Testimonials from young actors

and their parents...

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I have attended YPS Boot Camp for 3 years and learned more than I could ever put down on paper.  We got to go to TV tapings and I was able to audition for several shows.  I even had the chance to work on a movie.  My favorite thing about Boot Camp is that I made such good friends.  I still talk to the girls I lived with.  After rooming with them we really became sisters.  When I graduate from high school I plan to live in LA.  After being out there for Boot Camp and living there for weeks, I know what to expect and it won't be as scary for me.  I think anyone who is serious about acting should attend Boot Camp.  You will have a chance to learn from some great instructors and see if you are ready to commit yourself to acting.  YPS Boot Camp is hard work, but it's totally worth it.
Cori Lynn Ross 16 years old
 
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To Whom It May Concern,

My two kids have participated in Boot Camp for the past 5 years.  The intensive acting workshops, field trips, casting director showcases and auditions have helped them improve much quicker than just taking classes once a week throughout the year.  

Donnajeanne and her staff have a wonderful relationship with the kids.  This means they are able to learn and have fun at the same time.  Some of the friends my kids made at Boot Camp years ago have become their best friends. My son who is now 18 years old is even looking at apartments with two of the boys he met at Boot Camp.

Living with each other for weeks and exploring the emotions required for acting helps the kids bond really quickly. Students come from all over the country with different backgrounds, different races and different religions, but by the end of the session they are like brothers and sisters.

I can't thank Donnajeanne and her instructors enough for all they have done for my kids.  In addition to all they have learned, they also feel like they have a second family in California.  It's very comforting to know your kids are not out there alone.

Shannon Ross
Jordan and Cori's Mom
Fort Worth, Texas
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To Whom It May Concern,
Nathan participated in Young Performer's Bootcamp in the summer of 2004.  It got him off to a great start in learning basic knowledge of the auditioning/acting process as well as developing his talents through receiving feedback from scene work, monologues, etc.  Donnajeanne and the other instructors affirmed him and built his confidence as he honed his skills during the Bootcamp and subsequent acting classes.  Nathan had fun and grew in a nurturing environment, whether at the studio taking classes, during weekend workshop intensives, or just "hanging out" at Donnajeanne's house between auditions!
Allison Kress 
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When I was just 6 years old, my father accompanied me to L.A. for the YPS summer boot camp program and  I had a great summer getting an agent, auditioning, booking jobs and swimming in the pool with other actors, all from Washington that first summer of 1996 and then in 1997 as well. By 1998, we had boot campers from other states joining us and I have spent part of every summer in L.A. with YPS, training and developing my skills along with actors from all over the U.S. This will be my first summer that I don't attend boot camp since I am graduating form high school this June and will be visiting Japan before I start college in L.A. this fall.

 

Young Performers Studio has been a very important part of my life the past ELEVEN years.  I have grown as an actor and an individual and I have many wonderful friendships with other actors throughout the U.S. Not only did we learn the craft of acting but many of us learned a great deal about life and independent living.  Swimming in the pool, hanging out at Universal Studios and Knotts Berry Farm, performing our songs and skits at STUNT NITE, memorizing monologues and commercials, stretching ourselves in improv, and just having fun are all part of boot camp and I am glad it has been a part of my life.

Casey Floresca

Seattle, April 2008

 


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I heard about YPS boot camp from another actor in Georgia so I did an internet search and was able to apply and get into boot camp last summer at the last minute. Life is an adventure and YPS has been one of the best adventures in my life. I have learned from many great acting instructors, got an agent and remained in L.A. after boot camp. I have been successfully auditioning, getting callbacks and booking so I am very glad my friend told me about YPS.

Christopher Marshall, age 15

Atlanta, Georgia  April 2008

 

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My family and I met Donnajeanne at a workshop in Atlanta, GA in 2004.  At
the time, my kids were 10, 7, and 3 years old.   My 7 year old boy was the
only one that was acting at the time.  My 10 year old boy didn't have
enough self-confidence to act but enjoyed watching the classes.  My 3 year
old little girl was much too shy.  By the end of the workshop, Donnajeanne
had all 3 children learning how to act out scenes and how to audition for
a commercial.  Our whole family loved her right away.  She believed in our
children so much that she helped us pay for a trip to California to give
acting a shot.  The kids loved doing her boot camps and going on trips
with the kids from the classes.  They enjoyed it so much that we moved to
California.  We have been in California for almost 4 years now and still
take classes from Donnajeanne.  The kids still love the boot camps and
especially Donnajeanne and her daughter Rachel.  Between the three kids,
they have booked over 4 dozen commercials, 4 Guest Star roles on major TVshows,  over half a dozen co-star and recurring roles on major TV shows,
lead roles in feature films and student films.  Ours is truly a success
story all because of Donnajeanne.

                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                Twila Whitlock,March 2008

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YPS introduced me to the acting industry in L.A. My experience in  LA with the YPS summer boot camp showed me what obstacles I needed to overcome in order to further my acting career. YPS provided some good classes which I learned from. Summer boot camp also gave me the opportunity to show case my work. Today, one year after attending  2005 YPS summer boot camp, I have been accepted into a Yale University summer acting program, landed the lead role in a film and have an agent in Seattle.
Sincerely,
     Maya Lord ~ Seattle, Washington

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Donnajeanne-It was so nice seeing you again.  Thanks for sharing some of your very precious time with us.  We are so glad to have Micah in your very capable hands.  Mitchell really wants Micah to come out again for pilot season, so we'll be praying about the right time to do so.   He seemed to be pleased to be working with you again through Micah.... Enjoy the rest of your week!!  Barbara & Mark
                    Nashville, Tennessee ~ August 2006

 

Hi Donnajeanne,
 
Makayla and I just wanted to say, Thank you for hosting Tom Logan's workshop this past weekend in Seattle... 
 
