Does anyone have any idea about these people? Are they for real or is this just another come on? They contacted me and want to talk about representing me. I just want to know if this is another scam or the real deal.
928 Talent Management
- Thread starter Jim McLain
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Ask what projects they have sold, they should be willing to give you a list, if they aren't be wary.
If the contract asks for any fees from you, slam the door in their face and run for it.
ETA: From the looks of their page it seems fairly new. They do represent some people I have heard of in their Client Spotlight. Still just watch out for the signs if they're there.
Good luck.
If the contract asks for any fees from you, slam the door in their face and run for it.
ETA: From the looks of their page it seems fairly new. They do represent some people I have heard of in their Client Spotlight. Still just watch out for the signs if they're there.
Good luck.
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Proceed. But with caution. They aren't that new, copyright on the website is dated 2005 so coming up on 5 years. Looks like a one man operation, they do have a list of about a dozen clients ranging from the very obscure to the obscure. But hey, gotta start somewhere.
My only thought regarding caution is I see a lot of other services offered on the website. Editing, proofreading, writing etc. Also, pay keep attention to the %'s they may reference. There are a few small shops that try to take 15%, in which case, you should keep moving. Fee's and high %'s are usually your biggest give-aways that you need to keep querying.
My only thought regarding caution is I see a lot of other services offered on the website. Editing, proofreading, writing etc. Also, pay keep attention to the %'s they may reference. There are a few small shops that try to take 15%, in which case, you should keep moving. Fee's and high %'s are usually your biggest give-aways that you need to keep querying.
What do you mean by 'represent' ?
Do you want them to get you work in TV or film writing ?
If so - find out if they are licensed literary agents in California. If they aren't - avoid them. JR O'Neal runs his businesses out of a PO Box in Oregon(*), but if you want him to act as an agent for you then he should be able to represent your interests in California.
(The Californian Government keeps moving their website around - so I don't have the official list at my fingertips anymore)
However, their website doesn't actually claim that they are interested in acting as your agent.
In fact, according to ads, '[email protected]' is willing to charge you $225 for coverage of your own work. (I'm guessing that this would be JR O'Neal's email address)
Other opportunities include paying $109 for training, etc.
If this is the kind of 'representation' you want, it might be worth it.
If not, then, avoid them.
Mac
(* PS: He also has a PO Box in California, which appears to get redirected to Oregon. I have no idea if this counts as being a business 'in' California.)
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Agreed. To suggest striking an agency off your target list because they take 15% commission, is very poor advice.
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Well then don't heed it. I will however continue to recommend it to every writer I meet.
Why? WME, CAA, ICM, 360, Gotham, Gersh, UTA, Anonymous, Energy, Bender Spink, Brillstein, Preferred Artists, Circle, Unlimited, Code, Undergroud, New Wave, IPG, Evolution, Mosaic, Generate, Archetype, Levine Kritzer, Principato-Young, The Collective etc. etc. etc. take 10%. Now you give me the ones who take 15%. Let's compare.
Then let's talk about why a small company with no track record feels like it should charge more than the industry standard set by all these experienced agencies? I'm all ears.
Absolute Strawman if ever I saw one. Where did I once state 'a small company with no track record.' Please don't put words into my mouth by now misrepresenting the original position.
I'm with a London agency who take 15%, and through them I have worked with very experienced UK producers, and actors.
When one of these said producers also promotes our spec projects in the US, he does so through CAA.
Now whilst I'm grateful to be represented by one of the bigger fish, albeit through his connections to them, this doesn't in any way mean that my UK agent does any less good a job for me. I've been with them now for over 10 years, and through them I am currently contracted to the BBC, and have also in the past worked with ITV, the two major broadcasters in the UK.
It's simply not a matter of comparing smaller agencies against their larger, more successful equivalents, as you now seem to want to do in order to justify the sweeping statement that any agency charging 15% should be avoided.
No they shouldn't. They should be considered on merit like all agencies, and then a decision should be reached.
I'll repeat. Poor advice. And in direct conflict with your earlier remark of: '...gotta start somewhere.'
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I should clarify up front I put no words in your mouth and never even insinuated I was quoting you. I asked a question. You apparently didn't read it correctly. And again, you are more than welcome to call it as poor advice. But you have yet to state anything that makes me alter my own opinion on it.
What I said was:
"Fee's and high %'s are usually your biggest give-aways that you need to keep querying."
This is a word of warning that I still standby. 10% IS the industry standard. Not debateable. It's a fact. Yeah a company can charge more than that, but the standard set by the major industry players is 10%. 9 out of 10 times, a small company that charges more is usually a bad deal. Not only because they charge more for no apparent reason, and also because their track record usually reveals a lack of sales, but also because typically (but not always), they find ways to incorporate editorial fees, service fees, coverage fees etc. This is a well known fact. And as such, you should keep querying. Chances are, if you are good, you can get representation elsewhere at the standard industry rates.
Any company who charges anything over industry standard should be reviewed with a very high degree of caution. No matter who they are. To disregard that advice is foolish.
Out of curiosity, if you don't mind me asking, who represents you in the UK?
From my research, quite a few agencies in Britain have a set standard of 20%, with some as high as 30.
15% seems like a bargain then when it's offered.
Oh, on a side note, 10% IS the average rate in California, but bear in mind that a manager gets his 10%, then the agent 10% and the solicitor takes 5% unless you've the several thousand dollars to pay up-front.
15% seems like a bargain then when it's offered.
Oh, on a side note, 10% IS the average rate in California, but bear in mind that a manager gets his 10%, then the agent 10% and the solicitor takes 5% unless you've the several thousand dollars to pay up-front.
