Rob's got talent

Jun 4 2008 by David Whetstone, The Journal

If Simon Cowell spends his time looking for future stars, who might be the future Simon Cowell? David Whetstone meets a likely candidate.

IF the TV show Britain’s Got Talent has taught us one thing, it’s that getting to the top in showbusiness is no easy ride.

Years of dreaming and self-delusion can be shattered by the cruel pressing of a buzzer or a put-down from Simon Cowell – and all on national television. But you can be sure that there will be no future shortage of dreamers or those prepared to trade on those dreams.

Which brings me to a flat in Newcastle where a young man called Rob Earnshaw is talking about his own dreams and those of others.

Unusually, it isn’t the contestants on Britain’s Got Talent whom Rob wants to emulate – it’s Mr Cowell himself.

When I suggest that he sounds a bit like a Cowell-in-the-making, Rob says: “I’m honoured you should say that because he is very good.” Then he adds with a smile: “But I’ll be better than him one day.”

He may well be right. Rob reveals he is already driving a BMW and paying a substantial rental on his Jesmond flat, which doesn’t sound too bad for someone who has just turned 21.

Later this month, having been hired by an American talent scouting organisation called AMTC, he will be hosting open auditions at Newcastle College for actors, dancers, singers, models, comedians and presenters.

The best of them he will offer to take to Disneyland Paris in November where they will be invited to perform again in front of high-powered agents and casting directors.

You might not have heard of AMTC (Actors, Models and Talent Competition) but you can find out more on www.amtcworld.com

Founded by American model Millie Lewis and her daughter, Carey Lewis Arban, it claims to be “the top convention in the world” and “The Olympics of the industry”. It sounds very American, offering “to give new talent a smart, safe entry into national careers, building knowledge and self-esteem in the process”.

AMTC’s competitions or conventions have taken place in America for the past 25 years. According to Rob, the Paris enterprise is AMTC’s first foray into Europe.

Whatever you might think about AMTC, it says something for their talent spotting credentials that they have chosen Rob to be their main man in the North East.

He came to the attention of The Journal a couple of years ago when he set up theactingwebsite.com, an online directory of theatre and entertainment people, with grants from The Prince’s Trust and the Northumberland Enterprise Fund. He was still a pupil at the Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham when he had the idea.

When he won a coveted place at the National Youth Theatre, it backed his website idea. And he returned the favour by playing Don John for them in a production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at the Hackney Empire.

He spent a year as an actor in the capital before returning to Newcastle a year ago and diverting his energy into his latest online enterprise, thecastingwebsite.com This is a directory of largely teenage talent which now boasts thousands of names.

It appears to have been very successful. Rob explains his working method: “I said to casting directors, ‘I’ve set up a website of young actors and I can help you out by finding someone who’s just perfect for you’.”

At this point I should say that Rob is charming, persuasive, full of energy and with nothing about him to suggest to me that he is anything but honest.

He claims to have an uncanny knack for picking the right young actor for the job and can back it up with examples. When the casting director of Holby City asked him for “a Bohemian kid”, he sent them young actor Sam Quilly who got the part.

When the Casualty people came on in a bit of a flap asking for two Serbian-speaking kids, Rob rang the embassy in London who put him on to their cultural attache. She put him in touch with youngsters Yehan Jehan and Maria Pajevic Merrell who were duly cast.

One Rob Earnshaw success story could be 17-year-old Jack Greaves, from Alnwick, who has already passed through several auditions for the musical Spring Awakening, which is to open in London after taking Broadway by storm.

Rob met Jack’s father who mentioned his son’s interest in an acting career. “He only came to me for some advice but it seems to be all happening for him,” says Rob who sent him in the right direction.

The doorbell rings.

My interview time is up. In walks Rob’s next appointment, actress Lisa Vandervelde.

Already a happy customer she has popped in for another chat. Rob reveals that Lisa has a very talented young daughter, Ruby, for whom he thinks stardom might beckon.

Rob’s AMTC auditions will take place at Newcastle College on June 21 and 28 from 9am to 6pm.

Anyone interested can contact him via the website www.thecastingwebsite.com