Showing posts with label Fashion Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fashion Week. Show all posts

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.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Model Management Agency - MMA: Amanda Talijan Lights Up London

Model Management Agency - MMA is recognized as one of the most respected talent agencies in the Philadelphia and Tri-State area since it was founded in 1989.

Amanda Talijan @Mandsmania, one of MMA's many successful models, leads her blog with an adapted quote, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." 
Talijan's selection of Norman Vincent Peale's famous motivational lines smartly matches her persistently positive outlook. This New Jersey native has also demonstrated that she recognizes one of life's greatest challenges. 
Everyone's individual equation is established through their natural gifts. The manner in which each person chooses to develop and use their talents directs us toward solutions. Answers are then creatively discovered along the way. 
Someone who's born in New Jersey doesn't just happen to begin her modeling career in Philadelphia, appear in Fashion Week in New York and then move to London in less than two years time. Luck wasn't a deciding factor in this instance. Instead, a strong person, who has a good family, built solid friendships and is blessed with the right career connections, created her uniquely inspiring real-life story. 
From the beginning 
Talijan was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey in 1990. She grew up less than twenty minutes north in the same-state town of Belvedere. 
Her parents (Sharlenee and Gary) fully supported her choice to attend Millersville University after graduating from Notre Dame Catholic High School in 2009. So, with an impressive volleyball scholarship packed in her suitcase and focused dedication secured within her character, she began to pursue a Masters Degree in Psychology. 
"My parents have always supported me and my sisters ( Gabby, 20 and Maddie, 17). They instilled the idea that no matter what we do, we should commit to doing our best and make sure to do it 100%. I've taken that same approach toward my career. 
"I remember from a very young age that I would have conversations with people and they would explain how they felt emotionally at that moment. I always found myself wanting to understand why people felt the way that they did. Studying psychology helps me to understand more about human nature," Talijan said. 
Even though she enjoyed the subject matter, Talijan didn't feel that career path fit her current aspirations. By the spring of 2012, a meeting helped to open a new door. 
Gary Talijan was attending a dinner party when he showed a photo of his family to a friend who referred him to Ellen Wasser-Hrin (the Founder and Director of MMA/ Model Management Agency). Gary relayed the advice he received to Amanda, who was in her third year of college, and a new career was set to begin. 
Recognizing her path 
"When I chose to leave school I had this weird feeling that I wanted to do something else. But, I wasn't sure of the direction that I wanted to go in. And then I met Ellen and everything fell into place. I felt like I was at peace. I adore her. I walked out of her office and I felt that modeling was what I was meant to do next in my life," Talijan said. 
Model Management Agency - MMA began serving as Talijan's mother agency. That vital business decision allowed this model's career options to flourish. 
"I started modeling at an age where most people's careers have peaked, or are almost over. So, there were definitely times when I thought that I was so much older than everyone else when I started out. 
"Using my experiences has helped me to reason, understand and accept the ups and downs of my career. So, I really think that it benefited me to start my career later in life," Talijan said. 
Positive parental influence 
"I sat down with my parents and we talked about finishing school, or leaving and choosing to pursue a modeling career. I really put a lot of thought into the pros and cons of everything and it just played out in a way that everything happens for a reason and this is the next step. 
"My parents realized that I was taking a huge risk. But, when they met Ellen they connected with her and understood why I had such a positive outlook on this new journey. 
"Ellen is such a spiritual person. She has been in the industry for many years and is still so true to who she is. That's what gave me a positive start and without that, I probably wouldn't have continued on with this journey at all," Talijan said. 
Inside the industry 
"Modeling is an art form and the industry is so much more than being tall, thin and pretty," Talijan said. 
That statement makes what this 5' 8 1/2" model has already accomplished that much more impressive. Her rapid ascent in a highly-competitive world hasn't happened by chance. 
After working a variety of bookings through the summer of 2012, New York City was alive with her name on one particular fall day.
"I began building my book and getting the vibe of the industry. I spoke to Ellen and shared with her that I was ready to make the move to New York. Based upon my age and experience, she totally supported my decision," Talijan said. 
On her birthday (September 27, 2012) Wasser-Hrin accompanied Talijan to the Big Apple. By day's end she had contracts with a commercial agency and a high-fashion agency. 
Talijan moved to New York and appeared in presentations at Fashion Week in January 2013. She followed in the footsteps of Kate Moss and Cara Delavingne, who also stood under the traditional six foot model mark. Like those famous ladies, she also helped to break tradition. 
"At that point it was starting to get a little overwhelming. I was looking at these girls who were so much taller than me. But, I was there and doing it. So, I wanted to give it all that I had. 
"The way that it happened (in New York) was meant to be," Talijan said. 
A self-made business plan 
"After Fashion Week was over, I left the city and moved back home but continued to go on castings and book work in both New York and Philadelphia. 
What sets winners apart from those who settle for past glory is persistence and a belief in tomorrow. So, after doing a few Look books between March and May a life-changing opportunity stood dead ahead. 
"I've always kept notes. Every three months I make a list of what I've accomplished and compare it to what I've done previously. I keep track of whether I'm progressing in all areas of my life. 
"It's important to remember the positive and negative things and to not forget the little things," Talijan said. 
In transferring her experiences and hopes to physical form, Talijan was able to see a clear picture. After conferring with her mother at the beginning of August, she decided to give herself another year to see how she felt. 
London calls 
Talijan was five hours away from New York City, visiting a friend one weekend, when she received a call from her agent. She was asked to meet with London-based Lenis Model Management the next day. 
She got up at 4 a.m., drove to her agent's office, and later met with the London agency at a hotel in downtown Manhattan. 
The agent asked if Talijan had her passport and wanted to get the ball rolling. With Wasser-Hrin by her side, the atmosphere was set for the next chapter in this story to be lived. 
"I remember walking out of the room and getting in the elevator and Ellen giving me a big hug and telling me how amazing it was. (Model Management Agency - MMA then signed her with the agency in London.) 
"We call Ellen my guardian angel. She has such a good understanding of the industry. Having her by my side through all of this and being able to bounce ideas off her is great. The relationship that I have with her, I really could not be more thankful. 
"My main goal was to travel and to work in another country. It was mind-blowing that it was all happening so quickly," Talijan said. 
She flew to London on August 28, 2013. The next day she had six castings and is now working steadily. 
Wise advice 
"I feel there are so many things that you can assume about a person when you look at a picture. 
"I've made it my priority to not be Amanda the model. When I'm working, I choose to be Amanda the person. It's so much more than who you are and what you are doing," Talijan said. 
Clearly a skilled multi-tasker, she continues to pursue her Masters Degree in Psychology while working full-time as a model. Her inspiring story is far from finished, but this portion of it ends with sound advice. 
"No matter where you decide to go, it's important to know why you are doing what you are doing. Make sure that whatever you are doing makes you a better version of yourself. And, it's always important to remember who you are," Talijan said.

(My feature originally appeared on Yahoo's Voices platform in 2014.)


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