For those of you who might be new to this column, I’m not just a talent agent. I’m a Hollywood talent agent. That’s not a boast—it’s a statement of fact. It means my company is based in Los Angeles and that’s where I work.
But that doesn’t mean my focus is exclusively on actors who live in the same city as I do. No, that would be an unnecessary limitation. Talent is everywhere, and part of my job is tracking those people down, even if they’re on the other side of an ocean.
For example, I was recently watching an episode from the latest season of the British show “Doctor Who” (which might be the greatest science-fiction program that has ever aired), and one of the guest star actors caught my eye. She was a young woman in her 20s with a distinctive look. She was also delivering an amazing performance, practically outshining the lead—and we’re talking Peter Capaldi here, so that ain’t easy!
When the show was over, I checked the credits for the actor’s name and then I looked her up on IMDbPro. (The free version gives you the basics on a performer. The professional one, which you pay for, is much more detailed.) I noticed the girl had decent credits for her age, and she had a London agent but no representation on this side of the pond. That’s when my heart started to beat a little bit faster. As Sherlock Holmes would say, the game was afoot!
READ: How to Find an Agent in London
The next day, I fired off an email to her London agent. I explained how I came to know her client’s work and I detailed how useful it would be to have me on their team. Legally, the girl can’t work on American productions, but studios and networks are always open to foreigners for series regular roles. The next step was a Skype meeting so we could all get to know each other. And now, I have a brand-new client.
I went through a similar process about five years ago, when I was on vacation in Sydney. When I travel to a major city like that, I always try to catch a play so I can get a feel for the town’s acting scene. This one was a lot of fun. The story was a comedy-drama fusion about local gangsters. (Think: Tarantino with an Aussie accent.) Anyway, one of the men onstage caught my eye, and I approached him after the show.
In this case, I struck out immediately because the guy had reps in L.A. and they were always having him tape for American opportunities. And those reps were a few steps up the food chain from yours truly, so I knew it was a lost cause. But on the plus side, he invited me to a corker of a party that night, and I had a blast. So I got to enjoy a unique experience in a foreign country because I approached a local actor.
The bottom line is that an agent cannot limit himself in the never-ending search for clients. We have to be open to opportunity, no matter where it might present itself. And you can be sure our passports are always current and ready for one more stamp!
Check out Backstage’s London audition listings!
