Industry Info
DID YOU KNOW?
- There are many movies, commercials, print ads and music videos produced right here in Canada.
- There are a multitude of projects being produced and auditions taking place in Ontario, Quebec as well as other provinces on a daily basis.
- Modeling/Acting is not ‘just for kids’. A wide variety of ages, looks, character types, sizes and ethnicities are needed to fill the many roles. New faces and talent are continually needed. In fact, now that many ‘baby boomers’ are beginning to retire, more and more companies are requiring everyday looking mature adults for their product advertising campaigns – take note of the commercials and print ads you are already seeing.
- It has been estimated that approximately 40% or more of the work in the industry is for non-caucasian individuals.
ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY INFO
StarCast Scouting Services continues to be dedicated to informing people about what to expect when getting started in the model and talent industry. We encourage all new faces to take the time to read and familiarize themselves with the following industry tips to ensure their journey into the model and talent industry is an enjoyable experience.
1. Selecting an Agency
There are many agencies located in every city. Some people simply go through the yellow pages to get in contact with any of these companies. However, you really know nothing about these companies and have no way of knowing whether or not they are a reputable agency. You are more likely to be connected with an honest and reputable agency by attending an event conducted by an independent company that has already completed all the research of the agencies they are scouting for. StarCast Scouting Services only scouts for companies that we have thoroughly reviewed and have found to be outstanding in their service and dedication to the model and talent industry.
2. Pictures / Portfolios
Some companies are only interested in selling you high priced pictures or portfolios. Your agent will definitely require a few good quality photos to use when promoting you to the various casting directors. It is not necessary for you to spend a large amount of money to develop an entire portfolio right away. Most reputable agencies will recommend a photographer that they are familiar with and have worked with in the past. You are not always obliged to use the photographer that your agency recommends. Since it is usually only a recommendation, you may be free to get your photography work completed wherever you choose. Remember that your picture is your business card in this industry and a good quality photo will go a long way towards getting you work.
3. Modeling / Acting as a Career
When you are first getting started in the model and talent industry it can be difficult to make a full time career of it. As with most things it takes time and you will need to gradually gain experience. We have all heard the stories of people being discovered and instantly jumping into a lucrative career. Although this does happen on occasion it is usually not the norm. Of course the more time you can commit to the industry the better, as this will help get you more experience and exposure.
4. The Perfect Body
There is a common misconception that if you are not a certain height and weight you can never be involved in the model and talent industry. This statement may be true for certain types of modeling such as fashion runway work. However it is far from the truth in many cases. Marketing companies now tend to be interested in casting people for their advertisements that are similar to the people that will be purchasing their products. Often this means that they are after age groups or sizes that are not what many people consider to be the “perfect model shape”. This is referred to as Lifestyle Modeling. The film and movie industry also has large requirements for extra and background actors as well as body and lighting doubles. This means there are now opportunities in the model and talent industry for new faces of all ages, shapes and sizes.
5. Family and Friends
The support of your family and friends is important to your success in the model and talent industry. You should beware of any scouting companies that discourage your family or friends from attending your auditions with you. A reputable scouting company that is proud of their work and has nothing to hide would never discourage people from attending their events and supporting their family members. At StarCast Scouting Services we always invite family and friends to sit in on the information presentation and registration process.
6. Agency Fees
Most agencies will have some kind of marketing expense cost. A commonly heard misconception is that if an agency is really interested in you, they will pay all your expenses. This is rarely the case. Most agencies want to know that you are truly interested in getting involved in the industry. By investing in yourself they know that you are serious before they start spending their valuable time and efforts promoting you. Some agencies will tell you they don’t have representation fees however they will often have it hidden somewhere else. One place these fees are often hidden is in the price of a portfolio. Agents should make the majority of their income by getting you in front of the casting directors or other decision makers at the right time. When you get a paid job, the agency will in turn receive a percentage of your income. This amount is usually in the 10 - 20% range. As with anything there are sometimes exceptions to the rules. In some cases the agency will pay a client’s expenses or not charge a representation fee. These instances are rare and are usually done by the very large companies. These companies are often only dealing with the very experienced or successful models that have probably already paid these fees somewhere along the way before getting their careers to this point.
7. Modeling / Acting Schools
Modeling and acting schools can be a great experience and help people gain skills, knowledge and confidence that may be beneficial throughout your model and acting career. Many agencies offer classes as well, however, the primary role of a model and talent agency should always be to promote their clients and get them in front of casting directors and other decision makers at the right time. Some agencies concentrate more on modeling and acting classes and are really only interested in having you attend their courses which they charge you for. With some of these companies you may never actually get to the point where they begin to promote you to the casting directors for work. When meeting with an agency for the first time ensure that they are first and foremost dedicated to promoting their clients and ultimately getting auditions where they can be successful in landing the jobs.
8. Scouting on the Street
Always be cautious if you are approached by somebody on the street or in a mall, handed a business card and told you are just the look they are after and that you would be a great model. Reputable model scouting companies usually don’t use these methods. These so called scouts have very little investment in the industry other than the cost of their business cards. They are probably going to get paid by somebody for convincing you to spend your money on a picture portfolio or some type of classes, etc. You should always be cautious for your own personal safety, as you don’t know anything about this person or the people they are sending you to. A reputable scouting company should be serious about their part in the model and talent industry and invests through advertising, offices, and the cost of conducting registration events. These are the companies that are committed to the industry and will in turn be around for the long run. Serious search companies don’t wave people down on the street. They are much more professional and only deal with the new talent that are also serious and take the time to attend the registration events.