talent to represent here at MMA.

Are they a print model? Are they a commercial actor? How many lines can they do?

We really want people that are polished and positive. Obviously, we want them to be talented. Either they're a beauty and they move well, or they have great potential to get to that point.

The same thing with actors. We want them to have experience, or at least be that diamond in the rough that's a super go-getter so we can help them along the way and develop them. But ideally we want them to have all of those things in place when we put them in Ellen's office.”

Ellen Wasser-Hrin is the Director of Model Management Agency – MMA.

"Ellen is very easy-going. She's upbeat as a person. She makes a business that could be cutthroat, more kind; She's very down-to-earth. She tries to genuinely help people, which is one of the reasons why I would ever enter into this industry, as I have." 

Smart investments

Different types of investments can be made by various aspiring artists. Some people can afford to take classes, while others can't. Cihocki recommends constant practice and also familiarizing oneself with the language and terms that are used within the industry.

If you don't have money to invest in acting classes, or photos, at least start using the world wide web as your greatest teacher.

If you have the money to invest, if you're an aspiring model, you look at fashion magazines. Try to do tests with reputable photographers.”

Acting, background acting, or movement classes are also recommended, as is a gym class membership.  

Even the most seasoned actors and models; they are constantly studying, improving and working at their craft.

Get one really good head shot. Do indie films (or) student projects, if you are interested in acting.”

Know the industry

Cihocki also recommended that models who are building their resumes participate in Philly Fashion Week, or local charity fashion shows.

A potential model/talent is appealing when that person isn't green and knows a little more about the industry.

Educate themselves and gain as broad a range of experience as possible. They become more marketable that way,” Candace Cihocki said.

Fortune Walker – Booking Agent



I feel everyone has their moment. So, if you're supposed to be an actor, you're supposed to be a model….you feel that. That's your goal and your passion to not give up,” said Walker.


The Hawaiian native possesses an ability to read people by assessing their outward qualities, inward traits, and intangible factors.

Walker's family history led her to become involved in acting, modeling, and pageants as she was growing up. 

She tapped into her personal experience when helping her son sign a modeling contract. Walker had been working as his manager for years, giving her more experience with clients, castings, and bookings. 

I come from a long line of models. My grandmother and mother were models.”

She worked for the Actor's Center (Philadelphia) earlier this decade and also studied there under Rodney Rob and Boni Wolf. 

They took me under their wing. It was a hands-on education.”

Walker enables MMA's models and talent to advance their interests. Each individual that is signed is seen as someone who possesses the ability to succeed. Yes, a balance of effort and patience will be needed. But Walker works to help MMA's models and talent realize achievable goals. 

She underscored a unique advantage that Model Management Agency - MMA offers every represented talent.

Ellen is a truly amazing person. She's very dedicated and passionate. She loves what she does and I think that comes across in her work.”

The Star Factor

Walker's passion for helping people to advance was evident as she described actors and models who have the 'star' factor.

You can see this spark as they become the character. As far as acting is concerned, you can see it right away. Okay, this person has something. Successful models embody different skill sets.

Models are supposed to have a symmetrical face, be a certain size, a certain height. But even then you will always have that one special person who maybe just has an amazing walk, just a gorgeous face.

You always have that one person that just stands out and has the personality for it.”

Embracing your moment

Be prepared to make a sacrifice. Definitely be dedicated if it's something you really want. If it's a dream and a goal for you.” 

An effective booking agent helps careers to advance, which also includes learning how to handle rejection.

There are going to be times when you get frustrated. There are going to be times when you get no's. It doesn't mean it's time to give up. It just means it wasn't your moment.

Regardless of whether you are (just starting at) 70, or you are seven, you're going to have that audition where you just know that you got it. That point could be the beginning of a great career.

You have to be able to sacrifice. There are times when you want to give up and you can't.”

Fortune Walker has lived the advice she offers. The success she's achieved in her career is passed on.

My experience as a 'momanger', I refuse to just wait for an opportunity.”

