Ndani ya Kiwanda cha Disney: Jinsi Wanavyovumbua Nyota wa Kizazi Kijacho

Disney imekuwa ikijenga formula ya ku-produce superstars kwa miongo mingi — kutoka Zendaya, Selena Gomez, mpaka Olivia Rodrigo na Sabrina Carpenter, wote walipitia mfumo wa Disney kabla ya kuwa majina makubwa duniani. Sasa kampuni inaeleza jinsi mchakato huo unavyofanya kazi katika enzi ya TikTok.

Kelly Grant, mmoja wa maofisa wanaosimamia talent discovery kwenye Kids & Family, anasema kazi yao siyo tu kuangalia audition performance, bali kutabiri nani anaweza kuwa nyota wa baadaye. "Tunaangalia watakachokuwa, siyo tu walivyofanya kwenye chumba cha audition," anasema. Wakati mwingine mtoto anaingia kwa acting halafu wana-discover ana talent ya kuimba au songwriting — na hapo ndipo Disney inapo-pair na fursa sahihi.

Social media sasa ni sehemu muhimu ya equation. Andrews, mwenzake Grant, anaeleza jinsi TikTok ilivyosaidia kupitisha "baton" ya franchise ya Zombies kutoka Milo Manheim na Meg Donnelly kwenda kwa Barton na Freya Skye. Vilevile, mtandao ulisaidia kufanya concert tour ya "Worlds Collide" kuwa hit kubwa, huku mashabiki wachanga wakirekodi na kushare moments zao mtandaoni, jambo lililofanya tour ionekane can't-miss kwa kila mtu.

Kwa sababu talent hizi ni minors, Disney ina support system nzito — on-set psychologists, therapists, na check-ins za mara kwa mara kupitia lunches na dinners na maofisa kama Grant na Andrews, ili kujenga trust na communication ya wazi.

Once mtoto anasaini na Disney, anapata access kwenye program ya "Becoming" — training extra ya acting, singing, dancing na performance arts nyingine. Kids & Family pia ina uhusiano na The Music Group kusaidia stars kuendelea na music career wakati wakifilm.

Mifano halisi ya jinsi Disney inavyowa-retain talent: Selena Gomez alirudi kwenye familia ya Disney mwaka 2021 kupitia "Only Murders in the Building" (Hulu), kabla ya kurudi Kids & Family kama producer na star wa "Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" pamoja na Jennifer Stone. Milo Manheim ataendelea kama Flynn Rider kwenye live-action ya "Tangled", huku yeye na Donnelly wakibaki producers wa Zombies franchise. Barton ataendelea na Zombies lakini pia ataongoza "Coven Academy" kutoka kwa Tim Federle, itakayoanza kurushwa Freeform Oktoba 1, na siku inayofuata full season itapatikana Disney+.

Chanzo: Variety