"Come, Follow Me!: A Tale of a Fish Story" movie short featuring Kayla and Kenna Valadez

Kayla and her sister Kenna had an opportunity to create a movie short for Treasure Island at their church. Kayla and Kenna enjoyed the production of this short film to include learning the script, producing the project,staging, special affects, and helping with the edits. We hope you enjoy this story about Jesus and how he recruited his disciples to share the greatest story ever told.

"Something is Under My Bed" Monologue

Kayla enjoyed learning and practicing a monologue she has adapted in her first on-line production. She recently purchased "Magnificent Monologues for Kids" written by Chambers Stevens, which she reviewed and gave it "two thumbs up!"

We hope you enjoy this clip, she had fun acting in it.

"El Nacional" Movie Covered in the Houston Chronicle

Director Baldemar Rodriguez and Kayla Valadez on Set, Photo by Julio Cortez for the Houston Chronicle

"El Nacional" was written about in the June 9, 2009 edition of the Houston Chronicle.

Read the article here: "El Nacional", article by Jenalia Moreno

Director Baldemar Rodriguez Place Boom Mic on Set of "El Nacional", Photo by Julio Cortez for the Houston Chronicle

Photo Shoot Friday, Updating Kayla's Headshots

Kayla enjoyed her photo shoot today with J. Heiliger Photography (www.JHeiliger.com). The photographer did an incredible job, we will post some of his work on-line, when the photos are ready for viewing.

Book: Magnificent Monologues for Kids

So, your kid wants to be an actor? Kayla can attest that it is hard work, but having the right training and studying the craft is essential. Kayla is getting ready for the summer and is scheduled to meet with her photographer this week to re-shoot her headshots and recently got this book "Magnificent Monologues for Kids" in preparation for her next audition.

She turns 9 in June and her agency recommends that kids her age, have two monologues memorized - one humorous and the other serious. A monologue is a short recitation of scene or story, usually longer than two or three minutes in duration. It offers a casting director the opportunity to evaluate an actor's range and breadth of their acting skills.

Kayla got the book from Amazon by UPS yesterday and quickly thumbed through the pages to find the ones she liked the most. The book also gives many audition tips and has monologues for girls and boys. She read a few to her parents out loud and they agree, they are incredible.

Memorizing lines is difficult, but with practice it can be done. Critical to the delivery is the acting that goes into it (most casting directors are looking for that spark, that makes the difference). She plans to shoot her lines on video and will post the clips on-line for your review. She is already thinking about her character and puts herself into the situation to make the lines come alive. All actors should.

Kayla recommends this book to all actors and actresses.



Buy today!

Actors from "El Nacional" Movie Visit Kayla

Left to right: Abel Becerra, Jeremy Becerra, Kayla, Shaina Sandoval, and Kenna Valadez

Kayla enjoys hanging out with her actor friends. This weekend, fellow actors and on screen family Jeremy Becerra who plays brother "Alex" and Shaina Sandoval who plays her sister "Angelica" were town to shoot "El Nacional" (www.ElNacionalMovie.com/). Abel Becerra, Jeremy's dad, is also an actor and appeared in "August Evening" as "Victor" with his son who played "Gabe." Kenna is Kayla's real sister and joined in on the photo shoot.

The new movie trailer for "El Nacional" is now streaming at the movie website, but we have provided the player link here for your viewing.

Archangels Creator Patrick Scott

Kayla meets Patrick Scott, creator of the successful comic book series "Archangels." Mr. Scott is working on an animated feature film for the tween market, based on his first series of 9 books called "Archangels: The Saga." Interestingly, this comic book not only appeals to boys 10 and older, but also girls 8 and older. Kayla loves the illustrations, the story, and the quality of the comic and wants a "voice over" role in the feature film. Patrick says, "I have to give that some thought." Kayla became a fan of the epic after receiving copies from her dad who had met Mr. Scott years before and recently ran into him again. "I am really excited about the potential of the teen film and the uplifiting and dynamic message that is sure to make the 'tween' market more aware of eternal decisions and consequences," says Kayla's dad.