The Daily Top 10 » Entertainment

Top 10 Talent Agencies for New Models

fairlane — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:28:34 +0000

The agent is the one who negotiate for the model, books an assignment, bills, collects cheques and remits money upon project completion. Usually models have more than one agent rerepresenting them in different areas, such as commercial modeling, fashion modeling, and acting (normally theatrical or commercial).

The manager is the one who takes care of the overall career direction of the model. While managers won’t represent a model directly, as an agent will, they will help them network and will promote them to the industry. These activities will help a model get bookings they would otherwise not get had they been working on their own.

10. MZA The Michael Zanuck Agency

28035 Dorothy Dr#120
Phone: (818) 707-9747

9. The Morgan Agency

morgantheagency.com

129 W Wilson St 202
Costa Mesa, CA 92627

8. Nouveau Model & Talent Management

nouveaumodels.com

909 Prospect St. 230
La Jolla, CA 92037

7. The Stars Agency

23 Grant Avenue 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 421-6272

6. Brand Model & Talent Agency

brandmodelandtalent.com

1520 Brookhollow Drive Ste. 39
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: (714) 850-1158

Top 10 Best Blog Directories Part 1

fairlane — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:21:52 +0000

Below is a review of blog directories. There are numerous blog directories and we chose 20 of the most popular.

The blog directory is often considered an important part of the modern world because blog directories have a high ranking in search engines like google and yahoo. This brought about by the amount of inbound links to them, the relevancy of their content, and the fact that they are so strictly structured. As a result, an inbound link from a blog directory can help improve position in search engines dramatically.

Below is the first ten, there will be ten more tomorrow.

If we miss anything, leave a comment.

10. Best of the Web

Best of the Web

Blog Directory Advantages:

- This is one of the oldest, highly structured and efficiently SEOd blog directories out there. Being listed here, can really bring in traffic to your site.

- All sites get reviewed annualy to make sure it remains active.

Blog Directory Disadvantages:

- They charge a fee of $149.95 annually

- Even if you already pay your annual fee, they will not guarantee that your site will be listed

Blog Directory Registration Process:

- The registration process is fairly easy. They don’t ask for any information that are unnecessary.

- There are two pages. The first page asks for your blog information. Your blog must be at least six months old.

- The next step asks for your credit card details for the annual fee.

9. Bloggeries

Bloggeries

Bloggeries has the best categories and subcategories home page on the internet. The layout is clear and concise, and readers are able to find what they are looking for in a snap!

Blog Directory Advantages:

- This is one of the oldest, highly structured and efficiently SEOd blog directories out there. Being listed here, can really bring in traffic to your site.

- All sites get reviewed annualy to make sure it remains active.

Blog Disadvantages:

- They charge a fee of $149.95 annually

- Even if you already pay your annual fee, they will not guarantee that your site will be listed

Blog Directory Registration Process:

- The registration process is fairly easy. They don’t ask for any information that are unnecessary.

- There are two pages. The first page asks for your blog information. Your blog must be at least six months old.

- The next step asks for your credit card details for the annual fee.

8. Eat On Web

Eat On Web

Blog Directory Advantages:

- The site is very organized and has many inbound links. The fee means that many of the blogs listed are really serious so they put the inbound link to this site which further increases your ranking.

Blog Directory Disadvantages:

- Submissions to cost a low annual review fee of $34.99.

Review takes some time, about a week.

Blog Directory Registration Process:

- The registration process is fairly easy.

- There are two pages. The first page asks for your blog information.

- The next step asks for your paypal details for the annual fee.

7. On Top List

On Top List

Blog Directory Advantages:

- They have their own analytics

- You can submit articles to enhance your site’s optimization and inbound links

- You can autofeed your post

- You can create a profile and exchange notes with other bloggers. It’s like a mini social networking site for other bloggers

Blog Directory Registration Process:

- The easiest registration process I have come accross with. It asks for your site name and url. After clicking next, it will ask you two choose two ways on how to get liste:

1. Pay a fee of US $29.99 annually or US $109.99 one time.

2. Put OnToplist’s badge on your Blog

- If you pay, there is an instant guaranteed directory inclusion

- The badge is subject for review

6. Blogged

Blogged

Blog Directory Advantages:

- free to list your blog.

