This post is a brief, informal, and anecdotal exploration into that question’s answer and how that answer is reached.

My Assumptions Are: brilliance should be embraced; “embrace” may mean guidance but not directives or manipulation; a positive and constructive approach is always possible; and a child can learn and will benefit from doing things for themselves.

Tarantino-ing Forward: Menna says, “Now I’m angry and sad AND happy!  Do you know what that means?  I’M VERY CONFUSED!” [Cue: laughing passers-by]

Rewind: I expect Menna to engage the road to acting fully.  The purpose is two-fold—to ensure she learns as much as possible and, as a test, to ensure she is willing as evident by her active engagement.  This played out some months ago when, on a ‘let’s go to the office and work on the acting project’ day, I asked that Menna read my previous Representing D.C. posts.

“But wait,” you say, “she’s only 5 and you expect her to read your blog?!”  Precisely!  And, as if to prove my point, she was recently promoted to sit-in as a 1^st-grader after only a month in kindergarten because she, “already knows how to read, write, and do math.”

She did not want to read the posts.  To which I replied, “Okay.”  And so life went on and a few months passed and I did not do the ‘agent-thing’ on her behalf.

Act II: Near the beginning of this month and unbeknownst to me, Menna inquired with Mom whether I would start working with her on the acting-thing.  Mom said she should ask.  Menna decided to do an audition… and then ask.

Menna and I were strolling along the road back to my apartment after a day of hanging-out in D.C.  We approached a bridge.  She asks, “Are we going to cross that bridge?”  With a waggish half-smile I reply, “I think yes, that’s the plan.”  She stated, “I don’t want to,” with a scornful look and I asked why.  To wit she replied, “Because bridges make me angry!”  Knowing full well a ruse was on its way I tried to contain my laughter, saying only, “okay.”

As we stepped foot on the bridge and for the remainder of our time on that bridge, Menna put on her audition… “I’m angry now!”  “Oh, I am just so angry!”  “You—why do you—I just am so angry with you!”  “You always do this and it is just—OHH, how you just don’t care and that’s just making me more ANGRY!”  Passers-by looked, were startled, and then smiled.

The Grand Finale: A group of about five college-aged kids were stepping off a bus and walking toward us from about 20-30 yards away.  The three girls in the group had noticed Menna’s behavior.  Stepping first foot off the bridge, Menna planted, did a ¼ turn and planted her second foot.  Staring straight at me, arms set at her sides, then raising one for emphasis, she proclaimed emphatically, “Now I’m angry and sad AND happy!  Do you know what that means?  I’M VERY CONFUSED!” [Cue: uproarious laughter from me and three college-aged women now only 10 feet away]

The Ask: After a short walk we reached halfway from the end of the bridge and the apartment.  Menna, strolling calmly and in a gentle voice inquired, “So, will you help me become an actress again?”

Concluding, Menna and I are now exactly where we need to be and ready to move forward.  In case you were wondering how I concluded that…

I have recently arrived at the idea that people are almost universally born brilliant and only taught their limitations by parents and schools, etc.  I am not referring to the rules we learn like “don’t swim for an hour after you eat.”  I think actually that these limitations are taught to children insidiously and unconsciously—as in, when adults act surprised and humored by a child who says or does something we think is a happy chance occurrence of adult understanding rather than a fertile mind at work.  Or, when we don’t expect children to take things on and ask for help; when we take their expressed interest and embrace it by doing things for them and then are surprised and disappointed when they become less interested.  I believe that last approach is setting-up a child for failure and is often followed by a parent or mentor’s expression of disappointment with the child or outright chastisement.

Rather, I embrace Menna’s brilliance by expecting Menna to embrace her own journey.  I expect her to do things for herself and I will always be there to help her when she asks or when she needs counsel but is unsure to ask.  I do this despite the maybe-popular view that it is expecting too much.  Thankfully, Menna has provided evidence supporting this approach through her actions.

Disclaimer: I recognize my views may be skewed by the fact that Menna is brilliant and mean no offense to anyone who disagrees with me.

The following ten questions and responses are based on a similar list of ten sent as suggestions:

• The likelihood of your success is seriously inhibited by your locations, so why not move to Los Angeles?

For Menna, this isn’t an option.  She hasn’t yet started her “career” and this is the location of Mom’s employment, friends, and family members, which are examples of reasons against a move.

For me, this isn’t a matter of making a career in entertainment agency, so a move to L.A. on those grounds isn’t in the cards.

That said, I’m not saying “never” move, because I’m no soothsayer and future possibilities are just that.  Certainly, for most who “make it” reaching the pinnacle of their career brings them to L.A. at some point.

• Does Menna have a portfolio and does her resume include or is it planned to include acting classes?

