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Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/8 yr old girl wanting Acting/Modeling

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Expert: - 6/3/2008


Question
I have a stunning 8 yr old girl who wants to model/act and I have no idea where to start with which reputable company in Phoenix.  I am not looking for those companies that charge you $$hundreds of dollars to take pictures...I am looking for a real Agent who will take a 30 min appt and see if she fits the ideas of modeling and acting and then pursue finding work for her and getting her to all the right classes/training.  Thanks so much!

Answer
Barbra,

Thanks for writing. I don't know of any agents in the Phoenix area, although I'm sure there probably are some reputable ones there. Just remember that any agent that asks you to pay a fee up front is not a legitimate agent. Agents don't "charge" their clients. Agents ONLY take a percentage of the income earned by their clients. By law, agents may ONLY take up to 10% of their client's income. No more! Talent Managers, on the other hand, are not controlled in the same way by law. They can take as much of a percentage of their client's income as the client will agree to.

You might want to contact the Arizona Film Commission or its local Phoenix branch to ask for a list of legitimate talent agencies in your area. Also ask if there is a local Screen Actor's Guild or AFTRA office in the Phoenix area. If there are, sometimes they have lists of reputable talent agencies.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Phil Nemy

Expertise

I am a motion picture and television producer with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I am also the author of the book GET A REEL JOB: Finding Your First Job In The Motion Picture Industry In Los Angeles. I can answers questions on a variety of subjects about careers in film from acting to directing to crew work, getting into the unions, successful strategies for networking, etc.

Experience

Former VP, Production for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Supervised production on such films as ARMAGEDDON, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, REMEMBER THE TITANS, PEARL HARBOR, CON AIR, ENEMY OF THE STATE, THE ROCK, CRIMSON TIDE, COYOTE UGLY, A CIVIL ACTION, ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, NOTHING TO LOSE, EDDIE and others. Worked as an actor, stage manager, director on broadway and regional theater as well as L.A.' Equity-waiver scene. Former Associate Artistic Director of Los Angeles Equity-Waiver theater.

Organizations
Director's Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, Actor's Equity Association

Education/Credentials
BFA in Acting/Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Past/Present Clients
I've worked with such filmmakers as Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, Steve Zaillian, Scott Rudin, Garry Marshall, Frank Marshall, Michael Bay, etc.

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