- an interesting mix of a blog directory and a Google News type site which fuels its news feed from the blogs listed on the site

- The site is free

- Review of site is pretty fast, about two to three days

Blog Disadvantages:

- A little confusing in the beginning. After registration and confirming your registration by clicking the link they email to you, that’s the only time you can submit your blog. It’s a little confusing because while you are registering, you will see a form where you can submit your blog so you might think you’ve already submitted it.

Blog Registration Process:

- They will askf for your name, blog url, and valid email.

- They will send you a verification code which you need to click

- Once, it’s confirmed, you can now submit your blog

Top 10 Acting Agents for Newcomers Part 2

fairlane — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:30:18 +0000

Talent agents typically earn 10 percent of the earnings made by their clients. StateUniversity.com lists the annual salary for a talent agent at approximately $54,000 as of 2011. In comparison, the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the annual salary of talent agents at $87,430 as of 2009, or $42.04 hourly. The lowest 10 percent earn $25,860 annually, while the highest 25 percent earn $105,870 annually as of 2009. However, these figures also include managers and agents representing athletes — these professionals are also sometimes referred to as talent agents.

10. Abrams Artists

Abrams Artists

They represent clients in most areas of the entertainment industry including motion pictures, television, animation, theater, radio and television commercials, hosting and broadcasting, and all forms of narration. Their Literary division represents writers and directors, with specialization in theater, motion pictures, and television. They Youth Division is one of the most highly-regarded in the industry, representing some of the top young talent in the entertainment community today.

Address: 9200 Sunset Blvd., 11th floor Los Angeles, CA 90069

Phone: (310) 859-0625

9. Central Artists Inc

Central Artists Inc

Address: 3310 W. Burbank Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505

Phone: 818-557-8284 / Fax: 818-557-8384

Email: centralartists@sbcglobal.net / info@centralartists.com

8. Baldwin Talent, Inc

Baldwin Talent, Inc

Address: 2237 W. 30th Ave. Denver, Colorado 80211

Phone: (303)561-1199 / Fax: (303)561-1337

Email: info@donnabaldwin.com

7. Baron Entertainment, Inc

Baron Entertainment

Address: 13848 Ventura Blvd. Suite A, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Phone: 323.969.1000 / Fax: 818.933.0798

6. Berman/Sacks Talent Agency

Berman/Sacks Talent Agency

Address: 10F Universal City Plaza 20th F Universal City CA 91608

Phone: (818)753-2339

Email: bookme@bermansacks.com

Top 10 Acting Agents for Newcomers

fairlane — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:27:52 +0000

In May 2008, actors, producers, and directors held about 155,100 jobs, primarily in the motion picture and video, performing arts, and broadcast industries. About 21 percent of actors, producers, and directors were self-employed. Employment in motion pictures and in films for television is centered in New York and Los Angeles.

There are still small studios around the country though.

10. Almond Talent Agency

Almond Talent Agency

AddressL: 8217 BEVERLY BLVD. #8, LOS ANGELES, CA 90048

Email: info@almodtalent.com

9. 3 ARTIST MANAGEMENT, INC.

3 Artist Management

Industries Covered:

Commercial
Digital Media
Film
Modeling
Music
Print/ Literature
Sports
Television
Theater

8. International Creative Management, Inc.

International Creative Management

Address: LOS ANGELES 10250 Constellation Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90067

Phone: 310.550.4000

7. Sangar Talent

Sangar Talent

Head Shots, Resumes, Reels, and Query Letters accepted by mail or email only. No calls or drop-offs.

Address: Sanger Talent Agency 121 N. Harbor Blvd., Suite A Fullerton, CA 92832

Phone: (800) 828-8582

Email: karl@sangertalent.com

6. Mavrick Artist Agency

Mavrick Artist Agency

Address: 6100 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 550 Los Angeles, CA 90048

Phone: 323.931.5555

Fax: 323.931.5554

Top 10 Literary Agents in California

fairlane — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:54:58 +0000

Did you know that:

* 1/3 of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
* 42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.
* 80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
* 70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
* 57 percent of new books are not read to completion.
* 70 percent of books published do not earn back their advance.
* 70 percent of the books published do not make a profit.

