Affinity Artists Agency

FOR TALENT LIVING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ONLY:


HOW TO RECEIVE AN AUDITION APPOINTMENT WITH AFFINITY ARTISTS AGENCY:

Send an email to info@affinityartists.com , Be sure to include Full Name, Phones, Address, a WORKING link to your pictures/reel/website if any (test the link by first emailing it to yourself and seeing if when you click it, it takes you to the webpage with your picture on it). Include any attached pictures as well in .jpg format. Do not send us an ID number and ask us to search for your pictures on another website.

TALENT AUDITIONS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY:

Potential candidates for talent representation are offered appointments (by email) after the agency receives and reviews emails containing EITHER loglines/synopsis/reels for creative talent and pictures/resume/contact info from dramatic talent.
The agent will let you know via email within 30 days if interested.

If (after you have sent your email with all relevant information) the agency RESPONDS to your email, requesting you come in, do not request MORE information on the agency. Simply pick a window of times you are available within our audition schedule and EMAIL us your preferences. We will send a return email with a specific time available for you. That will be the last agency response you will receive. Simply CONFIRM with an email titled CONFIRMING AUDITION (audition time)(your name) and come in at that date/time.

We don't take walk-ins so you must indicate what date you will be coming in on the email! PLEASE KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT as we have many talents who want to be auditioned and we are setting aside a specific time for you.


Our normal audition appointments days/times:
Wednesdays from 2 to 5pm  (Appointments are given in 15 minute increments)
and
FIRST Saturday of each month from 1 to 3pm.

Office and Audition Location:
5724 W. 3rd St. # 511,
LA, CA 90036.

(for Directions go to our CONTACT link to the left of this text)



WHAT TO BRING TO AN AUDITION/INTERVIEW:

ACTORS: if you  want to show us some abilities not evident in your film/tv reel, Bring a memorized comedic and/or dramatic monologue, and picture/resume. Otherwise our evaluation of your abilities will be based solely on your reel.

VOICE-OVER ARTISTS: We will only invite you in if we have already heard your mp3 by email. You will have received a contract by email and must bring in your signed copy (you will need to make 2 copies, 1 for your own records).

WRITERS: If you are a writer we have expressed interest in, please come in with several hard copies of the scripts we indicated we had interest in. You will have received a contract by email and must bring in your signed copy (you will need to make 2 copies, 1 for your own records).

MODELS or OTHER TALENT: be sure to bring in pictures/portfolio, resume.


AUDITION SCHEDULE

Auditions/Interviews last anywhere from 5 minutes to 15 minutes in length.
The agency schedule may be full for a few weeks at this time.

Please come in with something to occupy your time--wait times can be a few minutes up to an hour.
However, we can only see 12 people each Wednesday and 12 people each Friday. If you wish to attend on a Wednesday, please send an email titled WEDNESDAY AUDITION or FRIDAY AUDITION or FIRST SATURDAY AUDITION (date you wish to be seen on a Wednesday) and time you'd prefer between 2pm and 5pm. Appts are every 15 minutes.

Legitimate Agencies

No legitimate, state licensed talent agency ever charges any up-front or mandatory fees to talent. AFFINITY does not charge any fees for representation.

Agencies can charge the following however: cost of reproducing materials for the talent, the cost of any advances paid out to the talent for advances for the talent's marketing materials (comp cards, web pages, script copies, DVD copies etc). These charges must be approved in advance by the actor. It is not mandatory that the talent purchase any of these materials in order to be represented by the agency.

AFFINITY is not affiliated with any escort or other adult entertainment services.

AFFINITY is not a temporary employment agency.

AFFINITY does not accept any form of payment for referrals to photographers, trainers, schools or other industry vendors. AFFINITY does not offer classes or trainings. AFFINITY is solely in the business of procuring work for actors, writers, directors, producers, models, talent, photographers, make up artists, and stylists.

Full Service vs. Boutique Agencies

Some agencies focus on only one area of talent representation. These agencies are often called 'boutiques.' Other agencies focus on only high-end stars or celebrities, these also are referred to as boutique agencies.  Some agencies only focus on actors or directors or writers and refer to themselves only as 'talent agencies.' Other agencies focus only on models and thus refer to themselves only as 'model agencies.' Full Service agencies have multiple departments that handle every aspect of both the talent and modeling fields. They are no better or worse than boutique agencies, simply focusing on a higher volume of work. One advantage of full-service agencies is that they may provide work for one talent in more than one department.

Boutique vs. Mid-Size vs. Majors

Talent are often confused as to the criteria they should use when choosing a Talent Agency to represent them. It's just human nature to often assume that bigger is better so talent often make the mistaken assumption that their career will be better served by a larger agency. Depending on the talent and their circumstances, the truth is often quite the opposite.

