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| Creating our own hype @Playboy mansion, April Malina/ Jessica Franz |
The other day in Hollywood: Mr. X "Who is your agent? Oh, you don't have one... That's too bad. Well, I'm with [name drop]." Me "Nice! So do they get you a lot of work?!" Mr. X "They don't really get me anything..."
This actually gives a pretty accurate picture of the situation in this town- especially lately. So please: Don't be embarrassed not to be signed yet- it doesn't mean anything!! You either don't have an agent, or you have one who doesn't do anything for you. Both isn't good, but realistic right now. The truth is: There probably even isn't enough to even get you in on. There's still no money spend or to be made at the moment.
Looking at it from an actor's perspective there's of course reason to complain about the standstill of our careers. Yet the poor agents are definitely not the ones to blame. Since I'm also working on "the other side" of the industry, I feel like setting the record straight what the people on our side can and will do. Agents are our friends. Agents might have a couple of contacts they can pull for you, but they are just as much depended on our genius, boldness and ability to create a hype around us! They aren't magicians.
With billions of people in this world (and half of them wanting to become actors these days) it is only understandable that not everyone can represent our craft and work as a performer. But if you are: There's still a lot more to do than being fabulous, loving the human condition and possessing the willingness to make a fool of ourselves in front of a camera.
It takes a mission. I want to know what you have to say, what your insights are, how inspiring you can be. And most of all: How authentic you are in the midst of lost souls. So SHOW IT!! It is called SHOW-business, not Hide-business. This includes showing it in short films (only the ones that have a minimum of professionalism please- otherwise you waste your time on something that won't be worth your time), theatre or independent films if nothing else.
What most people seem to forget: Everyone had to start somewhere and you wouldn't be the first one committing to a small film that suddenly becomes a festival hit. THEN you get discovered while WORKing- not depressing in your room, selling yourself on parties or hoping to win the award for "best dressed no name nobody has ever seen acting on a red carpet event". I heard the other day that even Angelina Jolie, though being daughter of influential people, did dozen of student films before landing Gina (an independent film!) and getting noticed for the first time.
As soon as you are ready, radiate esprit and success, the agent will be able to get you on that train and manage your ride. Anything before that is like believing in the Easter bunny: A cute story but unfortunately an unrealistic myth.
Your RealisTA
As a writer/director who just signed with an agency, I've had a crash course in just this topic the last month... It was a bit of a shock to realize after working in my profession for five years now I can still be very naive about the mechanics of how the business actually works. And that's the contradiction that lies at the core of what you're talking about: We work in an art form that is also a very competitive and turbulent business... those are two things that will never coexist without friction.
ReplyDeleteI think the best plan even if you DO have representation is to still attack your career as if you DON'T. Make yourself responsible for your own career- why wouldn't you want to be? Then if and when you get a gig, let your agent step in and do what they do best- make sure you don't get screwed. That alone is worth 10%, trust me. Get enough creds on the ol' IMDB and you can either trade up to one of the biggies with three initials or else be the rock star of your own little boutique agency. Either way you win. And you don't owe anybody anything for your own success because you earned it yourself.
Jim T.