Joseph Bella | The Business of Acting: Understanding Contracts, Agents, and Unions

Acting is an industry known for its glamour and glitz, but it is also incredibly competitive. With thousands of aspiring actors vying for just a few roles, making a name for oneself in the industry can be challenging. However, not just talent and hard work are required to succeed in acting. Actors must also have a strong understanding of the industry’s business side.

Contracts

Contracts are legal agreements that outline the terms and conditions of employment between actors and producers. Contracts cover various topics, including compensation, working conditions, and intellectual property rights. Actors should carefully review and negotiate contracts before signing to ensure they receive fair compensation and protect their rights.

Negotiating contracts is an essential aspect of the business of acting. Actors who avoid common mistakes, such as not understanding the terms, focusing only on the money, not negotiating, ignoring intellectual property rights, and not considering the long-term impact, can build successful careers in the industry.

Agents

Agents are professionals who represent actors and negotiate contracts on their behalf. Agents typically earn a percentage of an actor’s earnings, usually around 10%. Agents can help actors find work, negotiate contracts, and provide career advice. Actors must find reputable agents with a track record of success in the industry.

Actors can use resources such as the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) or the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) to find a list of franchised agents. Actors can also research agents online, read reviews, and seek recommendations from other actors. Finding a reputable agent in the acting industry takes research, networking, and preparation. Actors should use resources such as the SAG-AFTRA or AEA, attend industry events, work with casting directors, be prepared, and trust their instincts when selecting an agent. By finding a reputable agent, actors can increase their chances of success in the highly competitive world of acting.

Unions

Actors may join unions to protect their rights and negotiate better working conditions. The two main unions for actors in the United States are the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Actors’ Equity Association (AEA). These unions negotiate contracts with producers on behalf of their members and provide support and resources to actors.

Understanding the business side of acting is crucial for success in the industry. Actors should educate themselves about contracts, agents, and unions to ensure they receive fair compensation, protect their rights, and maximize their opportunities for success. Actors can build successful careers in the highly competitive acting world by working with reputable agents, negotiating contracts, and joining unions.

About Joseph Bella

Joseph Bella is a business development consultant and actor based in Buffalo, New York. As a New York native, Joseph has had plenty of opportunities to learn about his city. This helped him develop a deep understanding of business culture and development within the area. Those who know Joseph Bella would say he’s a determined and passionate man. His passions include business, healthcare, acting, and animals.

As a business development consultant, Joseph Bella is responsible for helping companies identify business weaknesses, establish new business plans, and determine possible business opportunities. In general, consultants like Joseph are expected to analyze an existing business or help build a new one from scratch. This requires them to understand many elements of the business, such as marketing, sales, operations, etc. He has curated several proven best practices and an overall understanding of what it takes to succeed in the business world.

Over the years, Joseph Bella has had the opportunity to work with and develop several businesses. As such, he has learned all the ins and outs of several industries. He understands how to obtain and retain clients and is more than capable of guiding companies through this often complex and overwhelming process. In 2010, Joseph founded his own consultant company. Joseph Bella developed JoeBella.com from the ground up and is very proud of the progress made.