050: WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASIAN ACTORS?

Susan Ferris Talent Manager finds opportunities for actors

16 Oct 050: WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASIAN ACTORS?

Posted at 15:25h in Collaboration and Networking, Podcasts by Caryn McCann 0 Comments

0 Likes

Susan Ferris, CEO of the Bohemia Group, represents more than 500 clients globally. She discusses where the opportunities are for Asian-American actors.

Susan also points out growing markets for Asian-American talent.

KEY POINTS

CRISIS / OPPORTUNITY

Susan describes independent management and production as having a gaping hole in the market. To illustrate, managers are still a rare thing outside America. Clearly, there is a challenge (time difference, finding partners, language barriers, etc.). However, it’s a huge opportunity for a manager to be a global player.

THAT’S NOT HOW WE DO THINGS

Again, American managers are rare outside the U.S. Approaching potential partners is tricky. For example, there is the fear factor. Will the American manager try and take over their business? Will they push their American business practices on us? Despite this, Susan is sensitive to this. She has no plans to remodel the way a foreign partner operates. As a result, you’ve got to adopt the old 2 + 2 = 5 philosophy. Whereas, two organizations work together to achieve more than they could on their own.

FOREIGN ACTORS

Many overseas actors are literary on their talent rep’s payroll. In other words, all their expenses are paid for. Consequently, the actor is on the hook to their representatives. And if they’re not working – are they going into debt? If anyone knows the answer to this, please leave a note in the comments.

ACTORS MORALS CLAUSE

Furthermore, both American and overseas actors generally have a moral clause in their contracts. However, in Hollywood, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. On the contrary, in Asia, mischief could end an actor’s career. For one thing, if you’ve got an Asian client attached to a project, they could be blacklisted due to some serious mischief. Thus the chances of selling that project in Asia just got a lot harder. Hence, US managers must adapt and find the opportunity in every crisis that comes their way.

SINGAPORE – ACTORS WANTED

Additionally, Susan highlighted one location as a bright spot for actors. Singapore offers a lot of work to actors. This is partly due to so many languages spoken there. These include English, Mandarin, Malay, Tam-il, Hokkien, etc. Consequently, managers looking for overseas clients or jobs for their Asian-American clients – should check out Singapore.

STREAMERS & ACTORS

Furthermore, local language content is widely successful. As a consequence of this, pushing foreign actors to lose their accents is coming to an end. Indeed, local language content is now the hot seller.

Resources: 036: ACTING IN CHINA – PROS & CONS

033: ACTION STAR RISES IN THE EAST

HOW TO MAKE A CHINESE HIT

Asia-Hollywood Greenlight Podcast – Episode 50

Susan Ferris, CEO, and Talent Manager of Bohemia Group

Show Notes

Host: Caryn McCann

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AHGreenLight

Twitter: @AHGreenLight https://twitter.com/AHGreenLight

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryn-mccann-5718058/

Sign up for the launch of our new and improved website – The Asia List – where Hollywood & Asia meet at https://chnlist.com/coming-soon/

GUEST: Susan Ferris, CEO, and Talent Manager of Bohemia Group