Hollywood’s “World Talent Battle”

You know the scene: the entire world watches, cheering on the uber-talented representatives from their respective countries as they compete for the coveted gold medal. The incredible strength of national pride pushes each and every one of these competitors to give their best and prove they deserve to be there, and the result is a must-see event. It’s a recurring international competition we all look forward to, because we just can’t wait to see who’s victorious, and who grabs the gold.

If you’re picturing the Olympics, you’re partially right. But allow us to adjust that picture: what we’re actually describing is the World Championships of Performing Arts - the arts and entertainment version of the athletic Olympics. Instead of swimmers, skiers and skaters, this only-one-of-its-kind event showcases singers, dancers, actors, models, instrumentalists and variety artists. For these creative competitors it’s nothing less than the opportunity of a lifetime.

This global talent contest, long cited as the one-and-only official “World Championships” for performers and entertainers - both amateur and professional- celebrates its sixteenth year July 6 – 15, 2012 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Griff O’Neil, competition president and founder, and a former executive of the Miss Universe Pageant, recruited over 75 scouts and national directors to scour the globe for outstanding talent.  “This is the only Olympic-style talent competition ever created,” O’Neil stated, “and a rare opportunity for the privileged few selected to participate at this elite world event.”

Over 75,000 applicants from 40 countries will audition for a spot to compete at this ultimate global meet, and every contestant who attends the World Championships of Performing Arts has been screened, qualified and selected under guidelines executed by licensed National Directors and Scouts from invited countries.  Developed as an exclusive outlet for aspiring international performers and models to acquire invaluable experience, education, recognition and significant networking opportunities, this is the only worldwide competition of its kind annually held in - appropriately enough - the entertainment capital of the world: Hollywood! Sums up O’Neil, “We’ve successfully created an event which blends the strongest appeal of athletic competitions with the entertainment value from performers around the world!”

The most appealing factor to us is this: The event’s competition structure reproduces as closely as possible the processes for auditioning and casting for film, television and Broadway.  Basically, it’s preparation for real life, not just a shot at a one-time gig on stage. Special emphasis is placed on “entertainment value and marketability.”  This in no way takes away from the technical aspect of the performances, yet judges are looking for that special charisma - they call it the ‘it’ factor - that we all know top entertainers have and continue to cultivate.  One’s talent must be spectacularly presented in a very short time period, just as is in ‘actual’ auditions, thus performance times of 60 seconds are strictly enforced.  With judging executed by bigwigs from the entertainment industry, this international meet really becomes a “giant Hollywood casting call” i.e. “to cast World Champion” dancers, singers, actors, models, instrumentalists and variety artists in the junior division (ages 15 and under) and the senior age category (16 and over). 

As we’re all aware, the grand prize at the Olympics is that aforementioned gold medal which symbolizes excellence and proven athletic talent. The illustrious prize at the World Championships of Performing Arts is also the “Gold.” However, besides awarding gold, silver and bronze medals, Olympic-style trophies are presented to overall winners in various categories of competition and to the Grand Champion titlists along with the presentation of a total of $130,000 in scholarships:   $30,000 in scholarships from the famed Millennium Dance Complex and $100,000 from the renowned New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts School of Film and Television.

This revered contest is strictly for dedicated talent who want to train and learn, compare their talent to others around the world, and most importantly to network with entertainment industry icons. Numerous contestants receive offers and sign with agents, managers… and move to Hollywood or New York to embark on a career.   And many return to their respective countries prepared for a brilliant profession, no matter the field.

The term given to athletes going to the Olympics is “Olympic hopefuls.”  Every contestant lucky enough to be invited to compete at the World Championships of Performing Arts is called a “Worldstar,”  and “Worldstars” is the umbrella organization for creating and producing various activities, projects and events staged each year, including its annual hallmark world meet:  the celebrated World Championships of Performing Arts! 

Kicking off the week’s slate of exciting activities is the Opening Ceremonies from the famous Nokia Plaza where each country’s delegates appear in national costumes representative of their respective countries in the colorful Parade of Nations.   Last year, Guatemala bested all others to win the Best National Costume Award, with Trinidad & Tobago and Russia earning second and third place prizes respectively, and the revered “Team Award” went to South Africa as the country with the most entries.

The inimitable global event features an intense, inventive one-day “Worldstars Boot Camp,” a full day of the most comprehensive entertainment educational training, seminars, and workshops given by renowned experts in the fields of modeling, acting, performing, singing, music and dancing exclusively provided to models and talent from around the world participating at WCOPA.  A sampling of last year’s camp highlights and mentors are:

·       The legendary “vocal coach of the stars” whose students have garnered over 120 Grammy’s and include superstars such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, David Archuleta, Josh Groban, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Cher, Tina Turner, Natalie Cole, and many others.  To be in the same room as this world famous icon will indeed be a rare privilege and honor!

