January 9, 2009, Los Angeles, CA --The Hollywood Group congratulates member Jean Emmanuel Casseus for his role in the film “The Least Among You.” The film premieres on Monday, January 12th, at the 2009 Palm Springs International Festival.
Jean Emmanuel signed up with The Hollywood Group in 2004, when he was only ten years old. He knew back then he wanted to become an actor and put all his energy into it. He soon enrolled for training with Constance Tillotson at Sterling Studios. Impressed by his dedication and skills, Tillotson started managing Jean Emmanuel’s acting career. Later on, she introduced him to The Savage Agency for representation.
"Jean Emmanuel Casseus is an extraordinary artist. His dedication to his craft had allowed him to carve out a respected reputation as an actor who industry professionals seek to work with,” says proud acting instructor and manager, Constance Tillotson.
Jean Emmanuel has worked on several commercials including “Kid Bop,” a PSA for the Salvation Army, and a Nike commercial portraying the young Lebron James. “The Least Among You” is Jean Emmanuel’s first speaking role in a film.
The film focuses on the struggle of the first African-American student to break the color barrier at an all-white seminary. Jean Emmanuel portrays the young Richard Kelly (NAACP Best Actor winner Cedric Sanders). Inspired by a true story, Kelly wants to make his mark in the corporate world, but is falsely arrested during the 1965 Watts riots, and must plea bargain to serve a probated sentence at the seminar. The film also stars Oscar winner Louis Gossett, Jr., “24’s” William Devane, and Lauren Holly of “NCIS.”
Producer Julia Verdin believes that the theme of the film echoes the spirit of the extraordinary life of our President-elect, and coincides with his upcoming inauguration.
The Hollywood Group is elated that member Jean Emmanuel has worked with such an amazing cast, a wonderful script and the powerful message underlying it. “The Story of Least,” says writer/director Mark Young “takes us on a journey beyond racism and into the darkness in and around us. It asks the question: do you have the faith and courage to undergo your own painful transformation – the end of which awaits your destiny? One of the ideas I wanted to bring out was that the true leaders are not chosen, but called.”
About The Hollywood Group
The Hollywood Group was founded in 2001 to help kids and teenagers get started in the entertainment industry. It has fulfilled its mission admirably, having facilitated countless young careers in the last 8 years. The company’s approach is pragmatic for it places the focus on work: kids gain valuable experience on actual TV shows and movie sets a short few weeks after becoming members.
No other company has assembled a more hands-on, comprehensive, effective, and economical approach to helping kids start to work as actors in movies, TV shows and commercials.
Friday, January 9, 2009
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