Talent Agents

How to sign with the Osbrink Talent Agency

I want to give a heads up about how you (or your child) can be considered for representation by a major player in the Talent Agency arena. Many actors contact me and ask for a recommendation for a top talent agency. I want to give one example of how to be considered for representation at Osbrink Talent Agency. Osbrink is one of the very best agencies in the entertainment industry. It is run by the amazing Cindy Osbrink. Her clients include the Disney Channel stars Cameron Boyce ("Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything", "Jessie", "Liv and Maddie", the voice of Jake in "Jake and the Never Land Pirates"), Mia Talerico (Charlie Duncan on "Good Luck Charlie"), and Paris Berelc (star of "Mighty Med", star in the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie "Invisible Sister", and star of the upcoming Disney Channel series "Lab Rats: Elite Force"). All you have to do to get your child seen by this amazing talent agency is follow the submission instructions carefully:

CHILDREN'S THEATRICAL / COMMERCIAL / PRINT
Submit a current, non-returnable snapshot of your child to our street address, along with a note describing their interests and personality. Include the child’s name, height, weight, eye and hair colors, his or her date of birth, parent’s name and a contact number. Please include a headshot and resume if you have one. If referred to them, also include who referred you. If the agency does not already have a client similar to your child, they will call you to set up an appointment.

ADULT THEATRICAL / COMMERCIALS
Submit a current headshot, resume, reel, and if applicable, any comedy links to the street address below.

ADULT PRINT / MODELING
Submit your comp/zed card or snap shots with your height, weight, clothing sizes and what city and state you are based out of to contact@osbrinkagency.com attention SUBMISSION or mail to the address below

Send to:

Osbrink Talent Agency
4343 Lankershim Blvd.
Suite 100
Universal City, CA 91602

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

How to sign with the Osbrink Talent Agency

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