10. The Fielding Agency, LLC.

fieldingagency.com

269 South Beverly Drive, #341
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Tel: 310-276-7517
eMail: query@fieldingagency.com
A full-service literary agency that represents a select number of authors domestically and also handles the foreign rights for titles on behalf of many prominent literary agencies. No Telephone queries please.

9. Kimberley Cameron & Associates

kimberleycameron.com

1550 Tiburon Blvd. #704
Tiburon, CA 94920 Agency represents Fiction and Non-fiction. Mystery

8. Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency

larsen-pomada.com

Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency :: 1029 Jones St. San Francisco, CA 94109 :: 415.673.0939

1029 Jones Street between California and Pine Streets
San Francisco, California 94109
Tel: (415) 673-0939
eMail: larsenpoma@aol.com
Adult book-length fiction and nonfiction.

7. Margret McBride Literary Agency

mcbrideliterary.com

Michael Daley-Submissions Manager
7744 Fay Avenue, Suite 200
La Jolla, CA 92037
Tel: 858-454-1550
Fax: 858-454-2156
eMail: staff@mcbridelit.com
Agents represent commercial fiction and nonfiction, business, health, self-help. No interest in poetry or romance.

6. Mortimer Literary Agency

mortimerliteracy.com

52645 Paui Rd.
Aguanga, CA 92536
Tel: 951-763-2600
eMail: kmortimer@mortimerliterary.com
Most interested in contemporary and historical fiction, romance, women’s fiction, young adult and non-fiction. Accepts eMail queries ONLY. Please check submission guidelines on the Website before sending your query.

Top 10 Casting Directors Part 2

fairlane — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:52:50 +0000

Aside from recommending and finding named actors, casting directors also take care of the negotiations of the contracts of the actors.

Some projects are more challenging. There are directors that look for very specific people with special skills like a handsome, muscular rower that is 5 feet 5 in height. There could also be a need for a female hot freerunner or a professional ballet dancer that is under seven years old.

10. Randi Hiller

Website: Artistic Talent in Hollywood

- The Avengers

- Captain America: The First Avenger

- Thor

- The Next Three Days

- Iron Man 2

- Case 39

- Iron Man

- Vantage Point

- Gridiron Gang

- 16 Blocks

- Into the Blue

- Stealth

9. Kimberly Hope, Lynn Kressel, Suzanne Ryan, Jonathan Strauss

Website: Artistic Talent in Hollywood

- Conviction

- Man Push Cart

- Law & Order: Criminal Intent

8. Sheila Jaffe

Website: Artistic Talent in Hollywood

- The Fighter

- Shrink

- Rambo

- Rocky Balboa

- Invincible

7. Allison Jones

Website: Artistic Talent in Hollywood

- Paul

- Charlie St. Cloud

- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

- I Love You, Man

- Step Brothers

- Superbad

- Knocked Up

- Unaccompanied Minors

- The 40 Year Old Virgin

- SkyHigh

- Taken

6. Avy Kaufman

Website: Artistic Talent in Hollywood

- Scream 4

- 13

- Brothers

- Welcome to the Rileys

- The Lovely Bones

- What Happens in Vegas

- Lions for Lambs

- American Gangster

- The Bourne Ultimatum

- All the King’s Men

- Brokeback Mountain

- National Treasure

- Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

- A.I. Artificial Intelligence

- Save the Last Dance

- The Sixth Sense

- Rounders

Top 10 Casting Directors Part 1

fairlane — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 05:50:38 +0000

A Casting Director evaluates all the speaking roles in a script. From this, a CD will come up with a list of actors recommended for the roles.

If the director wants a new actor for any of the roles, the CD will work with the director in preparing a character sketch to be given to agents and manager for a casting call.

The CD will audition actors for speaking parts and present the best choices for the parts to the Producers/Director/Studios. Then the deals are negotiated, usually with their talent agency.

