Hi Bonnie,
I have been a successful actor in the UK for a number of years. By “successful” I mean that within the UK industry I’m known and respected by directors and casting directors alike; I have a career which spans 36 years playing lead roles in theatre including high-profile productions in the West-End of London and at the National Theatre. Also quite a few supporting TV roles and some high-end commercials. However I’m by no means a “star” name.
To be frank, stardom has never driven me as an actor. I came to the US about eighteen months ago to get married. It was one of those situations where if we wanted to be together, one of us had to make a move and it seemed to make sense for me to come here rather than the other way round.
Since gaining my permit to work and then my green card, I’ve represented myself theatrically but have managed to retain a commercial agent and a voiceover agent, both in LA. I’m building a nice little resumé of work here which I’ve got using Actors Access for the most part. It includes a TV/web mini-series, a play at the LA Theatre Center, and two good roles in a low-budget feature.
My difficulty is that I can’t seem to find theatrical representation or even get a reply to my letters. I’m not pushy and I simply send them a covering letter with a resumé and two headshots. The pictures are great and taken by a top Hollywood photographer. There is a link to my IMDb page and reel included in the letter. I haven’t had one reply even from those agents I was referred to. I tried going onto the Showfax “looking for representation” page but I was only contacted by a couple of managers who I didn’t feel were really interested.
Is union status a problem? Or could it be my age (I’m 57)?
Any advice you can give me would be gratefully received. I read your column with interest and I’m always impressed by your views and advice.
Yours Sincerely,
Chris MacDonnell
Chris, thank you. And welcome to the States. I know you’ve been here a while, but a welcome is always nice to hear. 😉 I love hearing from actors who have made a huge move to come to LA and follow their dreams. And, in your case, you followed your heart. I love that!
Next, I want to congratulate you on what you’ve been able to accomplish thus far. Those are no small feats and I do hope you are feeling really fantastic about nabbing a fantastic voiceover agent, signing with a great commercial agent, and booking professional work in Los Angeles (The Super Bowl of Acting).
As for theatrical rep, that’ll come. Lots of folks talk about certain seasons during which it’s tougher getting signed (pilot season being one of those tougher times), but really, it’s about getting on the radar of the RIGHT people, nurturing the relationships you are creating, and continuing to do good work so that you’re a no-brainer, as far as signing goes. Most importantly, it’s about NOT getting yourself tethered to a Ho-Hum agent right now, which would make you unavailable for your Hell Yes agent down the road.
It’s early yet. I don’t want you to start trying to figure out the answer to problems that don’t actually exist. Asking whether union status or your age is a problem will just lead you into a minefield of Actor Funk and it takes your eye off the REAL ball in this game: Those things you can control.
We’re actually gonna be talking about this starting tomorrow if you’re on my mailing list and want to get really specific about the paradigm shift I’m asking you to make. ’til then, just know that it’s really easy to get caught up in the “I’ve gotta get an agent” mess that sends most actors in a tizzy. Nope. You don’t have to get an agent. What you want is access, and yes, access is certainly easier at certain tiers with certain representation. No question about that. But the quickest way to be invited into the audition room on a project is to be on a list handed to the casting director by the producers of the project. Build relationships. Period. Don’t worry about whether those relationships are with agents yet. That’ll come.
What do agents look for in an actor? Dollar signs.
Your age, your union status, your type… those things are certainly factors in whether an agent has room for you on his roster, no question. But if an agent believes he can pay his rent in commissioned earnings off your bookings? You’ll get signed. That’ll come, Chris. You’re headed in the right direction and you have a lot already going for you, to attract an agent. Keep working. Keep submitting if that makes you happy (but not because you think you’re supposed to). Do targeted research on your buyers and keep heading toward the next tier.
The Hell Yes agent will be there for you, soon enough.
Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!
Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/001502.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.