There are advantages and disadvantages to joining different sized agencies:
A boutique or smaller agency may at first glance, have little advantage over the 'major' or mid-size agencies.  However, the smaller or boutique agencies are able to dedicate more time, energy and faith in a talent who might otherwise be lost at a 'major' agency simply because the talent has a limited track record of small roles or has not had recent success despite a solid career of accomplishments. With the advent of internet casting, the playing field has become more even and often boutique agencies can effectively compete with the larger corporate variety.

AFFINITY is a 'Boutique' Full Service Agency dedicated to multiple departments including: Above the Line (Directors, Writers, Actors, Cinematographers, Editors) as well as Live Events (Comedians, Models) and Print (Models for Magazines, Internet)

How Agencies work:

Talent agencies have very powerful and influential negotiating mechanisms that keep their clients working. Talent agents are representatives of specific talent agencies who negotiate deals on behalf of their clients and find work for their clients. Talent agents evolved out of the notion that many creative people have difficulty maintaining business relationships while focusing on their art. The talent agent along with other business professionals can help generate more money while untangling contractual problems for the creative people. The agent works for the talent in promoting and arranging bookings on the talents behalf and in return the agent receives a commission from the assignments that are completed by the talent. Agents of small agencies each take on a specific talent area like modeling and interact frequently with the clients in that area, but the agents must also have some knowledge of all of the talent that are represented by the agency. This knowledge enables the agent to make informed decisions when asked by other agents for input about a specific client booking.

Agents deal on a daily basis with their clients (i.e. talent, writers, directors, comedians, models, etc.), buyers (i.e. casting directors, producers, networks, studios, photographers), accountants, attorneys, business mangers, personal mangers and other talent agents. Agents help the talent adhere to the acting industry requirements by consulting with them on every decision from where to get head shots printed, to how to improve a script, to what to wear to auditions.

Just as the agents have a specific relationship with the talent, they also have a relationship with the buyer. The agent-buyer relationship is very unique in that buyers can be many different types of people with many different types of needs. For example, a casting director may be looking for specific actors from the agency to audition for a part, a studio may need a staff writre, while a photographer just needs five children from the agency as soon as possible for a photo shoot.

Agents also deal with attorneys, who document deals and 'clean up messes', and accountants who serve as record-keepers. Last but not least, the agent-to-agent relationship is very close-knit with everyone working to help each other get bookings filled so that the entire agency profits.

Life of An Agent

Agents spend a majority of their time sitting at desks conversing on the telephone. The telephone is their life line, it connects them locally to their clients, and many thousands of miles away to potential buyers. Buyers are always calling to request auditions or materials for the agent's clients. The agent must relay this information to the client via the telephone, but since the talent is normally always working, many messages are left on voicmail and answering machines. Agents also field calls from buyers who have worked with specific clients previously and would like to know the client's availability for future projects. A lot of these buyers will request recent head shots, writing samples etc. to be faxed or emailed right away. This means that the agent must take the time to pull the head shot and resume from the filing cabinet and then fax or email it.

Since the majority of the agent's time is exhausted on the telephone persuading buyers to use their clients, the agents do not like to spend much time conversing with their own clients on the telephone, unless the client is needed for an audition or if the agent needs to update records. Agents just do not have the time to chat with clients when the majority of their time needs to be spent finding buyers. Clients normally only call the agency when instructed to by an agent or if they are 'booking out'. 'Booking out" means that the client will be unavailable to work for the agency for a specified period of time due to illness, a vacation, etc.

Most agent client correspondences are normally done through the mail, email, over the web with newsletters and rarely over the phone.

Agents also spend a majority of their time reviewing breakdowns that are on various 'agent-only' internet sites in Los Angeles. 'Breakdowns' are basically synopses of parts that are being cast by casting agencies. They always request a specific piece of material like a demo tape or a head shot and a resume to be sent for consideration in the audition process. On most breakdowns there is always a tight deadline (usually by the very next day) for consideration of the talent. The breakdowns are distributed to each agent and they must review the breakdowns and decide which of their clients, if any, will best fit the qualifications of the open part. It is during this process that many of the agents converse with each other to get different opinions of who's head shot shall be sent. This collective thought process helps to pin point the exact talent that should be sent, instead of sending a whole bunch of nonsensical head shots. If only one client really, really fits the part being cast than only that one head shot and resume is sent. The buyer receives hundreds to THOUSANDS of head shots a day and it makes their job a lot easier when the agents help to narrow the choice down for them. Plus, if the agent sends the talent the buyer is looking for, then the buyer will most likely return to that same agency when they need more talent in the future.

Agencies become known in the industry by the clients they represent. Once the talent is decided on by the agent, the head shot and resume must be pulled and arranged into a presentable packet that is sent to the potential buyer. This is quite a labor intensive process due to the fact that most of the talent have a variety if head shots and other paraphernalia to choose from. There are commercial head shots, zed cards, demo tapes, video tapes, etc. All of the breakdowns must be finished quickly and mailed to ensure that they will reach Los Angeles by the following day.