Believe in the future

I enjoy it. I love the whole industry, the talent, the searching, the casting, the auditions, and the bookings for our talent. The thrill of everything about it.

I'm really happy to be working at MMA. I'm excited for the future with the talent and the agency,” Fortune Walker said.

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Inside Access: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
December 2, 2017
Game Time – 1 p.m.



Pregame

The Philadelphia Flyers (8-10-7, 23 points) are in last place in the Eastern Conference's Metropolitan Division). The Boston Bruins (11-8-4, 26 points) are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division.

The Flyers enter the afternoon home contest on a nine game winless streak. Ron Hextall's team stands seven points out of the wild card qualifying spot with plenty of schedule left to play.

The squad head coach Dave Hakstol has been given this season is very young on defense, has been affected by early-season injuries and Radko Gudas' 10-game suspension. 'Hak' was recently put on the hot seat by vocal Philly fans. He's the easy mark in what is actually another year in a franchise rebuild that could reasonably project to a serious playoff contender in 2019-20.

Hextall's inking of veteran goalie Brian Elliot and holdover backup backstop Michal Neuvirth to two-year deals (through next season) indicates the general manager's feel for the future. The progress of perceived top net prospect contenders Carter Hart (who will turn 20 on August 13, 2018) and Felix Sandstrom (who will turn 21 on January 12, 2018) may link to Philadelphia's next push for the ever elusive third Stanley Cup title.

First Period

Early power play yielded no result for the Flyers.

Wayne Simmonds and Kevan Miller fought at 11:31 into the period. Both combatants got their hits in. Five-minute majors were accessed.

Goal by Bruins' Ryan Spooner with 5:30 left in the period. 1-0 Boston.

Ivan Provorov – penalty later in the period.

Flyers were outshot 15-8 in the frame.

Second Period

Miller holding penalty at 2:08.

David Pastrnak gave the Bruins a 2-0 on an even-strength goal at 6:38.

Brad Marchand picked up an easy rebound goal at 10:44 to give Boston what felt like a commanding lead. At the time the Flyers had 15 shots with only a few legitimate scoring opportunities.

Claude Giroux wristed in a power play goal at 19:01. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy challenged goaltender interference by Wayne Simmonds on the play. Interference was confirmed, no goal. The crowd erupted differently then when it thought Giroux had scored.

Third Period

The slumping Flyers skated out to start the last 20 minutes knowing that they might not win, but at least needed to demonstrate effort to try and build momentum for their upcoming three-game road trip.

Tuukka Rask was having a relatively easy time of it in goal for the Bruins as the 10-minute remaining mark neared. That was true despite the fact that the Flyers had nearly tied the Bruins in shots (22-25).

Meanwhile, Elliot continued his generally steady play in net, as he also has during this season. Number 37 seemingly surrendered the Bruins' fourth goal of the game on an odd ricocheted shot that bounced over the shoulder of the Flyers' crease-keeper, who was screened on the play and never saw the puck coming. The play was reviewed and yielded a no-goal call due to a high stick.

The Flyers looked tired and disjointed during this period. A lack of experience continued to be evident on both sides of the ice, as positioning and coverage issues abounded.

Michael Raffl shot a puck over the net during a scrum with 6:37 left. He slumped his head, as did the team and its fans while the shutout persisted. The Flyers had been shutout five times so far this season.

Boston's Charlie McAvoy caused a high-sticking penalty to create a Flyers power play with 6:14 remaining. Nothing resulted.

David Krejci was called for high-sticking with 3:07 remaining, creating another Philadelphia pp. Hakstol's squad couldn't claim it lacked opportunities prior to the final horn sounding. 

The head coach pulled Elliot to apply extra pressure. No goal was scored. Elliot never returned to the net.

Another troubling loss telegraphed predictable postgame angst among Flyers' players and their on-ice boss.

Final score: Bruins 3 Flyers 0



Per the Flyers media relations department: The Flyers are now without a win in their last 10 games (0-5-5), which ties for the third-longest such streak in franchise history. The last time the Flyers went 11 without a win was during their franchise-record 12-game winless streak (0-8-4) from Feb. 24 – March 16, 1999. 

