Tips for hiring from an acting agency?

[RealJasonBourne]

I'm planning on hiring 2 child actors and 1 young adult actor from an acting agency. I feel like craigslist is just too random and I don't want to leave this up to chance.

I already found 1 kid that looks like he fits the role and his acting is decent. On his webpage I can email him directly or his agent. Do I have to talk to his agent or can I just talk to him about it?

Will his agent be upset if I say I plan on filming the scene in 35 days?

 

[mlesemann]

Contact the agent.

Is the actor SAG-AFTRA?
If so, you'll need to produce under one of the SAG-AFTRA agreements.

35 days from now isn't a problem, as long as the actor isn't otherwise committed.

 

[RealJasonBourne]

Contact the agent.

Is the actor SAG-AFTRA?
If so, you'll need to produce under one of the SAG-AFTRA agreements.

35 days from now isn't a problem, as long as the actor isn't otherwise committed.

thanks for the info

 

[Zensteve]

I feel like craigslist is just too random and I don't want to leave this up to chance.

Have you tried acting classes/schools? There's no shortage of great actors to be found at them, and they would tend to be reliable.

 

[RealJasonBourne]

Have you tried acting classes/schools? There's no shortage of great actors to be found at them, and they would tend to be reliable.

I haven't but that sounds like a good idea, would you suggest I go in person or email?

 

[Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC]

Chances are you will be going to an independent agent over an agency because of the cost difference. You will not find great agents or talent working for them in most cases. And, the talent does all of the looking for work and the agent takes the commission and credit.

I'm telling you this as someone who had such an agent representing me as a writer and knew a lot of actors the agent represented. The actors and I talked away from the agent. We had to send out our own query letters to the producers on the agent's own stationery that she provided and inform her if we found work.

Save yourself an agent's commission fee and go to local theater groups that hold acting classes for actors and rent space to producers to hold auditions.