Watch Josa Maule, director of the Montreal School for Performing Arts, talk about getting an agent, and about proactively looking for acting work.

Video Transcription

watchmojo.com Chantria Tram: For those actors out there who complain that there is not enough work, do you disagree with that, do you agree with that, is there enough work out there for actors? Josa Maule: Work is what you make of it, okay. There are a lot of people sitting on stupid doing absolutely nothing. There are opportunities and people are not willing to take that opportunity. There is background work. They are working on student films. There are independent films. You are volunteering your time and yes that is your time but you have got take that moment out there because nobody is going to see you if your sitting at home waiting for the flipping phone to ring. Chantria Tram: Do you think it is a good idea for young actors to get an agent and when does someone know that they are ready to have an agent because I have seen actors who have taken one course and think that they are ready to take in an agent and you know sometimes it does not work out for them because of certain circumstances. So what do you think of that? Josa Maule: You know there is so many -- you know what, again, nothing beats a failure but to try one. Some actors they go and they seek out an agent. There are a lot of people who go and seek out an agent before they even get acting classes, okay. Oh yeah, you know. Chantria Tram: That is what you say. [Laughter] Josa Maule: No, you know, here is a -- I have somebody who I have known for quite sometime. We grew up together and she knew exactly what I have been doing and so on and so forth which I always find interesting because people that know what I do, they do not come to me first. They go everywhere else and they end up having to come to me. So, I just find that interest, okay. And she has a friend who is represented by an agent and again, look, you know, she figures all, I am going to be represented by this agent because my friend knows them, you know so on and so forth. The truth of the matter is that an agent, a reputable agent is not going to represent you unless he has seen your work, you know. And there are some agents that will take certain people because they have an ethnic look. There is not that much work for ethnic actors and I am an ethnic in every part of the way, I am a woman, I am black and I am big and beautiful. Again, people do not understand the reality of the business, okay. And you know, they are quick to go and get an agent because they figure that is what they have to do, you know. Well, I have to go to an agent, I even hear people saying well, you know I have finished this class and I am going to go to New York and seek my fortune. I am not going into L.A. you know and I am like, for what, you know. Yes, I am going to New York and I go, oh! yes, to vacation you will -- no, to go and look for work and to get an agent in New York and then I will have people like, could you give me your contacts in New York, I do not know, because you need training. I will tell you some great schools in New York to go to but an agent wants to see your work, they want to see either a demo real or to see in a play and you know an agent would pretty much come up to you, you know. But then you also have to be careful because there is a lot snakes out there and a lot of people are fishes, they will swim for whatever, you know. So, the thing, the truth of the matters is that you have to have a certain relationship with your agent because it is a business. That is what acting is, at the end of the day, yes, it is an art but it is a business. When you are talking about agents and so on and so forth then move and work. It is a business. So, the answer is, should they go out and get an agent, I do not know. It is depending on the agent that you have. It may work and may not work. Some agents may see something and say, you know what, you have got a great look. You go and get some training, I will represent you, keep you under my wing, you know and help build your career. Some agents do that, you know. And then you have agents who have like, look at the roster, if I have more than 50 people and they are only one person, chances are you will not even get in the door.