Part 1 of Talent Agency Pet Peeves: The video reel from the "Why Are You Doing This To Me??!!!" School of Acting.

 Talent Agency Pet Peeves Part 1

Good morning all, this is Part 1 of Talent Agent Pet Peeves. Here we explore the "Why Are You Doing This To Me?!!!" School of Acting video reels. These are reels in which the actor (most of the time, a female) is being victimized, terrorized, chased, beaten, stabbed, shot etc.  Invariably she will scream, yell, cry or otherwise indicate the unfairness of it all...

Yes, it is terribly unfair...Its horribly unfair, its colossally unfair--to the AGENT! In most instances this is not what we consider ACTING--rather I personally consider it a 'acting out' of some childhood trauma of the actress who finds that she must play out this victimization role in a horror or slasher or thriller indie production.

Yes, of course most of these awful flicks are written, produced and directed by men--damn those awful testosterone wielding fellows--but ladies, c'mon...don’t send these reels in to your agent as a testament to your acting skills. IT'S NOT. The weepy, running, crying fearful woman is NOT acting in my book.

Just as wrestling, running, falling, punching, slapping, kicking are not forms of acting. I see this as stunt crying. Please, please, please, stop using these reels as some kind of actual representation of your acting ability. Show them to your friends, get out the popcorn and enjoy them with family. Keep them away from your agent!

Take a real acting class from an industry recognized teacher and let’s get on with it, hmm?

Sincerely,

Ross Grossman
Director
Affinity Artists Agency
Licensed, SAG/AFTRA/AEA/WGA/DGA/AFM

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/company/co0085304/ 
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After more than 15 years in the agency biz, I've been mulling over the situation of so little accurate information getting out to actors, models and even younger talent and parents wanting to break into the biz  So I'm putting together some video blogs to answer the 'BIG QUESTIONS' that beginners and even advanced actors have about 'the business of the business.' or 'the politics of making it in Hollywood.' Or even just how to move through the Hollywood schools, photogs, reels etc.

So I'm opening up the floor guys and gals. I challenge you--tell me your 2 most pressing, burning, important questions about anything having to do with Acting, Modeling, Hollywoods inside secrets etc.. I'll try to incorporate the questions in my vlogs... Tell me...what are the questions that, if you could have them answered, you'd feel you were getting a little further down your career path as an actor and yes, even as a model. No question is too silly, too stupid or too simple. Remember, sometimes the devil is in the details. So let it rip...Looking forward to your queries.

Feel free to post questions in the Comments section on this page.

A Talent Agent talks about shows he lives for....

Hi all,

Wanted to take a moment to tell you all that we are in the New Golden Age of Television if you havent figured it out yet....

Television has never been so exciting, intriguing and dare I say it...yes...sexy.

Combining these facts: the feature film industry has become such an expensive prospect, and fewer films are made every year in the USA, 

The films that are made must almost guarantee the investors a return on their investment thus mandating a 'crowd pleasing' film that relies on historically proven formulas.

Television cable channels and internet channels have exploded so that there is an unquenchable need for great creative content  (content is now the new word for art ;0) )

So for any actors or writers who still have some antiquated notion that the small screen is somehow 'less than' the silver screen---put a fork in that idea...its done.

With this in mind I will offer you this Talent Agent's personal 'CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT EPISODE' Television Favorites list.

******
This week, let's start with the new HBO Series by the Duplass brothers called TOGETHERNESS.  
LETS KEEP THIS SHOW ON THE AIR, PEOPLE!!!

Mark Duplass plays Brett Pierson, sound composer and husband to Michelle (played with complex subtle emotions by Melanie Lynskey).
Amanda Peet once again turns in a top notch performance, this time as Tina, Michelle's beautiful but absolutely spiritually lost sister.
Steve Zissis is an absolute inspiration as Brett's best friend and aspiring Hollywood actor, Alex Pappas.

What a fantastic show....

The writing is real. The show portrays the struggle to remain in love and energized in a long term relationship--certainly ground that's been covered before but here the characters are both so strong in their craving to figure it out, you can't help but root for them. Of course their are temptations and obstacles to this. The couple truly love each other but the thrill is gone and they dont know how to get it back. 
Anybody relate? 
I know I do.