When the agents are not answering phones or reviewing breakdowns, much of their time is spent writing and typing correspondences, editing film to be used as promotional material for buyer, interviewing aspiring talent, reviewing head shot files, scheduling makeup and photography sessions and massaging egos. Each agent has separate responsibilities, but all work together as a team.

Agents and The Web

Now, with the advent of the World Wide Web, both agents and buyers sit at computers and email requests. The agent quickly scans through the agency's own online database and sends files filled with the talent that she would like the buyer to view. The file is received by the buyer. It is then viewed and a response is made by email as to the talent the buyer would like to audition the following day. This process eliminates all of the phone tag, and faxing and mailing that normally takes place, therefore, allowing the audition process to proceed at a quicker pace. The files that are sent to the buyer can also be saved by the buyer for future use. This eliminates lost head shots and allow the buyers to establish their own databases with talent that they might be interested in pursuing for future assignments.

First Time Actors

The odds are great that most actors will not be famous. Less than 1 percent of all actors are relatively 'famous.' A larger percentage are working semi-regularly but it is probably still well below 5% of all actors.

It would be wise to focus on acting because it brings you deep artistic and personal satisfaction, not for the possibility of great fame and fortune.

With all of that said, if you truly wish to become an accomplished actor, we strongly recommend that you thoroughly investigate all of the acting schools in your area. Ask yourself these questions:

• What is the acting experience and training of the drama teacher offering classes?
• Are they offering you an opportunity to attend one class for free to evaluate?
• Are they giving you real techniques that teach you how to react to other people onstage?

Be sure to evaluate your progress as you go along. Ask people outside your family for honest and clear critical feedback on your performances but don't take any one evaluation too seriously. Compare different reactions and see if they are saying something similar. If so, try to correct your performance flaws and remember, you are not your performance. It is a technique that needs to be improved, not your soul.

Also, evaluate the local acting 'conservatories' and stand-alone acting schools. AFFINITY recommends acting schools that are 'stand-alone' schools. This means they are not attached to any other kind of school. Go out to plays and stay afterwards to ask the actors you found most convincing, where they studied. This will give you a wealth of information. Also, look for classes in any dramatic arts magazines at a large bookstore in your city.

You may want to join an improvisational group for more skill building and increase of your on-stage spontaneity.

You may find inexpensive acting classes at local community colleges. Yes, some people under 18 can go to community college courses. Also look at the YMCA or other community based agencies for acting classes.

Be careful in evaluating any television or film acting schools. The best acting schools teach you how to act on stage first. You can then alter your technique for the screen. The AFFINITY agency recommends an acting school that teaches one of these 3 techniques:

Practical Aesthetics
Meisner technique
Stanislavsky or Method


If you wish to act in commercials you may well take a few courses and then present yourself to an agent as a tv commercial actor.

There are three secrets to acting: 1. Training 2. Training and 3. Training.

Get into as many stage plays as you can. Offer your services as talent to student filmmakers at the local colleges that have film departments. You may call the deans or administration of the fine arts departments of these schools.

Look in your local free alternative newspapers for auditions for plays, but be careful. Some auditions are actually scams that are trying to sell you services or products of some kind. Be sure it is an audition for a play which has an actual theater space and show dates scheduled.

Finally, when all else fails, create your own plays, films, videos and hire yourself as the star. A local radio announcer once said, "if you don't like the news, go out and make some of your own." In the same way, if there isn't enough opportunity in your area for gaining acting experience, you will need to gather together with other actors and put on your own productions at local community spaces.

Avoid presenting yourself as an actor to an agent until you have received some training. Are there agents who will still take you on for commercials, or even acting roles? Perhaps...but they are risking their reputation if they send you out for a real acting job and you don't have experience.

Remember, acting is a profession. Almost everybody believes they are a great actor. In life, many of us act all of the time. We act one way for our teachers, another for our parents, another for our friends. We often feel that we are 'putting on a show,' and many times we put on a convincing performance. Acting on stage or before the camera is quite different.

Fixing your clock radio doesn't make you an electrician. Similarly, making your friends laugh doesn't make you a stand-up comedian. The same is true of acting.  While you may occasionally find yourself impressing others with your skill, you must not assume that you can walk into Paramount studios and star in a multimillion dollar film.  If you want to be an electrician, you study electronics and you study long and hard. If you want to be an actor, just calling yourself one is not enough. You must study the craft and practice it diligently.

Talent Agencies are filled with stories of people claiming they were 'the greatest actor that ever lived.' These same people give the worst auditions ever seen. It not only wastes the agents time, but makes them reluctant to ever see the 'actor' again. Would these same people walk into Microsoft and just say 'I'm a computer genius' because they can operate a keyboard and mouse? Please keep this in mind as you pursue the business of acting.

When you have a good resume and a good solid head shot photograph, then is the time to seek an agent. An agent represents talent. They are only as good as their talent. The talent must prove to a prospective agent that they are "marketable" through a solid history of accomplishments in the theatrical field. This can only be achieved through experience.

What ages does AFFINITY represent?

Affinity represents actors of all ages from toddlers to seniors.

