I got a call today from Jack Scagnetti's office asking for a meeting. Silly me didn't think to search before submitting to agents (I used K.Callan's book for 'recommendations,' if you can call them that).

Anyway, before I returned their call I thought I'd check to see what I can find, and saw this:
Any help/reviews on Scagnetti, Nathe & Zanuck? any positives?
(A few people attested to the fact that he's generally not worth one's time.)


So, here's my question. Is there any reason at all for me to set up a meeting? Or should I just call, say I'm not interested (in a nicer way ) and move on?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Jack's been around a very long time. He has a tiny agency that signs a ton of people and then hopes for the best. Keeping in mind that I know nothing about your background, this is probably not the best place to sign but you should definitely go in for the meeting. It's good experience and then you'll have a point of reference for future meetings.

If he wants to sign you right away, you can always say "I need more time to think about it" or "I have meetings with other agencies and want to be fair and meet with them before I make a final decision."

Isn't it sad that we waste our time and money sending submissions to these people that are not worth out time? And even sadder (but fortunate) is that we sometimes even get rejected by them! I did not submit to Scagnetti this time, but I have in the past and didn't get a call.

Musey

Did you ever meet with him? I checked out that K. Callan LA Agents book when I was at Samuel French a few days ago and he sounds like an interesting guy. I think I have seen him on Turner Classic Movies hosting the Clark Gable biography special, which the book says that he does.

I didn't. It came down to meeting with him just for the experience (since people seem to have indicated that signing would be a bad idea) or working that day, because they gave me a narrow time frame. I chose to work.

Thank you all for the advice.

I had a meeting with him. He wanted to work with me so I gave him 30 headshots and changed my actors access to him. Every time I call (once a month to check in) he has hung up on me, and I'm left wondering if he even knows who I am. I haven't been on one theatrical audition and am seeking new representation. Also, he does NOT do contracts.

Did any of you see "Natural Born Killers"? Tarantino named the sleazy cop played by Tom Sizemore - "Jack Scagnetti". I always wondered about that...

it's a funny concept. I want to say that I've read it somewhere before, but can't put a finger on it.

If given the opportunity, you MUST meet with Jack Scagnetti! I met with him years ago and it was AWESOME!

No, I did not sign and/or work with him in any way though he did offer to rep me - but getting signed is not the reason to take this meeting (as far as I'm concerned). When I was new in town I did a blind mail out and he responded requesting a meeting. Like many I was reluctant (um, then why did I mail him? lol) so I asked a director friend who said - "You MUST meet him! He's been around forever, he's legendary. Can I come? I want to know what he's like!"

So I went - the cramped NoHo office was stacked floor to ceiling with tattered scripts and behind a small desk sat Jack Scagnetti... I won't ruin in the ending for you - Go and see him.

Maybe he'll want to sign you - maybe he'll throw things at you - who knows! But it's a life experience you should not pass up - after all, you're an actor and life experience is your stock and trade

Besides - in this town, you should always take a meeting because you never know who knows a guy who knows this girl who's 2nd cousin just got funding for a $2.5M first feature and desperately needs a fresh face... Stranger things have happened in Hollyweird.

Thanks for the reply, hyphenate - though this all came up over 3 months ago and I wasn't able to take the meeting.

quote:

Originally posted by Secret Agent Man:
Did any of you see "Natural Born Killers"? Tarantino named the sleazy cop played by Tom Sizemore - "Jack Scagnetti". I always wondered about that...

also in the movie "Reservoir dogs" Scagnetti is the asshole parole officer Michael Madsen complains about.

Haha! I wonder if Jack was Tarantino's literary agent or the guy who said his scripts sucked before Quentin went laughing to the bank.

Jack Scagnetti is my agent. I audition several times a month. He also represents my boyfriend, who goes out regularly for print work and television. I am very proud to be represented by him. He has been around forever, and seen it all. I agree with Hyphenate's post, but I have also been around long enough to be a good judge of character, and Jack is the first agent I've had in awhile who wasn't full of bs !

And you guys should realize that Tarantino does everything out of love and homage. 'Scagnetti'--what a great name ! FYI, the guy is also an expert (and published author) on cars.

I have to admit that I always find the one-off dissenting posters a bit fishy. Just throwing that out there.

Thank you for your input, though!