Talk:Actor to Actor

For the record. I have been with Michael for 15 years and have booked many features and prime time shows. I came to him with 2 or 3 minors credits. I have been cast by all the major networks and been hired by many major film producers and studios. All of these auditions were the result of Michael Zanuck. The office described by the previous posting is not how the office is. When you walk into the office you can go straight into his desk area. I was with him when the first agency he worked for in Los Angeles stole all the actors money and gambled it away. I lost several thousands dollars. So did Michael, he lost all commissions from all the actors he had booked on jobs. That's why he started his own agency. Pictures? Yes you need to have them. Will he recommend people he likes? Yes. Do you have to use them? No! Go to whoever you like. I have gone to whomever I wanted to all these years and had no complaints from the agency. He just wants tools to use to help you get work. All you whiners need to do the math. If you are making union scale at about $750.00 a day and the agent gets 10% that is only $75.00. If you do 10 jobs a year you have made $7,500 and the agent gets $750.00. If you have no credits and don't have a decent day rate above scale you should be happy someone even found you and contacted you. ( though as well as I know Michael, I doubt that these stories are even accurate. I have recommended several people to Michael over the years. Half of them have been happy and are working actors. The other half have not been happy and don't work. Who's fault is it. Michaels, the actors' or the POWERS THAT BE! So your interview didn't go as planned? Didn't leave with a warm and fuzzy feeling? Grow up. This is hollywood. I've done scenes in producers offices where I have had to strangle people in one breath and burst into tears ten seconds later. What did I get ? NEXT!! Same people cast me a few weeks later. There are casting people that have used me over and over and ones that think I stink and won't even see me. I'm not going to bad mouth those that don't like me. They get to have their own opinion. On the flip side of things, if your gut instinct tells you to run away from his office, then run away. In this business you should always do what you think is best for you and skip what others tell you. My experience with Michael has been excellent.