Another major dramatic thread here is the path taken by Alex, Brett's best friend. Ready to chuck his life in LA and give up his Hollywood dream, Alex stays just a few more days before he plans to drive his belonging filled UHaul back to the midwest. In the process he falls in love with Michelle's sister Tina. Unfortunately his love is not returned but something about Alex causes Tina to question her shallow LA values.

Peter Gallagher turns in a wonderful performance as a Hollywood film producer and EVERY role is superbly cast by Jeanne McCarthy and Nicole Abellera of McCarthy/Abellera Casting.

Come on people, comment on this so we can keep this show on the air! Its been renewed for a 2nd season but it doesnt hurt to show your support.
(Your comments keep the subject relevant so that search engines pick up on the fact that people are talking about the show!  

TOGETHERNESS people!


Ross Grossman
Director
Affinity Artists Agency
Licensed, SAG/AFTRA/AEA/WGA/DGA/AFM
PHONE: 1-323-525-0577

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/company/co0085304/ 
IMDBPRO: http://pro.imdb.com/company/co0085304/ 
WEB: http://www.affinityartists.com 
WEB: http://www.affinitytalent.com 
FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/AffinityArtistsAgency 
LINKEDIN: http://www.linkedin.com/in/affinitytalent 
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/affinityartists 

New York, NY. Seeking Talent Agents OR Junior Talent Agents who want to become Talent Agents.

New York, NY. Seeking Talent Agents OR Junior Talent Agents who want to be Talent Agents.

Looking for Junior Agents who want to make the jump to Talent Agent.
Are you always the bridesmaid and never the bride? Always the best man but never the groom?

Now is your chance to make the jump from Junior Talent Agent to full Talent Agent.
All it takes is the right fit between your agenting skills and our talent agency.
And..the right financial agreement to make it work for all parties.

We are looking for Film, Television, Commercial, Print, Fashion and Voice Over Agents. Also...

Do you have additional skills?

• Have you booked legitimate theatre?
• Have you booked or had experience in Sports Agenting?
• Have you booked comedy or theatrical tours?
• Have you booked voice over?

Either way,let us know what areas of Agenting in which you have actual experience.

Also let us know 'who you know' in the biz. Yes, it sounds like High School...deal with it.

We'd also be interested in those candidates who bring those skills to the agency although thats not a requirement.

We have a generous commission structure--and we're looking for Junior Agents who want to UPGRADE to Talent Agent, because its a financial payout that is less than that offered for seasoned, long term talent agents who've been in the business a long time.

Or perhaps you're a Talent Agent at a large agency where there's no room to grow or BUILD. Where your opinions aren't important and the senior partners are making the big score.

Let's face it, smaller agencies have to have a 'you eat what you kill' mentality. You get the series regular role for your actor? You should be handsomely rewarded with a generous commission structure.

The right candidate will be HUNGRY. They can't wait to become an Agent at a smaller agency because they have so much contained energy that is waiting to be released, they have ideas about how to truly succeed in the entertainment industry (if only someone would give them a chance!)

Well, this is opportunity knocking.

REQUIREMENTS:

• You must have a minimum of one year as a Junior Agent. Not an Agent Assistant, not a Admin Asst but an actual Junior Agent.
• A solid resume with solid references.
• A clean background check (performed by us if we get to that point)
• A great sense of humor
• A self-starter, go-getter, make-it-happen personality.

Let's face it, there can only be so many agents. There are only so many jobs in New York. And it may be tough for other agencies to squeeze in one more full Talent Agent. It may not be in their best financial interest to promote someone who's been a Junior Agent for some time.

Well now is the time to spread your wings and fly.
If you have the confidence to build your own nest, and dont want to wait any longer for someone else to make it happen, this is the opportunity.

Send email resume and cover (all in the text of the email please. Lets avoid extra attachments) to info@affinityartists.com and name it "NY YORK TALENT AGENT" (your name/phones/city/distance to NYC and distance to Merrick, Long Island).

Please also include your distance from Merrick NY. While we have an office in NYC it is 'cozy' and we want to discuss potential remote work and/or working with us at another office we have in Merrick (Long Island)

COMFORT TV versus CHALLENGE TV

Okay, so l heard Bill Lawrence (Show Runner on Scrubs and Cougar Town) talk about "Comfort Food TV" and I got to thinking...what exactly is COMFORT TV for me and you? And for that matter what is CHALLENGE TV? So I put out the question with NO JUDGEMENTS--sometimes we need comfort tv, sometimes we need challenge tv and sometimes we need a comfort/challenge combo.
So here's the shows--weigh in with your opinion--whats COMFORT TV, whats CHALLENGE TV and whats COMBO?



