Hi,

 This is really an industry pro question, so any feedback would be great. 

 My question is, do you think there is an unwritten "ranking" with the main talent agents for children in LA?  Specifically, do the more prominent agents really get the "big" breakdowns for the main roles first, leaving the kids that are not with those agents out of the loop on the really big roles?  I've had friends in the industry suggest that some kids are never going to get as many of the big opportunity's because their agent is not one of the main players for kids.

 I know you can see rankings on IMDB, but I'm curious what the pro's really say on this one.

Thanks! 

Can someone help me understand the rankings and starmeter numbers on the IMDB site for the agencies?  I pulled up my DD's agency and would like to understand exactly what their numbers mean - and how to compare to other agencies in our market.  Thank you!

I wanted to write to clarify one thing - Ratings and Recommendations on the Children In Film website.

The star ratings on the website are 1 - 5 stars - one being a low star rating and 5 being the highest.  Star ratings are left by other members, so if someone on the CIF site has a 4 orange stars filled in and it says "/6" that means that they've been rated by other members six times for an average of 4 stars.

Recommendations are comments left by other members.  You can read these on the individual's profile.

Ratings and Recommendations are populated by you guys!  We encourage everyone on the site to go on and rate and recommend anyone they've worked with - especially your agent or manager!

If someone is highly ranked it is because other members of the CIF website feel they are deserving.  This is a way for you as a community to share your thoughts and feedback.

The agent rankings that Mark is referring to is totally different and I will need to look in to this.  Stay tuned.  

Do the big agencies get big breakdowns for main roles and are young actors who are with boutique agents out of the loop for a large roles?

For feature films, the best agents work off grids and advance notice of projects in formulation. This knowledge is what gives these agents an advantage. Grids are directories of films and projects in pre-production.  These same agents also monitor the published breakdowns. 

There are great boutique or smaller agents and there are great big agencies. Agents also put deals together for talent who have a fan base. They approach the studios and projects are created starting with the talent and then adding the supplemental roles.

Your question is specific to films that are released for casting without a star attached. When there is a lead role in a feature film for a young person, chances are it is a very demanding role. If it is a studio picture, and the studio has a top director and producer and they are risking millions of dollars on this film. And, risking those dollars on an untried young actor is very hard. The casting director will maximize their time and likely results by trying to see those actors who have handled lead roles in the past.

The casting director is hired by a director because they believe in the casting director's taste and because the casting director is well coached in the director's vision for the feel of actor they need. Some directors will spend months or a year seeing new faces to discover the one who has "it."  The same casting directors who hired star names only for one film may be casting for a brand new talent next time.

The casting directors are open to truly masterful talent and they will receive it from whence it comes. They check big agencies, small agencies, trusted acting coaches, and they check their own records of magical and memorable actors.

 If there is a young performer who has an amazing look, powerful training, and who is  winning jobs acting and blowing away casting directors on small roles, they will make it to the next level and the next. They will be remembered. Other actors around them take notice.  

Hope that helps!

Carol Lynn Sher

That was great clarification from Carol Lynn Sher.  I just want to add that I have seen kids book lead roles on series and on films straight from a boutique agency.  When the role is very specific, casting directors will see every child out there til they find who they are looking for.

Stay focused on the craft and let the agents do their work.  They are representing you because they saw something special in you.

Good luck.

Lorena

www.littlereddoorkids.com

 Thanks, that was very helpful.

 Mark