Got the Agent, Doubting Their Judgement

I finally got my agent. I interviewed the two main agents at the talent agency, and liked them. I read the contract. I filled out the paperwork. I signed the contract. I mailed everything to the agency. Sigh of relief, right?

I got an email from my agency to please go to a casting website and fill in my résumé. In the process of doing so, I saw the headshots that were selected and uploaded for me by my agency. These are the photos that casting directors will see when deciding who to choose for auditions. These photos should look like the actor, should make a great impression and should say, "hey, pick me".

I HATE the headshot photos of me that my agency chose and uploaded. In one, I have on so much makeup that I don't even look like myself and my hair looks terrible. The hair and makeup were courtesy of a goth-girl makeup artist who excused herself at one point during our session to go and barf due to "a wicked hangover". We're talking turquoise eye-shadow, people. These images were not photos that I selected to print from the photo session, but appeared on the CD of all images from the session. They are gross. They do not look like me. The impression they might make is dubious, at best. Perhaps they'll say, "hey, pick me to play the dead hooker in the alley".

Part of the contract I signed with the agency stipulates that the agency gets to pick which photographs they submit for auditions. I worked so hard to get an agent, and now, the first decision they make on my behalf is more than a bit disheartening.

The silver lining on this massive thunderhead of a cloud is that my agency has nothing to do with my theater work. I still call the shots with anything on the stage or performed live. That will remain mine, and mine alone, as will all the money I make doing stage work. Thus far, earnings from stage work and film/TV work are neck-in-neck.

Even if the (in my very opinionated opinion) terrible photos of me that my agency chose never get me another film audition, I still have the stage.

Yeah, I'm a bit sick to my stomach over this. Must smile and nod. Agent knows best.