Where does the Agency Represent?

With offices in Los Angeles, Affinity represents actors throughout California, and procures talent for productions taking place throughout the world. 

Child Actors:

If your child is under the age of 18, an Entertainment Permit must be acquired before any promotion or placement can be done by AFFINITY Artists Agency. You may register for this permit at: Industrial Relations Department Labor Commissioner. The permits are located at: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/dlseform277.pdf 

We encourage you to send email JPEG pictures ONLY of your infant, toddler or child. We do not take walk in appointments.

Please understand that due to the busy nature of a talent agency, you will not necessarily be given a great deal of time to discuss your child. The process is very quick and efficient. If you need more guidance, grooming, coaching, or management you may wish to contact any number of 'personal managers' located in most major cities. Be warned however, that there are unscrupulous managers who charge up front fees but provide no real guidance. Schools should be the only entities that charge up front fees. Personal managers usually require 10 to 20% of all jobs you acquire.

If your child is over 4 years old we strongly recommend that you thoroughly investigate all of the drama schools, seminars and training in your area. Ask yourself these questions:

• What is the theatrical/film/television experience and training of the teacher offering classes?
• Are they offering you an opportunity to attend one class for free to evaluate?
• Are they giving you real techniques that teach you how to perform on camera and onstage
   

Celebrity Actors:

Celebrity actors are used to create an image for a company and its product or service. AFFINITY represents actors who’ve become celebrities and celebrities from other fields who also perform as spokespersons for various products and companies.

AFFINITY represents superstars from the fields of athletics, entertainment, business and the arts. AFFINITY also represents relatives of famous individuals such as royalty and political figures.

ARTIST VISA ISSUES

We cannot pay for your trip into the USA. We also cannot pay for housing or other accomodations for foreign actors. Additionally, we cannot assist you in entering the U.S.A. by registering as your employer with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You can also travel to other countries under our mother agency agreement. However, you must pursue appropriate Visa, working papers, vaccines, etc. in order to work in South America, Europe or Asia.

You must obtain a work visa from the I.N.S. You should seek the H Visa or the J Visa or the more difficult to achieve O Visa.

The INS can be found at the following location: http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm

INS office locations in the USA: http://uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/alphaa.htm 
For general info call USCIS customer service at: 1-800-375-5283.

INS Los Angeles District Office

Information Services
300 N. Los Angeles Street
Room 1001
Los Angeles, CA 90012

San Diego District Office Location:

Mailing Address:
USINS San Diego District Office
880 Front Street, Suite 1234
San Diego, CA 92101

Street Address:
USINS San Diego District Office
U.S. Federal Building
880 Front Street, Suite 1234
San Diego, CA 92101

San Francisco Office Location:

Street Address:
ALL APPOINTMENTS, Detention & Deportation, Fingerprinting, Human
Resources, SAVE and Support Services:
630 Sansome Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

Mailing Address:
INS San Francisco District Office
630 Sansome Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
415-705-4411

Commercial Print Models:

Affinity Artists Agency has an entirely separate Modeling Division website. For more information about the Modeling Division , please go to http://www.affiinitytalent.com

Commercial Print models represent products other than beauty or fashion. They are used in print ads, packaging, sales displays, product catalogs and live promotional work. There are two types of commercial print models: Straight and Character.

Straight Commercial models can range from average (real people) to attractive types. They are chosen because they appeal to specific consumer markets based on age, marital status, income, etc.

Character Commercial models most often appear in print ads and television commercials. These models can be funny-looking or offbeat characters. They are often exaggerated examples of real people. Character models may also be impersonators or imaginary characters such as Uncle Sam or a leprachaun.

Real People models: There are no height, weight or visual requirements for casting and print. This is because the assignment may call for "real people" i.e. non-model types. We seek talent from all ethnic backgrounds.

Submitting professional photographs

Actors may email pictures/resume at info@affinityartists.com. Your pictures must be sent in ".jpeg" format only. All pictures sent in these formats or any format other than .jpeg or .jpg will be rejected and deleted.  Pictures should be minimum 4.5 inches wide by 4.5 inches high. Pictures should be saved in 72dpi (dots or pixels per inch). Do not send .pdf, .gif, .tif, html, bitmap (.bmp) or Photodeluxe (.pdd) files. We do not accept Word Perfect files. We are on PC's so take steps to be sure your Apple program saves in a way that can be seen on a PC Computer. Please do not send "zip" files. If sending more than 5 different pictures, send them in multiple emails. 

If you are on AOL or any other email service that 'zips' pictures before sending, send only ONE EMAIL PICTURE AT A TIME! We will not open ZIP files and emails that contain them will be discarded.  


How To Include Your Resume:
Along with email pictures talent must include a resume in TEXT format in the BODY of the email only.  Due to the volume of email we receive it is far too time consuming to OPEN up your attached resume. This is why we request the resume IN THE TEXT of the email, NOT as attachment. This means the resume SHOULD NOT be in an attachment but rather, is IN the actual TEXT of the email. This means no pdf, word, or other resume attachments will be accepted. You must copy your resume and PASTE it into the text of your email. Once again, no resume attachments please!

