 The Gerler Agency |
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DON GERLER: |
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DOUGLAS BENNETT: After graduating from the University of California Los Angeles, U.C.L.A. Douglas started his career at the William Morris Agency working with music acts as diverse as Prince, Motley Crue, and Barry Manilow, to name just a few, and also working with some of the biggest television, and movie stars, in the industry. Douglas went on to represent, manage, and develop, the careers of some of the brightest television, and movie stars in the industry, as both a manager, and talent agent. He's been responsible for developing and managing the careers of dozens of prominent actors, and musicians. He's also represented, and worked with many well respected writers, directors, and producers. A partial list of clients include: Denzel Washington (Training Day, Macolm X), Richard Gere (Pretty Woman, Chicago), Jane Fonda (Klute, Coming Home), Mel Gibson (Mad Max, Leathal Weapon), Michelle Pfeiffer (Scarface, Batman Returns), Brandon Lee (The Crow), Tony Burton (Rocky I, II, III, IV, V, VI), Shelly Morrison (Will & Grace, The Flying Nun), Brock Peters (To Kill A Mocking Bird, Star Trek lV), Sayed Badreya (Iron Man, Three Kings, Zohan, The Insider), Ji-Tu Cumbuka (C.S.I., Harlem Nights, Bound For Glory), Chris Warner (No Country for Old Men, Sin City), Fred Williamson (From Dusk Till Dawn, M.A.S.H.), Austin Stoker (Assault On Precinct 13, Planet Of The Apes), Quinn O'Hara (Bay Watch, Dallas), Jim Kelly (Enter The Dragon, Black Belt Jones), Ron O'Neal (Superfly, A Different World) Traci Lords (Cry-Baby, Profiler, Melrose Place), and Bill E. Rogers (Spiderman 2 & 3, For the Love of the Game). Douglas produced and co-wrote the award winning independent films "Dangerous Touch" and "They Are Coming". Douglas also produced "Beatle Magic", a major Las Vegas variety show. He's an extensively back-grounded career developer, with both a talent agency, and personal management history. Douglas worked as both a producer and writer with projects now in development for release in 2011. Doug has represented and worked with many well respected writers, directors, and producers. Douglas has always strongly believed, in the concept of developing artist, and nurturing creative projects. |
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MICHAEL ABRAMSON: Started his career as one of the world's top male print models. Michael was featured in major ad campaigns for Versace, Armani, Vogue, and GQ among others. After graduating from The University of Southern California, U.S.C. and traveling the world, Michael decided to dedicate himself to a full time career as a talent agent. Michael worked as an established New York print/modeling/commercial talent agent, and went on to manage, and guide, the careers' of some of the modeling worlds most successful print, and runway stars. Michael joined forces with The Gerler Agency as the commercial, print and modeling talent agent. The Gerler Agency maintains a thriving commercial department; our actors frequently appear in national commercials for every major advertising agency in the country. We also represent professional athletes from all the major sports, having brokered deals for some of the world’s most visible sports superstars. In addition, we've launched a print modeling division and provide national exposure in advertising, magazine, catalogue, editorial, showroom and runway markets. |
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HOLLYWOOD: Is often described as a jungle, and our corporate mascot the TIGER, represents the type of aggressive representation we provide our clients. THE GERLER AGENCY strives to offer one-on-one service to our diverse client base. THE GERLER AGENCY was founded with the simple purpose of being the absolute best in talent representation. We pride ourselves on providing our clients with unparalleled talent representation by equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to advance their careers. THE GERLER AGENCY seeks out new opportunities by keeping our pulse on the rapidly changing world of today's high-tech, corporate entertainment industry. THE GERLER AGENCY strives to build long-term personal relationships with our clients through genuine communication, personal management, development, industry connections, and most importantly, by always maintaining the highest amount of integrity and honesty while supporting creative artists. |
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THE RIGHT STUFF:
THE GERLER AGENCY has a policy of being honest and direct with our evaluation of new talent. Hollywood agents, managers, acting coaches, casting directors, producers, and directors tell it like it is; and they choose, by a selective casting process, with whom they want to work. In Hollywood, rejection is direction. What separates the winners from the losers is simple - do you have THE RIGHT STUFF, can you take direction, or does rejection send you packing home.
