#dreams
Follow Your Dreams
jenni.houser@yahoo.com
267.377.9767
Ah...where to even start!? I guess I have always been checking my hair in the mirror (or in the glass of my parent's stove) since I was a little girl. I used to make my brother take pictures of me as I dressed up in my Mom's wedding gown and office attire. I have always been on the tall side as well, and throughout my life people have said, "You should really look into modeling", so I finally did.When I was 19 years old I started out with my first agency, Donatelli Models & Casting. Randy and I have been working together for 12 years now. He taught me invaluable lessons and has gotten me the most work on my resume' to date. Donatelli also shot my first photo shoot. I will never forget that day! I was so excited to start out my career as a real working model.
After I built up my resume' with some local promotional work and some print ads I decided that I was really serious about building my resume' and getting signed with some agencies in the tri-state area. That is what brought me to Joe Edelman. While researching, I came across his name when searching for photographers and agents. He is a local professional photographer, and a very smart knowledgeable man who knows the ins and outs of the business.
He became a mentor as he guided me and helped me to navigate the modeling world without getting scammed or taken advantage of. He taught me how to pose for my photo shoots, stand up for myself and lectured me on exactly how to promote myself, deal with agents, and always to remember that they work for ME not the other way around. I learned the most valuable lesson which is, you NEVER pay an agent to work for them, they pay you; and once they find you work, and you are paid, then they take their percentage which should never be above 20%. In addition to facial expression training, great advice, and invaluable knowledge he passed to me, he really focused on teaching me how to build a great portfolio, create my Comp Cards (a model's business card) as well as building my cover letters and resume's to get me in front of some of the B & C class agencies in the area.
That is where it all started...I went on interviews and one by one was getting signed with agencies such as Greer Lange and McCullough Models in addition to many others in the Philadelphia area. These agencies and the work I booked through them helped me to build my resume' up with over 20 paid bookings. I have been lucky enough to work along side big names such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorcese, Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Adam Scott, Breckin Myer, Ice T, Mariska Hargitay, Penn Badgley, and more. Being on sets of major motion pictures such as Wolf of Wall Street, Corporate Affairs, and The Bounty Hunter has all been nothing short of a dream come true. These experiences taught me so much about acting and the production that goes on behind the scenes. I feel blessed to have met so many amazing people and to be able to make a living doing what I love.
Once I built up my resume' with over 3 films and/or TV shows I was accepted and became eligible for the SAG/AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild) Union. I have yet to decide whether to join or not, but I felt it was definitely a milestone in my career.
I took a break from my career to focus on family and to have a baby. That meant I was going to be out for a few years, and during that time I realized how much I really loved it and how much I missed working. I then worked very hard to loose all my baby weight plus another 15 lbs to submit to my dream agency. My main goal has always been to be signed with Wilhelmina Modeling Agency. For years I have followed the agency by doing research, and learning about the start of the agency. Something about Willy has always had my heart, so fear aside, I went for it.
I went through the online submission process and got a call that I had passed and I was invited to their casting call in Philadelphia. I had so many mixed emotions, happy, excited, scared, nervous, everything. I knew I had to put it all aside and risk it, so I went, walked the runway, and read my script for their acting divisions. It was so exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. I was told I would be called if they were interested. About 10 LONG days later I finally got word they wanted to sign me in their Modeling Division & Acting1 Division. (Lifestyle, Print, Acting) I was ecstatic and begun the processes to work with them.
I am preparing to begin my training processes which take up to a year and then will begin go-sees and interviews with major clients! Once a month the Wilhelmina of NY scouts come to choose models to move up to their agency. That is my ultimate goal, to be signed with NYC and begin a real contracted modeling career.
He became a mentor as he guided me and helped me to navigate the modeling world without getting scammed or taken advantage of. He taught me how to pose for my photo shoots, stand up for myself and lectured me on exactly how to promote myself, deal with agents, and always to remember that they work for ME not the other way around. I learned the most valuable lesson which is, you NEVER pay an agent to work for them, they pay you; and once they find you work, and you are paid, then they take their percentage which should never be above 20%. In addition to facial expression training, great advice, and invaluable knowledge he passed to me, he really focused on teaching me how to build a great portfolio, create my Comp Cards (a model's business card) as well as building my cover letters and resume's to get me in front of some of the B & C class agencies in the area.