Measurements to Include:
Please include in your email: Hair and eye color, Height, weight and body measurements, shoe size. Please use feet and inches and pounds (USA measurements) in measurements.  Do not send resume in Word Perfect or MS Word formats. Do NOT send .jpg format or PICTURE images of your resume. Do not fax your resume. If talent wish to snail mail pictures they may mail in pictures and resume to AFFINITY 5724 W. 3rd St. Suite #511, LA, CA 90036.

If AFFINITY ARTISTS Agents believe the actor's look is marketable they will return a message via email or phone within 30-60 days indicating Agency interest. If you do not receive a response within that time period, please consider this non-response a statement of non-interest at this time.

Do NOT submit original pictures. AFFINITY will not return original pictures and they will not be used for castings. The resume must not have model/actor‚s home address or phone number, or any other agency name. Talent must type "AFFINITY Model & Talent Agency" on the top of the Resume.

Please note: we will not return these photos. Also: if we do not respond to you within 30-60 days of your email, this indicates we cannot represent your look at this time. Please do not call or email and ask if we received your pictures. Due to the busy nature of an agency, this is the only acceptable procedure

Submitting Amateur Photos for MINORS only

The email pictures that parents send for CHILD talent do not need to be taken by a professional photographer. Of course, if talent have professional pictures, they are welcome to send them; Have a family member of friend shoot a roll or two. Use half of the film to get a good head shot and half to get a good body shot. Color photography is preferable.

Advice on Amateur Photographs
The following photographs are unacceptable:

Blurry
Dark
Overexposed
Excessive makeup
Too far away (too much space above and below models body).
Too close (distorted model face or body)
Bundled up in thick winter clothing
Baggy clothing
Standing with boyfriend/girlfriend/gathering of family/friends.

AFFINITY cannot appropriately evaluate an actor or model’s potential with these types of photographs. Remember, these pictures are for the buyer, so that they can SEE you.

The following photographs are acceptable:

Clear facial features
Little to no makeup if amateur
Head to foot
Head to waist
Head and chest
Head and shoulders
Profile face
Profile body

Remember to always include your basic measurements with your photos. If you are female your measurements must include your age, height, bust, waist, hips, hair color and eye color. If you are male your measurements must include your height, chest, waist, inseam, hair color and eye color.

You should send at least one clear head shot and one clear body shot. Your head shot should clearly show your entire face, and your body shot should give us a good idea of your build and body type. We suggest that women wear a swimsuit and men a swimsuit or boxer shorts.

Without appropriate photographs AFFINITY will have difficulty helping actors find any assignments. Eventually you will need professional pictures. Photographers can be found in the following magazines, Callboard, Dramalogue, Backstage West etc. and on the internet.

Where to Send Pictures:

Email the same at info@affinityartists.com Your pictures must be sent in ".jpeg" format only. Do not send bitmap (.bmp), .gif, .art, .tif, or Photodeluxe (.pdd) files. Do not send MS Word picture files. Please do not send "zip" files. If sending more than 5 different pictures, send them in multiple emails. If you are on AOL or any other email service that 'zips' pictures before sending, send only ONE EMAIL PICTURE AT A TIME!

Agency Acceptance:

If AFFINITY ARTISTS AGENCY Talent Agents like an actor's resume, skill set and look, they’ll contact the actor in under 60 days. If an actor is not contacted in 60 days it means that the actor's look is not suitable for the AFFINITY agency at this time. This means AFFINITY may have several actors represented by the agency that already have a similar look; or the agency does not see the requisite experience in the actors resume; or that they've reviewed the reel and have no interest in representing the talent or that, based on experience, the agency does not see the marketability of a particular talent.

Please note, AFFINITY will not respond to phone calls regarding whether an actor’s pictures or resume have arrived via email or regular mail. Due to the high volume of work, agency staff do not have time to respond to these calls. If a actor's package has arrived it will be reviewed. If it hasn't it will be returned by the post office or if it is email, it will bounce back to you. Sending Fedex or Express Mail will not increase the speed with which the agency responds.

For prospective talent:

If an agent at AFFINITY is interested in you, they will most definitely contact you. Therefore, please remember to include your contact information including your email address, phone number or address. Make sure that your contact information is on each and every picture/resume you send in the event that your pictures become separated. Please do not call or email to inquire about the status of your submission. If there is interest, we will contact you quickly. Please do not inquire as to WHY the agency is not interested in your look/resume at this time. The agency makes its decisions based on marketplace demands. Lack of interest does not indicate that talent are lacking in attractiveness or dramatic/comedic skill. Lack of interest merely means that AFFINITY does not see your look or resume as a profitable investment at this time.

If there is no interest, you will not hear back from AFFINITY. If AFFINITY is not interested in you, do not be discouraged. There are many good agencies, and every agency is looking for something different.

