Our Talent Spotlight is on Tattoo Apprentice and Max actor/model, Brendan S.
Brendan moved to Canada 4 years ago from Galway, Ireland, and worked as a chef. But he has recently switched his career around to become a Tattoo Artist!
He has wanted to be a tattoo artist since high school and even mentioned it in his yearbook when asked what he wanted to be!
Brendans latest tattoo – IG @beanslattz
He himself has a lot of tattoos and he likes the industry. To follow this interest, hes taken drawing classes and became a tattoo apprentice a few months ago. He has joined the Ash Gray Inc Tattoo studio at Yonge-Steele as a tattoo apprentice to become a photorealism artist.
Why start modeling/acting?
One of his friends who is an actor brought up that he has a unique look and suggested that he tries modeling/acting. He took the leap to try something new and challenge his nervousness.
Brendan is patiently waiting for his first modeling or acting job! To book Brendan, or anyone else on our brilliant roster of Max Talent, please contact bookings@maxagency.com or call our office at 416-482-5394.
MAX Agency is a successful Toronto modeling agency representing men, women and children. MAX provides talent for the film, television, fashion and advertising industries as well as appearance in trade shows, promotions and special events.
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Carol has had a life full of challenges including a robbery, being held at gunpoint, house fires, and a life threatening accident. But she has remained positive to show her daughters to remain strong when life throws you a curveball.
She makes her the most of her time with her family and life! She decided to take a leap and invest in herself by joining Max Agency.
Carol P. – Model and actor at top model agency in Toronto, Max agency
Carol is a mom of 2 and a grandmother of 5. She moved to Oshawa 25 years ago as a single mom to find work and support her family. It has been her home ever since.
Carol worked at a pub in Whitby where they were collecting funds for local children who would do without at Christmas. They got a list of childrens names and ages from local family services, Salvation Army, childrens aid, etc. What they called The Grinch Fund would be used to buy Christmas gifts for the children.
The night before Christmas Eve turned out to be one that she will never forget. As she was covering a shift for a good friend, she saw 2 men in masks come out the kitchen door, one holding a gun and the other a knife. She instantly felt “scared to death”.
Carol P. – Toronto Talent agencys model
Carol recalls, “I felt angry when the gun-wielding one was leading me to the cash register and asking about the safe and my purse. When we were on the floor in the front of the house and it had been quiet for a few minutes I pulled out of the tape and ripped it at my ankles and sneaked to the kitchen window in the door to see if they had gone – they had and they had taken the whole safe!
I saw the cook come through the door – he got out of his tape as well, and I dialed 911 from the office beside us. They answered and I just started screaming so the cook took the phone. I went to the patio door and saw a police cruiser pulling in so I opened the door and threw myself out onto the sidewalk – the officer opened his door and I heard the call over the radio – they had pulled in by coincidence!
So many emotions that night and the days that followed…and every Sunday night I have closed the pub since that day. “
How did you move on from that?
Carol: “The staff, owners, customers, my family – there was such a big group of family there – some related, some not. We talked about it and the ability to do that with everyone was definitely what helped me through it.”
Carol P. – Toronto Acting Agency talent – Max Agency
Carol has also been through 3 major house fires, all of which resulted in complete losses. After rebuilding her world for the third time, her longtime friend and she decided to take her youngest daughter, Courtney, on vacation to Cuba.
On day 3 of their vacation, they took a ride on scooters to go visit school children with gifts. Carol woke up 10 days later in the trauma hospital in Camaguey. She had suffered an orbital bone fracture, a skull fracture, and a brain bleed as a result of a number of end-over-end acrobatic flips into a 12-foot cactus-filled ditch.
“This is the life event that I believe changed my daughter forever. When they reached me in the ditch, I had a massive gash on my head and was bleeding profusely. Scott [Carols friend] got to me first and didn’t want Courtney to see all the blood so he told her to get a water bottle from his scooter up on the road. I wasn’t breathing, so Scott began CPR while Courtney flagged down a car that took us to the hospital. Scott looked after Courtney for the duration of our so-called vacation.
I’ve told Courtney a few times when talking about the accident that I think it changed her. She had to try and mentally prepare to bring her mom home in a box, and I’m not sure she’s ever gotten past that.”
Carol P. seeing rays of sunshine for the first time after the accident, with her daughter, Courtney
After her 14-days stay in the hospital, she was released and given the authorization to fly home. She will be celebrating her 10 year anniversary of beating the odds this January.
“In that time I’ve grown to value every moment of every day spent with my family. My father has since been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, so my appreciation for quality time with the ones I love could no be more true today. “
“I made sure that every summer, we had a weekly cottage rental and enjoyed boating fun like tubing, lake cruising, bonfires, yes – roasting hot dogs and marshmallows were a must!”
Toronto acting agency talent, Carol P., enjoying time with her grandkids.
