Saturday, August 14, 2010

The Jana VanDyke Agency seeking new talent in Atlanta, GA metro area

Mega Management, LLC D/B/A The Jana VanDyke Agency is expanding it's roster and is accepting photos and resumes from professional actors of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. No background actors. To be considered for representation, please follow the directions below carefully.

● Email 5 different headshots of yourself to: submissionsJVA@gmail.com

● Also email a copy to: ccollinscasting@gmail.com

● Put in the Email Subject Line "Submission – Appointment Requested"

You may also send your headshots and resume by mail via postal service to:

Jana S. VanDyke
Submission – Appointment Requested
c/o The Jana VanDyke Agency
3655 James Road Suite 114
Acworth, GA 30102

Absolutely no phone calls or personal drop offs.

If selected, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment.

The Jana VanDyke Agency is SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Franchised and Licensed and Bonded in the State of GA.

The Jana VanDyke Agency represents talent in the following areas.

● Adult Male Actors
● Adult Female Actors
● Teens 12-17 Actors
● Children 2-11 Actors
● Voice Over Talent
● Models
● Artists
● Diverse Talent of all Ages and Ethnicities.

Mega Management was created in 2004 with the primary goal of representing various talents in the entertainment industry as a personal management firm. Due to industry changes in GA, the company felt their talents would be better served reconstructing the firm into a Talent Agency. In order for the company to become a SAG/AFTRA franchised agency, they must also operate as a d/b/a (Doing Business As) and so The Jana VanDyke Agency was formed.

Jana VanDyke has placed talent in movies, documentaries, TV series and commercials. Her talent has been seen in ER, Haunted Mansion, Ace Ventura Pet Detective, Daddy's Little Girls, Why Did I Get Married, Desperate Housewives, Eli Stone, Law and Order, Drop Dead Divas, Army Wives, Burn Notice and many many more.

VanDyke has also developed many models that have gone on to link with agencies such as Ford Modeling, Elite Model Management, Irene Marie in Miami, FL, and Silver Management Group in New York. Many of her models have been published in nationally distributed magazines, too many to mention.

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

The Jana VanDyke Agency seeking new talent in Atlanta, GA metro area

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