"Changing
The Face Of The Look-Alike Industry"
Mirror Images Co,
the highly successful look-a-like agency based in Los Angeles,
California, headed by company President Dot Findlater, boasts
over 1,000 clients (Lookalikes, Impersonators, Historical & Political
Figures) across the United States as well as abroad.
Established 6 years ago, Mirror
Images Co came about through
its founder Dot Findlater realizing a dire lack of quality
look-a-likes within the entertainment industry. Moreover,
a realization that the demand was continuing to increase.
As a result, she set out to establish the most highly regarded
agency of its kind.
"There came this phenomenon, possibly though the impact
of mass media of a shift in how look-a-likes were perceived.
If they were good, there was a connection that was being
made between them, the audience and vice-versa. It was as
if the experience of getting close to celebrities was guaranteed
a positive one; people could interact with their idols and
completely absorb themselves in the illusion," says
Findlater.
With this in mind, Findlater set out to create an agency
that would become well known for raising standards within
the industry; for creating a stable of accomplished actors
who were both authentic in their appearance and professional
in their performance. Her recipe paid off. Today, her company
literally reaches all four corners of the globe. Whether
it be Austin Powers appearing at Helmet Kohl’s daughter’s
party in Cannes, France or Britney Spears booking a commercial
in Japan, Mirror Images Co is behind the best look-a-likes
in the business.
As an agency, the company continues to pride
itself on presenting its clients in the most professional
light possible. "In
a profession that is clearly maturing and gradually winning
the status it deserves, clients need protection," Findlater
comments. "Sadly, look-a-likes, the vast majority of
which are trained professional actors and actresses, do not
receive the treatment they deserve. As far as I am concerned, Mirror
Images Co is out to change that and set a new industry
standard."
Supplying professional actors and actresses to many facets
of the entertainment business, the company’s clients
appear in an abundance of commercials across the world, advertising
well-known consumer brands, whether on camera or behind the
microphone. In film, clients appear as doubles; in flash
back scenes depicting well-known Hollywood stars as well
as TV’s political satire programming, biographies and
comedy sketches. Many leading corporations hire for corporate
events, particularly in LA where each look-a-like performs
live on stage. Findlater adds that each is required beyond
being a look-a-like to be "a performer; to adopt the
appropriate persona, impersonate, ad-lib and present themselves
as professional, consummate actors."
Mirror Images Co's
Martha Stewart look-alike frequently appears on the Jimmy
Kimmel Live Show, while the Royal Family Queen Elizabeth,
Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry and last but
not leased Camellia Park Bowels makes royal appearances across
the US..
Findlater credits a significant part of the
historic success of her company to her website, www.mirrorimagesco.com,
where prospective look-a-likes from across the United States
as well as Europe seek Mirror Images out
as the significant bridge between their talents and the building
of a successful career. She requests initial video tape on
each potential client and over the past year has signed Alice
Cooper, George Clooney and Hallie Berry. She also acknowledges
the universal appeal that look-a-likes continue to have, "people
still crave the positive opportunity to interact with their
idols." No
surprise that Elvis, Marilyn, Robin Williams, and Cher continue
to be Mirror Images Co most popular look-a-likes.
So what’s next for Hollywood’s
leading look-a-like agency? The answer is an opportunity
to take the aforementioned appeal further a field. While
the ‘fascination for
all things idol’ continues across the globe in countries
such as Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Africa,
a series of seminars in key US cities are planned throughout
2005 to continue to swell the company’s pool of talent.
What’s more, Mirror Images Co has
established itself in London, England. Quite simply, for Mirror
Images Co, the
quest is on to find the best in the business.