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Just adding a quick note that I didn't realize this was the script section when I made the above comment. I was speaking in terms of literary agents. I should have read more carefully. Soooooooo I have no idea what is respectable or not in the script world.
No not upfront and it's nothing you ever pay. The production company pays your reps and you seperately. You will never get a bill from an agent unless you have a scam agent.
The only time a legit agent or manager gets paid is when you do, not before. Also you don't have to have both a solicitor an agent and a manager. If your agent uses someone else to get a sale that comes out of the agents commission, not yours. If you've hired all those people, well that's on you.
My very reputable agent charges 15%. My last agent who was not so good charged 10%. I jumped ship and was happy to do so and happy to pay an extra 5% to work with a much better agency. 15% is not a point at which you become sceptical or cautious with an agency that has a good track record.
UK as well? I am picking up a trend here. I am referencing the vast majority of writers who are looking for representation IN Los Angeles. If you are looking for representation in LA or Hollywood, there is a standard. Anything above the standard warrants caution. That's all I'm saying.
But any writer is more than free to do whatever he wants. I was just trying to give a word of warning.
Not really relevant to our discussion (though what I will say is that they upped their rates from 10% to 15% over two years ago, and they're a long established and respected London agency. And if it helps you any, there was once a thread started on them on this board by someone looking to submit, and the feedback and general opinion was the same: solidly respectable).
I'm with endless rewrite on this one; she's talking sense.
A word of advice for any who might be interested, and take it or leave it: Don't dismiss an agent simply because they charge 15% commission; you could live to regret it, and anyone who advises that you should do so should be.... deleted.... (kidding)
Killbox, I fully realise you mean well, but an agent really shouldn't be sweepingly dismissed out of hand on the 15% issue. That advice, taken at face value, could cost someone.
.
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Well you brought it up, which was why I asked.
And your advice, taken at face value could literally, physically, financially cost them something. Usually labelled "fees". I realize where you are coming from, but what you seem to be forgetting is that you make up the minority of writers looking for representation in the UK. My advice is geared towards the vast majority looking to be represented in LA, where the business happens. I said it before, will say it again, if your writing is good, you will get representation at standard industry rates. Although, as our two UK writers have pointed out, if you live in the UK, you may expect to be charged more for this representation. But in LA, there is a standard and above that standard warrants a cautious eye.
folks,
Jimmy started the thread to know whether the agency is genuine or not, can we have your 2 cents on that please.
I too have read standard California agents should charge only 10% else their license is cancelled.
I dunno about the standard payscale for England though.
regards,
Ace.Inc1
Jimmy started the thread to know whether the agency is genuine or not, can we have your 2 cents on that please.
I too have read standard California agents should charge only 10% else their license is cancelled.
I dunno about the standard payscale for England though.
regards,
Ace.Inc1
Could you post a link to this, Ace?.
The UK is exactly as endless rewrite and I have said it is, and there are a good few UK writers on this board.
But I'm genuinely interested that in a free market economy like the US, the rates a company charges can be dictated like this under threat of 'losing their license' , and especially as it's deemed acceptable and standard practise to be charging 15% for the likes on novel sales.
Thanks in advance.
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Re: the mandatory 10% ace mentioned, I cannot find it in the California legislation piece.
http://www.agentassociation.com/frontdoor/agency_licensing_detail.cfm?id=572
Just for everyone's reference.
http://www.agentassociation.com/frontdoor/agency_licensing_detail.cfm?id=572
Just for everyone's reference.
in the book, "how to sell your screenplay" by Wilen Sisters, there is an interview of Wendi Niad (www.niadmanagement.com) who says that when she was working for two of the best guys at ICM before running her management firm she was told agents charge only 10% and as a manager she chagred 15% and many told her she could charge up to 35%.
this is just one soucre from where I got that info.
at one more place on the net I read that as an artist you can have an agent, manager, laywer, PR, publicist, et cetra but some governing body says you have to take home a bare minimum of 30%, nothing less.
I don't remember the link for this. I'm sorry but I keep surfing and find such stuff and I don't feel like remembering the link.
regards,
Ace.Inc1
this is just one soucre from where I got that info.
at one more place on the net I read that as an artist you can have an agent, manager, laywer, PR, publicist, et cetra but some governing body says you have to take home a bare minimum of 30%, nothing less.
I don't remember the link for this. I'm sorry but I keep surfing and find such stuff and I don't feel like remembering the link.
regards,
Ace.Inc1
That doesn't make sense.
Are you saying that if I hire a bunch of people for 30%, then I hire a lawyer, the lawyer would be punished? Why? Is it his fault I decided to employ a useless publicist and give them a chunk of my income?
You need to think about stuff you read on the net, and not just take it at face value!
Mac
Mac,
stars have all these people, they need to stay in the eyes of media. Britney Spears took an eternity to cut her latest album yet nobody forgot her, she was in the eyes of the media all the time. and even stars are artists. and it is not getting punished. it is just that you got the keep the equation in such a way that you take home 30%.
regards,
Ace.Inc1
stars have all these people, they need to stay in the eyes of media. Britney Spears took an eternity to cut her latest album yet nobody forgot her, she was in the eyes of the media all the time. and even stars are artists. and it is not getting punished. it is just that you got the keep the equation in such a way that you take home 30%.
regards,
Ace.Inc1
That 30% isn't making any sense. An agent generally takes 10-15% same with a manager. Who exactly is getting that 30%?
If I have say an Agent who takes 15% I'm getting 85%. That 30% is extremely small, unless you're talking about an agent taking home 30% and that's ridiculously high.
If I have say an Agent who takes 15% I'm getting 85%. That 30% is extremely small, unless you're talking about an agent taking home 30% and that's ridiculously high.
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