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Resources Resources Resources!

I have not been a “momager” for very long.  Cody decided he wanted to be an actor when he was 8, and did local theatre productions for a few years until my husband and I realized he was serious and he continued to push for more; he wanted to do television and film, too.  So when he was 11, just two years ago, we made our first trek to Los Angeles.  My ONLY experience in LA was LAX passing through on my way to and from The Republic of the Philippines when I was stationed there in the ‘80s.  Not much to go on there!

I did as much research as I could prior to arriving in Los Angeles, and did not personally know anyone with a child actor at the time that could help me.  Cody had two fantastic people that helped him get started in Florida, the director of the theatre group he was in, Darla, and Ann Marie, now an agent.  Both taught him what they knew, and gave him a fantastic foundation, however, in the part of Florida we were in (The Panhandle), at the time they were the only acting coaches available to prepare actors—and they are only two people.  As he continued to ask for more classes, more training, we chose to head to Los Angeles and see what would happen.  Darla and Ann Marie prepared Cody well to get in front of Los Angeles casting directors, agents and managers.  It is comforting to look back now and know they helped him prepare a good foundation.  Not everyone has good experiences.  I don’t know anyone personally, but have seen the articles of people paying a “company” thousands of dollars (well over $10,000) to supposedly “guarantee” their child a part on their own show, or with top agencies.  Some companies have been exposed as frauds. Yes, there have been costs to getting my son in this industry, but you have to remember, there are NO guarantees.  If it sound too good to be true, it is.

I will be honest; it is not necessary to get in to one of these “events” to get your child “in” to show business.  And if you meet an agent or manager that says “well, in order to represent your child, you will need to pay me $XX first.”  That’s bogus.  A reputable agent or manager gets paid when your child gets paid.  There are NO upfront costs to get representation.  One cost you will have – to get headshots.  These are your child’s calling card.

So enough time has passed, your child has done local acting work, whether local commercials, plays, student film and is pushing for more.  Hopefully you have at least a few people in your corner to get you started.  Even though Darla and Ann Marie were a HUGE help to me, and always available to answer my many questions, too much information is like a firehose.  It takes time to process it and learn what works best for you.

I am an avid researcher, and for this reason love the fact that I can use the internet for so many things.  I did a lot of research prior to our first visit which helped make a bumpy ride a bit smoother.

So what resources can you check out for yourself and learn about?  Here goes!  Granted these are only a few, and do not seem like a lot, but each of these have a plethora of information.  With these links it may feel like a firehose initially, but bookmark the links and check out as you digest the information;

www.bizparentz.org (a non-profit website advocating for children’s rights in the entertainment industry) This is an excellent site not only when starting out, but as you navigate this industry.

www.sag.org
www.aftra.org
(these two have merged, the websites have not as of yet; there are changes in the process, so just be aware of this.)  Keep in mind that your child will need to do at least one union job before they are able to join the union.  Agents and Managers say to stay non-union as long as you can because once you are union, you cannot do non-union work.  On the flip side, rules are different in different states.  If you have specific questions, it’s best to call one of the contact numbers on their website.  It seems everyone’s situation is different, so it’s often best to get the word from the horse’s mouth! 🙂

www.hollywoodmomblog.com  a great resource for classes, as well as a plethora of other information.  This is run by mom of a child actor.  She can also be found on twitter and facebook.

http://networkedblogs.com/w0Puy   this is a list of places to take classes in Los Angeles.  This list is off The Hollywood Mom Blog.

Actor Training in LA is a great place for classes, coaching, and workshops

ActorsWest another great place for classes, coaching, and workshops

Actorsite is another great place for classes, coaching and workshops

http://forums.delphiforums.com/proactors  you will need to sign up for a free account here; shorthand this site is called PARF (Professional Actors Resource Forum).  I get information overload on this one so don’t browse it often.

This is a start regarding acting specifically.  Deciding to go to a larger market with your child is a big decision.  By doing your research on costs, budgeting, and what is necessary, making a trip might be the best way to go.  I recently watched a video regarding parents that paid $20,000 at an “industry event” where they were “guaranteed” their child would become a star.  I see numbers like that and I am one to look at how better my money can be spent.  With that kind of money, you can get a temporary place in LA for six months – giving your child time to get an agent and/or manager, go out on multiple auditions, as well as get in to classes, workshops and coaching.  Yes you will need to budget – but I for one, knows from experience that it can happen.

Remember that even though your child really wants this, and you want to help him or her follow their dream, it is still a business.  The challenge for you as the parent is to remain the parent, make decisions in the best interest of your child, and run a business.

Does this raise more questions?  If it does, great!  Ask away!  I will do my best to answer based on my experiences.

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Hi!

