What Every Hollywood Newcomer Should Know About Looking for an Agent

Getting an agent in the film business cannot be considered any kind of guarantee that you will be achieve success, but it is vital a step for anyone arriving in Hollywood with dreams of big salaries and Oscar gold. For one thing, it is practically impossible to get a job in a studio production without having an agent, though obviously it may be somewhat less important in the world of independent and low-budget film. Even more important to the struggling newcomer in the entertainment industry is that agency representation endows you with a necessary sense of professionalism. Although the standard joke is that what everyone really wants to do is direct, few people are naïve enough to arrive in Tinsel Town with expectations of resting their bottom in a director's chair first thing. For that reason, if you are reading advice on how to get an agent in Hollywood, chances are you are looking to break in as a writer or actor. The best place to start your search for a reputable agent begins with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Writer's Guild of America (WGA.) Both SAG and WGA can provide even non-union members with a list of reputable agents.