90210
2 Broke Girls
30 Rock
6Degrees
A.N.T. Farm
Absolutely Fabulous
After The Catch
Agatha Christie's Marple
Alan Carr Chatty Man6
All Worked Up
All-American Muslim
Allen Gregory
Almost Heroes
American Dad!
American Horror Story
American Idol
American Stuffers
America's Next Top Model
Ancient Aliens
Angry Boys
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Apartment 23
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Arctic Air
Are You There, Chelsea?
Army Wives
Art Mann Presents
Auction Kings
Austin And Ally
Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
Awake
Awkward
Bachelor Pad
Back On The Job
Baker Boys
Bar Karma
Bar Rescue
Basketball Wives LA
Battleground
Being Human
Bent
Best Friends Forever
Big Brother
Big Brother: After Dark
Big Easy Brides
Bikini Destinations
Biography - Random Episodes
Blue Bloods
Boardwalk Empire
Bob's Burgers
Body Of Proof
Bomb Girls
Bones
Bordertown: Laredo
Bouncers
Breaking Bad
Breaking In
Buried Treasure
Burn Notice
Caged
Cajun Pawn Stars
Californication
Call The Midwife
Candy Queen
Case Histories
Castle
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Celebrity Nightmares Decoded
Changing Lanes
Chemistry
Childrens Hospital
China, IL
Combat Hospital
Comedy Lab1
Community
Conspiracy 365
Cops L.A.C.
Coronation Street1
Cougar Town
Countdown (UK)6
Covert Affairs
Crave
Criminal Minds
CSI
CSI: Miami-9,10
CSI: New York
Cuff'd
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Damages
Dan For Mayor
Dancing With the Stars
DCI Banks
Deadliest Catch
Death In Paradise
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Desperate Housewives
Dexter
Dirty Soap
Doc Martin
Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23
Downton Abbey
Eagleheart
Emergency Bikers
Emma
Enlightened
Episodes
Eternal Law
Eureka
Exes & Ohs
Expedition Impossible
Fabulous Cakes
Facejacker
Fairly Legal
Family Guy
Fatal Attractions3
Fearne And...
Femme Fatales
Fifth Gear
First Week In *AiRiNG
Flashpoint
Flipping Out
Food Network Challenge
Food Wars
Food: What Goes in Your Basket?
Football Wives
For Better Or Worse
Franklin And Bash
Freak Like Me
Fred: The Show
Fringe
Funny As Hell
Funny Or Die Presents
Futurama
G4's Proving Ground
Game of Thrones
GCB
Gears And Tears
Gene Simmons Family Jewels
Girls
Giuliana And Bill
Glee
Glenn Martin, DDS
Glory Daze
Go Girls
Good Luck Charlie
Good Vibes
Gossip Girl
Grandma's House
Green Lantern
Greys Anatomy
Grimm
Halloween Wars
Happily Divorced
Happy Endings
Hard Knocks
Harry's Law
Hart Of Dixie
Have I Got News for You
Hawaii Five-0
HawthoRNe
Heat Seekers
Hell's Kitchen
Help! My House Is Falling Down
Hiccups
Him And Her
Homeland
Hot In Cleveland
Hot Like Us
House
House Of Lies
How I Met Your Mother
How To Be A Gentleman
How To Look Good Naked
How To Make It In America
How To Rock
I Hate My Teenage Daughter
I Just Want My Pants Back
iCarly
Ideal
I'm In The Band
Impractical Jokers
In Plain Sight
In With The Flynns
InSecurity
Inside Men
Inside The Actors Studio
It's All About Amy
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia7
Jane By Design
Jessie
Jon Benjamin Has A Van
JUNKies
Justified
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
Katy Brand Vs
Keeping Up With The Joneses
Key And Peele
Killing Time
King
Knights Of Mayhem
L5
Lab Rats
Last Comic Standing
Last Man Standing
Late Show [Letterman]
Later... with Jools Holland
Law & Order: SVU
Law And Order: SVU
Less Than Kind
Level Up
Leverage
Life Of Riley
Life's Too Short
Lip Service
Little Mosque On The Prairie
Little People Big World
Live At The Apollo
Living In Your Car
Loose Women
Louie
Love Life
Love That Girl
Mad Dogs
Mad Men
Magic City