AFFINITY ARTISTS only accepts email submissions at this time. If we like your pictures/resume/reel, we will invite you to the Agency Audition Days. NO GENERAL OPEN CALLS. Please send all pictures and correspondence regarding representation to: info@affinityartists.com

Talent are contacted via email after submission of pictures and told to come in for our Agency Audition Days. Talent will be given the times and location at that time. There are no general OPEN CALLS. Talent are invited based on email picture submission. We do not accept submissions by regular mail.

If we like your email pictures, we will invite you to the Agency Audition Days.

If chosen to come in (based on email pictures and resume) Actors must bring in a dramatic or comedic monologue that is under 2 minutes in length. The monologue must be memorized. Monologue guidelines: Do not choose a monologue that you or a friend have written. Do not choose a monologue that requires you to throw or pound on anything. Do not play an extremely violent or crazy character. Essentially, do not play any character during your monologue that will cause the agency building neighbors to be concerned. Do not bring props. Do not choose a monologue that has only one emotion. The agents want to see how you portray not only emotions but the transition between emotions, the subtleties of overlapping emotions, undercurrents of emotion. Do not do period pieces, Shakespeare or an accent other than your own. As for comedy, we're always interested!

When performing a monologue before the agent, the actor should find a point of focus other than the agent. This allows the agent to evaluate the performance without having to visually respond during the performance.

Actors may be asked to do a "cold reading" of material they have not seen before. Be advised that actors with no formal training in a school or in theatrical productions, will be evaluated on skill and professionalism. It is strongly advised that all actors receive professional training or experience before submitting to audition for the agency.

Exclusive Representation

AFFINITY represents talent EXCLUSIVELY. The agency provides a contract lasting a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 7 years.

Frequency of Photograph replacement

Please remember, after a talent is accepted, AFFINITY must receive updated email jpg pictures whenever an actor has a substantial change in their look: hair color, length, weight gain or loss over 20 pounds, etc) OR once per year, whichever comes first.

APPLICATION ISSUES:

Date of birth

Your date of birth is important, not to identify you as too old or too young for any particular job-your look will determine that-but AFFINITY needs to verify your age for agency records and tax purposes. AFFINITY searches its database within age ranges. It helps to have a general idea so that we can search for you. e.g. a buyer requests talent 'who appear between 30 and 45.'

Social Security number

AFFINITY doesn't need your SS# until the agency finds you a paid assignment, but it would avoid extra phone calls. For now its optional. The agency must have your social security because it sends information to the television and film production companies as well as the IRS so that you may receive a 1099 form to pay your taxes at the end of the year. As an independent contractor, you must pay taxes on any funds you receive from AFFINITY at tax time.

Talent Availability

Most actors and models have scheduling conflicts due to work, school or other talent commitments. However, the greater a talent's availability, the greater the chance of finding them work. Remember, 95% of all auditions take place on weekdays during the day.

Personal information Updates

If a model/talent's information regarding look, hair color, body size, location etc. changes, email the agency at info@affinitytalent.com so we can update your computer record.

Measurements

If you don't know your sizes please buy a cloth tape measure at any convenience store. Have a friend measure you. Remember, do not wear bulky clothing when doing measurements. Also, the waist is the most narrow portion of your midsection. The hips are measured by the widest portion of the hip and the tape goes around the largest part of the buttocks. Don't fool yourself here. You must be accurate.

Union or non-union Actor Representation

Affinity is affiliated with all talent unions including SAG, AFTRA, AEA, WGA, DGA, AFM. AFFINITY also represents a large pool of non-union talent.

Languages

Multiple languages are extraordinarily helpful. Affinity has received assignments where the actor was required to speak Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, German, etc.

Why Models and Actors Seek Agency Representation:

1.Time: A model/actors time is valuable. The agency saves them time by finding job assignments for them.

2. Phone, fax, email, shipping: The agency absorbs all costs.

2.Advertising Expenses: A talent agency spends tens of thousands of dollars on local and national advertising. This includes trade publications, newspapers, magazines as well as brochures, gifts, entertainment and meals for buyers.

3. Contract Negotiation: When talent negotiate with buyers, negative feelings can often arise on both sides. The experience may leave everyone with a sour taste. Agencies are experts in contract negotiation and implementation. A Talent agency knows all of the things that can go wrong on a job and creates contracts that address all possibilities and that hold up in a court of law.

4. Collection Services: What can one actor or model do when they don't receive payments from a buyer? It's an uphill battle. An agency, however, can use the strength of its reputation in the industry, and its legal resources to battle any company that withholds payment.

5. Industry Connections: A talent agency develops a vast network of industry relationships that no one actor or model could possibly create. A talent agency has the tactical advantage when it comes to getting things done for models and actors.

6. Union Affiliations: A licensed agency with film, television and radio union affiliations can find auditions faster, and help non-union actors find union assignments that may eventually lead to union membership.

7.Licensing: A legitimate agency is licensed by the government. This protects talent from unscrupulous 'managers' and 'consultants' who claim to be agents but are not watched by any governmental agency.

