An agent, in the entertainment industry, acts as your representative whenever dealing with potential employers. We are an advocate for our actors. BUCKLAND & GUN MANAGEMENT, AAA TALENT AGENCY & BG EXTRAS will work on your behalf to ensure that: • you receive the best possible rates of pay, • contracts and work permits are organised, • agreed working conditions and guidelines are met. It should be remembered that an agent is NOT your employer or employee, but is working with with you and on your behalf. "Our job and responsibility as an agent, is to represent and be an advocate for artists in the marketplace… being an advocate can come in many different forms… on the basic level, it’s helping to find opportunities for artists [and when speaking about actors specifically] it’s looking a the marketplace, and focussing in on opportunities for clients and then it’s also connecting different types of talent and bringing them together to create projects and create ideas [as simple as maybe an actor I work with has an idea or something they’re interested in and then pairing them with a Producer, a Director, a Writer and helping to put together what would be a project in television or film]." "... Negotiating deals, making sure [the actor is] getting paid fairly, everything is taken care of for them... the agent is a through-line in the process, from beginning to end, as talent try to navigate the opportunities they are interested in and going after." We are confidantes, whilst maintaining the professional line." Shauna Perlman of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Podcast – IN THE ENVELOPE: THE ACTOR’S PODCAST – Inside CAA & Arraygency

You don't have to have an agent to work as an actor in the industry, but having an agent makes the process easier and ‘opens the door’ to many more opportunities for jobs that only go through agents. Of course, the fact that an agency has agreed to represent you is also a recommendation to potential employers. Agents: • ensure you receive, at least, the minimum remuneration • are able to negotiate higher rates, without risking professional relationships • ensure your job contracts are suitable, fair and appropriate • can discuss availability, and alternatives where job dates clash or overlap Specifically relating to the last point, if you are ever offered additional work that potentially clashes with another acting job, it is an agents role to find possible solutions, so always ensure to speak with your agent before accepting or declining any job.

The process begins with a conversation. For us to represent you, it is important that we understand each other, to feel that we can have a business relationship built on trust and mutual respect and that you have the skills and talent, or the potential, for us to be able to secure work on your behalf.

We do not charge a joining fee. After your initial interview, it is hoped that an invitation to join the agency will be offered. At this point it will be necessary to begin the process of setting up your files, comprising: • resume template provided • personal detail records • inclusion on the website • headshot(s) & showreels • online casting profiles Fees may apply for annual or individual services in the course of representation, including, but not limited to, in-house headshot(s) and body shot(s), filming, and private tuition. On each 12-month anniversary you are required to attend a review meeting to reflect on the previous year, discuss moving forward, and any changes in your focus or interests.

You can only be represented by one agency at a time otherwise it can cause confusion and conflict for potential employers and casting agents. BUCKLAND & GUN MANAGEMENT, AAA TALENT AGENCY & BG EXTRAS represent talent each year on the understanding that they are not currently listed with another talent agency. If you are with another acting agency at the time that you apply to us, we will require you to write to your previous agent, informing them of your intention to leave, before we officially accept you on our books. Many actors also seek work as models. As we are an acting agency, we have no concerns about the talent on our book being registered with a model agency, providing it is clearly agreed that acting work will be handled by us. With this in mind, we are particularly keen to advise that we have formed an association with KALOU MODELS; if you are interested in modelling and would like to find out more, please contact Sarika at KALOU MODELS. There are many benefits to having joint representation with BUCKLAND & GUN PTY LTD and KALOU MODELS.

Being represented by us means you are part of a team, where we all work together to make new contacts, to get work. Whilst we work hard to develop new contacts and find work on your behalf, we also encourage you to network and make new contacts, share them with us and be SEEN. These are all facets of your business as an actor. Ensuring that you have all your business obligations (ABN, invoicing etc) all set up and are familiar with your requirements prior to your first project. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and/or an accountant can be a great asset in familiarising yourself with these requirements.

actor /ˈaktə/ noun a person whose profession is acting on the stage, in films, or on television... among other things! At BUCKLAND AND GUN, we believe an actor is someone who brings a character to life, through truth and vulnerability.

By plane, or boat, perhaps car or train. It really depends on where you're starting from. Travel safe!

