A graduate in acting and producing from Langara’s Film Arts program, Esther Cohen works with some of Vancouver’s brightest stars as part of the Carrier Talent family.

We spoke to Esther Cohen about her journey into the talent agency realm and some of the dynamics that go into the actor and talent agent relationship.

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Why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about you and what you’re up to these days?

I’m Vancouver born, and I grew up in a very artistic family. I’m trained in music, theatre, dance, the whole lot. These days, I’m spending my time riding my bike on the sea wall; in ballet classes; playing guitar and singing in Rock & Roll bands; competing in karaoke competitions; watching live music; painting abstracts on canvas; learning how to cook; doing photography; picking and eating berries; and watching a lot of sunsets. Aside from all that, I am a Talent Agent at Carrier Talent Management. Do I have to talk about work?! Work consumes 90% of my life, though as you can see, I make time for plenty of other interests.

What is a typical day like for you as an agent?

I arrive at the office, tea in hand. I open the blinds to sunshine pouring in through my windows and spilling all over my desk. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Just wait.

Then I turn on my computer, where I am promptly bombarded with a hundred or so emails from clients, casting directors, breakdown notifications, actor submissions, etc. I spend the day responding to said emails, and the hundreds more that come in throughout the day. I answer phone calls, from all of the above mentioned. I submit my clients on breakdowns, and make my pushes to get them auditions. I phone & email out said auditions.

Then my associate and I have a pow-wow, where we discuss whatever the heck we want… work, or non-work related. Let’s call these ‘therapy sessions’. And I drink some more tea. I update my client resumes & sort through their new headshots. And I take meetings with new potential clients. But my day doesn’t end there.

After work, I’m usually out scouting talent at showcases, or at theatre shows. Or I’m out meeting industry folks (Directors, Producers, Actors and such) at events like Tuesday Night Live, Celluloid Social Club, Cold Reading Series, Raindance Vancouver, and going to Canadian film premieres hosted by the First Weekend Club. It’s all non-stop really. But I love it. It’s fun.

For actors who are seeking representation, what are the three most important things that they should look for in an agent?

Someone who they can trust enough to communicate openly and honestly with.

Someone who can share their vision & be on the same page with in regards to their career.

Someone who is excited about working with them… enough that they take the time to go out and see all their shows!! (I go to see all my clients whenever they’re performing anywhere!).

What do you look for in a potential client?

I look for all sorts of things.

I look at every submission that comes in. I’ll look at their resume to see what sort of credits and training they have. For me, someone who is continuously training in acting classes is my favorite. Because I know they are working hard, investing in themselves, and they’re constantly learning and improving their craft.

Other things I take in to consideration is what type of ‘look’ they have, and can I ‘sell’ them? And do they conflict with any of my current clients on my roster?

I’ll also take on people that have special skills. I’ve got a magician. As well as several musicians, who I’ve managed to get some really exciting roles on some major productions. This year I’ve gotten a couple musicians working with George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Crowe.

What’s the most rewarding thing about being an agent?

Helping actors achieve their dreams. When I was training as an actor, I remember thinking “If only someone would just give me a chance, I know I could do it!” It can be tough for some people to find an agent who believes in them. But I might see something special in someone that nobody else sees, or that nobody else is willing to take a chance on. And now I am that person who is giving these people those chances. It feels good. I get just as excited as they do when they book a movie or TV show. It’s team work. It’s a win for both of us.

What’s the biggest misconception about being an agent?

That we’re all old stuffed shirts. Well, maybe some of them actually are – I don’t know! But it’s funny, when people ask me what I do, and I tell them I’m a Talent Agent, I always get the funniest reactions.

People are like “Really?! But you look so young, and you seem so cool! I always thought agents were like stuffy office people!”

Whenever I meet with new potential clients they always tell me I’m so down-to-earth and easy to talk to. And I am! I’m just a regular person like everybody else. I like going out and doing fun things. Just because I’m an agent, doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to have fun too!! But I work my ass off at everything I do. Including work.

What made you decide to get involved with the agency side of the entertainment industry?

Oh man, I get asked this question all the time.

Long story short, I was working part time in an agent’s office as an assistant, because I figured, as an actor (I had just graduated from theatre & film school), it’d be beneficial to learn what goes on behind the scenes with agents & casting directors etc.