That is where it all started...I went on interviews and one by one was getting signed with agencies such as Greer Lange and McCullough Models in addition to many others in the Philadelphia area. These agencies and the work I booked through them helped me to build my resume' up with over 20 paid bookings. I have been lucky enough to work along side big names such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorcese, Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Adam Scott, Breckin Myer, Ice T, Mariska Hargitay, Penn Badgley, and more. Being on sets of major motion pictures such as Wolf of Wall Street, Corporate Affairs, and The Bounty Hunter has all been nothing short of a dream come true. These experiences taught me so much about acting and the production that goes on behind the scenes. I feel blessed to have met so many amazing people and to be able to make a living doing what I love.
Once I built up my resume' with over 3 films and/or TV shows I was accepted and became eligible for the SAG/AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild) Union. I have yet to decide whether to join or not, but I felt it was definitely a milestone in my career.
I took a break from my career to focus on family and to have a baby. That meant I was going to be out for a few years, and during that time I realized how much I really loved it and how much I missed working. I then worked very hard to loose all my baby weight plus another 15 lbs to submit to my dream agency. My main goal has always been to be signed with Wilhelmina Modeling Agency. For years I have followed the agency by doing research, and learning about the start of the agency. Something about Willy has always had my heart, so fear aside, I went for it.
I went through the online submission process and got a call that I had passed and I was invited to their casting call in Philadelphia. I had so many mixed emotions, happy, excited, scared, nervous, everything. I knew I had to put it all aside and risk it, so I went, walked the runway, and read my script for their acting divisions. It was so exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. I was told I would be called if they were interested. About 10 LONG days later I finally got word they wanted to sign me in their Modeling Division & Acting1 Division. (Lifestyle, Print, Acting) I was ecstatic and begun the processes to work with them.
I am preparing to begin my training processes which take up to a year and then will begin go-sees and interviews with major clients! Once a month the Wilhelmina of NY scouts come to choose models to move up to their agency. That is my ultimate goal, to be signed with NYC and begin a real contracted modeling career.
2020 UPDATE:
This post is LONG overdue but during the past few years I've just been crazy busy. All kinds of big life events and changes going on, and as soon as things were getting back to normal, COVID19 hit. Although this tragic outbreak has practically stopped the world from turning I am trying to focus on the positives...extra family time, and a chance to get my life, my belongings, & my whole world organized...the best it can possibly be. That said, it takes a lot of my time as most of my day is spent raising and providing for my two angel babies~which brings me to my reason for posting!
I am going through personal changes (good ones) and have lots of projects going to prepare the kids and I for our new place~our new lives! I am also focused on home-schooling my daughter and keeping up the side hustles. Mom life in full effect over here, so I have made the difficult decision to extend my hiatus from acting/modeling as well as significantly reduce the time I spend on social media. I am choosing to put my children first and since I am the only parent, they need me now more than ever. My son has just turned two so we are in the thick of it for sure! They're only little once, it goes so fast~my heart and soul just want to be with my babies. I am in love!!!
I'm also waiting until a few things fall into place before I dive back into the industry. I wanted to send a shout out to my amazing agents for allowing me to live and enjoy the magic of marriage and having babies. Once I am ready to return I know I will be in good hands, but for now, travelling, hotels, go-sees, casting calls...I just can't do that at this time in my life. I mean anything is possible but I just WONT, they come first, period. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder and I know now more than ever that I will return and very much look forward to that day.
I made the choice at the height of my career to stop-ah the wonderful world of relationships-totally blinded by "love". I wanted it all, and now I must prioritize and pay the price for my decisions. In addition to all that I am very excited about a few projects I have in the works (I refuse to jinx it so I'm keeping it to myself for now) so I have decided to chill out on SM and put my acting/modeling career on hold at least until the end of 2020, possibly longer. It pains me because I love socializing... and the entertainment business is my ultimate dream- but the fact remains that they are both BIG distractions, not to mention the TIME, so it's imperative I put those on the back burner in order to stay on track with my goals.
So there you have it! That is the plan and I hope to pop on Insta as much as I can to upload photos now and then! Please KIT and PM me! I will miss you all terribly, that includes you NYC, and I'll be back~till then everyone stay safe, stay healthy and love deeply because who knows what's in store in this crazy world of ours.
Sending you all as much love & light my heart can send-you will all be in my thoughts and my prayers!
#selfdiscovery #priorities #goals #determination #passions #momlife #thegreatergood
-XO Jenni
