Saturday, December 05, 2009

Katalyst Talent Agency Open Call in Covington, KY

Katalyst LLC, a full service agency is currently expanding it's roster. Katalyst represents and books actors, models, and voice-over talent, locally, regionally, and nationally.

Katalyst serves the Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Tennessee markets, as well as select national clients. The open call will be open to all who are interested in seeking representation with Katalyst. Katalyst accepts beginners and those with extensive experience. Katalyst represents actors and models locally and nationally. Katalyst does work on nationally based projects, however the majority of the work booked is in the Kentucky/Ohio/Indiana tri-state area.

They are looking especially to expand our ethnic roster, as well as fashion models and African-American males ages 30+.

Open Call Details

Where:

Katalyst, LLC
525 W 5th St
Covington, KY 41011-1260
CLICK HERE for directions.

When:

Saturday December 19, 2009
2:00pm - 5:00pm

Open calls are on a first come, first served basis. You do not need to make an appointment.

What to bring to the open call:

Actors

Prepare a monologue that best shows your acting skills. It must be age appropriate for you and under 2 minutes. It also needs to show your acting abilities for the camera as onstage acting is very different from on-camera. You will also need to bring in your pictures and resume. If you have an assortment of pictures for the agency to view please bring them in as it important that they have a variety of a pictures.

Beginning Actors - Adult and Children

Adult and children who have no experience in this industry and are looking to break in should bring in several photographs of themselves where they can be seen clearly. You will be asked to cold read so they can see your capabilities. Cold reading is a term used by actors and other performers in theater, television, film and any other performance field. A cold reading is reading aloud from a script or other text without any rehearsal, practice or study in advance. Cold readings are employed frequently in actor auditions, to allow the agent or casting director to get a general idea of their performing capabilities

Models

Models should bring in a variety of pictures. If you have a portfolio or comp card please bring them in for the agents to review. Also, bring in a resume with past work experience. If you are new to the industry please bring in snapshots that you have. Please bring in appropriate pictures for this area as the area is conservative. Children who are interested in modeling should bring in pictures that are age appropriate.

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

Katalyst Talent Agency Open Call in Covington, KY

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