Casting for an upcoming project? If so, you may be wondering how talent agencies vet the talent they choose to represent. The short answer? In a number of ways.
InnoVision Talent Agency (ITA) is always on the search for up-and-coming talent. Sometimes we find them, and sometimes they find us.
Here’s how we build our roster of talent and what you can expect when you choose to work with us.
Submissions
Talent agencies often invite people to self-submit. Once they do, a talent agency will evaluate their submission materials.
For example, if a model is applying for representation, they may submit a portfolio of their prior modeling work. An actor may submit a headshot and resume along with a link to their reel. An influencer or content creator may include their social media handles in their submission.
Once we receive a talent submission, we assess the performer’s skill level, training, and prior experience. However, we accept both seasoned talent and fresh faces. Some casting directors we work with prefer established actors with strong name recognition, while others are looking for newer talent.>
For example, Steven Spielberg wanted an unknown actor to play Private Ryan in the film Saving Private Ryan and cast then-unknown actor Matt Damon in the role. Spoiler alert—Spielberg’s plan backfired when Good Will Hunting was released prior to Saving Private Ryan. The film, starring Damon, received critical acclaim and catapulted Damon to fame.
While Spielberg’s grand scheme may have been foiled, the example illustrates that it’s possible to find high-caliber talent who is also relatively unknown. Talent agencies like ours can tap into that undiscovered pool of talent.
Whether you’re looking for a well-known name or a star in the making, we’re confident you’ll find them on our talent roster.
Scouting
The best talent agents don’t simply wait for talent to come to them. They go out looking for it.
Keep in mind that talent agents are dedicated entertainment professionals who enjoy film, theatre, and television. They often attend showcases or film premieres to search for emerging talent.
When we attend a theatre performance, for instance, we’re looking for someone who can command a stage. When we watch a film, we’re looking for an actor with star power. Given our breadth of experience and eye for talent, we have a keen ability to find highly skilled actors who may be flying under the radar.
But what truly sets ITA apart from other talent agencies is that we actively seek out talent you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. We believe our talent pool should be as diverse as the world around us. If there’s someone we feel we’re missing, we proactively seek them out. So, whether you’re looking for someone who speaks a rare language, has a unique skill, or fits a nontraditional aesthetic, we’re on a mission to find them.
Just think about how many times you’ve heard about someone being discovered in the grocery store checkout line or when they were out walking their dog. Professional talent agents are always looking for fresh, new talent, even when they’re not on the clock.
Networking
There are times when casting directors or producers are looking for niche talent to cast in a very specific role. If you’re on a tight deadline and haven’t found who you’re looking for, talent agencies like ours may be able to help.
ITA has a wide network of industry connections. In addition to representing actors, models, and voiceover artists, we also know producers, directors, and other entertainment professionals. Whenever we have gaps in our roster or a client contacts us with a special need, we reach out to our extensive network to find the people we seek.
Sometimes, casting the right person for your project is all about who you know, and talent agents tend to know a lot of people.
Referrals
We strive to maintain an excellent industry reputation so that we can get referrals from others in the business whom we know and trust. We understand, after all, that representation is a two-way street. Just as we screen and vet our talent, they also have to evaluate whether they want to work with us.
Fortunately, they often do. It’s one of the reasons we’re able to be discerning with the talent we select. Just as we seek out recommendations from our industry connections, many of the performers we represent send us referrals they believe to be the right fit.
Client Feedback
While we strive for talent satisfaction, we also want to ensure we maintain our reputation within the entertainment industry as a whole. To guarantee we’re always filling open roles with skilled, reliable, and talented performers, we invite client feedback and assign each of our talent a unique score based, in part, on the feedback we receive.
The overall rating encompasses the talent’s reliability, availability, work ethic, skill level, and prior training and experience. We update the score on an ongoing basis as we continue to receive more client feedback. This ensures our talent always maintains the highest level of professionalism.
In other words, you can expect your set to be drama-free. You’ll be spared from any prima donna attitudes when you work with ITA. Our performers are not only talented, but they have the personality and charm to boot.
Think you could benefit from working with a talent agency on your next project? It’s easy to contact us. Once you decide to move forward and partner with InnoVision Talent Agency, you’ll have full access to our online talent roster.
We’re excited to connect you with the type of talent you find yourself wanting to work with again and again. After all, in our business, you can never have too many encores or standing ovations.