Cody has been busy as always.  He filmed for an episode of Criminal Minds that will air on March 30th on CBS.  He had SO much fun!  He plays 10-year old Ben. On March 25th, the film he was in last summer The Measure of a Man will premiere in Bakersfield, CA, at The Fox Theatre.  It will be fun to see the cast and crew again.  We are all very excited.

Happy to be on set!

 

For those of you not in the Los Angeles market, I know there are a lot of questions.  I had (and still have) plenty.  Ann Marie Crouch at AMCTalent was a huge help in getting him prepared to come to Los Angeles.  The help she gave BOTH of us, gave us both more confidence for coming out here.  For Cody, it was confidence getting in front of Casting Directors, for me, the confidence in making such a big commitment.

In an effort to get more information out there, especially to those that cannot uproot their families to move to a “bigger” market, I asked Ann Marie if she would be willing to be interviewed for my blog.  “ABSOLUTELY” was her response–boy I love her!  She’s always so positive!

Anyway, here goes!

Valerie:  How do I know my child is right for acting/modeling?

Ann Marie: The question is “IS my child interested in acting or modeling?”  If so, contact a local licensed agency to find out their needs and requirements.

Valerie:  My child wants to be a model/actor, but I don’t know if it’s right for him/her, how do I know?

Ann Marie:  Have your child try out a class or two. With children the main thing is if they are interested in it. For children in modeling and acting it is all about personality. If they LOVE it we see it on the camera. For acting, techniques will come.

Valerie:  I’m concerned about all the scams I hear about, regarding photographers, internet sites, agencies, etc.  How do I know which are the best sites, photographers, agencies so that I don’t waste my money?

Ann Marie:  Agents should never charge a fee to be with their agency.  Agencies make their money by taking a percentage from work their talent gets. Some agencies do require a fee for their website upkeep. This is then your choice if you would like to pay to be on their website.

Before you spend money on a photoshoot do speak with an agency as they may be able to refer a reputable photographer. Agents can tell if a person has potential for modeling through snapshots.

Internet sites. If you are paying to see castings going on in Los Angeles but would not be able to get out there for an audition or job then I would suggest not paying for the site. If there is a local site or place you would be able to travel to then it could be helpful. Always do your homework about anything you may be spending money on.

Valerie:  I think my child would be a great actor/model, but they really don’t seem to be interested, how do I get them interested in this?

Ann Marie:  If a child is not interested in acting or modeling I definitely would not push it no matter how “cute” they are.  Agents can see right away a child’s interest and concentration level.  It has to be FUN for them to look real and fun in the camera.

Valerie:  What is the difference between an agent and a manager?

Ann Marie:  Agent book jobs. They submit the talent’s pictures and work out contracts. Talent usually only hears from their agent if there is a casting or booking.

Managers usually work with a smaller group of talent as their main job is to prepare the talent for possible work. Managers can even help submit talent to agencies for representation. Managers are much more one on one with talent.  Helping to mold their career.

Valerie:  I talked to someone that said they are an agent, but before they represent my child, they said I have to do a photoshoot with their photographer and pay for acting classes first.  Is this normal, or it is a scam?

Ann Marie:  As a former model/actress for LOTS of years I feel very strongly about this question. Especially now that I am an agent and teach. When modeling my self I would definitely look into the photographer’s my agent referred because I knew the agent liked their pictures and most likely would get the pictures needed the first time around. In the end it was my choice. Agents should never “require” that you use “their” photographer or take “their” classes to be with their agency. If you have the training already and the agent feels you are “bookable” then it would be in their best interest to submit you.

Valerie:  My child has an agent in another town (Altanta, New Orleans, Orlando), but they are not being called for auditions.  Why would this happen?

Valerie:  Make sure the agent has updated pictures for modeling and updated headshot and resume for acting. It is in the agent’s best interest to submit all of the talent fitting the criteria asked for by a client as the agent only makes money if their talent is booked on a job. Your child may be submitted for jobs on a regular basis but you will not hear about submissions. You will only hear from the agent if they need something, your child has an audition or booking.

Valerie:  Is it possible to have my child in an acting/modeling career without going to New York or Los Angeles?

Ann Marie:  Yes, yes, yes. Maybe not to actually make a living at acting or modeling but they can enjoy both in smaller markets. The size of the markets definitely will determine the amount of work.

Valerie:  If I want to take my child to Los Angeles or New York market, what is the best avenue to make that happen?

Ann Marie:  Prepare before you go. Work on training and adding to your resume or portfolio before you spend the money to go to the larger markets. You want to go there ready to sign with an agency and audition. Take your time to prepare and speak to those who are knowledgeable about the market.

Thank you so much to Ann Marie Crouch at AMCTalent for taking the time to answer these questions!  If anyone out there has additional questions, feel free to ask them here.  If I don’t know the answer, I will ask Ann Marie to chime in with her answer.

That’s all for now!

Valerie Sullivan
momager to Cody Sullivan
www.CodySullivan.com
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