{{ For a period of 4 years, he had no agent to deal with film proposals. But to keep this from being known, he had the incredible idea of creating a fictional character who would introduce himself to everyone as his agent.
If someone approached him with a role, he would say, “Contact my agent, James Howhilee.” And he gave his agent’s email address, which was actually an address he had created for the occasion.
So people sent all their proposals to this imaginary agent, who could only be contacted by email.
Hugh Grant says the system worked well and saved him a fortune in agent fees.
He even made phone calls pretending to be his agent. He then acquired a Scottish accent and no one noticed anything.
The hardest part, however, according to the actor, was constantly refusing lunch and receiving offers from all the people in showbiz who wanted to meet this mysterious agent who only worked for Hugh Grant… }}
Hollywood agents gained a lot of their clout because mostly Hollywood wanted pretty/handsome sexy creatures who were quasi-idiots and needed lots of herding. The best actors did have brains, but needed to keep that from the studios, who reasoned “Brains = Opinions = Trouble-on-set”.
Retired agents who were master manipulators from that “golden age” were still abundant in my younger days at various locations (high end bars and restaurants, race track members only clubs, etc., around town, and were amazingly good storytellers if lubricated. They also could be extremely good guides to finding generous donors to gay rights causes, and so I was highly incentivized to find and flatter them,
Sure, you can do that when people are calling you. Most actors aren’t in that position, and need someone out there advocating for them to be considered for roles. It’s an agent’s job to know what projects are in development, who is hiring, who is likely to drop out so an opening might be available, and more. And to negotiate contracts which, I point out, it probably not in the Top 10 talents most actors have.
He may have “reduced the skim” but he will never know how many jobs he didn’t get, or if he was paid less than he might have otherwise been. Having an intermediary is always a good strategy when making outlandish demands, as well, because if you run up against a stone wall, you can say “Oh well that guy was nuts, let’s you and me strike a deal for this amount.”
Note: I’m not saying they’re all worth it: some are, some aren’t. It’s like real estate agents, lawyers, or doctors. Some are worth more than they are paid. Some - a lot less. Some, nothing at all.
Yeah, that sounds about right. In HG’s position, he was already well-known and highly successful (and in demand) so he was able to effect this kind of ploy relatively easily.
There was a Hollywood television writer that posted on the old REHP board and she explained all the ongoing expenses of being an actor in Hollywood. The 10% to the agent is just the start of it.
Agent 10%
Business Manager 10%
Lawyer (3% to 5%)
Fitness Trainer
Female Actors in addition to the above need
Stylist (to select and advise on what to wear)
Hairdresser
Makeup Artist
Plus taxes and FICA
Someone with a $1 MM/yr gross might only net $300,000/yr.