·       Seven-time Emmy nominee and three-time Emmy winning producer and choreographer.

·       One of the world’s most famous fashion designers whose celebrity clients include Angelina Jolie, Ivanka Trump, the cast of “Desperate Housewives”, Eva Mendes, Heather Locklear, Gwyneth Paltrow and many more.

·       The modeling industry:  training, careers, and "the business".

·       Senior Talent Agent with offices in New York and Hollywood presenting “audition techniques”.

·       One of the world’s foremost psychologists and radio talk show hosts giving exclusive tips on “How to overcome stage fright”.

·       Seven-time Grammy nominee and two-time Grammy winning independent music label owner.

·       One of Hollywood’s most celebrated agents with celebrity clients on several hit TV series.

·       Several of the world’s top dance choreographers from the renowned Millennium Dance Complex teaching some of the most dazzling routines ever created.

·       Amazing information and tutoring for actors and performers including TV camera techniques, business operations, marketing, and vital “tools of the trade” from the celebrated New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts School of Film and Television.

Daily news releases and video posts are distributed to media throughout the world. Hundreds of “movers and shakers” from the entertainment industry in Hollywood, Nashville and New York (i.e. managers, agents, casting directors, producers, music industry reps) are invited to judge, conduct seminars and “go-sees” at this conclusive world championships for talent.  During the week, rounds of eliminations narrow the field to the “best of the best” finalists culminating in the ultimate Grand Finals, a live global webcast, hosted by Lauren Barnette and Matt Oliver, and adjudicated by a distinguished celebrity VIP panel of judges from the entertainment industry in which the “Junior and Senior Grand Champion Performers of the World” will be crowned.

Previous judges have included:

MEHCAD BROOKS (Hollywood) – Brooks, a famous Calvin Klein model, starred on Alan Ball’s HBO hit

TV series True Blood.  He is a SAG ensemble award winner and Image Award nominee for his performance as Alfred Woodard’s son on ABC’s smash series Desperate Housewives. 

ANITA MANN (Hollywood) – With six Emmy nominations, two Emmy Awards and honored by the

Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Anita is one of America’s top choreographers and live show producers.  Her countless credits include The Academy Awards, The Golden Globe Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, Miss America Pageant, The People’s Choice Awards, The Emmy’s.

STEVEN DORFF (Hollywood and Nashville) – One of the world’s most successful music composers.  NSAI

Songwriter of the Year, 40 BMI and 11 Billboard #1 awards, three-time Grammy nominee, Emmy nominee for five television compositions, nine #1 film songs and 15 Top 10 hits.  His many songs have been sung by some of the greatest artists of our time:  Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, George Strait, Vanessa Williams and countless others.  He currently has two projects making their way to Broadway.     

JOHN PARDEE and JOEY MURPHY (Hollywood) – These partners, in addition to their careers as

successful feature film screenwriters, are in their 17^th year as writers/producers of numerous television series – most notably, The Jeff Foxworthy Show and Cybill.  Both currently are the Co-Executive Producers of ABC television’s mega-hit, Desperate Housewives.

A highlight of the festivities is the annual presentation of an “Achievement Award” to an entertainment industry celebrity or VIP.  Because of its stellar reputation in attracting achieving talent, esteemed VIP and celebrity entertainment industry greats from Hollywood, Nashville and New York have been inducted into WOCPA’s “Performing Arts Hall of Fame” such as:

ANN-MARGRET – two-time Academy Award nominee
JACLYN SMITH – star of "Charlie's Angels"
JUSTIN CHAMBERS – star of "Grey's Anatomy"

LINDA GRAY – star of “Dallas”
LIZA MINNELLI – three Tony Awards, an Oscar, Emmy and two Golden Globe Awards
DOLLY PARTON – four-time Grammy Award winner

DIONNE WARWICK, multi-Grammy winner and vocal legend

Winners of the 2011 “World Talent Championships” were:

Joshua Pineda – Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World (Vocal Soloist – Philippines)

Hano Janse Van Rensburg  – Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World (Actor – South Africa)

Regarding the Olympics, some athletes who win medals go on to pursue extremely successful careers and sponsorships.  Likewise, an aspiring talent who wins a World Championships award is a rare achievement and magnificent accomplishment to put on one’s resume.  Depending on an artist’s career goals, abilities, talent, and especially marketability, which are extremely important in Hollywood, this type of success is extremely useful. Awards are not a one-time hand-off; they are launch pads to careers. 

Everyone from Frank Sinatra to Patsy Cline to Britney Spears has been discovered on talent contests.  The genre’s been around on radio and later on TV for nearly 70 years, but the World Championships of Performing Arts is by far the biggest in scale and scope, and seeks to turn the international corridor between a country’s artists and dreamers – and Hollywood’s “land of dreams” – into a two-way street as a a sparkling step one towards real opportunity, recognition and reward.