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2014 – Evan, Joanna and Landan Riddell

 

Evan, Joanna, and Landan are young actors/models from the NYC area. They have been busy working for companies such as McCalls, Toys R Us, and Whitlow and Hawkins, you may also recognize them from their national Verizon commercial that aired this year! To keep up to date make sure to like their pages on Facebook: Evan, Joanna, Landan

1. How did the kids get started in the industry?

It was always a dream of my husband and mine to get our kids into the industry. We had no clue how to do it. From the time each were born, we were constantly stopped by strangers wherever we were, as well as told by family and friends, how incredibly good looking our kids were and that they should model. Finally, thanks to Facebook, we got a lead. A good friend that my husband worked with happened to click “like” on her niece’s posting from her manager about the job she booked. Since she clicked “like” it showed on my newsfeed. I immediately clicked that manager’s page reading to see what I could find and ironically she was having an Open Call a week from when I found her site. We went & met Colette Palmerio of CP Talent Management on November 10, 2012. I love that story and I love how life brings you what you are looking for.

 

2. Evan and Joanna, what is the best part of working for Toys R Us?

Joanna – The best part of working for TRU was when we had fun at the playground for the Halloween shoot. I met new friends, we played with a stuffed Geoffrey, we laughed, and ran around. We even got to eat candy!

Evan – Getting on the cover of what toy it is. I like to see myself on things.

 

3. Landan, what was the experience like shooting your Family Camping ad?

I liked the house. The house was ginormous, I LOVED it! They gave us pizza. I LOVED it! We went in a tent & played with flash lights. They had stuffed animals. I liked them a lot. Mine was a lion. I named him Lie Lie. My sister had a dog. She named it Blueberry.

 

4. Joanna, do you have a favorite part about working for Vida Shoes?

I love working for Vida Shoes. I like wearing new shoes. I like to see what they look like. I dance around in them. Some are fluffy and cuddly. I love laughing with Tony, arm wrestling him, and eating twizzlers there! He even gave me new shoes to keep!

 

5. How did you all enjoy working together for your Verizon commercial?

Joanna – I liked the part being together on the couch with my brothers. We laughed a lot. We had a blast. The most fun part was when we got picked! I liked being filmed for a part in a car. I met new people. They were very nice. Working with my brothers was a good time.

Landan – I liked when we were all on the couch & got to say “One More Time, One More Time!” I liked playing a tablet in a closet. My best was “Krafty” & dressing up in green footies.

{Krafty is the name everyone on set calls Kraft Service}

Evan – I liked seeing my brother and sister in the room with me. It made me feel happy. We got to jump on the couch and yell! We yelled, “One More Time!”

 

6. Joanna, what was the best part about working for McCall’s Patterns?

I liked getting my hair curled and jumping on set. The photographer had me jump like I do in cheering and it made me laugh.

 

7. Landan and Evan, how did you enjoy shooting for Whitlow and Hawkins?

Landan – I liked when I pretended to be surprised. I do like to dress up and get my picture taken.

Evan – I like to try on clothes. I got to wear a fedora. I met a nice girl on set.

 

8. Evan, how did you feel seeing yourself on a toy box at Toys R Us for the first time?

I felt so glad because I’ve never seen myself on a box before. It was amazing!

 

9. Who have been some of your favorite people to work with?

Joanna – Tony from Vida Shoes is my favorite. I like him because he is funny about arm wrestling and every time he tries to win in arm wrestling I win! We eat healthy stuff and every time I win he says what do you feed this kid! That makes me happy.

Landan – I like the “judges” the best from the Verizon Commercial. Greg the Egg {producer Greg who ran the camera introduced himself to the kids that way so they wouldn’t forget his name} was nice and funny! He gave me the two fingers {flashed the peace sign} at lunch!

{ The kids referred to the producers as the judges – they were all along the wall in the back at their second audition. The kids referred to them as such on set too. The producers really got a kick out of it.}

Evan – the best so far was “Greg the Egg” from the Verizon shoot because he was funny and he joked a bit.

 

10. What has been your favorite project to work on so far?

Joanna – Hmmmm, so much I like. I like all of them so far and I keep on wishing that I always get picked because everyone is so nice to me.

Landan – I liked sitting in the tent with that pizza! {the Lifestyles Camping Shoot}

Evan – The Verizon commercial because I loved when I went to school and my friends kept telling me, “Hi Evan, how are you doing? I saw you on tv.”

 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Joanna – I do want to say that every time when I walk in an audition, I feel like a movie star.

Landan – nah

Evan – It would be great if I could be on a video game set!

 

We’d like to thank Evan, Joanna, and Landan for participating in our November Q&A series!

(Image by Joannalee Photogrpahy)