Why buyers use talent agencies

1.Easy access: The agency has phone, cel, pager, fax, email, shipping address and full time staff

2. Fast Response time: The agency can negotiate, email, fax or ship pictures immediately.

4. Multiple choices for talent: The agency has hundreds of choices.

5. Constant influx of new fresh faces: There will always be a need for new talent

6. Quality control: The agency weeds out inappropriate individuals before they see the buyer.

7. Turnkey solution: The buyer only makes one phone call, explains details and negotiates one time. Production and marketing firms want to deal with an agency that handles all the contracts, releases, scheduling, payments etc. They don't want ten annoying phone calls every other day from independent actors/models wanting to negotiate individually, or complaining about payment.

8. Aesthetic and Demographic Preferences: A buyer cannot go to a temp service and request ten blondes over 5'9" for a television show. They cannot request people of specific appearance. With a talent agency, they can make these choices.

9. Pre-filtering: avoids mismatch between buyers and talent. Avoids embarrassment of rejection.

10. Experience: The agency has years of hard-won knowledge to make the correct choices.

11. Dependability: The agency can arrange back up talent and are ready to respond to potential problems.

Agency Commissions

For every union talent booking given to talent the agency receives a 10% commission, 20% on non union work. This is the legal limit and standard in the talent industry.

Scams and Rip-offs

People often come to AFFINITY talent agency asking whether or not a particular school, management company, consultant or agency is involved in a "scam" or is attempting to rip off consumers. Due to the busy nature of a licensed talent agency, AFFINITY staff members do not have time to investigate these concerns. However, we can direct you to ask your own pertinent questions of the individual, group or school in question.

1. Do they have professional references, i.e. are there other respected entities in the talent field that will endorse this individual or company?
2. Are there individuals who have gone on to success as a result of these groups efforts? If so, are you allowed to contact those individuals regarding their experience?
3. Does the group have any evidence of helping others achieve success?
4. Does the group allow you a trial period or a sample of their classes or training? (not necessarily a deal-breaker but shows their confidence in their training).
5. Are they charging more for photography then you would be charged by outside photographers? The average in California is 2 to 3 different looks on 2-3 rolls of film for $250-$350.00. This includes contact sheets so that you can choose the pictures you wish to print but excludes the price of actual prints and copies).
6. Are they a licensed talent agency? (they don't have to be in order to help you, but if they are you won't pay ANY fees.)
7. How long have they been in business?
8. Are they listed with the Better Business Bureau? If so, how many and what kind of complaints have they received at the BBB?
9. Do they have a business license in the city they are doing business in? Call the city business license unit.
10. If they are a personal manager: are they asking for up-front fees? Why? A true manager gets their fees as a percentage of work they help you find. Otherwise they should be considered a school or consultant.
11. Finally, do you or your loved one have a great deal of training, experience or ability to learn? If so, you may be able to pick up a great deal of information in the course of a career at a licensed talent agency. On the other hand, a competent school may instill the grace and poise that often do not come overnight. Sometimes the stability that a consultant or school offers gives talent a secure feeling and confidence to advance in an often difficult industry. Talent agents are in the business of finding jobs for talent so they have very little time to groom or nurse talent along. A Talent Agency is often like an Emergency Room and handling 50 crises at once. There is no time for hand holding or worrying about bruised feelings. Consider this if you are new to the talent field and want a more gentle entrance into this industry.

We hope this has helped you to make an intelligent decision regarding schools, managers and consultants.

Professionalism From Start To Finish

If you aren't the best, neither are we. This means:

• When a model/actor accepts a booking by phone or acknowledges by email, they are committed to the booking. It is not the agency's responsibility to remind the model/actor of the booking. If the actor/model believes they are missing important information, it is their responsibility to contact the agency immediately.

• Punctuality is crucial. Talent may be dismissed from a booking if late. Talent MUST be at a booking 15 minutes early. Talent must take into account all traffic conditions and leave early. No matter what, talent must be on time. Talent must always expect traffic jams, accidents, weather problems. Talent must leave early enough for a job so that even with these complications they will still be 15 minutes early. This includes time for parking, finding the booth, studio, etc.

• Looking right is crucial. Talent must always look impeccable. Well groomed hair, make up, pressed clothes.

• Courtesy and customer service: Remember, even if the buyers behave rudely, (which they rarely do)the talent must rise above it, and call AFFINITY to address the problem ASAP. AFFINITY talent must be more professional than the people they work with. Talent are representing Affinity Models and Talent. The agency will not allow anyone to abuse it's talent once we are aware of the problem. Likewise, AFFINITY will not allow any of it's models or talent to be rude in any way to casting directors or other agency buyers. Remember, AFFINITY has three buyers:

1. The Talent
2. The Buyer (Producer, Casting Director, Studio, Network, Photographer, etc)
3. The Customer the Buyer is trying to Capture.

• Always thank the buyer after a booking.

