Contact info for actor/actress reps?

[CarlC]

Hi,
I'm an infrequent poster here, but I read daily. I'm a working freelance writer specializing in musician and band features and interviews.

With 16 years experience as a pro music journalist, I recently landed a spot with a regional/national mag that regularly features famous actors and actresses.

I'm quite skilled at finding contact info for managers, reps and agents for the top music stars, but it's not as easy for Hollywood types. Any of you out there have any opinions about websites like IMDB Pro, or whorepresents.com?

It seems like I can find on my own maybe 2 out of 10 people I look up, if that much... In fact, this morning I got an email from one of the MASH cast members that would love to do an interview with me.

Any tips are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[anavicenteferreira]

Have you thought of contacting the agencies? Maybe they'd be willing to supply you with a list of actors they represent, and if you have a regular need of people to interview, I'm sure they'd love to have some of their clients featured.

[aka eraser]

Carl, I think you're more likely to get an informed opinion about those sites from our Screenwriting folks so I'm going to port this thread over there.

[Plot Device]

I'm told Actors' Equity is the way to go.

Here's a set of instructions that a New York based actor sent me in an e-mail about four years ago:



Anyway, those actors are with Buchwald according to the union. Equity's New York number is on the website (actorsequity.org). When you call in the future, ask for membership. When prompted, push 4 to speak with someone. Simply tell them that you need to find reprresentation on an actor or two, and they'll tell you over the phone. They will provide the number, but I always tell them I don't need it (makes me sound more like a 'producer'). I just look up the Agency online or in the trades, and there you go. A great free resource. It's a small office, so I only call when I'm seriously pursuing them for something (which you are) and I've been, I'd guess, 5 out of 8 scoring actors for readings this way.

The telephone tree most likely has chaged since then, so maybe the part where he told me to "push 4" might not apply anymore.

[Boo_Radley]

Heh...my mind was briefly in the gutter. I read that URl you mentioned as "whore presents."

Nevermind me...

[zahra]

Heh...my mind was briefly in the gutter. I read that URl you mentioned as "whore presents."

Nevermind me...
'Briefly'?;)

[dpaterso]

Yeah everybody makes that joke, it's an unfortunate word pairing, whoever registered the domain name must be wishing they'd used a hyphen. But I hear tell it's a professional service.

-Derek

[Rainy Night]

I have a "star" map I bought the last time I stalked uhhh... tried to send a script to Angelina Jolie... Can I look someone up for you?

[zeprosnepsid]

You can call SAG to find actor's reps.

[NikeeGoddess]

yep - you can get any actor's contact (usu and agent or manager) info from the screen actor's guild. i have the phone number somewhere but i'm not going to spend 1/2 looking for it so you'll just have to call them yourself. have the correct spelling of the actors name before you call.

[CarlC]

Hey,
Thanks to you all for the replies! My music journalism expertise in contacting people didn't transfer well when I decided to try for actors/celebrities a few months ago. But, with all the info here, I can hit the ground running tomorrow.

And yes, that was an unfortunate pairing of words in the Who Represents URL... I too read interpreted it as whores for presents, or presents for... well, you get it. So did my wife - we had a good laugh over that one.

So thanks for the tips and leads - I will follow up starting tomorrow. If anyone here wants any info on music journalism in trade, let me know. I've learned a lot in 16 years of interviewing the rock stars.
Take care,
Carl C.

[RainbowDragon]

The SAG hotline has the most accurate info, though even they are occasionally out of date (but by the time your query bounces back if you call again they'll probably have the new info). 800-503-6737. You get 3 contacts per call and it's free free free. Good luck.