10. Jeanne McCarthy

Casting Director Major Projects

- 21 Jump Street (2012)

- Larry Crowne

- Gulliver’s Travels

- Be Kind Rewind

- Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny

- Nacho Libre

- The Break Up

- Friends with Money

- Thumbsucker

- I, Robot

- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

9. John Papsidera

Casting Director Major Projects

- The Dark Knight Rises

- Burlesque

- Life As We Know It

- Inception

- Zombieland

- Drag Me To Hell

- The Dark Knight

- Enchanged

- The Prestige

- My Super Ex-Girlfriend

- Batman Begins

- Memento

- Final Destination

8. Gary Zuckerbrod

Casting Director Major Projects

- Pulp Fiction

- The Twilight Zone

- Without a Trace

7. Bernard Telsey

Casting Director Major Projects

- Jonah Hex

- Sex and the City 2

- I Love You Phillip Morris

- Rachel Getting Married

- Sex and the City

- Rent

6. Julie Tucker

Casting Director Major Projects

- Damages

- Rescue Me

- White Collar

- The Big C

- Fringe

- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Top 10 Hollywood Talent Management Firms

fairlane — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:47:41 +0000

A legitimate talent agent is always considered “SAG Franchised”, meaning they are licensed and registered with the main actor’s union, The Screen Actors Guild.

If they are not listed with SAG, you have to be cautions and I would actually recommend you staying away because the only sure way you will get the full priveleges of working for the entertainment industry is if the Union backs you up.

Always ask an agent if they are SAG franchised before dealing with them. Remember that they will get 10% commission off the jobs they book you and they NEVER charge you upfront fees.

Below are some of the biggest firms that represent the biggest artists in Hollywood.

10.The Firm

Website: The Firm

The Firm have separate divisions for TV and film production, brand management, apparel licensing, beverages, video games and recording. Its music clients have included Kelly Clarkson, Korn, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Dixie Chicks, Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Lopez, Audioslave and Limp Bizkit.

Founded in 1997 by Jeff Kwatinetz and partner Michael Green (who have both since left the company), The Firm also has divisions devoted to beverages, recording, animation, concerts, and TV and film production. In 2002 it purchased Michael Ovitz’s failed Artist Management Group for a reported $12.7 millionrepresenting artists like Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Robert De Niro, has flourished.

9. CKX / MBST Entertainment

Website: CKX / MBST Entertainment

CKX has acquired MBST Entertainment. MBST represents Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Woody Allen. They also have an advisory relationship with Apple Corps, the holding corporation for the Beatles.

They also produce movies like Arthur, Good Morning Vietnam, Throw Momma From the Train, and The Vanishing.

8. The Collective

Website: The Collective

The Collective manages musicians, film & television actors, screenwriters, comedians, and songwriters. They also develop media properties that extend the brand of their artists, they market talent, develop and distribute contents on different channels like traditional and new media. They are also involved in music publishing, finance, and sponsorship. With a roster of more than 100 artists,

7. Paradigm Agency

Website: Paradigm Agency

Paradigm has established itself as a leading entertainment talent agency, guiding the careers of an elite roster of actors, musical artists, directors, writers and producers. Led by chairman Sam Gores, the agency has carved out a distinctive niche in the entertainment landscape and earned a reputation for putting artists’ interests above all else.

6. Gersh Agency

Website: Gersh Agency

Gersh was established in 1949 by Founder Phil Gersh. With 125 employees, 60 agents and offices in Beverly Hills and New York, TGA maintains seven full-service departments: Talent, Feature Literary, TV Literary, Theater, Comedy, Below-the-Line, and a modeling agency.

TGA has a long and well deserved reputation for spotting talent and developing major careers. Whether enabling Tobey Maguire to star in the Spider-Man franchise, discovering then unknown Hayden Christensen for the role of young Darth Vader in the second Star Wars trilogy or breaking ground for its unprecedented re-negotiations for “Friends”, TGA has always embraced the philosophy that talent is truly king.

Top 10 Hollywood Agents

fairlane — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:45:05 +0000

Agents act as the intermediary or middlemen between the actors and the studios.

Studios must go through the agents to get to the actor. However, it is the job of the agent to find jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. It is also the job of the agent to get the fee that the talent should rightfully get along with other demands.

Agents usually get 10% of the talent’s fee.

10. David Lonner

Lonner’s clients include the Star Trek director JJ Abrams, Aaron Kaplan, its head of scripted television, and Steve Rabineau.

9. Lon Rosen

Lon Rosen left William Morris Agency (WMA) to join Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST). Magic Johnson was one of his

biggest talents. Rosen also worked with Endeavor Agency. When WMA and Endeavor merged, Rosen was on his way out to BEST.

