Meet Twila Barnett of Weatherford Acting Film & Stunt Academy in Weatherford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Twila Barnett.

Twila, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Starting in 1982 I ran a 24 hour childcare facility, and in order to help the kids with ADHD I’d create scripts to role play teaching the kids how and why it was necessary for them to focus and how their actions effect themselves and others. The scripts highlighted the benefits that focusing on tasks awarded them in life. (A realistic glimpse of the future through script.) We acted out real life situations kids can relate to. I became as interested in human behavior as the kids did, then studying film characters, and mannerisms, next thing you know, I’m running kids to acting auditions and coaching for their roles including my son Bug Hall. The kids booked only local acting jobs until two of my sons Bug Hall and Gemini Barnett caught the eye of Steven Spielberg and cast them in Universals Little Rascals taking us to Hollywood where their careers took off. Going from one major set to another, learning the in’s and out’s of Hollywood I also put myself through local seminars and workshops to continue coaching and managing my own kids properly, I started managing and coaching other kids, leading me to on set coaching jobs and camp productions for ( John Travolta’s brother )Joey Travolta’s Production Camps. I started teaching seminars, and workshops of my own while coaching on set for Hollywood films including the films and TV shows my own kids booked for major networks.

One of my sons, Gemini Barnett booked a regular lead on an ABC’s Network TV show taking us to Florida where the show would film for 15 episodes. While coaching for that show I was hired to start up and run the acting, film, and management department at the famous Pop Shop Studios in the Orlando area where I also managed several kids that eventually went on to work in Hollywood. The success of management sent me back and forth from Florida to Hollywood for several years.

In 2006 I wanted to be close to family again so we moved back to Texas to start up my own acting and management company (Weatherford Acting, Film and Stunt Academy, and WACT Talent Management) I run the company the way I started it in 1990 at the Daycare facility, a lot of “tricky therapy” life skills, teaching kids and adults about human behavior while giving them a hand with their acting careers.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road, with any upbringing of children I had four and I’ve learned things alongside them. I’ve learned to just get better with every mistake, I’ve always goaled myself to be the best I know how to at that time, I am not perfect, just human, so with any challenge or obstacle I’ve endured I’ve made sure to communicated out loud with my children, Mommy learned something new, then I’d SHARE MY MISTAKE AND WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM IT, I think this helps create a less judgmental person. My happiness and success comes from what I’ve learned and turned around to share. My success grew through my FAITH. Just listen and share what I know, SIMPLE. I’m GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I RECIEVE THEN I PASS IT ALONG. It’s not a hard concept at all. OBSTACLES ARE NOT THERE TO STOP US, they are another tool for learning. The struggles of upbringing 4 kids in the industry, management in Florida and Hollywood was nothing compared to the obstacles I’ve had managing in Texas since 2006. In Texas I can I do the same job as managing in other states but it’s not appreciated the same here in Texas. It starts from a request, someone with a dream but a very busy someone that needs assistance, or a clueless parent with a child with a dream, I train the actor, and parents, put them through workshops as a family unit to prepare them for the realistic of the industry, help the agents with the tough stuff agents want them to know and do, walk them through it, or even do it for them, shoot headshots, demo reels, edit headshot and reels, create websites, book them a few jobs to build their resumes and pitch them to agents, pick them up from school, take them to auditions, take them to set, do what parents with full time jobs request of me, hoping to lighten the load for the family and cut down on agent frustration, maybe even book that one great job to change a family’s life forever, OH! And sometimes get paid. But in Texas, the word “MANAGEMENT” is not recognized. There is this psychological confusion with the words NOT RECOGNIZED, so once signed with an agent, all my work is “not recognized?”, It’s even hard to just get an agent to copy me on emails, I’m the same as a personal assistant, I need to know how to help my actors and their families with understanding what they are signing, or help them with scheduling or travel, coaching and taping auditions properly and in a timely manner. Agents don’t see all that, they will explain to actors, “we don’t copy managers”, (which is a very simple task), they will use the excuse, managers are not recognized in Texas… at times it confuses the actor so they drop me after years of hard work and now I’ve worked for free. Where in Hollywood a hard working manager like me that is CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR INDUSTRY is a blessing and the team work is appreciated by actors, agents and their local film commission, it’s a team effort. The film industry in Texas claims to want growth. That is my goal as well. I have been contributing to the growth. My obstacle here in Texas is with the mind set agents have for actor assistants like me “management” it is hard to do my job, to continue to build the Texas industry. Film Industry Groups wants Texas to be acknowledged as a power house in the industry, I wish they’d see that there’s a lot of talent in even families that can’t do it all. I give an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY to those people and families that have dreams but need to work. I see the successes of so many I’ve had the opportunity to help, and I am SO HAPPY OUR TEAM WORK PAYED OFF, at the same time, it saddens me that this Texas stigma about management paints good managers like me in a negative light. So now on a lighter note: WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM THIS OBSTACLE is… my love for people is bigger than my LOVE for money. My LOVE for Texas and its film industry over powers any stigma, and my LOVE for GOD tells me to keep doing what I love for others. Some say “Twila, you go beyond the call of duty” I say “Isn’t it our duty to help others?”

Weatherford Acting Film & Stunt Academy aka WACT Academy and WACT Talent Management – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My training is unique. After a few exercises I’ve developed to get to know my students on a more personal level, I go to work writing scripts that will help them with their real issues… Movies are real life, characters have emotions, reactions, and it all works together. While learning about acting, reacting and human behavior, all students are helping each other with their real life struggles like a real family. WACT also invites specialist such as detectives and other character types come in to talk about what they know of human mannerisms such as a suspect in an interrogation room or a customer that is trying to avoid buying from a sales person etc… This program is not just geared for kids but adults as well. Another perk of WACT Academy is while studying the craft of acting, I prepare scripts for filming by green screen or other sets then film the actors scenes, create footage to watch and learn of ones acting strengths or weaknesses for improvements and some footage is to be used for demo reels. I direct the scenes, shoot, and edit the reels, shoot headshots and edit them as well. Next we create actors webpages to house all their industry tools, including any links of industry nature. Once the actor is at a HIGH CALIBER ACTING SKILL, if asked, I will continue to assist them in promoting their skills to agents. Education is always first. A well rounded actor is our goal. Acting for TV and Film, Hosting, Commercial, Improve, Interview skills, basic directing and production, green screen, lighting, screenplay writing, character development, and more… WACT Academy offers an across the board industry education for ages 8yrs. – 108yrs.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
At this point in my career, I feel I’ve reached happiness and success. I don’t have to do what I do for money, I enjoy what I do. I do it to share my knowledge with others to help them reach their happiness and what they believe to be success for them. I wake up every morning overwhelmed with the thought… WHAT?!!! I GET TO DO THIS AGAIN?!!!! Then I kneel at bedside with a grateful prayer, and start my day.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1978 Hill Top Circle Weatherford Texas 76085
• Website: WACTshowcase.com
• Phone: 817-594-9228
• Email: wactacademy@yahoo.com

Image Credit:
Mark Barnett

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