FAQs
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CASTING AGENTS, TALENT AGENTS AND MANAGERS ? Casting agents work directly with the production company and director of a film, TV show or commercial. They are hired by them to look for potential actors/actresses to audition for roles in the production that is being cast. The casting agents will send out a "break-down" of the roles they are seeking actors for to all the talent agents. The talent agents then submit pictures and resumes of their clients (actors) that fall into the descriptions of the roles sought by the casting agents. From these submissions, casting agents will then select the actors they want to audition and notify the talent agents, set up the date and time for those actors for the respective roles being cast. Talent agents represent the actors. They submit the actors' picture and resume to casting agencies and productions companies. They do not cast the actors for an acting project. In the USA, franchised agents/agencies (talent agents/agencies that are registered, approved and abide by SAG (Screen Actors Guild) rules) take a 10% commission of any work their actors get. Also, franchised agents negotiate the acting contract for the actors with the casting agencies and/or production companies for a given role. They will add their commission to whatever the actor gets. In other words, if an actor gets, let's say, $1,000/8-hour day, the agent would say, "$1,000/day plus 10%." So the production company pays the agent the $1,000 for the actor plus $100 for the agent's commission. Managers are very much the same as talent agents except they cannot negotiate a contract and usually take 15% to 20% commission for work they get for their actors. Managers also represent smaller numbers of actors allowing them to focus more on those actors, doing public relations, publicity, promotions, etc. for them. In the USA, other than franchised agents, lawyers are the only other people who can negotiate acting contracts. Managers use lawyers for negotiating acting contracts. However, presently in China, legitimate agents take 20% commission. Other shadier agents will take anywhere from 40%-60% commission. WHAT SHOULD ACTORS BE PAID IN SHANGHAI? A lot of actors in Shanghai often wonder if they are getting ripped off with the amount of pay they are getting. So, as a professional actor, what kind of pay should you expect? Below is a general breakdown of wages (in Chinese currency) actors should expect to get per day based on the roles they're cast for. Please note these wages are a general guide. When determining what rate to ask for, take into consideration your acting experience and skills. Extras - 400-800 (for all medias - TV shows, commercials and films) Featured (under 5)* - 800-2,500 (for TV shows and films) Featured (over 5)** - 1,500-3,000 (for TV shows and films) Principal - 2,500-4,000 (for TV shows, films and commercials) Supporting - 3,000-5,000 (for TV shows and films) Co-starring - 3,500-6,000 (for all medias) Starring/Lead - 4,000-10,000 (for all medias) * means a role that is under 5 lines ** means a role that is over 5 lines Personally, one day should not be more than 10 hours. All hours after that should be paid at time and a half. So, lets say you are getting paid 5,000 for 1 day at 10 hours but you work for 15, the additional 5 hours will be paid at time and a half (750/hr.) which means you would make 5,000 (10 hrs.) + 3,750 (5 hrs.) = 8,750 for that day. In order to incorporate and make 10 hours as 1 day a norm, we all need to stick together and insist on this for every acting role we get, including extras. If we dont, agents and production companies will continue to take advantage of us. Theyve done that for too long now. Its our turn to say "No More" and force them to accept our terms. Agents and/or production companies will resist the 1 day equals 10 hours and anything after that, time and a half. Especially agents. Why? One major reason is it cuts into their commissions and they will say the production companies dont have the budget to pay more. Assume theyre lying. IF AN AGENT ASKS FOR MONEY UP FRONT, SHOULD I PAY IT? NEVER, EVER PAY IN ADVANCE!!!! If you encounter an agent or agency that says you need to pay in advance to cover expenses or whatever, turn around and walk away as fast as you can. These types of agents/agencies are scams, plain and simple. Agents make their money on a commission basis. If they don't get you work, you don't pay them any money. If they get you work, they take their commission on what you make. In Shanghai, 20% is normal for agents. Anything above that, is highway robbery, so beware of shyster agents. ARE THERE ANY ACTING GROUPS/ THEATRE COMPANIES IN SHANGHAI? Yes. There's the EWT (East West Theatre) Group. Click onto the link below for more information: groups.yahoo.com/group/eastwesttheater
- Homepage
- Introduction
- Bio - Paul Cascante
- Guestbook
- Scenes
- Monologues
- Events
- Pictures
- FAQs
- News