The first hurdle aspiring actors and acting school graduates face is finding a suitable agent. Someone who will work tirelessly to source them work, give them professional advice and nurture their budding career.
Too many young actors sign up with the first agent who offers them representation – grateful to be accepted – with no thought as to whether they are comfortable with the agent as a person, or whether the agent is honest and getting quality work for their talent.
Word Of Mouth
When searching for an agent you can ask other actors or acting students who their agent is and how they are being looked after by that particular agency. If you like what you hear then you can make initial contact with the talent agency via email: a short note expressing your interest to meet them, with your head shot and resume attached.
Don’t worry if all you have on your resume is the classes and courses you have completed, as film and television agents regard on-camera work at a reputable acting school as essential training and experience.
You have to start somewhere and solid on-camera training is the logical starting point.
How To Go About Finding a Talent Agent
To get started, contact MEAA (Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Actors Equity section) and ask them to email you the registered talent agents list for whichever state you live in.
With the information you’ve gained by speaking with other students and aspiring actors, you could also ask your acting tutor to recommend a short list of agents who represent talent at your level of development and training. Contact the agents via email and ask them if their books are currently open to new talent. If they are, then try to organise meetings with at least two or three different agents.
How To Select Your Talent Agent
When attending the meetings trust your gut feeling as to which one of the agents would best represent your interests. Ask them who the other actors are on their books and what kind of work they are getting for them. Unlike twenty or thirty years ago, where if you graduated from any recognized acting school and were picked up by an agent and then got your first job, you could join Actors Equity as a full member; these days virtually everyone starts at the bottom of the ladder as an extra.
If you have no luck attracting a mid-level agent then try one of the extras agencies.
The important thing is to get out there and find acting work, either extra work or small dialogue roles if you can get them.
These days you have to prove yourself first, by demonstrating that you can turn up on time, be fully prepared for whatever it is you have to do, and that you can respond to direction. If you’re keen, friendly, committed and you don’t cause problems on or off set, then the assistant directors and the director (the people that matter) will notice you, and this will eventually help you to move up the ranks.
Know What Your Talent Agent Shouldn’t Be Doing
Be wary if a talent agent recommends you do classes with them, it is just a means for them to boost their income. If they are a reputable agent with solid industry contacts then they will make enough money doing what they do best – representing the talent on their books.
It is not the talent agents’ job to train actors. That is the job of the acting schools. If an agent insists that you attend their classes or states that they won’t represent you unless you do classes with them then look for another agent.
Talent agents, by law, can only deduct 10% commission plus 1% GST from your professional acting fees. If the agent indicates that they charge more than this for their services then don’t sign with them. Don’t sign with them either if they try to charge you money up front. If they ask you to get new head shots or if you don’t have a professional 10” x 8” head shot then don’t let them talk you into letting them take the photos.
Actor Head Shots Are Important
Go to a professional photographer who specialises in actor head shots. It will cost you more but it will be worth it in the long run. An actor’s head shot is their calling card and you must have the best possible calling card if you want to get work.
If you already have a head shot but you are not getting any work from it then get another one! The focus of your head shot should always be the eyes – this is screen acting and screen acting is all about the eyes. Avoid glamour shots, they may look fine on your parent’s mantelpiece but they won’t work when it comes to getting you noticed in the industry.
When looking to cast a television commercial, TV drama or film role, casting agents check the actors registered in their files as well as contacting the talent agencies with a brief regarding the specific look or character type they are looking for.
When they have received all of the head shots and accompanying resumes, the casting agent goes through the faces, and anyone who looks promising will be pulled from the pile. If your head shot doesn’t stand out from the pack then you run the risk of being overlooked.
The casting agent will also know some of the actors from previous auditions and what they are capable of, and if they are suitable, put them up for the audition or screen test as well.
When it comes to finding suitable agents for our students, the Screen Actors Workshop utilises its working relationship with some of the best entry-level, mid-level and A-list talent agents.
One of the many services the school provides for our students is sourcing the right agent for the right actor.
This is a small industry and word travels fast, so not only can we recommend reputable agents to our students, but most importantly, we can tell them which ones to avoid at all costs.
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