Postgame Quotes

Responses to media questions after the game:

Flyers G Brian Elliott



Brian would you say the two goals that Boston scored in the second period were the result of effort and hustle on their part?

We knew they have been a good face off team for years. Both kind of came from icings that we had and when you’re tired out there and they know what plays they are making, that’s kinda the result.

Kinda running out of different questions here, this seems like groundhog day these past ten, what can you guys find to change this?

I wish I had the answer we would be turning it around I guess, right? It’s getting tiring coming out here trying to explain a game or two, it’s about playing the game the right way and playing smart. I think we’re working really hard, but sometimes I think when you’re spinning your tires a little bit, nothing gets accomplished. We played a good team that has very good structure and if you don’t make the smart play every time they are gonna turn around and bring it the other way. We saw a lot of odd-man rushes that kinda resulted from plays like that.

Brian, you’ve been on the other end on some of those goaltender interference calls, when you looked up at the screen and saw the replay of Simmer did you say oh yeah we will get this one?

Yeah, I saw the one angle and I didn’t see anything. He was well outside the crease and I think he just had a good screen on him, but I didn’t see any other angles or anything, so it’s not my call, but we definitely could have used that one.

Does that reaffirm your belief that it’s really hard to gage what is goaltender interference and what’s not anymore?

Yeah, like I said I will have to watch it from a different angle, but yeah its gray and we gotta keep working to get these bounces here for us.

How much does that take the wind out of your sails when that one gets reversed?

You have to let it not take the wind out of your sails, we still had a power play after that and everything so we gotta just accept it and move on. If you get hung up looking at those things, saying what could have been, the game is gonna answer back.

I don’t know if you’ve been on a team that has had a streak like this before…inaudible…

It’s just having belief and sticking together, it’s not a magical recipe, it’s playing the game the right way. We have the personnel in here to do it, you gotta keep going. There’s no give up in this, that’s what I know for sure.

Can going out west help the team at this point?

We’re gonna use whatever we can I guess, but there are tough buildings that we’re gonna go into, we have to play. No one is going to hand us games, no one is feeling sorry for us right now, so it’s all in this room right here.

Flyers RW Jake Voracek


A huge loss like this becomes harder to find the answers.

“One hundred percent. It’s tough. It’s tough. Ten games you never thought you would be part of anything like that but nobody feels sorry for us. So we go on a tough west road trip. You just gotta make sure we grind out some points there. Obviously everything we touch right now turns to ****.”

You guys are accountable to each other but how much does that become more difficult as this rolls on here?

“It’s raw but like I said it is obviously a tough stretch but it’s long season. You just gotta start believing in ourselves a little bit more and play a little more free. I think right now especially the last two games I think we worked really hard but no results. You know what I mean. Just simplify things a bit and play with a little bit more joy. Which is obviously tough when we lose eight nine games but it’s something you have to find a way.”

When guys are working hard and not smart does that mean that you are getting out of the system?

“No they scored three goals today. The first one, mistake turnover. The second one, faceoff. Third one out of the scrum. Great play by their D. It’s simple, we didn’t score. You can’t win games if you don’t score. We scored one goal in two games. It’s tough.”

When the game was still scoreless. Coots made a good play create a power play for you guys. Simmers fight. Provy with the big hit. These are things when things are going well you can build momentum off of. When things are going like this does it build frustration that doesn’t get followed up from shifts to follow?
“I wouldn’t say it’s built frustration. It’s just something we haven’t done but I think we did today but like I said everything we touch it’s just bad. You know what I mean. Every mistake we make it’s in our net. We cannot score. Like I said we are in this together. Players, coaches we just gotta make sure we find a way to win some games and get on a streak here because it’s slipping away.”

Another example of a penalty taking you guys out of a power play today. Is that built frustration as lack of success on the power play that led to that?
“Yeah, obviously you don’t want to take penalties when you are on the power play. Sometimes it is bad luck sometimes it is a bad play. I think that play was a frustration today but I think overall we are taking to many penalties. Not only on our power play I think overall in every game. We had three games in a row when we took five six penalties it’s hard to contain.”

