The Atherton Group is seeking submissions for prospective talent for representation in The New Mexico Market in Film, Television, Commercial, Voice Over, and Print. Founded in 1994, The Atherton Group has been ranked as one of the top talent agencies by the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com). Recent success stories for talent with The Atherton Group include Brea Grant (star of NBC’s hit TV series HEROES), Cambell Westmoreland (cast in Robert Rodriguez’s SHORTS and Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD), Davi Jay (cast in HBO’s upcoming series TREME), and Natalia Castellanos (cast in an upcoming episode of CBS’s CSI:NY). In addition to serving the Texas and New Mexico markets, the agency also has divisions in Louisiana and California.
The agency is accepting submissions from the following...
Children: They do not represent babies. They are currently only accepting submissions from children who are at least 4 years of age. If you do not have a professional headshot, please submit two or three close-up images, including a face shot and a body shot, along with a resume of your interests and special skills. Please include hair and eye color, height, weight, ethnicity, and date of birth.
Voice-Over Talent: Please email your resume and Voice-Over demo(s) (links only - do not email large files). They will consider Voice Over Talent from other regions who have in-house studios, ISDN and/or Phone Patch capabilities.
To be considered for representation please mail your headshot(s), resume, and other material to:
The Atherton Group Operations
New Mexico Submission
1310 E. University Avenue
Georgetown, Texas 78626
No Phone Calls. Meetings by Appointment Only.
Voice Over talent ONLY can email a demo to:
michael@tagtalent.com
Please note that they receive many submissions and cannot always get back with everyone. They will contact you for an appointment if interested.
Call for Actors Seeking Talent Agent in New Mexico
Headshot and Resume Information
I have been receiving some inquiries regarding what type of photos and resumes to send to a casting director or agent. Below is a sample of a professional actors resume and photo.
The photo should not be a school photo, glamor shot, or a snapshot taken by a non-professional photographer. The photo should be 8" X 10" in size, the resume should be cut to the exact same size and stapled back to back on the photo. When you flip the photo over, the resume should be viewable on the other side. Do NOT paper clip the resume, but staple it on all four corners. Your name and any union affiliations should be printed on the bottom of the photo, either on the border or on the corner of the photo itself. That way if by some chance the photo does become detached from the resume, the casting director can match them up again. The photo should be color and professionally taken.
Just remember that your photo is your calling card. It should represent the "real" you, the way you look in everyday life. If your hair is long in the photo, then your hair should be long when you walk in the casting office. If your skin is fair, then you should not come to the casting office with a dark tan. Always keep your photos up-to-date according to your look.
Actress Cheyenne Logan
This is child actor Marcus Calderon, and he landed a national Disneyland commercial with this photo.
Sample Resume:
If you can't afford to pay a professional photographer to take your photos right now, you can try something else. If there is a school nearby that has a photography department, go there and see if you can do "testing". Testing is when you exchange your time posing for a photography student in exchange for them taking some theatrical headshots and giving you some prints.
Current state of Screen Actors Guild members' relationship with their agents
In April 2002, the Association of Talent Agents and the National Association of Talent Representatives (collectively, ATA) chose to terminate their decades-long relationship with Screen Actors Guild. Accordingly, these agencies informed SAG they no longer wished to be franchised by SAG.
This unfortunate decision potentially jeopardized SAG members’ relationships with these agents (and with their Guild), since SAG rules and regulations clearly dictate that any member who chooses to engage the services of an agent is required to choose from an authorized pool of franchised agents, i.e., those that continue to be regulated by the Guild. However, SAG’s National Board, wishing to acknowledge the longstanding relationships Guild members have had with their ATA agents, unanimously adopted a motion in 2002 to temporarily suspend enforcement of these membership rules, but only with respect to ATA agents.
As it currently stands, Guild members may be represented either by SAG-franchised agents (where SAG’s agency protections continue to apply) or by ATA agents (where SAG’s agency protections no longer apply). Fortunately, the SAG agency franchise continues to grow and thrive, and protects thousands of members who have chosen to sign with SAG franchised agencies.
Members who choose to be represented by ATA agencies should note that since these agencies no longer are franchised by SAG, they have no legal obligation to abide by SAG agency regulations, and many of them have chosen not to do so. SAG cannot currently enforce its agency rules against these agencies. Although members temporarily are permitted to be represented by these formerly franchised agents, they are advised not to sign the individual agency representation agreements they are presented, (i.e., general service agreements, or GSAs) without first consulting with SAG. Almost without exception, GSAs strip away most of the hard-fought protections negotiated by SAG on behalf of its performers over the years.