Acting is a business. If you are an actor, you are a business owner and YOU are your business. It's important to familiarise yourself with business operations and obligations, so you can run a successful business as an actor. It is strongly encouraged to engage an Accountant to ensure you are aware of all requirements and obligations as a business. To work as a professional actor, you need to receive payments for your work. You will need the ability to issue invoices and claim expenses. Two key things required are a Tax File Number (TFN) and an Australian Business Number (ABN). It is also recommended to obtain insurance, as a self-employed or subcontracting ‘Actor, Extra or Entertainer’. You can obtain an ABN online at www.abr.gov.au. There is a simple online application and there are no costs involved. Once you have your ABN, you will be able to produce invoices and quote your ABN. The advantage of this is that you will be able to claim expenses against your taxable income. Actors are typically paid in two ways: CONTRACTOR/SUB-CONTRACTOR An actor is considered a ‘sole trader/individual’ and you would be responsible for paying your own superannuation from the fee that you are paid. It is up to you to keep copies of your business transactions (invoices and receipts) and to include them on your tax return. The following link provides information about running your own business as a ‘Performing Artist’, EMPLOYEE Some productions will pay you as an ‘employee’ and deduct tax through Pay As You Go (PAYG). If this is the case, they will require you to provide a signed Tax File Number declaration (NAT 3092) and, if applicable, a Super Choice Form. A payslip should be provided with a breakdown of you gross amount, tax and net amount as a minimum.

A professional headshot is essential for us to promote you for work. You will need to provide a professional headshot and body shot. They must be a realistic representation of you and not glamorised (think: "blank canvas"). If you change your look, you must organise a new headshot. It is important that you look like your photo. If you are successful in obtaining an audition or a job, and you arrive with anything different to your headshot, this can be detrimental to you in the eyes of the production. If you frequently change your appearance, by way of changing hairstyles or growth of facial hair, we would suggest that you have a range of headshots and keep us advised as to which is the most appropriate at any one time.

It is ideal to have a resume, kept to one page and displaying the BUCKLAND & GUN MANAGEMENT or AAA TALENT AGENCY contact details. It is your responsibility to ensure that your resume is kept up to date at all times. Please attach a PDF version of your resume to your Showcast and/or Casting Networks profile pages and ensure that you provide us with a copy of your resume each time it is updated. We will provide a resume template for you to use, if needed. Talent registered with BG EXTRAS do not require a resume. It is important that you are honest about the work that you have done and the training that you have received. You should never exaggerate your credits or the extent of your training. Not only is it dishonest, but it is easily picked up by producers, directors and casting directors that may well have had prior knowledge of the productions or courses to which you refer. There is no need, however, to include all the jobs that you have done. Be selective, only include things that will ‘stand out’ and of which you are proud. Please do not include ‘Extras’ work.

A showreel is a video compilation of your work. The showreel exists to showcase your talent and is an essential marketing tool to support your headshot. This should only include your best acting moments and the best of the best should be at the beginning. Industry professionals, particularly Casting Director's, view hundreds of reels and often move on if you have not 'captured' them within 15 seconds. A concise, one-minute reel will serve you well, consisting of 2-3 scenes where you are the focal point. Please remember that there is no single definition of what makes a good showreel, as each casting director, producer and director will probably be looking for something different.

We ask you to join ‘CASTING NETWORKS' and ‘SHOWCAST’. These are online websites that allow actors to collate their headshots, showreels, resume and physical details in one spot, for easy viewing by industry professionals. We also recommend 'IMDB', if you are in a position to do so. Many casting directors are happy to receive casting submissions from talent agents by direct email, however, an increasing number are now using casting websites (please be warned that there are many online casting websites that are happy to take your money, but they are not all used by professional agencies.) It is not advisable to submit yourself for work through any of these sites as this can result in duplicate submissions, confusion and frustration for the casting professionals. Ensure that you read and review all terms & conditions, and applicable fees for these sites.

If you choose to have your own website and/or social media profiles, please make sure that you provide the agency contact details so clients can contact us. This will also ensure your privacy. Please remember that all social media can be seen by potential employers and that the content that you choose to make public can easily work against you if you make negative, inflammatory, or derisory posts about colleagues, employers or the industry. If you are going to use social media and look for employment, you must be aware that positivity is infectious and desirable, so please be careful how you represent yourself (of course, this applies to social interactions as well as social media). You will be surprised at how many people may view your social presence.