WOW..     Tom is wonderful. He really knows his stuff and had a great way of explaining the process of the business to the students so they could understand it and apply it to their auditioning skills....
(we haven't laughed that hard and for that long in a while... Tom is just hilarious and I loved & appreciated  the sense of humor he brought to the Acting world)
 
We purchased both his books and are looking forward on reading them..
 
Talk with you soon,
Kelly & Makayla Markezinis
Seattle, Washington
June 2007
 
The following are endorsements written in 1999-2001
  • “One of the hardest-working managers in the business is Donnajeanne Goheen. She has a hands-on , no-nonsense but nurturing style, of working with kids and their parents and it makes a difference. That’s why the kids under her wing soar as quickly and high as they do!”
  • Parent of 11 year old girl 

 

  • “I never expected to learn as much and grow as much as an actor in such a short time. It’s been very exciting to audition and have callbacks and to actually work on set twice in just two months in L.A. I have also learned about living with and accepting other people -- 
  • SS, 14-year old boy

 

  • “We are so thankful for you! You work so hard for everyone else also. You and Rachel are both so sweet and helpful!” 
  •  Parent of 6-year old girl

 

  • “I miss my parents, but I like the feeling of independence when I am with you. There’s not much for me as an actress at home and it is very exciting to audition and get a callback and then another callback and then a job! One of the best parts of the summer was performing at the coffee house and at Universal City Walk. I loved seeing the people’s faces!  AS, 12-year old girl

 

 

  • “Donnajeanne is probably one of the hardest-working managers in the business and it shows. Her kids always do very well and it’s no wonder that so many agents want to represent her kids.”
  • IS, Industry Professional

 

  • “I arrived in early February and booked my first national commerical within a month and a short film role in a project with Robert Zemeckis, the director of Forest Gump. Besides the chance to work in TV and film, it’s been fun to live with other actor-kids and I will be back again!” JB, 12-year old boy

 

  • “I love it here. It is so much fun. I have Hollywood friends and I love to swim. I love to go to classes and to audition and I really love it when I get to work. It was really fun when Maxxwell (stuffed dog) got to work with me on CITY GUYS, too. And I loved singing at the Blues Brothers Stage at Universal Studios.” CF, 9 year old girl

 

  • “Thank you so much for bringing your teens to my showcase. I was so impressed and so were the director and casting director who attended. She (the casting director) is definitely going to bring your teens in for this pilot she is casting now.”
  • DR, Industry Profession

 

ENDORSEMENT FROM TERRI ELLIS in JUNE 2006

To Whom it May Concern:

 

We are writing in reference to our relationship (professional and personal) Donnajeanne and Young Performers Studio (YPS).  We understand that you are considering having your child and/or children train at YPS this summer. 

 

We have two daughters’ Katie (13) and Rian (15).  We were introduced to Donnajeanne several years ago and decided to take a class, just to get familiar with her methods, her character, personality and YPS as a whole.  Subsequently, decided to take the fall boot camp, where our daughters met with several agents, which led to auditions with agents, casting directors and directors.   In fact, one casting director called DJ and asked for Rian to come in and read for a certain part.  Although she did not get the role, it led to many other auditions with the same casting director.  Our daughters have taken classes with several private instructors/ workshops, all very good, we just continue to stay with Donnajeanne and YPS.  What we seem to notice is that her kids tend to have that certain edge that others kids seem to miss.  Most importantly, the kids that have worked with her book the roles!  

 

On a personal level, we believe Donnajeanne to be one of the most trustworthy individuals we know.  The fact that we have allowed our daughters to attend an overnight camp and that our daughters want to attend the overnight camp, tells us a lot about DJ’s sense of character with kids and teens.  They had never been to a “sleepover” camp.  

 

Donnajeanne is an individual that looks out for what is in the best interest of the child.  Wow, in this industry that’s rare.   Donnajeanne is very straight forward and lets you know exactly what needs to be done for your child to move forward.  Yet she has the aptitude to know she is working with kids and teens, so she is very flexible and patient.  Seeing her work with these kids/teens, we are amazed at how she works so well with them both as a mentor and an instructor.  She has an open door policy and we have never felt as though we have been a “stage parents” or someone who asks too many questions, etc.  In an industry where you can find people that aren’t what you expect, Donnajeanne is the real thing. 

 

Donnajeanne works extremely hard for her kids.  She has worked in the industry for a very long time and has great contacts.  She gets her kids in the door of many well known agents, casting directors and directors.  She will make that phone call to a casting director and pitch your child.  She does that because she believes wholeheartedly in the kids she works with.  

 

We don’t make a habit of referring individuals, but we have referred parents to DJ, whose kids are interested in this type of activity.  As we tell our girls, the difference between and an 89 (B) and 90 (A) is just 1 point.  YPS helps you get that one point. 

 

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Greg & Terri Ellis       rsty138@earthlink.net                      June 2006

Huntington Beach, CA