TALENT AGENCY HANDBOOK

IMAGINARIUM ACADEMY



Welcome to Imaginarium Talent Agency! We are so excited to have you and/or your young person on board and are looking forward to starting this new chapter together. The Entertainment industry is a colourful and noisy world full of hard work and great rewards. We have put this booklet together to help you find your feet, prepare you for what is to come and tool you up with the information you will need to navigate your way through each opportunity. We know you will have many questions, and hopefully most of them will be answered here, but we are here to help and are happy to answer any remaining questions you have.


INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

As actors you are entering a competitive, fast moving and noisy world. The industry can feel over crowded and not every audition will reap the rewards you are hoping for. As a member of Imaginarium TA we want to help you build your skills as an actor, your resilience and mental well being, so the entertainment industry is a place for you to thrive and contribute. It is a lot of work, but the rewards are wonderful, so here are some good practises to put in place:


1. Work Hard

Raw talent is a beautiful thing, but it needs to be cultivated! To grow your abilities as an actor you will need to put in the hard work and show your dedication to the craft. Simply put, be on time, be prepared, attend classes, practise at home and immerse yourself in good acting. (Yes, I am giving you a free pass to indulge in your favourite movies and study the actors performance!)


2. Make Friends

There is so much value in building strong relationships with your peers. These are the people you collaborate and create with. Every part is not your part, so don’t worry about seeing peers as competition but rather friends to offer support, sharpen each others creativity and collaborate on some exciting work together. We have created “houses” as nurture groups to sharpen performance skills, build friendships and give people a chance to share their thoughts and experiences around the industry. Your house is a place for you to learn, process and grow, so be sure to make the most of it.


3. Be Nice

Everyone wants to enjoy being at work and the Film/TV/Theatre set is no different. Always be polite, helpful, diligent and kind to everyone.

4. Remember Why You Are Here

We don’t act for fame or fortune, but to enjoy the deep catharsis of exploring our imagination, becoming a storyteller and understanding ourselves. Whether you are performing in a blockbuster movie or to an audience of 1, always remember why you fell in love with acting and let that be your greatest motivator.

As your career as an actor develops you will find it a lucrative, creative and energising place to be. But for now, our first task is to lay the foundations that will support you as you flourish and grow.


PARTNERING WITH IMAGINARIUM T.A.

Imaginarium TA is an exclusive acting agency, representing artists for screen, stage, voiceover and presenting. We keep a small book of artists to allow us to work closely with you and your family, getting to know your needs, passions, abilities and fit within the industry.

As agents we take responsibility for Managing your performance career by setting you up with auditions and/or meetings with casting directors, going through contracts, negotiating fees and making auditions accessible, either by arranging time slots that suit you or helping you create audition tapes.

We work closely with you to market your unique selling points and ensure you are going for roles that suit your casting type.

As you begin working we act as the main source of communication between you and the production company, helping to arrange logistics, going through contracts and taking payment which we pass on to you.




IMAGINARIUM T.A. REQUIRES A FEW THINGS FROM YOU TOO


Acting Skill

Actors never stop learning and it is vital that your skills are always improving and ready for opportunities as they come. You are not obliged to train with Imaginarium, however we do prioritise those in our classes as we are able to closely monitor progress and development.


Availability

Auditions tend to come at short notice so we need to know that you are able to be flexible, reliable and on time. We do provide chaperoning for children whose parents are unable to take them to auditions, further details of this can be given as needed.

Professionalism

As a representative of Imaginarium TA, we expect all of our members to be courteous and friendly in the workplace, diligent in their training and committed to giving every role their best. Good time keeping, reliability, hard work and kindness are essential in Imaginarium.



HEADSHOTS & SHOWREELS

Headshots are the most important accessory you will need as an actor. Before a casting director sees your CV or showreel they will make a quick decision based on your headshot. As the name suggests, headshots are photos, of your head and tops of shoulders - sounds simple enough, however the industry have many specifications which must be met to ensure your shots stand out, are high quality and present a true representation of yourself. It is important to use a photographer who understands industry specifications and what is needing to be achieved. Good shots will be:

  • Reflective of your character type (the roles you are most suited to): Things to take into consideration when exploring your character type are your age, ethnicity, vocal tone, personality, shape, height, facial appearance etc. If you can understand how others see you in a first impression you will be better equipped to market and present yourself as an actor. We believe a good Headshot photographer will help define your character type and pull this out in their work.

  • A true representation of you: Forget filters and glamorous portrait shots, these photos need to look like you. When you are called to audition, the casting director has seen your headshot and feels it is the right look for the part. Headshots that do not hold true to how you really look will not only waste the directors time but yours too.

  • Well lit with small re-touches: Good lighting is important for defining your features and look. A good Headshot photographer will add enough small re-touches to ensure your photo stands out in a thumbnail, without distorting your look.

  • Demonstrate your versatility: You want to have 5-6 headshots each showing a glimmer of your potential casting. For instance, if we are submitting a headshot for a comedy role, we do not want to send a photo more suited to drama and vice versa. Again, a good photographer will support you through this.

  • Exceptionally high quality: The headshots will appear as small thumbnails amongst many other actor profiles, having high quality shots will help casting directors pull you out from amongst the crowd.

