The Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center is about more than jump shots and rebounds. Besides its co-ed fitness and enrichment programs, it also offers assistance to people in Southern Dallas—everything from internships to career readiness training to leadership programs and more.
This Saturday, January 20, the center will host its sixth Open Model and Talent Call for models, actors, singers, and dancers ages 16 to 50. The talent call is open to the public and will be held at the center at 1800 Bonnie View Road.
As the group notes, “getting in front of industry decision-makers is probably the toughest challenge.”
Program began in 2018, helping to launch successful careers
The center’s open call program first launched in 2018 and has helped launch numerous North Texans’ modeling and entertainment careers, including curve model Asia Allen. Allen was placed with Wallflower Management in Dallas and NTA Models in Los Angeles and has been featured in national ad campaigns for Starbucks, Uber, JCPenney and Gwen Stefani’s beauty line.
Past participants from left: Sally Wu, Osayande Foster, and Asia Allen [Courtesy/Wu photo by Brent Paul Weber; Foster photo by Tony Redmer; Allen photo by Paul Innis]
Osayande Foster also found success as a model with the Kim Dawson Agency and several other national agencies, the center said in a 2023 announcement, noting that another Kim Dawson model was making “thousands of dollars per shoot.”
The open call is being hosted by Willie Johnson of Dallas-based J3 Productions, a fashion show production and modeling management company whose mission is “to find the diamond in the rough and make him or her shine.”
The panel includes fashion show producers, acting and performing coaches, dance instructors, talent agents, and more, the group said.
People chosen at the open call will spend 12 weeks working with Johnson and receive professional headshots and other support. J3 Productions will serve as the “mother agency,” with Johnson introducing the individuals to other regional and national agencies.
Fees vary for the workshops and portfolio developments, and the Heroes Foundation will offer scholarships to cover costs, according to the news release.
Open call requirements
Per the announcement, female models should be 5’7” to 6 feet tall. Male models should be 5’11” to 6’3”. Singers and dancers should bring music on a flash drive. Singers may be asked to sing for 30 seconds, and dancers may be asked to perform a 45-second routine. Actors may be asked to do a cold read.
The Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center is located at 1800 Bonnie View Rd., Dallas, TX 75216.
Registration opens at 9:45 a.m. on January 20. Live auditions will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
For more details, visit markcubanheroescenter.org or call 214-379-7451.
Osayande Foster [Courtesy/Photo by Tony Redmer]
The story was updated on January 19, 2024, with new information.
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