So I did that for a year, at which point the company I was working for at that time (a different one than the one I’m with now), asked me if I’d be interested in working full time as an agent with my own roster. By then, I had seen enough behind the scenes to know how tough it can really be to make a living as an actor. And I’m not talking about having to work hard –I’m ok with working hard. I’m just talking about the nature of the industry. It can be done, but the industry is different now than it was 20 years ago. I was seeing people who had been at it for 15 years still struggling to make a steady living at it.

So at that point I decided to take the other route and become an agent. I have no regrets. I love my job. Ask me for the long version of the story when you see me in person. It’s much more interesting! Hahaha.

In your opinion, what is the current state of the Canadian Film & Television Industry? And where do you see it going in the future?

Well, we’ve got some pretty big productions in town right now. A lot of Hollywood A-listers are bringing their projects here. It’s pretty wild. That said, I wish we didn’t lose so many roles to U.S. actors. There’s plenty of great talent in this city.

As for the future, I hope I only see it grow. I feel like everything in this biz is somewhat unpredictable. It’s like gambling, really. But that’s what makes it exciting, I think. It’s always changing. But yes, I hope our industry here in Canada continues to grow. We have such a hard-working, passionate community of people in this industry. We have a lot to offer.

What books have been influential to you in your career thus far?

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. It’s about resistance, and breaking through those blocks that a lot of artists and creative people face.

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is another good one. It’s more of a workbook.

And then, all the plays I’ve read… there have been hundreds! Shakespeare, Neil Simon, Samuel Beckett. I love reading plays and scripts.

I’ve also done a lot of reading from Deepak Chopra & Eckhart Tolle, which helps with finding balance, calm, and peace, (amongst so many other things) which is so important, especially amongst the craziness that this industry can bring.

Where can people find out more about you?

Carrier Talent. Twitter. IMDB. Facebook. Instagram. MySpace.

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Our thanks to Esther Cohen for speaking with us!

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Recommended Reading

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Waiting for Godot
Samuel Beckett

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The Odd Couple
Neil Simon

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Hamlet (Illustrated)
William Shakespeare

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The post The Biz Interview: Esther Cohen appeared first on Biz Books.

We spoke to Taylor Hill about Leap 4 Your Life and how the success of the film has allowed her to take the next leap forward in her own blossoming career.

Tell us a little bit about you and what projects you have on the go right now.

My name is Taylor Hill and I am the writer/producer/ and one of the stars of the award winning comedy Leap 4 Your Life. We currently secured distribution with Pacific Northwest Pictures and Leap can be seen on Super Channel, Shaw-On-Demand and a few more platforms in the coming months. I am also very grateful to have just won Best Newcomer at the 2014 UBCP/ACTRA Awards.

What was the moment when you knew you wanted to be involved in acting, writing, and producing?

I always wanted to be an actor, but I don’t know if there was a specific moment I decided that. I’d always watch movies with my family growing up and wanted to get lost in those worlds. I started acting when I was 7, but I’ve never been very patient (said everyone who knows me). Having to wait around for someone else to tell me to be creative is the worst part of this business. I discovered my love of writing in university and producing seemed like a natural role when work started getting slow.

Who were some of your greatest influences early on?

Julia Benson and Peter Benson are such an inspiration to me. They are not only two of the kindest people I have ever met, but are incredibly talented filmmakers. I am very excited to see their world premiere of WHAT AN IDIOT at the 2014 Whistler Film Festival.

Leap 4 Your Life is a film that is very close to your heart, as an actor, writer, and producer. Can you explain your creative process for Leap 4 Your Life from the idea stage all the way to film release?

Well it all started with having a bad day. I was in the thick of my university exams, hadn’t booked an acting gig in awhile and was sick with bronchitis and told my Mom I wanted to quit the business.  She told me I needed a creative outlet and suggested I write this mockumentary I have been talking about for years. I grew up as a competitive dancer and a huge fan of Christopher Guest films and I always thought a dance mockumentary would be a fun movie to make. My Mom and I started brainstorming characters that day and I knew we had something special.

Then we teamed up with Gary Hawes and knew we were in good company. He is such an amazing director and incredibly detailed oriented. He took everything in my head and made it better. I think it’s pretty rare and special when you find someone you can collaborate with so well and I owe much of Leap’s success to his incredible vision.