8. Jim Wiatt

Wiatt was the chairman/CEO of the William Morris. He was the brains and muscle behind the growth of WME. He also negotiated

the merging of WME and Endeavor with Ari Emanuel only to find himself odd man out right before the two companies officially

became WME. Wiatt joined the AOL board shortly after.

7. Tom Strickler

Strickler was a founding member of the Endeavour. When it merged with William-Morris, he departed. It is said that he is now into

education.

6. Sharon Sheinwold

Sharon Sheinwold has the knack for spotting raw comedic talent and launching them to stardom. She discovered Jack Black and

Jason Segel. She recently moved from United Talent Agency (UTA) to Endeavor. She reads 15 scripts a weekend, constantly scouts

comedy shows and is known for being a beast in negotiations. Her other clients include Jonah Hill, Jason Lee, Will Arnett, Jason

Schwartzman, Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, and David Wain.

Top 10 Entertainment Lawyers

fairlane — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:40:59 +0000

Here is a list of the top entertainment lawyers in Hollywood. Even though it is the celebrities who faces the camera and deals with the Paparazzis, these geeks are the ones who deal with the law to ensure that they get what is due them. They make sure that their investments pay off.

These lawyers aren’t just working for celebrities. They also handle royalties, intellectual properties, etc.

Through the years, some lawyers have made a name for themselves by winning cases or settling cases that brought millions for their clients.

10. L. Lee Phillips

Website: www.manatt.com

Barbra Streisand, Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Carly Simon, The Eagles, Glenn Frey, Kenny Loggins, Randy Jackson, Steve Perry, Tracy Chapman and Yanni. These are some of his clients.

He was originally a tax trial attorney with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

9. Jordan Yospe

Website: www.manatt.com

Mr. Yospe has been included in The Hollywood Reporter’s annual “Power Lawyers” list in 2008, 2009, and 2010; was named among the “Top 40 Entertainment Lawyers” by The Los Angeles Business Journal in October, 2010; and his pioneering work on the integration of brands into entertainment was featured in a front page article in the April 5, 2010 issue of The New York Times.

Mr. Yospe has worked with brands in virtually every consumer product/service category, as well as major film studios, broadcast and cable networks, and numerous advertising, media, and PR agencies. Since joining Manatt, Mr. Yospe has represented numerous major brands in their integration, activation, sponsorship, and endorsement deals in the feature film, television, new media, and music arenas.

Prior to joining Mark Burnett Productions, Mr. Yospe was General Counsel and President of Production at Gallery Films.

8. Ken Kleinberg

Website: www.kllck.com

Kleinberg, founding partner of LA’s Kleinberg Lopez Lange Cuddy & Klein, has been a top Hollywood deal lawyer for more than four decades. He is a long-time member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts Sciences; the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; the Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations; the Planning Committee for UCLA’s annual Entertainment Symposium; and is founder and president of University Kidney Research Organization, a non-profit organization dedicated to medical research concerning the causes, improved treatments for, and prevention of kidney diseases.

7. Ivy Kagan Bierman

Website: www.loeb.com

Ms. Bierman is one of a select few of Entertainment Industry labor lawyers looked to by film and television production companies, cable networks, distribution companies, film finance companies, Internet and mobile companies, national advertisers and advertising agencies for representation in guild and union matters.

Ms. Bierman strategizes with film and television production, distribution and finance companies with respect to the WGA, SAG and DGA negotiations and potential strikes.

Ms. Bierman currently advises clients with respect to the guilds’ and unions’ evolving positions regarding reality television, brand integration and the development and exhibition of content over the Internet and mobile devices.

6. Andrew J. Thomas

Website: www.jenner.com

Mr. Thomas was named a leading California Media and Entertainment Litigation lawyer by Chambers USA in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2010, the Los Angeles Business Journal recognized Mr. Thomas as a top entertainment lawyer in its annual “Who’s Who in L.A. Law” list. He was also selected as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” in the area of Business and Intellectual Property Litigation in recent years.

From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Thomas was a Board Member of the Copyright Society of Los Angeles. He is a member of the Forum on Communications Law of the American Bar Association.