Association of Talent Agents (ATA)

THE ASSOCIATION OF TALENT AGENTS (ATA) is a Los Angeles based nonprofit trade association comprised of over 100 talent agencies primarily located in Los Angeles and New York. ATA's premiere membership includes agencies of all sizes representing artist clients in the motion picture industry, stage, television, radio, commercials and literary work. It is believed that ATA member agencies collectively represent ninety percent (90%) of the working artists. ATA member agencies collectively employ an estimated one thousand talent agents.

The birth of ATA (originally known as Artists' Managers Guild in 1937) is tied substantially to a proliferation of talent unions and guilds that formed after the Supreme Court upheld the Wagner Act. As the creative unions emerged, each sought a process to create a formal relationship between their members and the agents who represented them. ATA's founders created ATA to serve the agents by providing a needed strong united voice to represent agents' interests along with their clients.

Agency Regulations. For over sixty-seven 67 years ATA and NATR (National Association of Talent Representatives) has negotiated agreements with the talent unions and guilds. These include, Screen Actors Guild (SAG Agency Agreement terminated on April 19, 2002 for all franchised agents), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists , Actors' Equity Association (AEA), Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Directors Guild of America (DGA). ATA and/or NATR are the named bargaining partner in the union agency regulations. These Regulations, along with the California Talent Agency Act and other applicable City and State law, create the foundation upon which the agency business operates.

Services

Agency Regulations require interpretation, construction and advice, which ATA provides to member agencies. The Regulations govern such subjects as the length of representation contracts, commissions, conflict of interest issues, dispute resolution and numerous other issues that affect the agency business. ATA maintains a running dialog with all the unions and guilds and state officials.

ATA is involved in the dispute resolution provided for in various agency regulations and contracts. In some cases, ATA runs a dispute resolution system with Union and Guilds and is currently involved in setting up new procedures post the SAG Agency Franchise termination.

ATA helps member companies, on a daily basis, with commission grievances, contract interpretation and agent employee changes as well as referrals relating to bonds, insurance, health care and more.

ATA's Newsletter and website are great sources, providing up to date information on events affecting talent agencies. The newsletter reports on recent court decisions and ATA's representation of agency interests before the state legislature. ATA takes positions on oral contract disputes, copyright, tax issues, immigration, minors and a host of other matters.

Agents are informed about ATA sponsored symposiums, arbitration decisions, disputes within unions and guilds, new technology and more. ATA's unique tracking system is available for its members' use. The system provides information regarding residual compensation paid to actors under certain circumstances. ATA also offers an online service for locating the ATA (or NATR) agent of an actor. Go to Actor's Agent Search on the ATA website.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Talent Agents