A friend of mine totally just got scammed by them. She went to interview with Jerry Pace who said he wanted to represent her, and then didn't call her back for over a week!

Then she got a call from someone at the office (who didn't give his name) saying she needed to call this woman who would give her the names of some photographers and classes she should be taking. She called and left a message saying that she wasn't planning on taking new pictures and that she was already enrolled in a class she liked, and that Jerry Pace had said her headshots were fine.

Nobody from the office called her back! And Jerry Pace hasn't returned her phone calls or e-mails, presumably because she wouldn't go to "their" photographers and classes. It seemed so sketchy to me!

Are these people even SAG franchised? I am staying away from them and I would advise you to do the same!

Yeah, one of my acting teachers was saying the same thing the other week.
Actually, almost everyone I've ever met who signed/were in the process of signing with them got the same them got the "choose from these 3 photographers," "choose from these 3 schools" call.
But my teacher had already had extensive training (which is why Jerry signed her in the first place), so she immediately smelled payola.

I don't know about this agency, but it doesn't amtter if they are SAG franchised or not. Even William Morris is not SAG anymore because agencies do not have to be.

There were discrepencies on what SAG wanted to have included in the contracts and what the agencies wanted and many decided not to pay to continue their union status. That doesn't mean they are fraud, because agents are licensed by the state of California and use their contracts anyhow.

You're absolutely right Soli about franchised agencies. More powerful agencies or bigger agencies are not franchised by the guild because the guild hasn't renogtiated the contract between SAG and the ATA (association of talent agaencies). So being franchised these days is mostly union proaganda. The thing actors need to look for or watch out for is the contact between the agnet and the actor. If the agency is franchised then the union approved contract should be offered.

If they are not frnachised then most likely they are a part of the ATA. If they are they offer a state approved GSA as their contract. If I'm not mistaken you can go to the ATA website and look over the GSA.

Both are legit. I'd be cautious if the agency is not with either.

As far as laactor I'd be wouldn't throw out the word scam so quickly. You're never gonna find 100% of the actors 100% happy 100% of the time. I am in no way defending ZPP, but it's not unusual for agencies to refere actors to people they like and trust. The reason we do that isn't always because of a kick back. It;s because those people we refere give quality work that we have had success with.

ZP&P...Run far, run fast.

Boom from what I've seen or read, you a worse actor then they are an agency. I've alrady said I wouldn't support ZPP days ago. But over you? close call, but they win.

At least they're worth something.

quote:

Originally posted by Tony H:
Boom from what I've seen or read, you a worse actor then they are an agency. I've alrady said I wouldn't support ZPP days ago. But over you? close call, but they win.

At least they're worth something.

dude, you would cream your jeans to get me in your stable.

I just got a message that they wanted to meet with me for possible representation... I think they found me through LA Casting... despite the fact that I do need an agent, lets just say I didn't respond.

- DV

I also need an agent. I think they had contacted me @ one time through LA Casting but I didn't respond @ the time. So who IS/ARE good agencies? AND do they allow people to contact them or do they only contact you? It's a catch 22.

After they wanted to represent me they wanted me to take this workshop. I did not want to so I never heard from them again. You do the math.

I just had an interview with them and they told me my pics were horrible. Should I go and get new ones ?

They are SAG franchised. I think every single place everyone has ever gone has told them they need new pix and new classes. I find them all to be shady. Taking cash from us struggling actors/actresses. I'm not getting any new pix until I see work.

That's a tough one. It's common for an agent to want new pics after you sign with them, so that's not necessarily a red flag.
But, Zanuck, Passon & Pace, at least in the past, has been notorious for shady practices, and headshots have been one of those areas.
They've been known to get kickbacks from the photographers they recommend. So, if they hand you a list and say they want you to shoot with "one of these 5 people," that is a definite red flag.

Also, strictly because it's Zanuck, Passon & Pace, I'd advise you to get a "second opinion" regarding your current headshots. If you have an acting teacher, casting director, or even a working-actor friend who can take a look at them, find out whether they agree with what the agent said.

Final warning, Zanuck, Passon & Pace doesn't have the best reputation in town. I know multiple people with them who only get sent out once every couple of months--if that. So, if you can do better than Zanuck, Passon & Pace, you may want to do so, regardless of the headshot situation.

So, my overall suggestion is simply that you proceed with caution. I hope everything works out as best as possible!

Everybody I've spoken to about this agency has concurred that they're seriously shady. I've met with them twice (once for theatrical, the other for commercial), both times I was told that I needed new headshots. I'd stay away.

Does anyone have anything positive to say about this agency? They just called me for a meeting in a few days. After my last nightmare experience with Doug Bennett of the Gerler Agency I am very hesitant to go meet with this agency for fear it might go the same way. I should have listened to the posts about that agency on this website but had to learn the hard way. Should I bother with ZPP?