Make It or Break It
Man Up
Mary Shelley's Frankenhole
Melissa & Joey
Metalocalypse
Mike & Molly
Mike And Molly
Million Dollar Money Drop
Minute to Win It
Missing
Mobbed
Modern Family
Monroe
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
Mount Pleasant
Mr. D
Must Be The Music
My Boys
MythBusters
Napoleon Dynamite
NCIS
NCIS: Los Angeles
Necessary Roughness
Neighbors From Hell
New Girl
New Tricks
Nick Swardson's Pretend Time
Nikita
Not Going Out
NTSF:SD:SUV
Nurse Jackie
NYC 22
Off Limits
Off The Hook
Offspring
Once Upon a Time
One Big Happy Family
One Man Army
One Night
Outland
Outnumbered
Packed to the Rafters
Pan Am
Parenthood (2010)
Parks and Recreation
Peep Show
Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
Perez Hilton Superfan
Perfect...
Person of Interest
Pete Versus Life
Philly Undercover
PhoneShop
Pioneer One
Pirate Hunters
Pit Boss
Pitchmen
Players
Poh's Kitchen
Portlandia
Pramface
Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Wild
Prime Suspect
Primeval
Private Practice
Psych
Psychoville
Punk'd
QI
Raising Hope
Real Time with Bill Maher
Rehab Addict
Republic Of Doyle
Rescue Me7
Rescue: Special Ops
Retired At 35
Revenge
Ringer
Rizzoli And Isles
Robot Chicken
Rookie Blue
Royal Pains
Rude Tube - S4
Rules of Engagement
Same Name
Sanctuary
Saturday Night Live
Scandal
Scare Tactics
Seriously Funny Kids
Shameless
Shark Tank
Shipping Wars
Shooting Stars
Silent Witness
Smash
So You Think You Can Dance
Sons Of Anarchy
Sorority Girls
South Park
Southland
Steven Seagal: Lawman
Stevie TV
Suburgatory
Supah Ninjas
Supernatural
Surviving The Cut
Survivor
Switched At Birth
The Almighty Johnsons
The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race Asia
The Amazing Race Australia
The Apprentice
The Armstrong And Miller Show
The Bachelorette
The Best Thing I Ever Ate
The Best Thing I Ever Made
The Big Bang Theory
The Big C
The Biggest Loser
The Body Farm
The Boondocks
The Borgias
The Cleveland Show
The Client List
The Closer
The Colbert Report
The Cupcake Girls
The Daily Show
The Exes
The Fabulous Baker Brothers
The Fast Show
The Fat Fighters
The Finder
The Firm
The First 48
The First 48: Missing Persons
The Food Truck
The Game
The Girls Next Door
The Glades
The Good Wife
The Graham Norton Show
The Green Room with Paul Provenza
The Gruen Transfer,4
The Imploders
The Increasingly Poor Decisions Of Todd Margaret
The Indian Doctor
The Joy Of Teen Sex
The Killing
The King is Dead
The LA. Complex
The Late Late Show
The League
The Legend of Korra
The Life And Times Of Tim
The Lying Game
The Marriage Ref
The Mentalist
The Mercury Men
The Middle
The Naked Office
The OCD Project
The Office (US)
The Oprah Winfrey Show0,24 + S25 Behind The Scenes
The Peacemaker: L.A. Gang Wars
The Real Housewives of D.C.
The Resistance
The Ricky Gervais Show
The Royal Bodyguard
The Secret Circle
The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Simpsons
The Sing-Off
The Slap
The Soup
The Straits
The Super
The Syndicate
The Tonight Show [Leno]
The Vampire Diaries
The Voice
The Walking Dead
The X Factor,
The Xtra Factor
Threesome
Thundercats
Top Chef: Just Desserts
Top Shot
Tosh.0
Touch
True Blood
True Justice
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Americans
Ultimate Fighter
Underbelly
Undercover Boss
Unforgettable
Unsupervised
Up All Night
Upstairs, Downstairs
Veep
Vegas Strip
Vera
Very Important People
Victorious
Web Therapy
Weeds
Welcome To Sweetie Pie's
When I Was 17
White Heat
White Van Man
Whitney
Who The (Bleep) Did I Marry?
Who's Still Standing?
Why Not? With Shania Twain
Wild At Heart
Wilfred
Work It
Workaholics
Working Class
You Deserve It
Young Justice