An actor’s representative negotiates employment contracts for actors, typically working on commission. They help actors find work, negotiate salaries, and promote their clients through interviews and endorsements.
A representative or actor’s representative is an agent who attempts to negotiate employment contracts on behalf of a professional actor or actor. Like other types of agents, an actor’s representative is typically paid on commission, meaning that the representative receives a certain percentage of the actor’s salary or an upfront fee. Some reps are self-employed, while others work for large acting agencies.
The first step in an actor’s representative career begins when the representative agrees to represent the business interests of a particular artist. Some representatives visit acting schools and try to negotiate acting contracts with students aspiring to become professional actors. Other representatives contact experienced professionals and offer to help these individuals find work. Typically, a successful actor’s representative works with several different artists, although some experienced representatives with extensive industry contacts charge large commissions and only represent the interests of a small number of prominent artists.
Television (TV) companies and theater companies often hold teleconferences during which actors have the opportunity to audition for plays. An actor’s representative should know about upcoming casting calls and make arrangements for their clients to audition at these events. The representative will advise the actors on the nature of the production and may even provide the actor with script examples and extracts from other plays that can be read during the audition. Some reps try to improve their clients’ chances of landing a role by proactively contacting the producers or directors before or after the audition. Many reps create portfolios for their clients, including photos of actors and reviews of past productions in which those actors have appeared; these portfolios are sometimes given to casting directors.
While some production companies hold open auditions, many companies prefer to launch productions by offering roles directly to well-known actors. In these cases, the casting director usually contacts the actors’ representative and provides that individual with details of the production process and the level of compensation the actor can expect to receive. Representatives accept or reject job offers on behalf of their clients. Before accepting a role, the rep must negotiate the actor’s salaries, and in some cases, negotiations fail when a salary cannot be agreed upon.
In addition to helping performers find work, an actor’s representative is also responsible for promoting their clients. This could involve arranging for interviews with actors or guest appearances on TV shows. Representatives can also negotiate endorsement deals and publicity contracts on behalf of clients, although these deals typically involve experienced professionals rather than inexperienced artists.
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