When do people audition in Los Angeles...is it called Pilot Week??

Question

I can't remember what it's called when people head out to California to audtion for sitcoms? Can you help? And how can I become a talent agent?

To be clear, I'm not interested in acting. I want to know specifically what that week is called. I see on craigslist that people often rent their house for this particular week (where sitcoms look for people to cast....especially children). What is that week called? I am, however, interested in becoming an agent where I live in TX (beautiful people USA). How can I do that?

MORE DETAILS; Okay, thanks for all this great info. However, we are not finding out what that week is called. I've read about it and heard about it and can't think of the specific name. It's for TV mainly, and I once talked to a woman who was taking her kids out to LA for "________week." What is it called. It's driving me crazy. I see the term used on craigslist all the time. __________ week. ANY IDEAS?

Answer 1

Pilot week is when the networks air their new shows. I suggest that you sign up for actor's websites if you want to find audition notices. That is a serious crapshoot if you don't live in LA. I mean, there is only a small chance that you will get cast. Generally speaking, the way to get work there is to sign with an agent who will submit you for projects. You will need a good head shot and a resume for that. I've listed a good website that can give you more pointers.
As far as being an agent, that is not an easy thing to do. You have to have an established reputation in order to attract clients. In some ways it is harder to be an agent than an actor. You need to advertise. rent and furnish a location, be willing to run your butt off connecting with studios and independent film people. You have to be aggresive and ruthless.
You need to have plenty of financial backing.

Answer 2

Auditions take place all year round, but . . .

Most films won't have "auditions," per se; that is to day, an open call where they see people. They'll generally have breakdowns of roles being cast that are submitted to agents, who submit their clients who are appropriate to the roles being filled. The actors will then either be seen in person or have reels of their film and television work submitted. Since features work on a year-round schedule, this process can happen at any time.

Television is another matter. Once a series is on the air, producers will go through much of the same process detailed above. But these shows have regular casts and producers are looking only for actors to fill small and supporting roles for a limited basis.

"Pilot season" is a combination of the two. There's a period where networks and producers will accept pitches from writers and producers. These pitches are proposals for potential series. If the pitches get a green light, the producers will go ahead and film a pilot episode, and -that's- when the producers will be looking to fill all the major roles for their shows. Most of these pilots will film in late Spring (April or May) which gives networks a chance to look at the finished product, test them with audiences, and give the go-ahead to the ones they like, all in time to announce their new schedules in the late summer. The pilots are then shown to potential advertisers and critics in New York in what is called the "up fronts," and after this process, the shows air in the fall.

Only a small portion of pitches make it to the pilot stage, and only a fraction of those pilots even make it to air.

So, to answer your question (finally!), there is a prolonged "pilot season," but it lasts more than a week.

As far as becoming an agent, I think the best (if not only) way is to get a minor job for that agency; in the mailroom, becoming a personal assistant, a gofer, or something small. In that position, you get to know the players and the business and how the agenting racket works from the inside. These positions are highly coveted, though, since they can lead to a real job as an agent. That said, you're likelier to deal with minor actors and character people, rather than with big-time Hollywood actors.

Answer 3

It's called Pilot Season.