There’s a rising star on the horizon, and he’s just five years old. Greensville resident Login Wilson competed in the iPOP (International Presentation of Performers) competition held in Vancouver from August 28 to September 1, where he showed off his acting and modeling talents.
For the acting component, Login delivered a monologue and acted out a commercial and a dramatic scene. For the modeling competition, he hit the runway to show off couture for swimsuit and fashion.
Login’s mom, Robin Wilson, was shocked and elated on the awards evening to discover that Login had succeeded in every category.
“Regardless of what position he was in, he was in the top ten, and he was recognized for his efforts. That just blew us away,” she said. “I’ve never seen him so happy before. If [kids] get a new movie, a new toy -they get excited, but this is different. He was going up there for a trophy or a medallion, but this was bigger and better than Christmas. He went up seven times!”
Login has been training at John Robert Powers School in Toronto since May. The school held an audition for the iPOP competition and selected students who they felt were ready to compete. Login was the youngest of the contestants. In the three-month span he has been with the school, he has memorized more than 10 commercials and three monologues. “He’s in his monologue training right now, so by the end of that he’ll know about 10 of those as well,” Robin explained. “He’s just a sponge.”
Login attends classes in Toronto at least once a week but as the competition drew closer he was going three to four times a week. According to Robin, they chose the activity to give him an outlet to focus his energies.
“We weren’t sure if this would be it or not, but we thought, he likes to perform, he likes to act, so let’s give our hand at this. No expectation, let’s make this fun and see where he goes with it,” she said. “And now, it’s just overwhelming. He’s meeting with people – he’s ready to work. He’s just developed so much and is so focused.”
Previously, Login was enrolled in soccer but the interest wasn’t there; he would lie on the ground or ask to be goalie so he didn’t have to run. “The funny thing is both my husband and I, he is a really good athlete, I was a really good athlete and Login just doesn’t have any interest whatsoever. But, here, I feel he’s using different parts of his brain to be able to focus on the script.”
The training has paid off; at the iPOP competition, he was first runner-up for Fashion Print, third runner-up for Scene Acting, third runner-up for Model of the Year, Top 10 iModwww. el Runway, Top 10 iModel Swimsuit, Top 10 iAct and he earned Honorable Mention for Actor of the Year.
Robin explained that Login loves the attention and loves to entertain, and although he has succeeded more in the modeling portion so far, she sees a strong potential in his acting ability. “I think he has potential in acting, but he will just be a natural in modeling because his dad’s 6 foot 4 and I’m 5 foot 7, so if you average it out, he’s going to be a pretty tall guy.”
The most challenging aspect for the family involved traveling and time changes. They cut it close to reaching Vancouver on time to participate in the showcase. The segment ended at 10 p. m. –which to Login felt like 1 a. m.
“You have to make your schedule fit the industry’s schedules. I know it’s a challenge but I’m willing to make the commitment for him. As long as it’s something that he wants to do and wants to pursue and have fun with it,” said Robin. “If he didn’t want to do it anymore, we would stop. He’s just a kid. You just try to direct your children into something that will keep them happy, focused and developing.”
For Login, the hardest part of the competition was the waiting. “Apparently the attention span for a five year-old is only twenty minutes, and for Login it’s probably only ten!” Robin laughed.
Login plans to get further involved with the performing arts, and has already asked to take singing and dancing lessons after watching other kids compete in those categories at iPOP, which was packed with activities.
After starting his day with a team meeting at 8 a. m., Login’s first audition was for a commercial, followed by a showcase audition. While parents could sit in on the monologues and scene performances, the commercials were closed-set. Robin’s looking forward to watching some of the DVDs and tapes that will be sent out to the schools later.
The most rewarding aspect of the experience for Robin and her husband has been seeing Login’s efforts get acknowledged, and his mindset after doing a great job. “The capability is rewarding. You see him work so hard and memorize it, and do the best he can do –it just blows you away.”
There is an expense to enter iPOP, an investment that Robin likened to any sports or arts school fee. “If you go to Julliard of Arts, hockey camps, or any other specialized schools, you’re going be investing the same amount of money,” she noted. “We put him in soccer and the whole summer was wasted because he didn’t want to play.
“Now he’s got training, he’s developing, he’s going forward. He’s only been with them four months and this is how well he has done,” she added. The proud mom also offered a thank-you to all the local sponsors who helped Login get to iPOP and is excited to share his progress with them.
Robin explained that the John Robert Powers School encourages its students to take an interest in different activities, as it helps them become more well rounded –which will ultimately boost their performing abilities.
If Login continues to pursue modeling and acting, the next step for his parents will be to learn the rights of children when it comes to working and how it will affect his schoolwork and his income. Robin noted that they would have to explore the alternatives for his studies; if a child is on set for a certain amount of hours, then the child must have a tutor. The John Robert Powers School stresses that education is key, and the kids’ grades need be up to par.
“It is really important to our family, too. It’s grades first and then extra-curricular after,” Robin said, noting that reading scripts is also driving Login to read and write.
The next step for Login is to search out an agent, as he has moved beyond the competition stage to the point where he is ready to start working, according to the school.
Of course, Robin explained, this is all dependent on how Login is feeling. If he continues to love being involved, they will continue training, going to auditions and putting their best foot forward. Other than that, she said, Login will just be doing regular kid things. |
