THE ASSOCIATION OF TALENT AGENTS (ATA) is a Los Angeles based nonprofit trade association comprised of over 100 talent agencies primarily located in Los Angeles and New York. ATA’s premiere membership includes agencies of all sizes representing artist clients in the motion picture industry, stage, television, radio, commercials and literary work. It is believed that ATA member agencies collectively represent ninety percent (90%) of the working artists. ATA member agencies collectively employ an estimated one thousand talent agents. (See memberlist under ATA Membership heading on this website)

The birth of ATA (originally known as Artists’ Managers Guild in 1937) is tied substantially to a proliferation of talent unions and guilds that formed after the Supreme Court upheld the Wagner Act. As the creative unions emerged, each sought a process to create a formal relationship between their members and the agents who represented them. ATA’s founders created ATA to serve the agents by providing a needed strong united voice to represent agents’ interests along with their clients.

Agency Regulations. For over sixty-seven 67)years ATA (and NATR) has negotiated agreements with the talent unions and guilds. These include, Screen Actors Guild (SAG Agency Agreement terminated on April 19, 2002 for all franchised agents), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists ,Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Directors Guild of America (DGA). ATA and/or NATR are the named bargaining partner in the union agency regulations. These Regulations, along with the California Talent Agency Act and other applicable City and State law, create the foundation upon which the agency business operates.

Services
Agency Regulations require interpretation, construction and advice, which ATA provides to member agencies. The Regulations govern such subjects as the length of representation contracts, commissions, conflict of interest issues, dispute resolution and numerous other issues that affect the agency business. ATA maintains a running dialog with all the unions and guilds and state officials.

ATA is involved in the dispute resolution provided for in various agency regulations and contracts. In some cases, ATA runs a dispute resolution system with Union and Guilds and is currently involved in setting up new procedures post the SAG Agency Franchise termination.

ATA helps member companies, on a daily basis, with commission grievances, contract interpretation and agent employee changes as well as referrals relating to bonds, insurance, health care and more.

ATA’s Newsletter and website are great sources, providing up to date information on events affecting talent agencies. The newsletter reports on recent court decisions and ATA’s representation of agency interests before the state legislature. ATA takes positions on oral contract disputes, copyright, tax issues, immigration, minors and a host of other matters.

Agents are informed about ATA sponsored symposiums, arbitration decisions, disputes within unions and guilds, new technology and more. ATA’s unique tracking system is available for its members’ use. The system provides information regarding residual compensation paid to actors under certain circumstances. ATA also offers an online service for locating the ATA (or NATR) agent of an actor. Go to Actor's Agent Search on this website.

Cooperative meetings are an intricate part of ATA. It holds regular meetings with its members, employers, state officials, unions, and casting directors. ATA’s full time state lobbyist and its political strategist represent ATA before the legislature and maintain our presence at the State Capitol.

ATA’s legal team is made up of top Labor, Antitrust and Association attorneys.

Available at ATA

Riders for Minor’s agency contracts
State Approved Agency Contracts
Arbitration claim forms
AFTRA Agency Contracts
Application for State License renewals
Copies of Laws Relating to Talent Agencies
Excerpts from the California Labor Code & California Code of Regulations, Title 8
New York Talent Agency Laws

Board of Directors
Eighteen elected and appointed Board of Directors, representing all segments of the agency community, governs ATA. Board members and officers serve two-year terms. Professional staff conducts day-to-day activity. The current Board serves through December 2007.

Membership
ATA is a voluntary organization. Memberships are granted to qualifying talent agencies.

Actors Agent Search Committee