We deal mainly with casting directors and film, television and theatre production companies as well as advertising agencies, corporate clients, event managers and touring companies. We also support film making students from training schools and universities.

There are no guarantees. Securing an audition for you is OUR job, but getting the gig is YOUR job! Casting talent is a combination of finding people to match the client’s vision. The ‘client’, may be an individual, such as a director, or a whole team of people, as in the case of a marketing company and they could be making their decisions based on any of the following: physical attributes, skills, training, experience and so much more. In this industry the decision as to who gets the job can be based on such trivial matters as the colour of your eyes. We promote you to the best of our abilities and we will put you forward for any jobs for which you are suitable. That's why the most important thing for you is to build your skills so that you are as employable as you can be!

When a casting call comes in, that we feel would be suitable for you, we will usually send you either a text message or an email to see if you are keen and available. (Please check these emails daily, if not more often). Please respond ASAP as sometimes we need to respond to casting directors immediately. We will provide you with as much information as we can at the time of writing, including shoot dates as well as locations, even though they can sometimes be vague. (All information is strictly confidential). Please do not ask for more detail in your response - all details we have, or are permitted to release, will have been provided in the initial call out.

It is important for us to ensure that you are available for the dates that you would be required, so please advise us of any restrictions in order that we can let our clients know. Once you have advised that you are available and been submitted, you MUST keep us updated on any change in your circumstances.

As this is the primary function of our agency, you can be assured that we will contact you by whatever means are necessary to let you know that you have an audition. All we ask of you is that you frequently check your emails and text messages in case we have not been able to contact you directly by phone.

Your job as an actor is to ‘NETWORK’, be seen and get known. Working in this profession means always working through your agent for any paid jobs. However, the business is frequently based on a series of networks. As agents, we encourage those networks and help you to build them by getting you involved with as many aspiring film makers and producers as possible. If we are all working well, your networks will also start to generate work opportunities. Consequently, you may be offered paid work directly by someone that knows you, or knows of you, without reference to the agency. Please note that all paid work must be reported to the agency as we work very hard to create opportunities for people to know you and in some cases, we may have already submitted you for the same job. Accordingly, you must work with us and not against us. If you want to represent yourself, then having an agent is not for you. We believe that to behave in a professional manner, you should let the client know that you are represented by BUCKLAND & GUN MANAGEMENT, AAA TALENT AGENCY or BG EXTRAS and give them our contact details. This will be recognised by all parties, and paint you in the best light to your peers and fellow industry professionals. Remember, we encourage you to be involved in unpaid work, (e.g. student films), for the above reasons. But, if you have any questions about a direct approach from a production company, or if you are uncertain about what they have asked of you, please don't hesitate to ask us. As your agents, we are still happy to try and support you in any way that we can.

There is absolutely no reason why you cannot say “NO", but remember that it is important to talk to us first, so that your reasons can be discussed in detail.

Some jobs get cancelled for various reasons. Sometimes days are changed at the last minute as they may have weather problems. Whilst this may be frustrating, especially if you have taken time off from a day job, it is not uncommon and we should always be prepared for the possibility. Cancellations at short notice may be subject to the payment of a cancellation fee.

This varies depending on each individual job, however, we ensure that , at least, the MEAA equity rates apply.

This varies depending on the production company, funding, production length and many other factors. Our advice is to expect payment no earlier than 6-8 weeks and be aware that it could be longer. We ensure that you are paid as soon as possible after receipt of funds to us, from the client. If you have not received payment, we have not received funds from the client. NEVER contact a casting director, producer, director or other client directly for payments. This is frowned upon and may impact your future prospects if relationships are damaged, including the potential removal from our books.

Payments will be made from the client directly to us, as your agent, our commission will be deducted and your net payment will be transferred to you. There may be instances where you are paid directly, in which case, we will send you an invoice for our commission.

Please be aware that all casting details, briefs, scripts and job details are strictly confidential, and you must not pass details to other people at any time. Any breach of confidentiality could result in damaged employment prospects or financial penalties.

It is your right to feel safe at all times. If you feel that any aspect of your employment is putting your personal, physical or mental welfare at risk, please contact us without delay. Together, we will attempt to address your concerns and if we are unable to do so to your satisfaction, consider reporting such breaches of safety.