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	May 2004 Linda Carter of CTM International "If it is truly your dream to be an actor, then focus on that dream and nothing else."
VAG - What made you want to become a Talent Agent?
Linda Carter - I love the industry of film and I love helping people. I have     managed actors/bands/singers in the past and I get a lot of joy in helping     people to achieve their dreams.
VAG - What are some problems/issues you face daily as a Talent Agent?
LC - Time management is always a problem since often there is much more     work to do than hours in a day.
VAG - What are some of your pet peeves as an Agent?
LC - a) Actors that drop in to chat unannounced. We work on tight deadlines.     Scheduled appointments are appreciated and work better for us.     b) Another big pet peeve are actors who turn down an audition for one reason     or another. There really is no reason unless you're dead. lol
VAG - What can actors do to help their career while waiting for auditions?
LC - Actors need to train, but I'll speak about that in the next question. They also     need to be sure their headshots are reflective of who they are. New Actors need     to do student films, shorts, PSA's, everything possible to improve their skills     while getting to know other people in the industry.
VAG - How important is on-going training to an actor's career?
LC - VERY important!  The casting director's are very busy people and in some     cases they only see 5-10 people for each role. It is a privilege to be one of     those people and when you get in that door you better bring something to the     table. If you are not training, if you are not on top of your game, then that is what     you will bring - less than your potential. The competition is very tough and you     significantly lower your chances of success if you are not the best you can be. It     is comparable to an athlete - what pro athlete would stop training and then     show up for the game?
VAG - Take us through a typical day in your office.
LC - Get in to the office about 10am, respond to faxes, messages and emails.     We usually get about 50-100 emails a day and there are always 3-6 messages     blinking on the machine. Continually check breakdowns and do submissions.     Keep up on the business end of things, with accounting etc. Some days we     see new talent and lately we have started bringing in actors already on the     roster to chat about their career and talk about career plans. Audition times     come in later in the day and then the process of calling talent, sending sides,     etc. Leave the office at about 6 or 7 and then go to showcases and plays when     one of our talent is involved and to look for new talent.
VAG - What is the best way to approach you for representation?
LC - Sending headshot/resume to the office. I need to know what you look like     first to know if you are something I need. The resume is important to know of     your training and obviously to know your body of work.
VAG - What are some common misconceptions Actors may have about Talent Agents?
LC - That once you have an Agent "it" will happen. The reality is, that is just the     beginning of the work.
VAG - What are your thoughts on the increasing number of American actors being brought in for smaller roles?
LC - Obviously as a Canadian Talent Agent I am not real happy about it as it     lowers the chances of my people and other Canadian actors.
VAG - How can we change this?
LC - We have to offer strong incentives to the American Production companies     and with those incentives should come restrictions on how many Americans     can be brought in and for what level parts. The Americans will continue to come     here if it is financially worth it - otherwise they won't. It is all about the dollar and     the bottom line. At the same time I think it is important that we continue to     create and grow our own domestic film industry. Which comes back to the     bottom line and getting bums in seats for Canadian Films. I challenge you all     to get out there and support our own filmmakers.     Check out: www.firstweekendclub.ca
VAG - How can an Actor get and stay in your good books?
LC - Work hard, be professional and communicate with me so I can best serve     you.
VAG - What criteria do you have for actors before sending them to LA for Pilot Season?
LC - I don't send people to LA. It is a choice of the actor whether they go and all I     can do is guide them. I started as an agent in LA and it is a tough business     down there. Actors are often frustrated in Vancouver because they feel it is the     same actors that get called in for everything - well LA is no different. Casting     Directors are busy people and they go with the "tried and true" a lot of the time.     When you see a new face in a new pilot - they really aren't new. If you Google     those actors you will often find they have been at it for years - they are just     unknown actors. They say there are approximately 1 million actors in LA and     getting an agent is not easy. Being Canadian of course only adds to your     challenges. You likely don't have a Visa which means the production company     will have added work and cost and unless your work speaks for itself - they     aren't going to give you the time of day. Not to mention at the moment Arnold     and crew are all about supporting Americans not Canadians. Actors often ask     me what I think and I say "build your resume here first if possible, go for the     experience, have enough money to survive since you can't work legally and     consider it part of your journey - don't go with the expectation "I'm going to be     discovered". It's a long road whether you live in Canada or the US. You have to     put the work in. There are no shortcuts.
VAG - CTM International also has an extra's division.  What are your thoughts about actors working as an extra on set while still pursuing a principal career?
LC - I think every experience in the film industry is valuable. I feel you may learn     something, you may even be upgraded. If you are a dedicated serious actor you     can use the downtime on set to work on sides/monologues/scriptwriting. You     have to be cautious that you are not working on series that will then put you out     of the running for actor parts - but for features, the actor roles are already cast     when they start casting extras.
VAG - What in your opinion was the all time most memorable performance by an actor?
LC - Tough question. I have a lot of favorites. Kevin Spacey in Usual Suspects     would be an all time fave but this year Charlize Theron in Monster just blew me     away - wow.
VAG - What has been your greatest achievement as a Talent Agent?
LC - Taking 12 year old Carsen Grey to LA for the Premiere of Peter Pan     -knowing I played some small part in all of that was wonderful.
VAG - Do you have any advice for aspiring actors reading this interview?
LC - If it is truly your dream to be an actor-then focus on that dream and nothing     else. Treat it like a business. Most careers take 8-12 years of schooling and     learning and hard work before you can say you've established yourself in that     industry. This one is no different. Good luck to each and every one of you.
Many thanks go to Linda Carter for taking the time out of her busy schedule to be interviewed.