The developing new technology and constant innovative change of today's high-tech corporate Hollywood makes having the right representation more important than ever. Because of internet sites like Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, the film festival circuit, unfortunately, is going the way of vinyl records. If you want to go to the next level with your career, you need someone to negotiate for you, create new opportunities, package and push you into the deeper pools, and get you that break-through part. For the right individuals - those with talent, the right attitude, and "THE RIGHT STUFF" - that is exactly what THE GERLER AGENCY can do, and will do, for those who possess the appropriate amount of magic.
THE GERLER AGENCY specializes in the management, development, packaging, and marketing of WORKING PROFESSIONAL ACTORS and WRITERS. Our screening policy is selective, and time consuming, on purpose, and for good reason. Despite the myth that Hollywood is a meritocracy, the reality is that it's a bit of a crapshoot, and artists in particular are dependent on agents, managers, connections and fate to make a break through. Unfortunately, like the "American Idol" television show, we have to screen out the untalented, and the unrealistic, who have a false sense of entitlement, and don't realize that agent's audition inexperienced new actors for representation, by a selective, screening process, designed to find the best and most talented actors. Hollywood is the only place were a high school drop-out, has just as much of a chance to succeed, as an actor with a Yale University Theater Degree, or MFA. Marlon Brando, John Travolta, Johnny Depp, Jim Carrey, and Tobe Maguire are all high school drop-outs. So while a Theater Degree, or MFA is great to have as a fall back for the nine-to-five world, it does not guarantee success, or even a single acting audition in Hollywood. The audition process for finding an agent is just like auditioning for a role in a film. If a new actor is called in for a general interview, they should treat it just like a job interview. Like any other job interview, or casting audition, you may be called back several times, without getting an offer for representation. Until you're an established actor, with union membership, and guest-star credits, you are not a professional actor, you're a wannabe, or "aspiring" actor, which ever you prefer, either way, you'll need time and development, that may, or may not, pay off. If you're an experienced actor and the agent doesn't like your attitude, or your vibe, they won't represent you, and vice-versa, that's why many actors get a SAG card, but they never get representation. Just because a Talent Agency calls you in for a meet-and-greet interview, does not guarantee that agency will want to sign you as a client. Who you are as a person, and your true personality, are just as important as how well you can act. Too many inexperienced actors naively come to Hollywood and actually think they can walk into an agents office, a total stranger whom they're not paying, and after a ten minute meeting, the agent will become a free messenger service for 10% of a dream. It'll never happen; watch the movie Jerry McGuire, the HBO television series Entourage, or the Clint Eastwood directed movie "Million Dollar Baby", the agent/actor relationships that work, and prosper, are long term partnerships, and a real TEAM effort.
When a newcomer walks into our office, the newcomer is an unproven commodity, a completely speculative gamble, that may never land a paying professional acting job. In the first year of an agency relationship with an unknown, there is virtually no chance for the agency to make a profit. Everything from the obvious infrastructure of desks, offices, internet, computers, and phones, to the costs of support staff, breakdowns, delays, the franchise, the bond, and insurance is covered by the agency. The phone calls, the hours spent examining and picking the best pictures to use, the time convincing co-workers and colleagues to get out and push for work for the new client, the battle to get casting people to see the newcomer, all of this practically assures the agency of an unprofitable year, because none of this time is in any way billable to the client. Usually, the ten percent of whatever small fees a new unknown client does bring in that first year, can't begin to pay for the time it takes to arrange for these opportunities. While we realize that everyone has to start somewhere, and that newcomers ultimately are the lifeblood of the business, no agency is running a free messenger service, or therapy session. The reason an agent - any agent - will sign a new client is the expectation of making a profit. No agency can afford to sign you just because you have a dream, or because you're a nice person.
