About

Hi and Welcome to YourYoungActor.com!

I am Debbie, and I am the mother of two children, one of whom is a young actor in the Los Angeles area. We lived in the Southeast until my daughter was almost 7.

She had an obvious love for the stage starting at age one, and from then on I began looking for opportunities for her to perform. This turned out to be much more difficult than expected. I did not know anyone who could help me with this.

She got an agent in Charleston, SC when she was five years old. She also got an agent in Atlanta, which was a very long drive from Charleston.

We later visited New York and Los Angeles to talk with talent agents, managers, and casting directors. Though we also really wanted to work with talent manager Shirley Grant in New York, at the coaxing of Craig Wargo, with Talent Management Associates, we decided to come to Los Angeles to launch Brooke’s show business career.

My daughter and I first moved to Los Angeles alone. We drove all the way from South Carolina to Los Angeles with some friends, enjoying the sights along the way. We stopped to see the Grand Canyon and visited Las Vegas. Her father and brother joined us here 17 months later where we’ve all been living ever since.

We’ve learned so much during this journey into acting, and there are so many things I wish I’d known sooner. We had to try to figure out most things on our own as we encountered them. We did not know where to go to get assistance, and we did not always make the best decisions. I want to share our experiences with others so that they can learn from our mistakes and our successes.

Sincerely,

Debbie Sikkema

P.S. The picture in the header on this site is a picture of my daughter ( 8 years old ) on the set of Beautiful Dreamer, a beautiful WWII film. It was taken at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, CA.

While working with Brooke Langton and Colin Egglesfield and with Lauren Woodland as her mother in Beautiful Dreamer, Brooke discovered how very much she loved acting. It was a wonderful experience for her. When she was released from work on the first day of filming (due to the SAG requirements for minors) she said, “Mom, I want to stay and watch.” And she did until I finally dragged her away to go home over an hour later. She would have stayed until they finished filming for the day if I’d let her.

On IMDb <= Click Here

You can e-mail me: Debbie
@youryoungactor.com

DDMS Ventures, LLC, http://wwww.youryoungactor.com

86 comments

2 pings

michaelb@guitars guitars guitars says:

May 24, 2011 at 7:01 pm (UTC -8)

Acting can be an extremely rewarding career, good choice i hope all goes very well for you and your daughter. Im a musician and, being in the arts, I wouldnt have it any other way good luck
Debbie Sikkema says:

May 28, 2011 at 9:20 am (UTC -8)

Thanks, Michael for your comments and well wishes. Being in the arts is indeed rewarding — though difficult! –Debbie
Rick@Auto Detailing Clearwater says:

June 16, 2011 at 6:15 am (UTC -8)

This is a great website. We are trying to get our children involved in acting as well, but have no idea where to start.
Debbie Sikkema says:

June 21, 2011 at 2:47 pm (UTC -8)

Hi Rick,
Thanks for commenting! I hope my website and my newsletter and other information you get from my site will be helpful to you. Let me know if there is something I can do to help!
Good luck! –Debbie
Kaxil@Live Streaming says:

July 6, 2011 at 3:48 am (UTC -8)

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Kaxil@Movie Download says:

July 6, 2011 at 3:49 am (UTC -8)

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Lee says:

July 23, 2011 at 4:24 pm (UTC -8)

As a Former Dance instructor think this is a good way of getting the best out of your kids…
anniversary says:

July 26, 2011 at 8:04 am (UTC -8)

Thanks for another excellent post. The place else may just anybody get that kind of info in such an ideal method of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m at the search for such information.
Iwashiro@Pink Itchy Eye says:

August 3, 2011 at 12:37 am (UTC -8)

Thank you for wonderful info I used to be looking for this info for my mission.
ann@purple calla lilies says:

August 3, 2011 at 8:10 am (UTC -8)

nice blog deb! keep it up!
mark@Costa Mesa Chiropractor says:

August 4, 2011 at 11:34 am (UTC -8)

I failed to leave comments.
I hope you worry, as I do, that the futures of child actors seems awfully bleak. Still, we want them to have days in the sun. Parents must step up.
Sam says:

August 8, 2011 at 9:21 am (UTC -8)

Thanks for posting up, Deb! I wish there was more info out there like this when I was younger and looking at getting into acting… maybe if my kids are interested in it this’ll help out.

Thanks again!
James @ Part time jobs in London says:

August 12, 2011 at 4:51 am (UTC -8)

I am really impressed that you dedicate so much time to your daughters future career- I really respect the amount of time you spent and hope I will do the same for my kids if they ever want to go into acting. Best of luck with your daughters career!
Shawn@graco high chair says:

August 12, 2011 at 12:03 pm (UTC -8)

Just watched a show the other night about child actors. Very intriguing program with huge insight into the industry. Never knew what some of these child stars endured while on shoots and off. It isn’t all about the money sometimes.
Sam@Steam Cleaner Reviews says:

August 14, 2011 at 8:14 pm (UTC -8)

Very interesting story about how you guys ended up in Los Angeles. I loved Los Angeles when we traveled there in 1996 and cannot wait to go back.
Victoria Taylor says:

August 19, 2011 at 12:39 am (UTC -8)

Hello Debbie, and thank for this awesome blog. I am going to be honest I’m terrified of the whole show biz world. I don’t want for my kids to get swallowed up in all this. My children are beautiful, they are full of life, and loves to entertain, but I feel as tough they will freeze up when they say action, or say cheese!!!! I’m praying that God will send us to the right people…Thanks!
John@build links says:

September 27, 2011 at 1:06 pm (UTC -8)

Is that your daughter in the top banner? She is so cute. I hope I can see her soon in a movie, then I’ll tell my wife “I posted a message on her mom’s blog” lol.
Debbie Sikkema says:

September 27, 2011 at 8:14 pm (UTC -8)

Yes, that is my daughter on the set of a movie called “Beautiful Dreamer.” Thank you for the compliment! She filmed it when she was 8. She is taking a little break from acting right now (at least from tv and film acting). She is 14 and has braces! That is a tough age/time for girls in acting. Thanks for your very cute comment! And thanks for reading and posting on my blog.
Best regards,
Debbie
klea says:

October 7, 2011 at 9:43 am (UTC -8)

to do into succes is not easy ….of course that to get the best cost a lot of sacrifices…the way you achived to be successful i hope you go higher and higher,and help other youngers to catch their dream
Debbie Sikkema says:

October 12, 2011 at 10:58 am (UTC -8)

Hi Klea,
Thanks so much for reading my blog and for your kind comments.
Warm regards,
Debbie
Debbie Sikkema says:

October 12, 2011 at 6:13 pm (UTC -8)

Hi Victoria,
I’m glad you like my blog. I can understand very well your fears. The world of show business is scary, and you must always be involved and know when to keep moving forward and when it might be best for your kids to take a break. Never push them but let them stay with it as long as they are happy with it. Good luck with this. Trusting in God and seeking his guidance certainly is a good way to go forward.
To your success,
Debbie
Loft Beds for Girls says:

October 28, 2011 at 8:58 am (UTC -8)

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Blythe says:

December 10, 2011 at 10:11 am (UTC -8)

is your daughter now a good actress, has she been in any films? and how old is she now?
seo says:

January 31, 2012 at 9:51 am (UTC -8)

I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one these days..
Don@ How To Improve Writing Skills says:

April 24, 2012 at 2:32 am (UTC -8)

I’d be interested to know what those things you learned that you had wished you had known earlier are.
Debbie Sikkema says:

April 30, 2012 at 4:24 pm (UTC -8)

Hi Don,
I think I replied to you already in email, but I’ll reply here, too. I wished I had had someone to ask questions of so I knew how this industry worked, that I had known more about the unions, what talent managers and agents do, what to expect in auditions, how the whole process of auditioning works, all about the work permit office and Coogan accounts and driving around L.A. Just about everything really — it was a slow process of learning for us! Thanks for reading and commenting here on my blog.
Sincerely,
Debbie
Kevin@Car Detailing says:

June 27, 2012 at 2:04 am (UTC -8)

Hi Debbie, It was pleasure reading this blog really and all the relevant comments too. It looked nice also that you responded to each and every comment quite politely. I have seen some pics of your daughter and she is looking so beautiful. I hope that one day she will make her way through it. All the very best for your family.
kid books says:

June 28, 2012 at 1:37 am (UTC -8)

It is truly a great and helpful piece of information. I’m glad that you simply shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
Debbie Sikkema says:

June 30, 2012 at 10:29 pm (UTC -8)

Hi Kevin,
Thanks so much for you kind comments! I do appreciate your compliments for my blog (and also for my daughter) more than you know. I work hard on this blog, and it is very nice to hear good things from my readers.
Sincerely,
Debbie
shiane joyner says:

July 5, 2012 at 4:49 pm (UTC -8)

Hi,my name is shiane and im 13.I have wanted to become an actress or model,but whenever I look online I can never tell if they are real.please tell me a website that you use thank you
lyric says:

July 15, 2012 at 2:00 pm (UTC -8)

hi im lyric im 14 im looking for some auditions,commercials i can do i have a certificate from a agency called barbizion for singing but i would love to do some commercials and more it could be great for my career as well please contact me a.s.a.p please and thank you
right here says:

August 7, 2012 at 5:51 pm (UTC -8)

I get pleasure from, lead to I found just what I was taking a look for. You’ve ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
Sharina @ Talent Management Software says:

August 17, 2012 at 5:17 am (UTC -8)

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june@Shop Cocktail Dresses says:

August 20, 2012 at 7:34 am (UTC -8)

This is a great website. has lot of information that cannot find anywhere else. please keep posting your experiences with your child’s acting career. Thank you for sharing with us and Good luck!
Trish says:

February 11, 2013 at 9:32 pm (UTC -8)

Hello Debbie,

Thanks for referencing Holdon Log.

I noticed (b/c someone just purchased & referenced your site) that there is no link.

http://www.HoldonLog.com is the best link.

Also, bringing to your attention

http://www.PerformerTrack.com We have the ONLY Coogan Account/Child Trust Tracking System. We also have an Affiliate Program: http://www.performertrack.com/stw-affliate.html

If you’d like to review it, let us know. We’ll cross promote the review.

I also saw you mention Goldstar. We love them. Even better is http://www.IndustryDeal.com. We pre-screen every vendor and, we have an Affiliate program.http://www.holdonlog.com/pages/id-home-affiliate.html

Hope to connect with you soon!

Best,Trish
Desire Essays says:

March 7, 2013 at 12:44 pm (UTC -8)

This is one of the greatest website among all i have visited in the mean time thanks for sharing such website on the internet and making it available to the readers