One of the best parts about working for Backstage Global is the freedom they give me to choose my own topics. That’s why I was surprised last week when my editor sent me a neuro-message from Beijing asking for a column about the changes I’ve seen in the agency business. It was an intriguing idea, so I decided to embrace it.
I’ve been an agent in New Hollywood since the day it was built, but I started my career in the original Hollywood, the one that was wiped out by the great quake of 2018. A lot has changed since then, but the basics are still the same.
My day begins in the car. Thanks to Tesla’s auto-drive, I read scripts on the way to work instead of wasting time listening to music. This is more efficient and, as we all know, efficiency is everything.
At work, I have access to hundreds of specialized streaming services that require actors for their content production needs. Each one has an interactive casting program that accepts pitches and determines if the performers submitted are viable. Once the program has generated a list of 10 possibilities, those actors enter a virtual reality interface where they audition for the content creators.
This is a process you all know. But when I began my career, streaming services were just starting to take over. Network and cable television still existed but, just like the Republican Party, they failed to evolve so they became extinct.
Feature films died at just about the same time Quentin Tarantino was assassinated. It seems quaint now but back then, consumers would pay to gather in a public setting so they could watch movies that were about two hours long. Can you imagine wasting your time like that?
Another big change is that studios and networks used human casting directors to find their talent. These lost souls would waste precious hours, day after day, meeting hordes of actors in person. It’s a miracle anything got done. (And don’t get me started on “pilot season.” That was the single dumbest business model in the history of anything.)
Yes, life is easier now. And much more efficient.
So what hasn’t changed? The need for talent. Actors who can create believable characters will always have a place in this business. (Vote No on the Digital Performer Act!) There’s even talk about creating award ceremonies that would honor outstanding performances, just like in the good ol’ days.
Here’s something else that hasn’t changed. An actor’s need for representation. Agents are the only ones with access codes to the casting programs so we’re the only ones who can introduce new talent to the industry. And it doesn’t hurt that we all know how to read Chinese, because those performer contracts can get pretty damn complicated.
And finally, don’t forget the magic. That’s never changed either. The greatest thing about this business is that anything can happen. Just look at President Fanning. She started her career as a child actor and now she’s the leader of the seventh most powerful country in the world!
So the lesson here is that while the tools and process may change, the basics will remain the same. Talent is talent. And the truly gifted will always have a stage.
Hăo yùn!
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