I adore this girl. Isabella Mancini represents all that I cherish in a devoted actor and person. She works hard, challenges herself and is result oriented.

Born in Romania, Isabella came to me to help her sound American so she could book American roles and not be limited by her beautiful Romanian accent. We worked very hard and her success makes us both exceedingly happy.

On an airplane, Isabella chatted with an American couple who were amazed to find out that she was not American. They did not detect her natural accent. They were focused only on what she said, not how she said it.

Here’s Isabella’s assessment of our work together.

“Claudette is the best dialect teacher in Los Angeles. I studied with other coaches before her but I wasn’t moving forward. Claudette was the best fit for me. She is very talented and understands immediately your weaknesses and works tirelessly until all of them are gone. I never thought I could overcome my Romanian accent. I have a terrible ear, but her hard work and her teaching technique are impeccable, and I succeeded sooner than I thought.

Listening to her and doing my homework and practicing allowed me to acquire a beautiful Standard American accent. I couldn’t have done it without her expertise. She understands sounds but also languages and cultures and teaches you to impersonate an accent not only imitate.

I am so grateful for meeting Claudette. Besides being the best teacher she is also a wonderful person and friend. She changed my life for the better and I sincerely recommend her as the best dialect coach. Thank you very much, Claudette!”

This says it all; the process and how you can feel afterward if you put the work into it as Isabella did.

The beautiful Isabella has had some wins recently. She signed with David Rhee at Arc Talent Management and her ability to do an American accent was key. She shot the short films, CAN YOU WATCH THIS?, and FALLING SNOW which has been accepted
for competition in the Student Academy Awards. Isabella also stars in VAMPIRES, the web series.

Isabella continues to work on her accent, so that it just gets better and better.

Don Cherry was voted as the seventh greatest Canadian on the CBC’s (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) television special, THE GREATEST CANADIANS.

Many of you watched the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and witnessed the colorful and brash Canadian hockey icon, Don Cherry with his cherry red suit, Hockey Canada cufflinks and his Canadian Maple Leaf tie on NBC predicting that Team Canada would win over Team USA. Great drama on the ice ensued as Team Canada won Gold over Team USA 3 – 2. Not quite the 5 – 3 victory Don Cherry promised, however.

For those not in the know, Don Cherry is an ice hockey commentator for CBC Television. Cherry co-hosts the COACH’S CORNER intermission segment on the long running Canadian sports program HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA, and in addition occasionally adds commentary on ESPN during the latter stages of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He is known for his outspoken manner, flamboyant dress, and staunch Canadian patriotism.

Prior to his broadcast career, Cherry was an NHL player and coach. He played one game with the Boston Bruins and later coached them during the days of the great Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito.

On March 28th and 29th, the CBC will air their biggest and best production ever, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, KID: THE DON CHERRY STORY. The 2 part mini-series, directed by director Jeff Woolnough and written by Cherry’s son, Tim, is a testament of Don Cherry’s love for his family and his love for hockey.

I was the dialect coach on this project working with stars, Jared Keeso and Sarah Manninen, assuring their accents were spot on. Jared also worked with vocal coach, Brad Gibson, to ensure he had Don Cherry’s vocal quality and tones.

I had to teach a Hershey, PA accent to Sarah Manninen who plays Rose, Don Cherry’s devoted and beloved wife, as well as the actors playing Rose’s family. I contacted a number of people in Hershey who were gracious enough to talk to me so I could hear their accents. Someone even directed me to Rose’s cousin, still living in Hershey, who spent an hour with me on the phone. When the accent must be this specific, this kind of research is mandatory. Sarah Manninen dove in and embodied Rose fully. She made me so proud. And Don Cherry was amazed how much Sarah sounded like his sweet wife.

Canada, watch this mini-series. It’s Mr. Canada as you’ve never seen him.