Looking for a new agency - advice?!

[sXOX]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice?

I have been on the Italia Conti Agnecy for the past 5 years, and I have got some really great jobs from it, but unfortunately as I am now 16 next year I will too old to continue to be represented by them! With that in mind, I am beginning to try and look for a new agency!

However, as I am now 16, I'm not sure if any children's agencies would accept me, as I think the upper age for most of them is 16?

I've thought about applying for a more adult agency, however I'm having the problem that all the top reputable adult agencys seem to want people with a large amount of experience? Although I've done a fair amount of work, and I'm a member of Equity and have a spotlight membership etc, I do not have any thing such as film credits.

All the main agencys that the Screen Terrier Website suggest all look great, but I doubt any of them would actually accept me with the amount of experince I have?

Any advice or opinions would be welcome!

[pg]

Hi there!

It sounds as though you have a very down to earth approach to the business and are realistic about the difficulties you may encounter. Are you considering going on to get more training?

I'd recommend doing research into as many agents as you can and trying to find some that cross over from child to adult (from what I can see, Abacus is one such agency, I think Marlowe's is another). These agents might be prepared to audition you, which is probably what you need.
Otherwise, the response you are likely to get from agents who are interested is: "let us know when we can see you in something". You might like to concentrate on trying to get student film work for now. A showreel can be very useful (indeed, it's almost becoming essential these days if you are hoping to be considered for any screen work).

What kind of professional experience have you had so far?

[sXOX]

hi pg, thanks very much for the reply!

i am going to an academic sixth form next year, not a dramatic one unfortunately! i plan to carrying on doing LAMDA acting exams as i am currently on grade 7, but i am unsure how else to carry on training, as at the moment I do weekends at Italia Conti, but these courses stop at the age of 16 unless you are intending to go full time. would you have any suggestions as how to get more part time training?

I have researched virtually every reputable agency and they all say the same sort of thing - send in headhsots with your CV and showreel. I think I may aswell try applying for all of them, even though it is unlikely I'll hear back from most of them? I'm quite used to rejection by now so I'm not afarid of being told no, but there is no harm in trying!

So you do think agencies would be prepared to give me an audition even if I dont have much experinence, if they see potential?

So far proffessionally I have done many short films (several of thems student films as you suggested!), a few bits of modelling for magazines etc, and some smallish parts in CBBC programs! I have also been trying to do things such as extra work for TV, as I know it a good idea to try and do as much work as possible and not just aim for the 'bigshot' sort of things! Also I've obviously done stuff such as school productions and Stage School shows, the usual!

Many thanks for all your advice!!

[pg]

Hi there. Well, it sounds as though you have had a reasonable amount of experience to me, so I certainly think you can apply to agents, though you obviously realise that representation isn't guaranteed. Could you get a showreel together? Do you already have one? I do think this could be very useful when you are approaching agents. It's such a useful short cut to see what you are capable of and what you look like on screen. Are you intending to try to get into a drama school after 6th form? I know it's getting hugely expensive now

I don't think you need to worry about training during your 6th form years - I was thinking more about when you had left school, whether you were considering it then. If you just continue to look out for local opportunities, perhaps with a club or at local producing theatre, then this should be fine. Youth theatre, local amateur dramatic societies, holiday workshops - these are all great if you can find them (and if you can afford them!). If you have already done some TV work and student films, then I shouldn't worry about pursuing extra work unless it's something you are keen to do (no harm in doing it at all, but it probably won't be regarded as "acting" by any agents you approach, so be careful about including it as "experience").

LAMDA acting exams are fine too, but (in my experience) carry no weight in the profession. It doesn't mean you won't gain from it, but it doesn't tend to open any doors in the profession.

[sXOX]

Hi again!
In my covering letter to each agency, should I mention the reason as to why I am looking for a new agency, or do you think that would be considered irrelevant?
I do not have a showreel yet, but I putting one together as we speak! In the showreel would you suggest having an introduction where I say my name and age?
As much as I would love to go to drama school after 6th form I'm not sure whether I will able to; as you said it is so expensive now so I am still undecided!

I will definetely keep doing local opportunities, and workshops as I do thoroughly enjoy them! On my CV would you reccommend that I mention being a member of Equity and Spotlight?

Thanks again for all your help!

[pg]

Hi again!

Yes, I think it's a good idea to mention that you have been with the Italia Conti Agency and that your age means that you now need to look for a new agent. Would they give you a reference do you think? That would be a good thing to offer - a name of someone in the agency that a potential new agent could approach for information.

