Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda McAlister.
Linda, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My father was a drive in theater/indoor theater owner all of my life. I loved movies and TV! I wanted to be a producer. When my oldest daughter started acting and proved to be very talented, I became an agent instead. I am a SAG-AFTRA franchised agent, representing experienced, trained professional actors of all ages for film, TV, commercials, industrials, commercial print, voiceover and live events. As an agent, I knew I had to align with the powerbrokers of the Texas industry. I joined Dallas Producers Association, Women in Film/Dallas, and Texas Association of Motion Media Professionals. I was on the board of DPA and WIF. On the DPA board, I was the Legislative Chair. Our committee created the Texas Motion Picture Alliance. TXMPA is the industry advocate before legislative, regulatory and judicial bodies, representing a robust community of professionals seeking economic and creative incentives for media work in Texas. Through its programs and activities, TXMPA educates its members, legislators, and the general public on all forms of media production and the tremendous economic impact that production generates within the state. I am currently on the board of TXMPA. Seven years ago I opened an office in Los Angeles to expand my agency’s growth. My headquarters is in Texas and always will be. I have an amazing staff and pool of talent and I give them credit for our astounding success.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Our industry is very rewarding but also very competitive. I had to learn from the ground up how to be an agent so I made many mistakes along the way but they were very constructive mistakes and I learned so much! Talent agents are fiduciary agents, so we have to negotiate, give quotes for projects, become familiar with contracts, understand union laws and right to work laws, and know our talents strengths. There were many producers and casting directors and other agents who were very kind and helpful. As with most industries now, there are technical advances and challenges. The supply and demand for talent in this industry will always be on the side of supply so it’ll probably never balance out. We have an enormous amount of actors and aspiring talent, but not as much work, but with all the new distribution outlets in TV and the movies, we have many more opportunities.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Linda McAlister Talent – what should we know?
Linda McAlister Talent is a full service talent agency representing experienced, trained, and inherently talented performers for movies, TV, commercials, industrials, commercial print, voiceover, and live events. We represent talent of all ages. We don’t require that children have the same experience and training as teens and adults. Teens and adults must be qualified for representation. I have an excellent staff and am proud that we are very approachable and treat our talent as a family. We love seeing their successes and feel the pain of perceived rejection. I am very involved in the industry and do not wait for work to come to us. I am very proactive as a board member of Texas Motion Picture Alliance. We support our film festivals as much as possible, we encourage our talent to work on indie projects/student films, I am happy to speak at seminars (for no charge), we are happy to speak to aspiring talent or parents who are not with the agency so they can avoid any potential scams and find the right path. Our agency is very involved in making Texas as professional and informed as possible for our industry.
Pricing:
- There is no charge or fees to sign with any legit agent. We make commission on work that our talent books.
- We charge 10% agent fee for union contracts, 15% for non union, and 20% for all print work. We do not get paid until our talent is paid.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.LMTalent.com
- Phone: 9729382433
- Email: Linda@LMTalent.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindamcalistertalent/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaMcAlisterTalent/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaMcAlister
Image Credit:
Pixel Dust Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
