Ladner brothers land roles in front of the camera
|
|
|
|
Media stars—Ladner brothers Connor (left) and Cameron Bower know the ups and downs of TV commercial work. Recently, the two were picked for separate jobs that got them in front of the lights and cameras, proving that persistence pays off. Philip Raphael photo
A few weeks ago, 10-year-old Connor Bower got paid to have his hair cut. Around the same time older brother Cameron, 13, got a cheque to suit up in ice hockey gear and use his bilingual skills to say “Bienvenue au Vancouver.”
What was the Ladner pair up to?
They were showing persistence pays off when it comes to getting into the TV and film industry.
After signing on with local talent agency Starcast Actors about 18 months ago, the two had been to seemingly countless auditions before fate struck and the both landed roles in separate productions.
Connor, a Grade 5 student at Ladner Elementary, was chosen to be featured in a an eyeglass commercial which is scheduled to be run in Ireland and had to travel to Hope to shoot it.
“It was a lot of fun,” says Connor, still sporting the close-cropped haircut he received during his stint in the barbershop chair used in the shoot. “I really didn’t have to do much. I just kinda sat there. It took about three hours and they shot stuff from a whole bunch of angles.”
As for Cameron’s turn in the spotlight, he donned the hockey duds for a video that will be shown at British Columbia’s pavilion in Beijing, China during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games to promote the 2010 winter games in Vancouver.
“That was a lot of fun,” says the Grade 8 student who makes the daily trek to McRoberts Secondary in Richmond for the school’s French immersion program.
Mom Christine says she is proud of her boys and their commitment to show business which can provide some discouraging moments.
“You have to remember that it’s nothing personal when they don’t pick you,” she says. “Most of the time they are just choosing you if you happen to have the look they’re after.”
And that can be disappointing if you have invested the time to attend a series of auditions.
“But they kept at it and then they both get jobs within weeks of each other,” Christine says. “Their persistence paid off.”
And while they can’t quite retire or pay fully for post secondary schooling from the money they’ve made so far, the experience the brothers have gained is a good building block.
“It’s a good thing to add to their resumes,” Christine says.
So, do they want to pursue careers in TV and film?
Cameron nods enthusiastically, adding he knows the opportunity to do more work in front of the camera can be fleeting.
As for Connor, “I like to work with numbers,” he says. “I like math.”
n editor@southdeltaleader.com
Most read across BC
- RONA big box store to close in August Richmond Review • Apr-30-2008
- Kitimat man jailed over tax returns Kitimat Northern Sentinel • May-02-2008
-
Martial arts saves boy from harm
Burnaby NewsLeader •
Apr-28-2008
- Serious crash North Island Gazette • May-01-2008
- Called 911-woman later found dead Abbotsford News • Apr-24-2008
-
Logging truck plows into waiting traffic
Chilliwack Progress •
Apr-30-2008
- Hatzic student was 'well-loved' Mission City Record • Apr-28-2008
- Man killed in Saturday night crash Langley Times • Apr-21-2008
- Surrey teens told T-shirts a no-go at school Surrey North Delta Leader • Apr-18-2008
- Layoffs loom at Coe Newnes Salmon Arm Observer • Apr-30-2008
- Police: We had no choice but to taser senior Kamloops This Week • May-07-2008
-
Gunned down in residential neighbourhood
Abbotsford News •
May-09-2008
-
Fire does $1 million damage
Abbotsford News •
May-05-2008
- Cariboo Hotel loses $40K from BCLCA shutdown Quesnel Cariboo Observer • Apr-30-2008
- Editor: Merritt Herald • May-07-2008
