GP Chats with Serena from Young Talent Time!

We get chatty to the fabulous Serena from Young Talent Time. She opens up about how life has changed since being on the show and even shares some secrets from the set!

GP: What was your audition process like?

Serena: The audition process was pretty long. I went into auditions on the first day and there were heaps of kids, I didn’t think I had a chance! I made it to the call back, which was over three days, and it was an elimination process. There were around 50 kids and it was an elimination process again. I was pretty amazed I got to the top 10 but it was pretty scary!

GP: What has been your favourite performance?

Serena: I really liked my solo but group numbers are fun too because we all get a chance to shine. My personal favourite was ‘Funhouse’ so that was my favourite group number.

GP:  What a day on the set of YTT like?

Serena: Lots of laughs, all the time! It’s like we’re being paid to have fun. We have dance rehearsals on Sunday and singing rehearsals on the other days and by Friday we’re joining everything we’ve done together like the camera work. We all spend heaps of time together, which makes it really fun!

GP: What’s it like trying to balance school and YTT?

Serena: Balancing school and YTT can be hard at times because we’re so passionate in what we do and we want to excel in that. So it can be hard getting things done by the due date but we have teachers who are really supportive.

GP: What do kids at school think about you being on TV?

Serena: The kids at school are really cool, they’re so supportive especially the Year 7’s who come up to me to say hi. And then I have my really close friends who were like, “You’re in Young Talent Time aren’t you?” It was so hard not to say anything! The teachers are really great as well. My deputy principal is always overlooking what I do which was really good because she has family in the performing arts, so she was very understanding. She helped me a lot when I needed more time. But I try not to use the fact that I’m on YTT as an excuse because I don’t want to look as if I’m using that to my advantage.

GP: Do you have a secret talent?

Serena: When I’m at school, I’m really good at typing! It’s not like looking at the screen then looking at the keyboard, it’s literally typing really fast and doing what I need to get done! My friends at school are like, “How do you do that?” That’s my secret talent!

GP: Who is your favourite artist or band?

Serena: That’s a hard question! But my favourite would have to be Jessie J. But I do have a playlist that’s called ‘My Monthly Favourites’ so I’ve got Michael Jackson and a song I love at the moment is ‘Earthquake’ by Labrinth. I’m constantly looking up the iTunes charts trying to keep up to date with new songs.

GP: Do you have any songs that might surprise people?

Serena: Not a lot of people know but I love Celine Dion and I think she’s an amazing performer. She’s the one person that I look up to and she has an amazing voice. I grew up with my Dad listening to old music so I’ve seen videos of her singing and she’s just incredible. I listen to The Beatles too. Sometimes my Dad puts it on and we play guitar along to it and it’s really fun.

Don’t forget the cast of Young Talent Time are going on tour! Check out http://ytt.com.au/ytt-tour.htm for dates and ticket info!

Tags: Serena Suen, Young Talent Time