Hollywood’s World Talent Championships

      Conclusive proof that Hollywood is the “entertainment capital of the world” is demonstrated each year when hundreds of qualified, screened and invited talent and models from around the world compete at the prestigious, one-and-only official World Championships of Performing Arts.

Over 75,000 applicants from 40 countries and the USA auditioned for a spot to compete at the 12^th anniversary at what is often cited as the official “Talent Olympics”.  Griff O’Neil, competition president and founder, and a one-time 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.”

For centuries, there has been an exclusive “Olympics” for athletes excluding any non-sport activity or prestigious type of arts achievement.  This discriminatory practice is being corrected especially for the revered universe of aspiring performing artists (amateur and professional) by this original, innovative world event which is the only international talent competition of its kind annually held in “Hollywood”! 

Athletes have their Olympics and now talent (dancers, singers, actors, models, instrumentalists, variety artists) have their own official world contest.  The Olympics is held every four years; the World Championships of Performing Arts is held every year and always in “Hollywood”! For general information, and to view the recent shows, log onto:  http://www.worldchampionships.tv

            The term given to athletes going to the Olympics is “Olympic hopefuls”!  Every contestant 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 international meet:  the famed World Championships of Performing Arts! 

            The time finally had arrived when talent throughout the world took center stage during an exciting, fiercely spirited week of unsurpassed rounds of outstanding performances July 19 – 27, 2008.  Contestants ages 15 and under competed for the prestigious Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World title, and talent ages 16 and over battled for the coveted Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World crown.  Hundreds of “movers and shakers” from the entertainment industry in Hollywood, Nashville and New York (agents, managers, casting directors, producers, record labels) were invited to judge, conduct seminars and “go-sees” at this eight-day conclusive world championships for talent.

The event’s competition structure reproduces as closely as possible the processes in auditioning and casting for film, television and Broadway.  Special emphasis is placed on “entertainment value and marketability” during judging.  This in no way takes away from the technical aspect of the performances, however judges are looking for that special charisma (the “it” factor) that most top entertainers have.  There are rounds of eliminations thus talent must be spectacularly presented in a very short time period.  Performance times of one minute (60 seconds) are strictly enforced.  With entertainment industry personnel judging, this event really becomes a “giant Hollywood casting call” i.e. “to cast World Champion” dancers, singers, actors, models, instrumentalists and variety artists! 

This esteemed 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.  As a neutral event, this world meet does not solicit nor get directly involved in representation of any type and does not guarantee employment as that is up to the agents, managers and others from the industry in attendance.

Like the Olympics, an important prize is the “gold”.  Additionally, overall age division/competition category plaques and Grand Champion trophies are given plus $50,000 in scholarships to the prestigious  Conservatory for Dramatic Arts School for Film and Television in New York are awarded in which every contestant is eligible to audition for a scholarship.  From Hollywood, the illustrious AIA Actor’s Studio is the official mentoring organization for WCOPA contestants and awards member scholarships.  However, the “real prizes” which every contestant receives are the invaluable experiences, priceless training, and networking opportunities!  Many contestants receive offers and sign with agents, managers… and move to Hollywood or New York to embark on a career! 

Television personality and three-time Emmy winner, BOB EUBANKS hosted the Opening Ceremonies at the fantastic Universal Studios Hollywood CityWalk when each country’s delegates appeared in national costumes representative of their respective countries in the colorful Parade of Nations.  Russia bested all others to win the Best National Costume Award with Kazakhstan and Malaysia earning the second and third place prizes respectively.  

