The Performer

In Hollywood there are four major talent agencies. UTA (United Talent Agency), WME (William Morris Endeavor), CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and International Creative Management (ICM).

These four agencies control the cream of the crop of actors, directors and writers whose are associated with the movies you go to watch in theatres. WME is the biggest of all of them.

Out of these four agencies, there are thousands of others around the world. Some are more well known than others, but there are literally too many talent agencies spread out across the globe.

For an actor who wants to reach the top level, as of right now, his / her biggest chance is to be represented by one of these four major agencies. The only problem is this: you can’t apply for representation like you would for most of the other agencies.

When you look at the submission policy of one of the majors, it goes like this: “Industry referral only. No unsolicited submissions. No calls. No drop-offs.” Cold as ice. Here’s another kicker: being referred by someone in the industry doesn’t mean anything either.

If you are referred by someone in the industry, there’s a pretty big chance the agent you’re referred to will see you just out of courtesy. He / she doesn’t really want to sign you, but will meet you just to satisfy whoever asked them to have coffee with you. Catch my drift? You have to figure out a way to get on their radar somehow, for them to be interested in adding you to their star-studded roster.

You have to manage to stay focused on your craft, maintain another source of income, have a life, all the while figuring out how to get to you where you want to get to. This is before you break in the door. There are traps in the industry as well.

You might be stuck playing the same role for too long, because you were good enough to get cast in a regular TV show role for example, and you got comfortable…You might be typecast because you choose to go for the money by playing a specific type of character that brought you success with audiences. God forbid if you choose the wrong project…Denzel Washington has a great story about this (it starts at the 2:16 mark).

Actors / actresses ask themselves what it really takes to succeed. Is it mostly luck? Hard work? Will Smith says the difference between actors who do well and those who don’t is strictly based on hustle.

There are always things, as an actor, that you can do to get better. First of all, acting doesn’t have to be on the big or small screen. There’s theatre, there are student films, there are friends and colleagues you can work with. Also, every skill you learn in life can be useful to you someday in on a set. Like learning how to use a forklift for example.

It also matters what you do while you’re not where you want to be, because acting is not just being seen on the big or small screen. Don Cheadle articulates this very well. It’s very important to always be doing something. Anything.

What I’ve noticed is that just like in life, acting takes consistency. You have to do something everyday to progress as an artist. Unfortunately because acting is so peculiar, it requires you to handle several things at once as well. Like surviving. That’s where a lot of people drown. But acting is my wife, and only death will do us part.

It’s a challenging journey, but oh so interesting and inspiring. What a career we chose.