24 — Sunday, August 23, 1992 ~- Nerth Shore News SO YA wanna be in pic- tures? By Evelyn Jacob News Reporter Just call Sharon Carroll at Chameleon Talent. But don’t ex- pect to get through on the first try. Carroll’s phone is ringing off the hook even though it’s nearly quitting time. “‘It can get pretty chaotic at times,”’ she admits, reaching across her desk to answer yet another cail. It’s nothing like the 16-hour days she had to endure as assis- tant director for Cannell Films, though. : After suffering ‘‘total exhaus- tion,’’ Carroll moved off the set and began working in the office and, in April of this year, opened her own talent agency. **It. wasn’t. an easy decision to go for,” she says cf becoming her own boss, “but I realized I had nothing to jose. And if 1 didn’t try, I'd never know. So far, I’m happy with the way things are go- ing.”’ Having worked in Cannell’s ex- tras department, Carroll knew the struggle young actors faced trying to find their way into the system. It’s- one of the reasons she decided to open her own agency. In just four months she’s signed up 65 actors. Casting directors aren't banging down her door yet, but she’s placed actors.in, commercials and is starting to get work for her clientele in TV and movies-of- the-week, - There have been a few oddball requests, but nothing she can’t handle. “**— had one request for a one- year- to 18-month-old baby who could say ‘flower’? and ‘‘Bam- bi.’ “*f got one little fellow who could say Bambi, but not flower,”’ she chuckles. Carroil regularly receives a listing of all the TV and film in production — everything from Murphy Brown to All My Children — which tells her what casting directors are looking for. From there she sifts through her ‘own library, trying to match the ‘perfect face from her own files. It’s a tough business when you figure there are 30 talent agencies in Vancouver alone all gunning for the same work: casting com- panies often receive hundreds of submissions for just one role. “Sometimes it’s hard to figure out exactly what they’re looking for,”’ says Carroll. “A lot of it Restaurant at Granville Square FAMOUS FOR PRIME RIB CARVED AT YOUR TABLE HIGH Searching for star NAME: Sharon Carrot! RESIDENCE: West Vancouver EDUCATION: BCIT grad OCCUPATION: Talent agent HOBBIES: Movies, theatre, jew- elry-making, cooking depends on the production, the budget, and how much time they have. They may not have time to pre-screen talent; sometimes it’s just an audition.” One of the hardest parts of her job is ‘‘telling someone they’re not capable of what they thiak they are. “This is a business where you can’t display any kind of favoritism. Sometimes talent will / Ag TALENT AGENT Sharon Carrell call and ask why they weren’t submitted for a role. “It can be very difficult. { have to prove myself to people before they’ll take me seriously. There’s so many wannabes.’* But that’s not to say the situa- tion for Canadian actors is bleak. When the work is there, it can be lucrative. : Children in particular stand to make healthy sums with major toy companies like Mattel and Hasbro producing commercials regularly in B.C. According to Carroll, it ranges from $250 to $1,500 for a single day’s work. Does she have any hard and fast rules on how to land a role? ‘*Make a lasting impression, be professional and know your stuff. ‘I’ve seen some talent who go in to audition for one line, and they don’t even get the one line right.”? NEWS photos Brad Ledwidge WEST VANCOUVER’S Sharon Carroll is one of many Vancouver talent agents helping young actors find work. What did you do with Canneil Films? ‘‘I worked mainly on Wiseguy. Some days it was great, others very traumatic. It was dif- ficult being the only female on my team — the men weren’t par- ticularly interested in what I had to say.”” What has having your own business been like? ‘‘] thought it would be harder, but it’s been quite easy so far. People are audi- tioning almost every day.’’ Have you ever placed anyone in a feature film? ‘‘Not yet, but I’m getting there. It will take time un- til casting is comfortable with me.” . What are your criferia? ‘‘I’m fussy about the type of people I take on, They have to have some expe- rience and be in training. Taking classes is important because it keeps their creative ability going.” Do you offer clients any advice? “Yes, I give them tips and feed- back. I talk to casting and find Live Music & Dancing Thursday through Saturday featuring Darla and Friends CHOOSE YOUR OWN LIVE ATLANTIC LOBSTER FROM OUR DISPLAY TANK, FANTASTIC HARBOUR & MOUNTAIN VIEWS NEXT TO PAN PACIFIC HOTEL By Day a Million Sights. By Night A Million Lights. FREE PARKING after 6 out how they did in an audition. And then I phone the person back and teli them why they didn’t get the role.”’