Expert: Rusty Meyers - 7/1/2007

Question
I am 19 and in college. I have plenty experience with the whole audition process. I've been featured in short and full length low budget films. I am looking for bigger though. How do I find an agent/agency?

Answer
Stay in school.
Hopefully you are studying theatre, film, dance, music, band, speech, gymnastics, languages, history, english....
Then AFTER you graduate, depending on where you live, then look for an acting coach (in your area) that actually works in or has worked as an actor in the business, recently.
Times have changed so the coach that used to me on "Bewitched" or "Ben Hur" or Gunsmoke" or studied with Lee Strasberg or Uta Hagen that is "old school".
I'm not saying that these weren't great instuctors, but if your coach isn't still working as an actor or director, then what can they teach you?
How not to get work, just like them?
Look EVERYONE up on imdb.com or google.com
DON'T believe everything someone claims they have done on personal websites.
Hopefully you're not in so much of a small town that they don't have a film commission.
Most towns do, so call them.
Audit (which should be for FREE) EVERY workshop available.
Get involved with your local theatre and indie film groups.
NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK.... with other WORKING actors.
Stay away from wannabes, seek out working actors.
The occasional extra work is fine for a while, to get experience on a set but only use it for the experience to strive to get actual parts.
Watch and learn then do some stand-in work, evenpa a few times.
Perhaps intern for a cacting director or an agent.
Learn ALL aspects of the business.
READ EVERYTHING.
Scripts, books on the business, acting books, learn monologues.
Don't just memorize them from a book, but read an know the whole play, or movie.
You should have 5-8 ready to do at all times.
Don't join the union until you have to, or they pay you to join.
Agents work for you, NOT the other way around.
DO NOT EVER PAY FOR ANYTHING UPFRONT.......EVER!!!
Agents get a 10-20% at MOST commission AFTER you book a gig, PERIOD.
Do NOT spend more than 250.00 for pictures.
Get the disk and make sure that you have the photographer sign off on them, so you can get copies made without thier permission.