FINDING AN AGENT AND ACCESSING OPPORTUNITIES. Raindance Festival Talk. Wonderville – London’s West End. 2pm 25 June 2024

Featured Kelly Spearman and Michael Grant from “Sara Putt Associates and Eleanor.”

This talk was a vital one for many permeating the world of film and was very well attended.

Never be disappointed if you get rejection – just keep going and discussing your project over a coffee is a good way forward once you’ve got someone interested. You need to keep in touch with your agent and you should expect the agent to adhere to this relationship.  What works for one agency could be completely different from  another agency. Working with people who have worked their way up through the production team is good.  An Editor has a more creative role from that of an Assistant Editor. So…nurture your relationships with talented people!  The role of the  Director can change from relaxed to hyper-active and stressed.  The Producer is there to literally put the material together.

Having an agent is a complete package – a “co-pilot” – with a “human touch”.

Kelly said they support freelancers with the skills they need – there are placement set up schemes with 25 to 30 people been selected once a year.  Work includes working on CV building and networking skills and many other disciplines. The Trainee Foundation Course is also recommended.

If you’re a Director you can shoot a film that is commercial or a feature.  Work gets you into the building – however it is your personality that wins the job.

For those who want to work on commercials one needs a portfolio of 4 to 6 different brands where you have made “spec ads” (ie “practice ads”) to gain acceptance in this discipline.

Penny Nair Price