According to Williams, who has a background as a mainstream talent agent through his now disbanded WQ Talent agency, performers who deal with licensed agents benefit because their representation is more likely to have access to mainstream projects, but also because the state mandates protections for actors who deal with licensed agents.
“The licensing process is a tough one,” Williams told XBIZ. “You go through a criminal background check and a credit check. Plus, you have to get a $50,000 bond, and the bonding company usually has its own background checks.”
The background checks are required by the California Talent Agencies Act, which allows agents to accept payment on behalf of their clients, Williams said, adding that performers who work with licensed agents have legal recourse through the state labor board should their agent fail to pay them.
According to Williams, operating a licensed talent agency also means that performer contracts must be approved by the state to insure high ethical standards.
For Williams and Black Widow, the next step is to become a Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of TV and Radio Artists signatory company.
“I already get the mainstream breakdowns,” Williams said. “Becoming a SAG/AFTRA company makes it even easier to place talent such as Stormy Daniels and Randy Spears in mainstream projects.”
While Williams sees a state license as a must-have for Black Widow, which seeks to place talent in mainstream productions, he pointed out that under California law, all agents who procure work on behalf of their clients need to be licensed.
“I’ve been told by the California Department of Industrial Relations that the state is cracking down on unlicensed agents,” Williams said. “Talent should be aware that they have the right to be reimbursed for commissions taken by unlicensed agents within the last year.”
Performers looking for information on licensed talent agencies should visit the California talent agency database.
XBIZ was able to confirm that World Modeling Talent Agency, Seymore Butts-owned Lighthouse Talent and the Tera Patrick Agency all have current talent agency licenses with the state of California.
To celebrate the launch of the newly licensed agency, Black Widow will sponsor the Wank Punter before-and-after party Aug. 10 at Tangerine in West Hollywood, Calif. The party begins at 10 p.m.