Agents are not, by definition or craft, creative artists. Nor are they your mother or legal guardian. An agent is your connection into the workday world of show business. Your agent is your representative to all the people in the industry - the casting people, the directors, the producers, the network, and studio executives - who decide whether or not to hire you. Agents work in "Show Business", not "Show-Show". THE GERLER AGENCY is not part of the backstage west "casting" world of obsolete, irrelevant, publications, pretending to be legitimate industry casting sources. They're not; what they're really doing, is selling subscriptions, classes, and ads, to inexperienced actors, by pretending to be, a legitimate industry source. Unless it's Daily Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, or TMZ, nobody in the entertainment industry reads, or subscribes, to these unauthorized publications. Thanks to the internet, most of these publications will soon all be out of business. Today's internet casting process is almost 100% ELECTRONIC. The ONLY legitimate industry casting sources, are the electronic internet casting services, used by the legitimate network, of casting directors, agents, and managers. Even the student films, nonunion films, music videos, and equity waiver plays, cast their projects using only these legitimate sources. Don't waste time and money, on these unauthorized publications, posing as legitimate industry casting sources. Bottom line: if it's not published in the Breakdown Services, Actor's Access, L.A. Casting, or Now Casting, it's NOT a legitimate industry casting source.
Agents are the entertainment industry business professionals, existing solely to put you in the right place, at the right time, and thus looking with insight, as well as foresight, down the road as possibly the creator of yet another Hollywood Legend. With the advent of many new on-line casting systems, we have had an increasing number of new talent come to us under the delusion that submitting themselves will lead to a successful career. They're listening to the people who make money by making you think you can control your own career, by being your own agent, your own manager, your own publicist, your own acting coach, your own casting director, even your own director and producer. According to them you don't need an agent or manager, "No, you can submit yourself!" Don't be fooled! NOBODY in the history of Hollywood has become a star by submitting themselves. They expect you to pay them for outdated and often useless information that is readily available free on the internet, or pay them for ads and photos in their illegitimate casting publications that no working professional in the industry will ever see or read. They expect you to pay them up front, for useless information but they expect - YOU - the new actor to live and pay your rent on "MEALS, COPY, AND A CREDIT". In reality, you can buy a better meal at McDonald's, the credit is oftentimes meaningless, and you rarely, if ever, get a copy of the hard work you performed free of charge. We caution all serious talent that while these companies are sometimes good for getting demo reel footage, and exercising one's craft, they should be used for this purpose only. If you let them manage your career, you'll only end up irritating and alienating the real professionals that a new actor must acquire in order to make it in today's corporate Hollywood.>
THE GERLER AGENCY has a long history of representing a select list of established stars and being a career-builder for new upcoming talent.THE GERLER AGENCY'S mission involves developing, working, and supporting the creative instincts of individuals in the Arts and Entertainment industry. It is an adventure rather than a job, which we thoroughly enjoy. What other industry allows a person to wake up every morning surrounded by both inner and outer beauty, whether from talented acting, written words, creative artworks, or musical artisans. If THE GERLER AGENCY can touch, and possibly increase the quality of life, for just one individual through the creative talents of our clients, then we have accomplished our goal. The entertainment industry is a creative force that permeates the lives of people all over the world, by reaching out and touching them, with art and entertainment. We recognize that it takes a TEAM effort to achieve success in today's highly competitive, high-tech entertainment industry. If you have "THE RIGHT STUFF" come and become part of our prestigious team. We'll keep the lamp burning for you. [WATCH] THE GERLER AGENCY IN ACTION CLICK HERE: GERLER AGENCY.
The GERLER AGENCY IS PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH "MOVBU FILMS" CLICK LINK HERE: WWW.MOVBUFILMS.COM.
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At this time we are open to all applicants male or female, all ages, and ethnicities.
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