My fiance is saying he had to give up "acting" because we need the extra money for our wedding. He said he paid $500 to an "agent in L.A.". Please note that we live in Canada, and although a few major movies ARE shot around where we live every year, I am assuming the casting is done using people FROM L.A.
Any local parts would be low paying extra jobs, or casted in larger cities, right?
I believe he was getting scamed, although he insists it is real. He also has no acting experience, and is "average" looking. Boyishly cute and very tall, but no Brad Pitt or GQ Model.
He says he doesn't have the extra money for "acting" now, and has had to give it up. I say us planning this wedding has stopped a scam and done him a favor.
Who's right, and how can I prove it to him if I am? Any agencies that claim that your NEVER should pay for an agent? Or could this be legit?
2007-11-07 07:26:22 · 6 answers · asked by reginachick22 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Sorry, I think he actually used the term "manager".
2007-11-07 07:27:57 · update #1
Agent, Manager... you don't pay either up front so it doens't make a difference. Your fiance got taken. Yes films are shot in Canada, but there are also agents in Toronto as well as other areas of Canada. Casting is done there as well. Yes, there are tons of agents and managers in LA who have clients that go on auditions for projects that will shoot in Canada, but that will not help your fiance. If he has an agent here, he'd have to fly here for any audition the agent or manager gets him. The agent or manager will not get him auditions in Canada unless said agent or manager has a satelite or affiliate office in Canada.
None of can say what will be cast locally for you because we don't know where you are in Canada (pretty big country) and we haven't seen the breakdowns for your area. One thing you can do is look at actorsaccess.com. He can set up an account for free and search the breakdowns for free in your area. These are lesser roles than what an agent can get you but it's a way to build a resume. It's also not free if you submit electronically, but if they have a lot for your fiance consider subscribing to Showfax (a service that provides aides for auditions). It's $68 per year and you get unlimited submissions on ActorsAccess for that year.
You can also get good information from ACTRA which is the union in Canada for performers http://www.actra.com/actra/control/main
I think your fiance did not do the proper research about how to get started in the business and got taken by a scammer. That money would have been better spent on classes and headshots. If you give him all this info from all these people in the business and he's still stubborn enough to believe that this deal is legit then I hope you are ready for a life with a person who has that mentality about many other things, not just this.
good luck,
Marianne
2007-11-08 06:53:25 · answer #1 · answered by Marianne D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it was a scam. FIrst off, the geographical distance should have given it away. I know a few NY based actors, who also have agents in LA and they commute for auditions and gigs, but they tend to be already established.
Further, an actor never pays for an agent to represent him/her. Period. An agent (or manager) is paid a percentage of what an actor makes when he books a job. If an actor is paying their agent $500 a month just to represent them, what is the agents incentive for finding them work? The agent is already making money without having to do anything!
Did he ever meet with this "agent"? Did he ever go on any actual auditions??
You're right that films that are filmed in LA tend to be cast in LA. Why would a production company fly someone (esp someone with no expereince!) out from Canada when there are literally thousands of people in LA who are perfectly willing and able to do it.
Tell your fiance that if he ever wants to get into acting for real, he needs to do a lot of research on the busniess side of it so that he can avoid being scammed again in the future.
Just to add, a manager is a person who helps guide an actors career, so yes, it is still a scam if it's a manager he's been paying for and not an agent. How can his manager help guide your fiance's career if he's not even in the same country??
2007-11-07 15:39:38 · answer #2 · answered by Ashley 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your finacee is a complete fool. Dump him. He never did any acting, so how can he give it up? You need someone with more intelligence than that. Everything you say about casting and agents is right. He just doesn't have the manhood to admit he is wrong and has been swindled. Run away as fast as you can. He will be the same in other situations and be nothing but a burden and ruin your life..
2007-11-07 19:10:41 · answer #3 · answered by Theatre Doc 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You never pay for an agent up front. An agent gets 10% of whatever you earn for the job you do. That's it!
Tony
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com
2007-11-07 17:11:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
He is seriously delusional. NEVER pay up front!
With no experience, he is not an actor. He cannot give up what he never did.
Do yourself a favor and make him an ex-fiance posthaste.
2007-11-07 23:39:48 · answer #5 · answered by d_cider1 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
well i model and you NEVER have to pay. if they like you that much, they will represent you. i think its a scam! take care & good luck=]
2007-11-07 15:44:11 · answer #6 · answered by forelli 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