Menna and I have worked together to put some photos together and that’s it so far.  I think it’s important and she is excited to do something very soon though, so acting classes are in the works.

For example: Drama Kids offers classes in Maryland and Virginia, Drama Leaarning Center offers nearby educational opportunities, and possible camps are listed at Kidstreet News.

• Has she/you hired a commercial agent?

No.  Right now it’s Menna, Mom, and me.  It’s a bit early yet but outside assistance will be sought as necessary and appropriate.

• What are your plans for getting Menna needs to drive her to auditions?

Mom will be primarily responsible for transportation.  However, Menna has an extensive family network in the area—grandparents, uncles, cousins, etc.—who would be available if necessary.  I will be available on weekends as needed.

• If you stay in D.C., what kind of opportunities are you expecting for Menna—are they limited to movie auditions or spots as an extra on TV shows?  Have you looked into local theater opportunities?

I believe a big aspect of being in a market like D.C. is to remain as flexible as possible.

I have looked into local theater opportunities and Menna and I even attended a very nice show at the new Harman Center recently.  This area is not short-handed on child-oriented theater as a quick Google search reveals.

• What role do you anticipate serving after she builds up her resume and can get paying gigs?

I anticipate my role to be as her agent.  I understand that as a minor, Menna cannot be bound by any agreement with me; there is no problem on my end if she is wildly successful and decides to hire someone else.  For certain issues, I will have a separate agreement with Mom.  One such issue is that I wish to see that most of whatever profit accrued over the course of this venture goes toward Menna’s education; see: Representing D.C.—This is {Agency}. There are rules.

• Given that Menna is only 5 years old, how are you addressing child labor laws?

D.C. does not have child-specific laws for acting, etc. and I will look at the rules in CA and NY in a future post, so for now I’ll leave this teaser: D.C. Youth Employment Rules and Guidelines (you’ll have to follow the links a few steps to find anything substantial).

• What’s your approach to using the internet for moving Menna forward (I hope it doesn’t include putting her on YouTube, which I think is exploitative and too risky!)?

Extreme caution!  And no, YouTube is not slated as a promotional tool.  The only web-content available so far is on this site and on a family-owned photography site I have hosted my photos on for years and have a high-level of respect for: Smugmug.

• Are you interested in becoming a Hollywood agent where there are consistent opportunities and a chance at a career for Menna?  If so, do you understand the path which is probably to start out as an assistant and work your way up (and the high level of time and commitment that entails?)?

That is not currently in my plans nor do I expect my plans will change; and yes, I understand it can be very difficult.  The present endeavor is for Menna’s benefit and not being engaged as a stepping-stone for my personal advancement.

• You must know this a tremendous long shot if you’re not based in LA—what about New York City, NY where at least there is a substantial amount of movies and TV shows shot locally (by the way: they use locals to fill those roles)?

Yes.  And, I could see making trips to NY or even relocating if this started snowballing into something big.  As yet, I believe such considerations are premature.

Oh yes, and with regard to the idea that this is a tremendous long shot, I will part with the following quote:

“The Difficult is that which can be done immediately; the Impossible that which takes a little longer.” –George Santayana

For those interested in who I am: biographical information.

We are both in Washington, D.C.

This is the first post of “Representing D.C.,” an ongoing piece about Menna and my endeavor to help her realize her young acting dream.  Throughout the series, I will take some liberty and cover aspects and issues arising from talent-representation along the way such as one might find covered in this EntertainmentAgentBlog’s Entertainment Law and Entertainment Business sections, etc.

And now, a brief look at the setting of this story, i.e. the target market:

Not many associate D.C. with music, acting, and assorted other performing arts. I believe this is largely because of its relatively small population compared to other, well-known locales like New York City and Los Angeles. The media infrastructure does not loom large—there’s no Hollywood sign, Broadway plays, or Grand Ole Opry. And D.C. is, of course, a political city. However, according to the always-venerable (wink-wink) Wikipedia, the D.C. “metro area […] is the eighth largest designated market area in the U.S.”

D.C. has a long history of providing a home for artists—from the long-standing home and storied stomping grounds for jazz artists such as Ellington, Armstrong, and Holiday (the U Street corridor)—to the home of the National Symphony Orchestra (The Kennedy Center) to the lesser-known theater-houses such as Sidney Harman Hal (The Shakespeare Theatre) to the White House itself. And while most of D.C.’s media is news-driven, it’s popularity as a location for films is in a resurgence as evidenced by the following films recently shot here: The Bourne Ultimatum, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Transformers, Get Smart, and Burn After Reading. It’s a similar story for Television shows. And let’s not forget that Chocolate City is where the funky Go-go got started.

One might say D.C. is politics from the start, but still got art in its heart.