Your showreel is the second glimpse casting directors have of you and is an opportunity for them to assess your abilities and creativity. Importantly, no casting director will offer an audition without first seeing a showreel. Typically, a show real is around 2 minutes long and will have a mix of you playing different characters, often with other actors and in varying locations. The Reel should be uniquely written for you and demonstrate your diversity, ability and casting potential. When working with a production company to produce a showreel you will need the following services:


  • An original script tailored to your casting type

  • Full camera, lighting and sound setup

  • Other actors to work with

  • Location provision

  • Director

  • Professional editing, including graphics and titles

  • A digital file of your showreel

Headshots can vary in price from £400 -£1200 and showreels from £600 to £1,500. As a member of Imaginarium TA we are able to offer a professional actors package, including both your headshots and showreel with prices starting from £800. please get in touch to discuss your options further.


MEMBERSHIPS

The database for actors, agents and casting directors is “Spotlight”. There are many others, however only Spotlight holds credibility as the number one platform for film and television casting in the UK. It is possible for an actor to represent themselves on spotlight, however most work is sent to agents first and then to the broader database for minor roles or those that have not been cast.

Prices for spotlight are approx £121.20 PA for a young performer and £183.60 PA for an adult. As an agency we can only represent actors that have a spotlight account. For an adult to be considered for Spotlight, they must first have 5 professional acting credentials (paid work only). If you would like support in acquiring these credentials, please do get in touch and we will be happy to discuss things further.

AUDITIONS & CASTING DIRECTORS

If you have been called to an audition then it is because a casting director has seen your headshots and showreel and believes you could be suitable for the role. The Casting Director is the first person you meet when you turn up to audition. They will sit alongside the director and producer throughout the audition process and play a major role in choosing the cast.

Auditions are a tough process and you will find you lose many more that you win. However they are a great opportunity to practise and showcase your skills and learn more about the industry you are in. You may be asked to do a monologue that you prepare prior to your audition, to improvise around the script or improvise something new all together. You will usually be given a script to go through either in advance or on arrival. Most importantly, do not worry but rather see this as an opportunity to do what you love.

There are skills and and knowledge that can really help when auditioning and support you through any waiting period, successful casting or refusal. As a member of Imaginarium TA, we run weekly support groups in our houses that can prepare you for the creative, emotional, mental and practical aspects of auditioning and working in the industry.

MAKING A SELF TAPE

If you are unable to physically attend an audition you can ask the director for an opportunity to “self tape”. This is a copy of your audition, recorded and sent to the casting director. This is something you can do yourself, but try to keep these things in mind:

  • Make sure you are prepared, well rehearsed, know your lines and seem relaxed.

  • Ensure you are well lit with natural light on your face, in frame and the quality of recording is acceptable. Keep a simple background so the focus is on you and your performance. Ideally, ask someone to hold the camera for you and a friend to read in the other characters lines.

  • You can self tape on an ipad or phone, it doesn’t need to be an expensive camera.

  • Remember to put your name and details on the tape. This is best done by introducing yourself as it gives you an opportunity to let your personality shine through.

  • Make sure you are happy with the content before you edit the file and export it to the requested place.

  • If you are making a self tape and need some support then please do get in touch, we are here to help!

EARNINGS

When you work in the industry, we as an agent will make an agreement on your behalf concerning your Basic Studio Fee (BSF). This is how much you are paid for the time worked. Your pay will be according to the size of your role, the scale of the production, your status as a performer and whether you are working in television, film, radio or theatre.

On top of the BSF, if you are in advertising, you will likely be offered a “buyout” This covers the cost of the royalties over a set period of time. For instance, you may be paid £250 for a days filming of an advert, plus £7,000 buyout, to allow the production company to air the advert for 12 months in all territories (ie all over the world). When the 12 months expires, the production company are able to negotiate additional buyouts cover, paying you again for further use. If the contract is signed “In Perpetuity” then no expiry date is set and the production company use it for as long as they choose.

When working, you may find that other costs are covered for you. The term “Per Diems” refers to your daily expenses and a “wardrobe fee” is the payment for the time you spend having your costume fitted. If you are expected to travel far you may be offered a “Travel day fee” which is a reduced pay for your time spent travelling.

Regardless of the age of the performer, you will need to complete self assessment tax declaration. You can gather this information directly from the HMRC website. Similarly, we are here to help, so when the time comes, please feel free to give us a call.

As mentioned before, payment can vary depending on the role, budget or your profile as an actor amongst other variables. As your agent it is our job to understand the rate of pay, negotiate the best deal and ensure you are investing your time in work that is either career enhancing or lucrative.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF AN ACTOR?

As a part of Imaginarium TA, there are a few things we need from you to ensure our partnership together is fruitful and positive.

  • Keep us updated on your timetable. If you are going away or are unable to make auditions for a while, please let us know in advance so we hold off any applications.

  • Please let us know any new skills you have developed so we can keep your profile up to date.

  • When attending an audition be on time, prepared and dressed appropriately.

  • In the casting room always be friendly, polite, professional and positive. Be careful to stay away from any gossip or unkind conversations.

  • If you have an audition, make sure you keep it. Only cancel as a very last resort and always send your apologies in advance.

  • On set, be warm, helpful and thoughtful of others. It is a busy environment so always be accommodating where you can.

  • The best actors are always learning, so stay on top of your training and practise, practise, practise!