• AFFINITY requires talent to give a minimum of 72 hours notice for job assignment cancellation. If talent cancel in less time they seriously endanger their business relationship with AFFINITY. AFFINITY understands that talent have families and emergencies. However, due to the abuse of excuses relating to car problems, missed busses and 'not feeling well' AFFINITY will terminate the representation of any talent that cannot verify their reason for cancellation. AFFINITY will not accept car problem cancellations without a valid repair bill from a recognized auto repair shop. Likewise, illness will not be accepted without an actual proof of the alleged illness. The same criteria hold for family and friend illnesses. AFFINITY will not continue to work with or assist any talent who cancels with short notice i.e. under 72 hours notice before a booking begins. This is extremely serious because the talent is endangering what the AFFINITY Agency offers: professional, dependable, beautiful talent representation.

• Talent allow the agency to do the contract negotiations and do not accepty new terms independently of their representative. This means when an actor is on set and is requested to do something that is not in their contract, they consult with their agent. Talent do not sign agreements without allowing the agency to review them. Ultimately this provides protection for the talent.  If they ask, refer them to the agency. Also let the Agency know.

Independent Contractors and Employees

AFFINITY is a Talent Agency, not an employer. If a model or actor only seeks an employer, they should not register with AFFINITY. AFFINITY REPRESENTS (i.e. provides a talent brokering service for) Independent Contractor Talent.

An independent contractor is an individual who acts as their own employer, pays their own taxes, and buys their own insurance. An independent contractor cannot qualify for unemployment compensation, workers compensation. Please note: if a talent falsely claims AFFINITY as their employer, knowing that s/he is an INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, the agency will discontinue its business relationship with that talent.

For the AGENCY SERVICE, AFFINITY receives a commission. AFFINITY also provides a check writing SERVICE (i.e. AFFINITY deposits one check from the paying buyer into the agency's business account and then distributes individual checks to talent from that account).

AFFINITY does not pay any taxes for talent. Actors and models receive money in a lump sum. Talent determine their own taxes at the end of the year. AFFINITY doesn't subtract taxes or other charges because the agency only represents independent contractors. Talent must pay their taxes on this money at the end of each calender year.

Professional Photography

Actors and models must find local photographers to shoot their image so that they may present samples of how well they photograph to agents. Good local photographers can be found in several ways.

1. The Yellow Pages
2. The Internet
3. Local Theater Arts Magazines or Newspapers
4. Local College or Community Photography Classes: Contact the Fine Arts Department and find out the process for volunteering for student photographers. Best source for free photography
5. Art Colleges Photography Departments: Best source for free photography.

AFFINITY discourages the use of "mall" type photography studios that provide 'glamour' shots. These are not considered 'quality' photographs by the fashion, print or film industry.

How to Evaluate A Photographer:

Fashion Photography tends to cost $90.00 per 36 exposure film roll. Sometimes studio rental costs are added, other times it is part of this cost. Make up and hair styling for the 'shoot' can cost around $50-$75.00. An average photo shoot uses two rolls of film and allows the model to change looks, hair and clothing so that s/he has two separate and distinct 'looks.'

Thus the mathematical calculation is: $90.00 x 2 rolls of film=$180.00. Makeup=$75.00. Average Photoshoot cost: $250.00.

Theatrical and Commercial Photography tends to cost between $150.00 and $350.00 for "headshots."

Film, Television and Theater actors need only one dramatic and one commercial "headshot." Makeup generally costs $75.00. Total cost of Commercial or Dramatic photoshoot: between $225.00 and $350.00. Commercial Headshots are generally smiling, bright, clean cut images. Dramatic Headshots use more shadow, mood, and have more attitude.

Certainly, top photographers can command much higher prices for this work. It is important that the model not be misled. A photographer should have no hesitation about showing his/her work to the model. Maintain a respectful attitude when dealing with photographers however. While you may be paying for their work, photographers often consider themselves artists and are sensitive to being 'shopped' by models.

Sometime after the photoshoot, photographers will present the model with a 'contact sheet' which shows small prints of the photoshoot. The model will then choose from these pictures the ones s/he wants blown up to full size. Average cost of each original 8x10 picture is $25.00.

Models often request the negatives of their photoshoot. Photographers, however, often reserve the right of ownership of the negatives. Some photographers will sell the negatives for a price. The photographer considers this their property and their artwork. It would be in the talent's best interest however, to have the photographer sign a contract that does not allow them to use the pictures at any future time without the talent's consent.

Following the creation of several 8x10 originals, the talent will place these originals in a Portfolio.

Where and How to Get Pictures Printed

Actors and Models (who have enough pictures for an AFFINITY Composite) must then find a Printing or Lithography company to make between 100 and 200 high quality reproductions.

Some of the least expensive Lithography companies are located in Los Angeles and New York. It is cost effective to mail original pictures to these locations. Lithography is usually complete within two weeks and the least expensive cost $75.00 for one head shot and $180 to $300 for 100-200 composite cards.