Diverse Talent Group UPDATE
Diverse Talent Group has been removed from this site due to no longer being active and numerous complaints.
Talent and Modeling Agent Scams
From my extensive experience in the Entertainment Industry, I have determined that the common denominator in almost all acting and modeling scams is upfront fees.
Research into U.S. laws to protect consumers has shown almost every acting and modeling agency law, regulation or rule ever enacted in America prohibits upfront fees. Precedent lawsuits against acting and modeling companies by federal and state government as well as individuals have invariably been filed against those which charged upfront fees.
One of the most recently enacted entertainment industry laws was drafted by a former child actress, who introduced the Advance-Fee Talent Services law. Sheila Kuehl did so at the request of Los Angeles City Attorney James Hahn, because his office had prosecuted modeling/talent scams cases in which "hundreds of parents paid millions of dollars in advance fees to frauds that promised that their children would become stars."
The legitimate talent agency does not charge a fee payable in advance for registering you, for resumes, for public relations services, for screen tests, for photographs, for acting lessons, or for many other services used to separate you from your money. If you are signed as a client by a legitimate talent agency, you will pay such agency nothing until you work and then 10 percent of your earnings as a performer — but nothing in advance.
The importance of securing legitimate and responsible representation cannot be emphasized enough. Agents who ask you for money up front, whether it be for a photo session, composite, head sheet or any other promotional tool, should be avoided. A reputable agent will not ask you for money until you are making money - booking work as a result of the agency has made for you. That is the time to invest in a composite and in the agency book and head sheet. Even then you will probably not be asked for funds up front. These promotional expenses will be deducted from future paychecks.
Things to Remember When Trying to Recognize a SCAM:
Agents do not advertise!
According to the indusrty's EIC Code of Ethics, talent and background agents cannot advertise to the general public.
Agents do not provide photographic services or give classes!
A reputable agent may suggest specific photographers or classes to you but cannot require you to use them.
Children and extras do not need professional-quality photos!
Babies and toddlers never need professional photos. Extras need to provide a snapshot to their agents. Children under the age of ten do not need professional photos unless they are working regularly.
An agent cannot guarantee work!
An agent who tells you that they have work for you must give you a copy of the signed contract along with the details of the job (who is hiring you, what you will be paid, etc.)
Agents are not casting directors!
Agents earn commissions when their clients work. Casting directors are paid by the production and never take money from performers for any reason.
Agents specialize!
Agents usually represent actors, extras or models. Be wary if the agency claims to represent all of these categories.
A principal agent will rarely represent you if you have no experience or training!
Legitimate talent agents usually require actors to have some professional training and some theater or film experience. Only background agents will represent inexperienced people who have no training and will generally try to get them non-speaking roles as extras.
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.
SAG Franchised Agents: Phoenix/Tuscon/Scottsdale, AZ
 | Black Agency, Robert |
| 4032 N. MILLER ROAD, NO. 104, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85251 | |
| 480-966-2537 | |
| Type: Full Service (All Ages) |
| | Dani's Agency |
| ONE EAST CAMELBACK ROAD, SUITE 550, PHOENIX, AZ 85012 | |
| 602-263-1918 |
| | Fosi's Talent Agency |
| 2777 N CAMPBELL AVENUE, #209, TUCSON, AZ 85719 | |
| 520-795-3534 |
| | Leighton Agency, Inc |
| 10049 EAST DYNAMITE BLVD SUITE #D125, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85262 | |
| 602-224-9255 |
| | S.I.M. Model/Talent Agency |
| 4554 E INVERNESS AVE STE 134, MESA, AZ 85206 | |
| 480-213-0129 | |
| Type: Full Service (All Ages) |
| | Signature Models & Talent |
| 2600 N. 44TH ST., SUITE #209, PHOENIX, AZ 85008-1521 | |
| 480-966-1102 |
SAG Franchised Agents: Boston, MA
| Maggie, Inc. |
| 35 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MA 02116 | |
| 617-536-2639 |
| | Model Club, Inc. |
| 329 COLUMBUS AVE, BOSTON, MA 02116 | |
| 617-247-9020 | |
| Type: Full Service - Youth |
| | Vision Talent Agency |
| 160 OLD DERBY STREET, SUITE 334A, HINGHAM, MA 02043 | |
| 781-749-3077 | |
| Type: Full Service (All Ages) |