A highlight of the Opening Ceremonies each year is the induction of outstanding personalities and celebrities from the industry who have contributed to the success of the performing arts as well as to the World Championships of Performing Arts program.  This year’s inductee to the Performing Arts Hall of Fame was JACYLN SMITH, model, actress and renowned businesswoman

Over 5,000 acts were narrowed through rounds of eliminations to the “best of the best” for a spectacular standing-room-only final night gala hosted by DAVID BEACH, popular actor and comedian.  An unmatched panel of 16 celebrity/VIP judges included such illustrious dignitaries as the Director of Talent Casting for Disneyland and international Disney theme parks, A & R Coordinator from J Records (the legendary Clive Davis’ label), senior agent from one of the world’s top dance agencies (Hollywood and New York), Senior Agent at L.A. Models, high-level casting directors and entertainment industry executives all had a difficult task but ultimately awarded Grand Champion of the World titles to phenomenal talent from the following countries:

JUNIORS:

CZECH REPUBLIC

Marketa Frajkowska:  Dance Solo

GUATEMALA

Quintet Gotas de Luz:  Vocal Group and Instrumentalists

JAMAICA

MUC Junior Dancers:  Dance Group

PHILIPPINES

Catherine Loria:  Vocal Solo

SOUTH AFRICA

Tayla Robinson:  Female Model

UNITED STATES

Kole Smith:  Male Model

Claudia Perez Vigoa:  Actor

SENIORS:

DENMARK

2 Fries:  Dance Group

JAMAICA

Andrew Clarke:  Vocal Solo

MOLDOVA

Yulia Sharshakova:  Female Model

SOUTH AFRICA

Christe Kotze:  Dance Solo

SWEDEN

Cecilia Andren:  Variety Arts

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Darnell Thomas:  Instrumentalist

UNITED STATES

Dinah Bradford:  Actor

Nick Vaden:  Male Model

For the second consecutive year in a row the 2008 Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World title was won by a vocalist from the Philippines: 13-year old CATHERINE LORIA.  For the second time in the history of WCOPA, a Jamaican captured the revered Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World prize – ANDREW CLARKE.

        With shows like “American Idol” and others vying for face time on TV, it’s no wonder that there’s such a proliferation of talent looking for a home.  After all is said and done, talent competitions are nothing new.  Everyone from Frank Sinatra to Patsy Cline to Britney Spears has been discovered on talent contests.  Talent contest judges initially rejected some well-known stars, like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Drew Carey.  The genre’s been around on radio and later TV for nearly 70 years, but the World Championships of Performing Arts is by far the biggest in scale and scope.

From the Olympics, some athletes who win medals go on to pursue careers.  Certainly an aspiring talent winning 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 is extremely important in “Hollywood”, this type of achievement is an extremely useful endorsement. 

Contestants competing at the World Championships of Performing Arts have that very precious opportunity of performing before and networking with entertainment industry professionals.  Some will be signed and move to Hollywood or New York; others will return home to pursue whatever goals they determine.  But what is so critically important is that everyone who has the honor to experience this official world talent contest has improved and gained inestimable experience… truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Headquartered in Hollywood, California, Worldstars celebrates its 16^th year in providing inventive opportunities for aspiring talent around the world, such as the World Championships of Performing Arts.   In keeping with this benevolent mission, the launch of three exciting new projects was recently announced by O’Neil who declared, “The first ten years of WCOPA was spent in laying a solid foundation for future creative endeavors!  Now, the next decade’s introduction of projects will be ground-breaking and world-shattering!  So, hang on… this ride is going to be absolutely breathtaking and quite productive!  In addition to starting our own television division, look for the following to occur!”

Worldstars Internet TV (worldstars.tv) is the world’s only internet site to offer niche programming, advertising and educational opportunities for achieving performers, and the performing arts.

Worldstars Boot Camps are one-week intense training camps for dancers, singers, actors and models conducted in select locations throughout the world featuring esteemed entertainment industry faculties from Hollywood and New York.  “Hollywood comes to you!”

“Sing-Off ” TV Specials are stunning televised specials hosted in glamorous locales around the world presenting specially crafted “vocal battles” between official world champion singers.

            For information on being a contestant, a Scout or a National Director, please contact:

info@worldstars.tv or visit the website:  http://www.worldchampionships.tv.