You did it. You got the call.
An agent—an actual, real-life talent agent—is reaching out to you. And it’s not a prank or a wrong number. They want to sign you. Suddenly, everything feels possible. The champagne (from a paper cup) tastes like success. The red carpet rolls out in your imagination. You’re halfway to your Oscars speech.
But after the ink dries and the champagne fizzles out… something happens.
You wait.
And you wait.
First, Let’s Be Clear: This Is a Big Deal
If you’ve been grinding—auditioning, submitting, writing spec after spec, funding your own projects—then this is the validation you’ve been chasing. Someone sees your potential. Someone in the business believes in you enough to take a chance.
Signing with an agent doesn’t mean you’ve made it. It means you’ve just entered the next arena.
What an Agent Actually Does
Let’s quickly break it down. The role of a talent agent includes:
- Submitting your materials (headshots, demos, scripts, etc.)
- Arranging auditions and meetings
- Negotiating contracts and fees
- Advising you on career moves
- Leveraging their network
Because in this business, the most valuable currency isn’t talent—it’s connections.
But Not All Agents Are Created Equal
This is a tough pill to swallow, but it’s true:
The agents reaching out at the beginning of your career? They’re likely on the lower rungs of the ladder themselves.
That doesn’t mean they can’t help you. It just means their access is limited. They’re building their own reputations, just like you are. So don’t expect them to immediately walk you into Netflix or A24. They’re still trying to earn their spot at the table.
I’ve always pictured Hollywood as a beautiful castle surrounded by a deep, murky moat—and in that moat are all the agents, managers, casting directors, publicists, distributors, and yes, the occasional jerk. You either need them to cross the moat… or you need to find a way around them.
Your Agent Isn’t a Magic Wand
Here’s the part no one wants to hear:
Your agent only makes money when you make money.
If you’re not booking work or landing deals, you become a low priority. That’s not cynicism—it’s just business. In a city flooded with actors, writers, and directors, you have to be the one who won’t stop moving.
Your job doesn’t end when you sign. In fact, it ramps up.
- Keep submitting.
- Keep networking.
- Keep pushing your work.
- Don’t wait to be discovered.
My Own Experience
I’ve optioned and sold scripts, landed a publishing deal, and produced two feature films—some of that with an agent, some of it without. And every time, it was my persistence that opened the door. The agent helped me close it.
That’s the dynamic that works best: you generate the momentum, and your agent helps direct it, protect it, and seal the deal.
Final Truth: You Are Your Own Greatest Asset
There’s a reason the word “showbusiness” ends with business. And while a good agent can open doors, you are the only one who can walk through them.
So if you’re lucky enough to have representation, great. Use it.
But never wait for someone else to validate your work or drive your career forward.
No one—not even the most connected agent in the industry—wants you to succeed more than you do.