Flyers Head Coach Dave Hakstol


I guess that’s another case of working hard and not smart.

I don’t know what that means actually, I thought our effort level was good, the compete level was good. What got us in terms of the execution of the goals against we made mistakes and they took advantage of those mistakes. I don’t think you can just roll it into one ball of wax and say we worked hard, but not smart. There were mistakes that led to the goals, but our team did work hard, continued to work hard through the 60 minutes and obviously that’s not what we came here for it’s about two points and we didn’t get those.

Looking at Gostisbehere’s penalty, he said he was just trying to play, how do you see that?

I don’t want to get into a debate on the penalty calls or anything like that, I don’t want to get in debate on all the individual calls, you know what I mean, trying to make a hard play obviously the refs thought that it was a penalty and that’s the call that he made.

I don’t think the question is so much about the validity of the penalty, but whether it was out of frustration as a opposed to one of those so called hard-working penalties, was he trying to even the score from the hit Marchand had on him earlier? 

Well there’s probably a little bit of that there at that time of game I would rather he make a different choice, I’ll leave it at that.

On Boston’s two second period goals, how much of that was effort, outworking you guys on those two goals, and how much of that was due to the fact that you iced the puck and you’re coming back and maybe had some tired guys out there?

Both stem from icings that we’d like to avoid and then they’re different plays from there, one’s a faceoff playoff that we get beat off the wall to a puck in the middle of the rink and then the second one is a coverage out of a scrum on the half wall in our zone. We have four guys in on that pile and we should have three on the pile and two on the outside of it.

On the disallowed goal, did you get an explanation right away on that?

Not right away, but I did get the explanation on it, yes.

Like after the period or something?

Yeah at the appropriate time, the refs aren’t supposed to come right over after a call like that so they followed the process the right way. If you’re asking about it from me it’s a good goal on the ice, it’s an awful close play when I look at it biased of our side, but I think it’s one of those it’s too close to overturn, they felt differently on it and that’s the call that they made.
  
You might’ve seen him [Wayne] clip him [Rask] but he was pretty close to out of the crease is that what you saw?

There’s a lot I don’t want to get into the details of it, that’s what I felt, I don’t want to get into the details of why I felt that way, again I don’t want to get into a referendum [on the officiating].

Is it difficult to get into the details cause the rules kind of floating around out there right now?

Yeah, I don’t want to get into it, I’m not trying to avoid it – that’s not the part of this game that we control so I’ll answer the questions on the things that we do control.

Dave when you’re going through a stretch like this do you have to balance between pulling the positives out of the game and accentuating some of the negatives without having the players feel the negativity, do you know what I mean?

I think you gotta do both, you gotta deal with things straight up as they are, you gotta deal with them directly and evenly and that’s the only approach.

What’s the thought process in the third behind benching TK?

Well he wasn’t benched, he did get on the ice. But that ice time is a little bit earned as well in terms of, we put together a unit that could allow us to switch up the matchup against Bergeron, obviously to free up Coots’s line a little bit more on that. The mix was put together after that with kind of a top nine in mind and a bottom three and TK was in the bottom three at that point in time.

Have you seen a difference between the play in the last two games versus the play in the first eight, a lot of those games were toss ups, these two obviously haven’t been.

I thought the other night was a tired hockey game for us, tonight we had opportunities in the second that change the complexion of this game and they scored on a couple of their good opportunities, to that point it’s a very close hockey game. Once we get into the third instead of having that injection of life that our bench needed at that point with a late power play goal, we gotta come in and try to climb out of a 3-nothing hole and we couldn’t do that tonight.

A couple players said that getting out on the road for a while might be a good change of pace, do you say that might be the case?

That’s the reality of the schedule, the Western Canadian swing is not an easy one, but it’s a good time for us to go out and challenge ourselves to push in the right direction. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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