The following is an interview with Adam She, Director of Operations for Actor’s, Models, and Talent for Christ (AMTC). Adam was incredibly gracious to speak with me over the phone and let me in on this very successful and unique talent management company known for it’s strong Christian values. With an industry overwhelming full of smut and filth, AMTC is a breath of fresh air, providing wholesome, moral, yet beautifully talented individuals to bring a new perspective to the industry. For a deeper look into this one-of-a-kind company, check out their website – http://www.amtcworld.com. Don't forget to check them out on facebook as well.
Thanks to Carey Arban (AMTC - CSO) for responding to my e-mail and connecting me with Adam; and thank you Adam for your valuable time and insight. May the Lord continually bless your efforts to bring Light to an incredibly dark industry. The Lord is so good.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Molly Ptaszek (MP): How long have you been with AMTC, and what is your job is as the Director of Operations?
Adam She (AS): I’ve been with AMTC for 7 sevens years. I oversee all aspect of AMTC operations. I manage and supervise all of department heads and I also head up marketing. I am also a national scout and do some traveling for AMTC.
MP: What is the size of your organization; how many full-time employees?
AS: We have about 15 full time employees, and 100 contractors for anything from coaching, event planning, to administration. Some of our full-time staff are in satellite offices full time is in L.A. and Dallas, but our main offices are in Georgia.
MP: What makes AMTC stand out/unique compared to other talent management companies?
AS: We are very unique. We are one a kind; there is just nothing like us out there; that makes us unique. We have a history and reputation in our 29 year in business. We have never made making money out primary objective; that’s always been a little further down the list. Now that we please God as our number one priority, money has moved even lower down on the list. Publicly, we became a Christian about 4 years ago when my mother-in-law because a Christian. She is our CSO (Chief Serving Officer.) She does a good bit of traveling as a national talent scout., but she is more of a visionary for AMTC.
MP: Tell me about AMTC’s main events.
AS: We have two big tickets items; two, 6-day conventions They are opportunity in a nutshell. What we do is we teach people. The industry is all about what you know and who know. We teach people what they need to know to be successful. That’s why we have the convention.
MP: Who comes to the conventions?
AS: Agents, managers, and talent directors from the major markets...
MP: How have you built these contacts?
AS: God has been good to us. We have a good reputation. Industry contacts talk with each other and let people now. We have people reach out to us all the time as scouts. We are very blessed. We only accept those who are established and have a good reputation and track record. And we say 50-100 agents and managers because what we guarantee is one agent for 11 performers. We can from 500-1000 performers. We have closer to 1 agent to every ten performers.
MP: What is the success rate for your performers?
AS: 65percent will get at least one call back. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it mean they have some interest. It’s an open door, like a first date. What that performer does with that open door is up to them. As for the percentage who book work, that’s harder to say; many placements can take place right away, or months down the road.
MP: Do you follow up or keep in contact with your performers?
AS: We do keep in contact with performers down the road. There is a follow up group who is available to answer questions as long as they need down the road; they can call and ask for advice…
MP: Where do see AMTC headed in the next five years; what are some of your goals?
AS: In this economy, any business is planning for growth or they will go out; so we are planning for growth. We are setting things in action to prepare. We are opening a training center in Dallas and Atlanta, and performers who are selected would train at these locations.
We are not doing any layoffs. We are hiring; for these new facilities; we are redoing the online curriculum; bringing in more coaches, people who are well trained at what they teach with the curriculum…
MP: Many talent organizations are using digital technology to bring more opportunities to their clients. The Screen Actors Guild has iActor, which allows their members to create an online profile to upload their head shots, resume and also video samples, and gives casting directors around the world the opportunity to search quite easily for new talent in the database; where does AMTC fall in regards to technology in this regard?
AS: We have an online curriculum and our students have a profile. It’s more teaching and not exposure. As far as offering details about talent online, most of our bookings, they are going to want to see people person on person.
Mp: How has the use of social media affected your business strategy, and what social media techniques do you use?
AS: We have facebook and Twitter, as well as a team that maintains those accounts and posts regularly. We make announcement when we have auditions. Technology is future.
MP: As someone who will be starting fresh and will be up against a lot of competitors looking for the same jobs in the industry, what is some advice you would give to stand out about the crowd?
AS: I think if you are going to achieve success you must be a networker and have a strong desire to build relationships. You also have to have high core values. There is no substitute for core values. My advice is to work as an apprentice with a reputable person; to learn the ropes day and in and day out. Don’t be afraid to volunteer your time. Everyone has to pay his or her dues in one way.
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