You don't need to say your name and age on your showreel. If you have the facility to include a screen at the end that has your contact details (name and email address and telephone number for example) then that's not a bad idea. Take a look at the showreels on Casting Call Pro (the adult site) and see you what you think of them. Every time you refresh the page you should be able to watch a new "featured showreel" on the right hand side.

Here's some of the advice I've received from CDs about showreels:
Keep it short - 2 minutes is absolutely fine, 5 minutes is pushing it...
Start with your best acting scene
Make sure it's clear who you are supposed to be watching
Don't bother with flashy montages
Have plenty of close ups if possible
Edit out as much non-essential stuff as possible (i.e stuff that doesn't really include you!). It's surprising how quickly and easily one can get bored with "beautiful shots" when you're trying to watch an actor's showreel to see whether they can act!
It doesn't need to "make sense" in terms of narrative
Try to ensure that the sound levels are similar in all the clips - don't go from really quiet (where the agent has to turn it up) to really loud (where the agent is then deafened!)
If you're not sure about a clip - leave it out. One minute of good stuff on its own is much, much better than one minute of good stuff buried in four minutes of dodgy stuff...

Yes, I think it's a good idea to mention Spotlight and Equity - both these things mark you down as professional in my opinion.

Best of luck!

[stagecoach2007]

pg you have so much knowledge of this industry and how it works.... Im a beginner just starting out with my ds and ive learnt so much from reading your posts.... Thankyou

[pg]

Thanks stagecoach2007 always glad to help when I can - though don't know when to shut up sometimes ....

[sXOX]

yes thank very much pg - your help really is invaluable!
sorry to keep asking questions - but you do seem to know ever so much!
Ive done my showreel in the way that you suggested, but i was just wondering what exactly I should include on my CV? I don't usually have to do one myself as usually my Agent does it!
Obviously I should include name date of birth, and contact details.
But then do I also include things such as height, weight, eye colour and hair colour?
I dont usually include these things on my academic CV, but for this CV should I include them?

Thanks again!

[pg]

Hi again

There are no hard and fast rules for what goes on a CV. Generally I would suggest the following:

It should all fit on ONE side of A4, so leave off some early or lesser credits if you're struggling to fit it on (this is what an established actor with a long CV would do, so you are being professional in appraoching it this way).

Name and contact details
Height
Hair and eye colour
Date of Birth and/or playing age. D.O.B. is obviously a good idea for someone of your age, because of licensing implications.
(Weight or build is optional)

Equity membership and Spotlight number.

Then your experience:
You can split this into different genres or you can put everything together. I think it's easier for someone to glance through if you split it up for example:
Theatre at school or college
Professional theatre engagement
Film/TV
Anything else (e.g. radio, voiceover. corporate, role play, workshops)

Don't worry if you only have a few things on it - it really doesn't matter. You are quite young and an agent is not expecting there to be reams of stuff.

It is normal to have this in a sort of table format, so that it's easy to read (e.g. role, name of production, director, venue or company )

Then at the bottom of the CV you can add training, skills and experience including any grades where relevant.

Keep the lay-out as simple and clean-looking as you can. No fancy fonts or anything like that. Make sure you get someone else to check for any typing or spelling errors - it is SO easy to overlook those you have typed yourself because you read what you expect to read!

Don't stress too much about it though. There are as many opinions as to exactly how it should look as there are agents probably! As long as the information is there and it's easy to read, you'll have got it right!

[VarsMum]

yes thank very much pg - your help really is invaluable!
sorry to keep asking questions - but you do seem to know ever so much!
Ive done my showreel in the way that you suggested, but i was just wondering what exactly I should include on my CV? I don't usually have to do one myself as usually my Agent does it!
Obviously I should include name date of birth, and contact details.
But then do I also include things such as height, weight, eye colour and hair colour?
I dont usually include these things on my academic CV, but for this CV should I include them?

Thanks again!

I am new to this game, but my suggestion would be to ask your current agent for a copy of your CV that they send out on your behalf. You can then tweak it if necessary.

[sparklymommy]

Just reading through this has made me think that I should do a CV for my DD, and the tips and hints are invaluable. Thanks guys!

[lindy7]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone could say which agency out of Sylvia Young or A J Management as my dd has been chosen for both but do not know which to select she has just turned 13. Any comments would be appreciated.

[Coco]

Well done to your dd ! That's a nice problem to have chosing between two really good agencies. My dd has been with an agency which was attatched to a school, which she wasn't a pupil at. We did feel that the children attending the school got priority rather, but I don't know whether that would also be the case with Sylvia young. Good luck chosing and I wish her success !

[pg]

Great to have a choice!

I'd be inclined to go to meetings with both agents armed with a list of questions and then make a decision once you've met the people involved and you have more of an understanding of how each agency operates.