Talent and Literary Agency Don Buchwald and Associates holding open call in New York

Talent and Literary Agency Don Buchwald and Associates in New York City will be holding an open casting call on October 10, 2009. They are seeking talented young actors and theatre performers between the ages of 5 and 17 years old. Don Buchwald and Associates has offices in both New York City and Los Angeles, CA. The agency is a member of the Association of Talent Agents (ATA) and National Association of Talent Representatives (NATR).

In New York City, Don Buchwald and Associates is housed on six floors of their own office building in mid-town, between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue. In Los Angeles, the company occupies a 12,000 square foot office complex at 6500 Wilshire Boulevard, overlooking the heart of the city. The agency became an industry leader in 1977 when Don Buchwald with five associates founded the company. They have since grown to become a strong bi-coastal force in the entertainment industry.

The open call is NOT being held at the agency office.

You MUST email the following and request an appointment time and registration for the call :

kidscasting@gmail.com

Important Information Regarding Non-SAG Franchised Talent Agents

There are some talent agencies that are no longer franchised by Screen Actors Guild. This means that those agents have no legal obligation to abide by the requirements of Rule 16(g), the SAG Agency Franchise Agreement, and that SAG cannot enforce the Agency Franchise Agreement against those agents. The Guild’s leadership will immediately engage in an active campaign to persuade agents to re-sign the Agency Franchise Agreement.

Although members are permitted during this interim period to be represented by an ATA/NATR Talent Agent, members are advised not to sign individual representation agreements if the terms provide less protection than Rule 16(g), the SAG Agency Franchise Agreement. Examples of agreements which provide less protection are those with: a term longer than 3 years, a commission rate of greater than 10% and payment of commission on compensation including penalties, residuals, per diem, etc.

ATA 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 to be represented by these formerly franchised agents, members are advised not to sign any individual representation agreements presented to them (e.g., “general service agreements,” or “GSAs” or “Stare approved agency contracts”) 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 for the agent to commission previously non-commissionable residuals as well as 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 SAG jurisdiction.


What to do if an Actor is handed a General Services Agreements (GSA) to sign:

● Attempt to negotiate terms and conditions that are similar to, or better than, those in the standard SAG Agency Agreement.

● Seek independent legal advice prior to signing any contract that is NOT a SAG Contract.

● Immediately notify SAG’s Agency Department (in LA: 323-549-6745; in New York, 212-827-1444) and provide the Guild with a copy of the GSA so that the union may assist you in reviewing it.