Leap 4 Your Life has played at several film festivals – including the Vancouver International Film Festival. How important are film festivals like the Vancouver International Film Festival for filmmakers today and what insights can you share into the process of getting a film chosen by a festival?

We premiered at VIFF in 2013 and we were lucky that they also launched the Must See BC program which highlights BC features. It really put our film on the map. We were definitely the underdogs going into such a large festival, but thankfully we were able to develop a fan base and we won the Must See BC Award which really gave us a platform for people to get to know our film.

We’ve been very fortunate with our festival run and have screened around North America and made our European Premiere in Scotland in October.

There’s a lot of film festivals out there, so do your research if you think your film will be a good fit and of course expect more no’s than yes’s.

Film festivals are an incredible platform to get your name out there and also connect with other passionate filmmakers. If you are lucky enough to get your film screened, go! It’s a surreal experience.

As a mockumentary, Leap 4 Your Life exists in a challenging and unique film genre. In your mind, what are the three most important things that every mockumentary needs in order to be successful?

1. Heart. I think any movie needs heart or what’s the point of watching it?

2. Great actors. Mockumentaries can really lend well to over the top scenarios, but having grounded and honest performances are really what keeps the audience engaged. We were very lucky to have such an amazing cast that could make you laugh and cry all at the same time.

3. Let the audience in on the secret. I love watching mockumentaries because the audience gets to go along for the ride and is privy to information that a lot of the characters aren’t.

Acting, writing, and producing are three very different areas of the creative spectrum. What do you enjoy about each of them and is there one that is more rewarding for you?

With acting and writing, my favourite part is losing yourself completely in what you are doing. It’s a great outlet for me. Producing is another beast. It can sometimes be hard to keep perspective from the amount of work there is to do. Then you realize wow, I just climbed this huge mountain.

It’s hard to say which one is more rewarding. I think when you put all three together then that’s the most rewarding because it seems the most impossible.

Tell us a little bit about your creative approach. As a writer, where do you find inspiration? As an actor, what steps do you take to get into a character?

As a writer I start with what I know and inspiration will come to me at random times. I’ll normally get a scene stuck in my head and I’ll have to write it down and I won’t know what do to with it. It becomes this weird obsession, so I just have to let it simmer and stew before that light bulb moment happens.

As an actor I have to find one thing that kind of unlocks the character for me. For Molly it was her braces, once I had that I knew exactly how to navigate her. I have to find a secret or something to make her special that I can relate to. In the movie, she is always wearing hearts and it was just my way of her always having her heart out….(Sounds cheesy, I know).

As an actor, is it easier for you to get into characters that you have created yourself?

It’s just different. If I write for myself I already know how I want to play her, but if it’s someone else’s it takes a little bit more investigative work on how I can relate to them.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career as an actor, writer, or producer?

Ask questions. Find people who are in the profession you want to be in and ask them how they did it. You have to be relentless and be prepared for a lot of no’s before you hear yes’s. But even then, if you believe in your project it doesn’t matter who says no to you; just make it happen.

From your standpoint, what is the current state of the film industry in Canada today? How can things be improved?

I’m definitely not an expert about the industry as a whole in Canada, but I can talk about the vibrant indie scene happening here. There are a ton of talented actors, writers and filmmakers here in BC creating their own projects. I think it’s an exciting time and we need to keep helping each other create our projects and build this indie community. Filmmaking is becoming a lot more accessible and there really is no excuse for you to not get your work out there. We don’t have to just be a service industry to the big U.S. productions, we can and are making some great films.

What would you like audiences to expect when they see a film with your name on it?

That you’ll probably see my whole family in the end credits. And hopefully, you’ll leave with a smile on your face.

What books have been influential to you in your creative journey so far?

Tina Fey’s Bossypants is really a must read for anyone in the business. She writes with so much honesty.

I’m dyslexic so books have always been a love/hate relationship for me. I think that’s why I fell in love with movies so early on.

Where can people find out more about you and keep up with your current projects?

Go to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/leap4yourlife

If not, you will probably see me hidden behind my laptop at a JJ Bean in Vancouver, so just ask.

The post The Biz Interview: Taylor Hill of Leap 4 Your Life appeared first on Biz Books.