June 25, 2010

Wendy Yang Bailey was a teenage model/actress in Hong Kong and a clothing designer in New York City. Now she hopes to become a role model in Mooresville.She’s launching the Kinetix School of Acting and Modeling next month for young people, from teens to 25-year-olds.

Bailey, 28, says the vast majority of teenagers discovered in malls and told they could be “the next big thing” get ripped off. Enticed by the promise of stardom, families invest thousands of dollars on acting and modeling classes that lead nowhere.Bailey met Kinetix co-founder Sonny Kong, a professional stage actor from Charlotte, while both worked as instructors for a high-priced talent school franchise based in California. Within weeks, they grew discouraged developing lesson plans with little guidance from the school, as well as seeing students charged extra fees for things like textbooks and headshots.

The intent behind Kinetix was creating a fun, rigorous and creative environment for students with all the costs up front, Bailey said.Their eight-week program costs $1,575, which includes a professional headshot, resume, portfolio and digital demo reel. Classes will be held on Saturdays beginning July 10 at ImaginOn in uptown Charlotte.

While the Kinetix School of Acting and Modeling won’t give false hope of Hollywood success, Bailey and Kong can guarantee students will make connections within the Charlotte arts community.Students will learn from the likes of Michael Simmons, artistic director for Carolina Artists Student Theatre in Charlotte; make-up artist Lisa Her of Blue Kiss Studios in Charlotte; and costume designer Shawnelle Cherry of Future Fashion Designers in Mooresville.

The class concludes with a fashion show at Carolina Place Mall in Charlotte, followed by a showcase attended by agents and directors from across the region.Aside from acting and modeling techniques, Bailey and Kong hope to boost students’ confidence. “We essentially want to teach them how to shine in their natural light – how to own a room by walking into it, not by doing anything superfluous, just by being themselves,” Kong said.

Source

http://www.carolinaweeklynewspapers.com/story/20100625/former-model-starting-acting-modeling-school