How To Fight Ageism in Hollywood

Explicit content warning

08/15/22 • 42 min

Case Study: Read by Sonja Mobley
Joan J. Jones is a 42 year-old Los Angeles actress, who took several years off from a relatively productive career to raise her two children, who are now at an age where Joan has more freedom to audition and work. Her credits are mainly in television and commercials, although her passion is Theater. However, nothing on her resume is current, and she senses that Film and TV are the only things lucrative enough to justify the time’ away from her family. She has reached out to agents she once knew, but they have expressed little interest. What should Joan do? Is she took old to have a career? Should she start over, accepting co-stars and waiver Theater?

Is there an agent out there for her? How can she find them?

Let’s get into it.

Is there an agent out there for her? How can she find them?

Let’s get into it.

Previous Episode

Side Hustle - Luxury or Necessity?

Case Study:
Peter Frankel - Read by: Joe Canale -
Peter has been a professional actor for the last 10 years. He has made most of his money in commercials with a sprinkling of theatrical jobs in between. He has been able to pay his rent and drive a newer model car. He gets to vacation every year and keeps his union health insurance, but in the last few years it has been harder and harder to make ends meet. He wants to buy a house and start to build a family, but the work, while steady has not brought the same revenue in the door. Is there more work out there he is not getting seen for? Is it a problem with his representation or is it just impossible to make a living wage these days as a professional actor?

Lets get into it!

Next Episode

You Are Not Picture Perfect...

Case Study : Read by Kenzo Jett

Phillip P. Phillips is a Los Angeles actor who is represented both Theatrically and Commercially in Los Angeles. His activity level is moderate, he books a decent amount, and has a relatively good relationship with his agents. No complaints.
But, of course, Phillip wants to be able to quit his day job as a hotel reception desk worker, and he wants to level up.

Recently, his activity level has decreased - and he is concerned.

In conversations with his reps, it has been suggested Phillip needs to get new pictures. Phillip is willing to do so, but he shot new photos 8 months ago, paying $1600 – a session from which his agents chose the FOUR headshots they currently use. That session was the result of a nearly identical conversation.

What can Phillip do? Find an even more expensive photographer? Refuse to invest more dollars in pictures? Get a facelift? Accept that management position at the hotel? Do headshots really matter?

Let’s get into it!