By Lia Spencer
SPUNKZ Management director Tanya Djukic has had a wealth of experience working with, and now discovering, incredible talent.
At age 18, she was signed by Melbourne high-fashion Agent ‘Giant Management’ who provided work across the globe with an impressive list of sports superstars and Hollywood celebrities including Liam Hemsworth, Nicholas Cage, Rose Byrne, Asher Keddie, Buddy Franklin, Mark Philippoussis, Erika Heynatz and Michael Schumacher.
The depth of experience set the foundation for Tanya’s future as a talent agent for people of all ages.
“After having two beautiful children of my own, I started regularly being cast in mother roles. I think I have been ‘pseudo’ mother for dozens of different children over the years. Some of my regular clients would start inviting me to help them cast my ‘fake’ children, which made me realise there was a need for an agent who had extensive on-set experience working with kids and knew how to pick appropriate children. Someone the industry could trust with their judgement and someone parents could also feel comfortable around, knowing that their agent had their child’s best interests at heart,” Tanya said.
“Having worked with Victoria Police for 11 years, security and privacy are also high priorities of mine – my ethical and media qualifications, combined with my maternal instincts and life experience in front and behind the camera meant starting my own children’s agency was a no-brainer.”
Tanya said that moving to Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs 13 years ago made her realise how much potential the growth corridor had.
“My goal was to create a cost-effective agency that would open opportunities to genuine, honest, reliable, talented and diverse people who are excited and grateful to be involved in this industry. Spunkz is not just about a look, but having charisma. Spunkz strives to represent a true depiction of Australia’s diverse ethnicities, sizes, talents and skills.”
Within the first six months of Spunkz Management, the clients were so excited by the quality of talent Tanya represented that they urged her to find adults to represent as well.
“Our expansion to represent real families and adults means Spunkz is one of the rare agencies in Melbourne who represent talent of all ages, all abilities, from newborn babies to highly qualified actors, and a wide variety of opportunities.”
Due to her reputable experience in the industry, Tanya was able to open doors for Spunkz talent to audition for professional feature films such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dressmaker, The Light Between Oceans and Spin Out.
She has secured her talent modelling gigs for labels such as Target, Bardot, Mooks, Bonds and many other brands. She’s found talent for professional theatre productions such as The Sound of Music, Madame Butterfly, Matilda as well as countless television series including lead roles and regular extras roles in Neighbours, Offspring, House Husbands, Little Lunch, The Wrong Girl, and dozens of TV commercials for brands including Jeep, NAB AFL, Coles, Kmart, HBA, and iSelect.
Spunkz Talent has even had the opportunity to work on cruise ships and theme parks internationally. Spunkz currently represents one lucky spunk who is working in a lead role at Motionpark Dubai.
Tanya said that clients were constantly looking for new faces, so Spunkz offered new intakes every four to six weeks.
“Clients might be looking for a stocky child who can skateboard, a teenage girl with braces, children with disabilities, twins, adults who can juggle, grandparents who can rockclimb,” she said.
“There is no stereotype and no experience necessary, but the talent does need to have confidence, take direction, be reliable, and have spunk.”
Once talent has been offered representation by Spunkz, there is a process they must go through to gauge how well they interact with photographers and what field they are best suited to. Some talent may even be encouraged to pursue acting classes. The ultimate decision about who is booked for a job is up to the client and Tanya acts as a medium between the two.
“Once clients select which talent they think might be suitable for their specific job, they will usually ask them to come in and audition. This is often just a 10-minute chat to a video camera, potentially some improvisational acting, clothing fittings or if for a lead role you might need to learn a script. Then we all play the waiting game, until the clients make their ultimate decision.”
Tanya said that continuous work was not always promised in the industry, but any experience was a great way to earn money, enhance on hobbies or skills and build confidence.
The next Spunkz shoots are being held on 22 January and 5 March. To apply, or learn more information, visit spunkz.com.au.
*This story first appeared in Star News Group publication Casey Cardinia Kids magazine. Photos printed on the right side of the article are not of Spunkz talent.
