Welcome to my new message board.

I won't be able to answer all of your questions but I'll do my best to give you some good honest advice. There's a lot of bad information out there about the business of acting. So I will make you one promise - everything I tell you with be the real deal, straight from an experienced agent's mouth.

So enjoy the board and I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Hi Secret Agent Man.....

I would love to know your opinion on this "Triple Threat" thing they're always talking about... I know that most of the "big" Hollywood stars aren't "triple threats", but you always hear people saying a kid "has to be a triple threat to make it".... I find this ridiculous and hard to believe.

Your opinion??

Wow. I'm with you on that one. That's such an old fashioned expression. There might be some truth to it if you want to make it in musical theater but being a "triple threat" has nothing to do with film and television.

So your instincts are 100% right.

Nice to have you here Secret Agent Man and I agree that actors do not need to be a triple threat to be successful, but I have to disagree with your statement of a triple threat having nothing to do with film and television.

I could make a list a mile long of film and television and their triple threat performers, starting with Shirley Temple, the Mickey Mouse Club, Donald O'Connor, Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, Debbie Reynolds, Rita Moreno to modern day Madonna (Evita), the Disney MOWs like Cinderella and Geppetto to the kids in High School Musical and the films Chicago and Enchanted. For an agent to say that a triple threat (a term that is still used today) has nothing to do with film and television, yikes, it makes me wonder just how long you have really been in this business.

Diane, the list is longer of actors who are not triple threats, thank goodness!!!

I think that for agents, they are more likely to represent a child who can act, sing and dance because it increases the opportunities to book jobs. Since there are so many kids in the biz, it is not hard to find kids who can do all three. They for sure have an edge. Agents want to have kids who book!

That's not to say that kids who do not sing or dance cannot find work, but the bigger package seems to be more appealing.

And now that my blood is boiling, we don't need a "secret producer man", "secret casting man (or woman)" What is next? "Secret headshot photography man:what your photographer was afraid to tell you!!!" The reality is, every good agent I have met does not hide stuff or anything...Or if they want to be anonymous, they actually give some helpful information. Respectfully, SECRET HEADSHOT MAN

In response to "Mominbiz", the names you mention are all very talented performers but they represent a very small percentage of the working actor population outside of musical theater. And the original question was - is it necessary to act, sing and dance to be a successful actor? The answer is no.

In response to "eaglesfanla", not using my real name allows me to speak freely without placing my career in jeopardy. Being anonymous grants me a certain degree of freedom in what I choose to share with you. Also, I represent nine clients - among many others - who are currently starring on network shows. Some of them - and their managers/lawyers/publicists - might not appreciate seeing my name on this board. So my advice to you is - if it really bothers you that much that I'm not using my real name - then don't read my column and don't look at this particular message board. (And don't get me started on the Eagles!)

And to the rest of you - I'm here to lend a hand. I have no interest in getting into back and forth arguments. So there will be no further responses to this thread but I look forward to answering your questions on other threads.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Did this board replace the Agents and Managers forum?

well fake or not, I dont care. WELCOME. BECAUSE THESE BOARDS ARE GETTING WIGGIDEY WIGGDEY WACK.

Welcome welcome welcome Secret Agent Man--so nice to have you here! And by the way, if anyone is interested in my thoughts on this, Secret Agent Man is the real deal and we're lucky to have him here. I don't know who can vouch for me, but I vouch for him!
-Jackie

quote:

Originally posted by eaglesfanla:
And now that my blood is boiling, we don't need a "secret producer man", "secret casting man (or woman)" What is next? "Secret headshot photography man:what your photographer was afraid to tell you!!!" The reality is, every good agent I have met does not hide stuff or anything...Or if they want to be anonymous, they actually give some helpful information. Respectfully, SECRET HEADSHOT MAN

I think you are a bit wacko, man.....These people drop in to help and offer advice, m'kay??? Yeah, I am so sure he should give his real name- NOT. Like he wants you calling him at work or worse still (shudder) dropping BY to "visit" him!!!!Chill, take a deep breath and RELAX....

quote:

Yeah, I am so sure he should give his real name- NOT. Like he wants you calling him at work or worse still (shudder) dropping BY to "visit" him

Every agent lists an address and phone number, and many industry pros do blogs, so this quote is odd.