SAG Franchised Agents: Boston, MA

I have worked in the Entertainment Industry as long as I can remember. I have been a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists for over 23 years. I decided to create and maintain this blog on my spare time to help people who are seeking representation with a talent agency.

I am currently offering a photo submission and consultation service to help you get submitted to the casting directors for films and television shows in production. It is a one time fee of $50 for personal email consultation, and up to 30 photo and resume submissions. I can help you prepare your resume regardless of experience, give you any tips, resources and information you may need, provide talent agent information, child work permit information, local photographers, acting camps and classes, etc. I am not a talent agent and do not negotiate contracts for you, or take any commissions or charge any additional fees.

If you are interested, I accept PayPal or can send a Google Checkout invoice.

Here is my PayPal email: albaltes@yahoo.com

You may also use the PayPal "Donate" button below for convenience. Just include a note with your name and email address. I will send a confirmation of payment for my services.

Sincerely,

Alan Baltes

Click Here for the Alan Baltes © Official Music Video Page!

Click Here for the Alan Baltes © Official MySpace Page.

Click Here for the Alan Baltes © Official Facebook Page.

Click Here to join the Alan Baltes © Official Film and Television Auditions Group at Facebook.

Screen Actors Guild Franchised Talent Agents

How Much Do Talent Agents Make?

Agents get 10% commission from your income after you work. Now figure if Bruce Willis' agent books him on a job, and Bruce makes $25,000,000 per film, then the agent gets TEN PERCENT after taxes. That would be roughly $1,700,000 for booking Bruce Willis on that job.

But of the hundreds and hundreds of Agents and Sub-Agents in the business, only a tiny fraction of agents make over a million bucks a year. Most agents make less than $30,000 a year, and many don't even make a living off of it, they have other means of finances that allow them to be agents.

There is a HUGE turnover of agents who are starting out within the first two years of becoming an agent because it is extremely hard to become a successful professional Theatrical and/or Commercial Talent Agent.

The "average" annual income of a Talent Agent (including these sub-agents, associate-agents, etc.) is roughly $25,000 per year.

What is Commissionable by Your Agent?

Some Talent Agents Are No Longer Franchised

SAG members should be aware, therefore, that there are some talent agencies that are no longer franchised by the Screen Actors Guild, who may, for the time being, continue to represent them.

These are agents who are members of either the Association of Talent Agents (“ATA”) or the National Association of Talent Representatives (“NATR”). These agents have no legal obligation to abide by the requirements of Rule 16(g), the SAG Agency Franchise Agreement, and many of them have chosen not to do so.

SAG cannot enforce its agency rules against these agencies. Although members are permitted during this interim period only to be represented by these formerly franchised agents, members are advised not to sign individual representation agreements (i.e. “general service agreements,” or “GSAs”) with these entities without first consulting with their Guild, especially if the terms contained therein provide less protection than the SAG Agency Franchise Agreement.

Most GSAs contain provisions which offer SAG members drastically fewer protections than those in the Agency franchise, including, but not limited to, the ability to commission previously non-commissionable residuals and other sources of revenue, and significant alterations in the performer’s ability to terminate his/her agency contract.

Members will also note that SAG will not be able to offer its arbitration/mediation services to settle commission or other disputes with these agents since they are no longer under our jurisdiction.

Independent Agents

If your agents are Independent (i.e., not affiliated with either ATA and/or NATR), and therefore still franchised by SAG, then these agents (as well as the SAG members they represent) continue to be protected by and bound to the terms and conditions of Rule 16(g).

Hundreds of SAG franchised agents across the country have maintained their on-going relationship with SAG, and continue to loyally serve SAG’s members pursuant to the requirements of Rule 16(g). Any standard SAG agency contract you sign with an Independent Agency may be filed with, and processed by, the Guild.

Background Actors (extras) Agents

Unlike actors, extras do NOT have agents who take a 10 percent commission. You simply register with extras casting companies and call in each day on their casting lines to get work. You can hire a "booking Service" for about $30 -$50 a month to "call-in" and get you the work. Of course these "calling or booking services" really do not "call-in" to get you the work, they simply know people at the extras casting companies and get lists of what they need, and act as "sub-casting agents".

Think about it, why would the extras casting company individually call each and every person, when they can just call a "booking service" and say, "we need 120 people for a party scene". Then the "booking service" does all the work and calls each of their clients themselves!

SAG is trying to regulate these companies at some point, but the fact remains that these services can get you much more work than you can on your own just calling in on the casting lines all day trying to get through the busy signals.

How Film and Television Shows Are Cast

The Film and Television Studios give the "green light" for movies and TV shows to be produced.

Then the production companies hire casting directors, who in turn send out "breakdowns" of the characters being cast.

These "breakdowns" actually are sent out by a service called "Breakdown Services" and are only available to licensed Talent Agencies.

Then the agents at these agencies submit photos, resumes, and sometimes "demo-reels" to the casting directors.

Then the casting directors call in the actors that fit the roles they are casting, usually many many actors are called in.

Then they narrow it down to the best actors who came in and "call back" these actors to read again for the director, sometimes the writer, producer, etc.. Then they narrow it down further, and sometimes there are 3 - 4 "call backs" before an actor is finally hired.

Note About Managers

Do I Need An Agent To Be Cast?

Although it is possible to be cast on a show or film with out having an agent, it is very difficult. This usually only happens with smaller roles, and of course with extras. The studios usually only deal with reputable licensed talent agencies when casting acting roles.

In addition, agents are the only ones who receive the "breakdowns" of what roles are being cast at a given time. And in most instances, a studio or production company will not negotiate a contract directly with talent.

I have personally landed several acting roles by randomly sending in my photo and resume to casting directors when I did not have an agent, but it is not common to land roles in this manner. However, I do recommend sending in to casting directors randomly because you never know if they will be looking for your exact type when they receive your photo and resume.

*** NOTE ***
When attending any "open casting calls" or "talent search calls" it is not necessary to have an agent.

Important Safety Information

Do NOT incude a home address when sending out your photo and resume. I always recommend using a PO BOX.

Also, NEVER meet someone outside of a professional environment such as a studio, agents, or casting office. Do NOT meet someone at a restaurant, private residence, etc. You should ALWAYS let someone else know EXACTLY where you are going, WHO you are meeting, and WHEN you are going there.

And a parent or guardian must ALWAYS accompany minors. A parent or guardian should NEVER be out of eyesight of the minor, whether it be at auditions or on set.

	Model Club, Inc.
	329 COLUMBUS AVE, BOSTON, MA 02116
	617-247-9020
	Type: Full Service - Youth

	Vision Talent Agency
	160 OLD DERBY STREET, SUITE 334A, HINGHAM, MA 02043
	781-749-3077
	Type: Full Service (All Ages)

Talent Agents