Now that her daughters each have families of their own, Carol has decided to take the leap and invest in herself by joining Max. Shes found things that she enjoys doing just for her, like gardening, walking trails at the lakefront, and music.
“Music is very therapeutic for me. A “karaoke road trip”, or a long drive singing along with my Spotify song list is sometimes, exactly what I need to de-stress.”
Carol P. with her 2 daughters
How do you stay strong and positive after all that you have been through?
“I was taught by my parents when I first had children that children learn from what they live and are watching how I react to different situations. I stayed positive and strong because my daughters were watching me and how I dealt with these traumatic events.”
“One of the things that I believe “stands out” about me, is my sense of humour. Throughout all of the trials and tribulations life has sent my way, I’ve used my sense of humour as my coat of armour. It has served me very well over the years and I do believe I have passed that on to both of my daughters. I strive to make at least one person laugh out loud every day!”
Toronto modeling agency talent, Carol P.
MAX Agency is a successful Toronto acting agency representing men, women, and children. MAX Agency is involved in providing actors, models, and entertainers for the film, television, fashion, and advertising industries.
Max Agency has been a Toronto model agency for over 20 years.
Todays Talent Spotlight is for Cole H. He has joined Max Agencys kids roster recently this year, and has already been booked for a photoshoot!
At only 7, he has already helped his parents realize that he does not see the world in terms of gender and will not be bound by traditional stereotypes.
With amazing parents by his side, he is exploring who he is, while doing what he loves- acting and being a little fashionista!
Cole H. Max talent – Kids modeling toronto
Cole has started his modeling and acting career at age 5. His parents thought it would be fun to take him to an open audition to see if the professionals would agree he had the smile of a mega supermodel. They were surprised that at 4 years old, he was one of 20 (and the youngest) out of 500 people to be selected to participate in an acting workshop which ultimately led to him being signed.
While he is more interested in acting, he enjoys posing for a camera and has perfected his blue steel look. When asked by his 5-year-old sister, Misty, ” Cole, why do you like acting? Why did you start? Tell me your thoughts.”, Coles response was “I just think it would be pretty cool to see myself in a movie someday. I just like acting…and fashion.”
Cole H.- Max Agency talent – Kids acting agency toronto
Cole has a distinct fashion sense. Early on it was mostly dresses, pony tails, eye makeup and he was all about pink. He used to tell his parents that he wanted to be a girl and their response was that he could be whoever he wanted to be. Now older, he doesnt wear his dresses as much, but he wears the brightest hues possible and still enjoys a good ponytail and the occasional dress.
Coles mother, Tracey, shares, “We used to wonder if Cole was transgender but weve come to realize he just simply doesnt see the world in terms of gender and he wont be bound by traditional stereotypes. Cole asked me once to explain LGBTQIA to him after some PRIDE month activities at school. So I did. And then I asked him what he believes he is. Cole confidently responded I am two-spirited, non-binary. Our family has native heritage and we describe two-spirited as having both a masculine and feminine spirit. I think he described himself beautifully.”
Being a fashionista, Coles next question was “what clothes do two-spirited, non-binary people wear?”. To which his mom responded that what one wears on the outside does not always reveal who they are on the inside. He seemed a bit disappointed, but accepted that answer. “We encourage Cole to be Cole. Whatever that looks like for him.”
Max Agency actor, Cole H., showing off his blue steel pose
Max: What advice do you have for other parents who want to create a safe space for their kids?
Tracey: ” As a parent, your natural instinct is to shelter your child from the ‘hard’ stuff. Being different from the pack can be especially ‘hard’ on a kid. Imagine trying to love yourself if there’s no one at home who truly embraces all of you. Embrace the ‘weird’, encourage self-expression, celebrate the individuality no matter how that looks.”
Other kids dont always get Coles individuality, so Cole can be shy at times. Acting has encouraged self-expression and instills a sense of pride in him that his parents want to hold on to. Acting allows him to explore characters outside of his own very colorful character. He takes his job as an actor very seriously. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, his answer is actor/gymnast/figure skater/Mini Pop Kid/soccer player. Very ambitious!
Cole H.- Max Agency kid actor – toronto
Experience with Max Agency
Cole had a photoshoot with SpinMaster as a talent of Max Agency. His mother describes his experience:
“Cole loves being on set. Hair, wardrobe, ‘rolling…action’. Loves it all. The highlight for him was the client letting him and his on-set sister each take a game home with them. Oh, and the drone on set, that was super cool too. “
Cole H. with his on-set family – Kids modeling Toronto
Cole has his heart set on being cast in a Netflix series, and he dreams of watching himself on the screen at the theatre one day.
It was a pleasure for us at Max to discover our talent Cole, we look forward to seeing what he will achieve in his acting and modeling career.
MAX Agency is a successful Toronto acting agency representing men, women, and children. MAX Agency is involved in providing actors, models, and entertainers for the film, television, fashion, and advertising industries.
Max Agency has over 20 years of experience in kids modeling and kids acting in Toronto.
