I received an emailed invitation today to audition for two commercial casting agents (Sylvia Ferguson & Associates Talent Agency and The Michael Zanuck Agency) on Saturday. From what I can tell, they found me through LACasting.com, which I joined about 1 month ago. Today is the first time I've gotten something like this.

My first question is: honestly it almost seems like a scam, when I've all of the sudden gotten two in one day. Maybe it's just a coincidence, because I can't see what they'd get out of it. Does anyone know anything about these agencies, or this type of "invitation"?

Second question, I'm getting married a week from this Saturday and will be unavailable and then out of the country until October 25. Will I be wasting their time (as far as further interview(s) and hopefully eventual auditions go) if I go to this audition, then become unavailable three days later for the following 3.5 weeks?


Thanks for any insight you can provide!

I got the two exact same emails. All seems a bit generic and shady. I don't think this is the best way to go. Thoughts are welcome.

Well, first I'd have to say that you have to get your terms straight. Sylvia Ferguson & Associates Talent Agency and The Michael Zanuck Agency are not "Casting Agents" they are Talent Agents. Both of them are legitimate. (there seems to be some controversy surrouning Michael Zanuck, but he is a licensed talent agent.)

Next, there is no such thing as a "Casting Agent". There are Casting Directors, Casting Associates, Casting Assistants and Session Runners.

Next you were contacted by "Talent Agents" because you would have had to have checked on you LA Casting Profile that you were seeking an Agent. Do you remember doing this? That is why you were contacted. Why two Talent Agents contacted you at one time?. Just coincidence.

Lastly, If you are going out of town, I would log into your LA Casting Profile and uncheck that you are looking for an Agent until you get back. This way, you won't miss any other agents wanting to interview. You can always set it back when you return.

Fianally, I believe there is a way to "Book Out" with a calender on LA Casting. This way if a "Casting Director" would like to see you for an audition, then they will see you are unavailable, rather then you just not responding because you were out of town.

Good Luck and please keep reading as much as you can from the forums.

Kidact, I have absolutely no clue why I called them casting agents, I'm fully aware of the difference (talent agent vs. casting director). I must have been really out of it when I posted, sheesh!

Thanks for your concern, though.

Anyway, the reason it came across as fishy was that the emails were written and formatted poorly, and very obviously written to a mass audience. They also came within a few short hours of each other, which I found quite strange. Only one mentioned LA Casting, and the other (MZ) did come across as straight-up spam.

I've heard of phishing and spam occurring through LACasting before, so that was the main reason for my concern.

quote:

Next, there is no such thing as a "Casting Agent". There are Casting Directors, Casting Associates, Casting Assistants and Session Runners.

Everyone is saying that, but they are referring to the professional world.

In the non union world, you will find "casting agents". Also you will find

Extra-Agent, Grip-Director, lighting-caterer, manager-actor, writer-PA. and my favorite, producer-location-PA

Avoid Michael Zanuck. He scammed people when he was with ZPP. He's still up to his schemes at his new agency.

Sylvia Ferguson is considered a Top 50 Commercial Agency in L.A., but there have been complaints that she tries to get you to pay $140 a year for this bogus casting site called Etalentfiles.com. Supposedly it's really just another way for her to make money.

It's ashame that some CD's and some agents (Not all SAM...Some) are not that talented, or smart. That they have to resort to scamming people to make themselves look, and feel important. Damn shame !!!

Both of thos shoddy organizations will contact anyone who joins LACasdting.com. I experienced the same and dealt with neither after intense research.

Those two e-mail just about everyone.

I "fell for" Sylvia's game and actually signed a contract with her... though she got nothing out of it as I dropped her three months later, never having had a single audition. She never tried to take my money per say, but she didn't help me in any way either. And she did recommend I join some crappy website (which I did not).

I knew enough thanks to this message board to avoid Michael Z.

WOW! so lucky I found this discussion thread. I am currently signed with SFA and let me tell you it is a waste of time, money and effort. Ever since I signed with them in January I have been on only ONE audition- and it was a Dance audition (and I'm not even a dancer!) After that I got absolutely no more auditions.

Furthermore, the agents there are just flat out rude to any and everyone. They feel that they neeed to be harsh towards their clients so they will never miss auditions but that is definetly not the way to go. And, it is true, they do make you sign up for ridiculus sites which cost you money and have absolutely no purpose to YOU as an actor- they are merely tools for the agents. Don't waste your time with them.

I also was about to sign with MZA and found them to be completely rude and unprofessional as well. The day I went to accept their offer of representation I was told I needed all new pictures and that they knew of some really good photographers. Also, there was a sign on the wall as to how you were to conduct yourself while you were talking to Mr. Zanuck (i.e. "no hand shaking, no sudden movements, sit in the chair on the right, etc")

What a load of B.S. these two agencies are. I guess the only good agents are the ones you go out and find for yourself...

quote:

Originally posted by ashanuu:
I also was about to sign with MZA and found them to be completely rude and unprofessional as well. The day I went to accept their offer of representation I was told I needed all new pictures and that they knew of some really good photographers. Also, there was a sign on the wall as to how you were to conduct yourself while you were talking to Mr. Zanuck (i.e. "no hand shaking, no sudden movements, sit in the chair on the right, etc")

What a load of B.S. these two agencies are. I guess the only good agents are the ones you go out and find for yourself...

You're kidding me? Wow some people are so full of themselves. I mean I luckily already new to avoid him thanks to this board, but I had no idea he acted like that.

quote:

Originally posted by SAGAFTRAAEA:
Everyone is saying that, but they are referring to the professional world.

In the non union world, you will find "casting agents".

In fact, the New York Times has been known to use the term. And I've seen it on professional sites as well.

I believe in England it's actually an approved term, which may be how the confusion developed.

If only those damn Brits would learn to speak our language.

I am actually rep'd by SFA. I have had no problems with them. I go out quite frequently and can always get face time when I need it. They were great with helping me pick out some new pics I took and didn't try to force a photographer at me. As for the etalent situation, I just sat down with her 1 on 1 and said I thought it was bs and I wasn't doing it. It seemed to work for me. As for MZ, he sucks, met with him back in the ZPP days, and a waste of time! Good Luck all!

I got called in through LA Casting too! I signed with her almost 3 months ago and I've already booked 2 jobs. They are really nice once you book lol. I wasn't going out to auditions at all the first couple of weeks so I had to get new pictures , but after I did, I started going out a lot.

Id stay away from both of them if I was you. And I think most people on these boards would agree...