Conover Life Magazine featuring Hickory Arts
Take a Turn in the Spotlight With Help From Hickory ArtsTwo Conover residents using experience in entertainment industry to help others hone their acting and musical talents.
Information provided by Hickory Arts
Hollywood of the East. That's what Wilmington was called years ago. It still might be as there is an enormous amount of casting, general business and filming that takes place in that port city. But today, the touch of Hollywood and its bright lights is all over our area — closer than some think. Atlanta is home to many movie film crews as well as television hits such as "The Walking Dead." Wilmington still lays claim to "Revolution," "Under the Dome" and more recently, "Sleepy Hollow." And Charlotte is the faux Langley for Showtime's "Homeland."
What does this mean for Conover? For one local couple, it means the opportunity to use their experience and training to help those with stars in their eyes. Almost two years ago, Conover residents Jeff and Carol Anne Hartman said a prayer, held their breath and, still feeling the pain of the recession, opened an arts training studio.
Hickory Arts, located on the edge of downtown Hickory, offers private and group training in acting, various instruments, voice and song writing. They employ more than 10 instructors and work with students who range from complete beginners to those who are finely honing their talent. In addition, all instructors have real-world experience in the sessions they teach, including the Hartmans who currently work on a film crew for a Mark Burnett company.
"It just made sense," Jeff said of their decision to open the studio. "We'd both been teaching here and there for years — a decade even. We have the knowledge and the equipment to help, so why not? We also have such an enormous love of the craft and the students. That's what drives us to be different than any other studio in the area."
Jeff is referring to the odd way they do business. They limit the number of students any one teacher can have. Why? "Because the students and the level of attention they get matter. Each student is different and has different goals. If we load our instructors up on students, there's no way we could provide the kind of custom training we are passionate about," Carol Anne said.
Hickory Arts' goal is to get each individual student from Point A to Point B — whatever that might be. For a singer/songwriter, that may be an album of his or her own songs. For an actor, it might be a successful audition with no stage-fright. Or could it be as simple as learning to play the piano at your next holiday gathering. They are breaking from the traditional volume method of a business and focusing on the product and those using it.
Back to our little slice of Hollywood. Technology has made it possible for people from almost anywhere to dip their toes in the pool. A large number of auditions these days happen online. The actor is sent sides (a scene from the script) and recording instructions. He or she then films the audition and sends it in. It's as easy as that. Or is it? Casting directors see hundreds of submissions. If yours is not well-lit, the audio is poor, you just don't come out of the gate with a bang, or you over do it, your audition is discarded.
Hickory Arts aims to solve these problems for potential actors. Not only do they offer private and group training for actors, young and old, they also have a photo/video studio where they capture headshots, personality reels and audition videos. Not to leave out the voice talent, recording musicians and voiceovers is another feature offered at the studio.
"On the surface, it seems so easy to get an acting job, but if you are the guy that's overacting; if you're the one with the too-dark headshot; if your audition tape is in your zebra-print living room, your audition won't be seen past the first few seconds. They will look right over you," Jeff said. It does seem so easy, but there is also hard work, training and quality that can make it an easier road to walk.
Offering group classes for those as young as 5, Hickory Arts teaches the terminology and explores emotions and how to portray them. They work on-on-one with stage and film actors to really hone their skills and develop deep, meaningful characters. A few teens they have worked with are in Los Angeles furthering their studies and continuing to grow, audition and work.
Why should you care about performing arts as a skill for you or your child? According to the Hartmans, theater and film are a form of art that involves beneficial skills that you can carry throughout your life. Both forms of this performing art also teach collaboration and trust, valuable skills for anyone.
First, some of the useful skills you can learn through performing arts are compassion, recognizing emotions in others to better handle a situation, healthy expression of emotions and creativity. In addition, appreciation for others involved in the production also encourages appreciation in other areas of life. Second, there are many, many parts that need to come together to accomplish one goal: the production. Not only actors, but set designers, construction, lighting, costumes, stage hands, camera people, sound people, directors, musicians, hair and make-up artists and so many more have to collaborate smoothly for the finished product to be a success. Learning to "play nice with others" is an invaluable life lesson that comes from any involvement in performing arts. And let's not forget that for those who are drawn to performing arts, it's just fun. Whether it's acting, singing, playing an instrument or any number of other creative outlets, Hickory Arts is providing instruction and guidance for the artists in our area. They will help you light the path if you'd like to test the waters of our East Coast Hollywood yourself. For more information about Hickory Arts, visit their website at hickoryarts.com, visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/hickoryarts or call 828-270-9801.
Getting Started
It can be tough navigating the waters of the entertainment industry, but Hickory Arts can offer guidance. Hickory Arts is a teaching and production studio dedicated to cultivating up-and-coming artists of all types and ages through a network of working and teaching artists; musicians, actors, singer/songwriters, composers, publishers, filmmakers, playwrights, photographers, dancers and more. Here are some tips for getting your first opportunity or getting a foot in the door:• Actors will need an agent that will find and submit you for roles.
• Your agent will require good quality headshots and possibly a personality reel (for kids). You may also be asked to film a monologue.
• Search the web for"extras casting. "This is the perfect way to get your feet wet.
• Like these pages on Facebook to find out about extra roles that you can submit to via email: "Revo Casting Calls" and "NCasting."
• Audition for roles with The Green Room or Hickory Theatre.
• If you would like training or more specific guidance, contact Hickory Arts at info@hickoryarts.com or 828-270-9801
— Information provided by Hickory Arts
