I was working to reboot my acting career and struggling to find the right representation until Michael came along. He's been incredibly patient, supportive, and hands-on throughout the process, helping me get back on track and reestablish my career. I truly appreciate everything he's done and continues to do. Thank you, Michael! read more

I dont know where to begin. After years bouncing around the industry falling into traps I finally found a great agent who encourages their actors. All levels of actors are with this agency. A great place to start your journey or settle in for the remainder. I am grateful for these pleasant folks. read more

I have been represented by MZA for many years. I have auditioned for almost every top show, big budget films (including Marvel) I've auditioned for huge commercial gigs and just booked and shot a National. I've booked Dirty John, a movie that played at Sundance and a few other great jobs. I am very grateful for the hard work they put in for me at MZA my imdb is James E Welsh Thank you for guiding me in my career. For those who complained in the reviews, when I went to the right photographer, got my reel up and followed the steps that were "recommended", I started getting auditions for shows like Yellowstone and got called back. That's just one of the many great auditions I got through my agent. I highly recommend MZA read more

From the moment I signed with MZA, I always had access to resources I needed, or at the very least, was directed to where I could get them. The staff are almost always available, and I can't say how much I've appreciated the sheer amount of roles I've gotten auditions for since signing. read more

I have always found MZA to be a wonderful agency to work with. The staff has always been supportive, knowledgeable responsive to my questions. I have truly valued Michael Zanuck and his staff. read more

Michael is great, and so is his staff. They are attentive, professional, and highly respected in the industry. I recommend them highly.

I've been with Michael Zanuck for over 4 years and he is such a joy to work with. He gets you honestly the best auditions for big TV shows (Netflix, amazon, Hulu, HBO +++) and he never gives up on you. I only have great things to say and I would highly recommend him to any starting off or working actor in LA read more

I have been a client of Michael's for over 5 years. A friend offered to walk me in the door. Doing my homework, I researched him and was appalled by what people said about his taking kickbacks and scamming. I felt confused - why was my smart, successful friend with him? I went to the meeting to see what my gut said. I had a really professional meeting that made business sense to me and got no signals from my gut that he was shady. I signed because I decided it was important to have my own personal experiences with people and because I trusted my instincts. Even so, I was curious about all the bad press. So when I would attend Casting Director Workshops, when I would be one on one with casting, I would ask them their opinion of Michael and they always raved. I find Michael a positive and enthusiastic person. He's been in the business a long time but he's not over it - he still thrives on it. He is even excited about all the changes in the industry over the past few years and I really value that because often others who've been around for awhile only complain. I have not been an artist who books Nationals or leads in Feature Films, yet I have always had access to Michael by phone or email whenever I've needed to ask for a pitch, or question a contract, or discuss materials. This accessibility is gold. I'll leave you with this - one day last year I answered my phone wondering why Michael was calling me. He told me he'd been watching late night TV the night before and caught me on James Corden in a sketch. He loved it and thought I'd knocked it out of the park - he wanted to make sure they had given me a good contract and after we chatted another minute he signed off to go call CBS. I hadn't even really been sure he knew who I was... HA! He basically keeps proving himself to me and I'm done looking for the faults that 'buyer beware" reviews put into my head. If you are doing your research like I was and finding these conflicting reviews confusing, take the meeting and see what you think. You'll know if it's a good fit for you. This is a tough business, but there are right jobs and right agents for all of us. Stay open and keep moving forward. All the best-- read more

The Michael Zanuck Agency is a wonderful agency. Michael works hard to get their clients top notch jobs. He is dedicated, upfront, professional, and continues to work with his clients. I would not let him go from me, because he is honest with every job he finds and fits me to. Michael is an upfront kind of person and I love that about him. He is intelligent and a loveable person. I am pleased to have him to work for my successes. Thank you Michael Zanuck you are always in my corner. I am thrilled to have him as my Agent. He keeps me busy! I am in a movie because of Michael Zanuck and that movie is called Them Covenant on Amazon Prime. read more

I've been with Michael for about 5 years now. He's great. No problems. He's responsive (you can get the guy on the phone within seconds) and he'll get you in the room for auditions on a regular basis. He'll tell you what he thinks.To me, that's a good agent. Does he recommend you get new headshots when you sign with him? Yes. However, that experience matches EVERY agent and manager I've ever worked with in the business (in New York and Chicago as well as L.A.) -- from big (I was repped by Brillstein and APA at points in my career) to small. Michael has a specific way he likes headshots done. Again, so does every manager and agent I've ever worked with. If you don't like his approach then don't do it. He's great. read more

Here is my shake on Michael- He has a very specific way of working that he developed for himself. Just like every other agent. I have never signed up with any agent who didn't want new headshots. The difference is that he knows what he wants, he knows what works for him, and he has 30 years of experience knowing what will work for you. I think he gets a lot of negativity because he is willing to give new people a shot, but wants it done the way he knows works. I have come to realize the reality of the business is far removed from the advice columns I read when I moved to LA. Two very successful actors who were with Michael and a couple of Legendary Casting Directors told me to go to him. If you listen to what he says you will get auditions. I went from him getting me a co-star audition a week, a guest audition every two, sag commercial auditions consistently, and regulars thrown in every so often. I was having a lot of success then decided to test the waters elsewhere to "move up" and rarely got anything. Ive heard a lot of promises and boasts about what some companies can do but Michael puts in the work. I dropped everyone one day and gave him a call and he invited me back without any ego or negativity. I can call him on his cell phone whenever Im having issues. THE BEST PART IS - he tells you his actual opinion. He doesn't sugar coat his opinions, nor should he. read more

I told him and I'll share with you...THE BEST! What an impact Michael and his staff (Olivia..so helpful!!) have had on me me over the years. I'm a TV News guy who played that role in TV Shows & Movies all because MZA had faith in me. He is a Hollywood big shot...who doesn't act that way. He has all the contacts you would ever need. So accessible and just a great guy. I shall always root for the Ohio State Buckeyes in his honor (except when they are playing my favorite teams!). HIGHLY RECOMMEND MZA! read more

MZA is the best agency I ever had my whole acting career! They got me the best auditions, always stayed professional, respectful, and understanding. I highly recommend them! read more

I have been with Michael Zanuck for more than 30 years to date. I am a 66 year old African-American dancer, actress, producer, writer, and heir. There's not one thing about Michael Zanuck that I can ever say in my lifetime, that would be negative. He has served me in ways that you will never get a chance to see because the world is not the same. If you listen to the negativity that frustrated people put out because maybe they weren't accepted by Michael maybe Michael submitted you and you never got any audition, that's not his fault. It's his integrity as a man and an agent to see you move through your career and get to places that you dream of. If no one can boast and lift up information about an agent who worked in this industry for over 40 years, I have a lot to say about Michael Zanuck! an"And, there's not one negative thing I can say. So if you're looking for an agent and you have what Michael thinks he might be able to work with then step to the plate and I'll see you at the audition. Thank you. read more

Michael is a great agent! Ive only been with him for a couple months, but he's already getting me auditions for major tv shows. He's also super available to his clients. Anytime I call, he either answers or calls back right away. Plus he's a really nice guy! Zero complaints here :) read more

He was very rude. He denies you on first go and makes you be SAG eligible no matter if you have been acting actively or not. He curses and said F U. He isn't an ideal agent since he had a horrible attitude. If you speak with him you would just get a uncomfortable vibe because he talks down to you. After telling him he is rude he gets ridiculous. No way to deal with him it's very unfortunate since it's a hard business to pursue. I wouldn't recommend Michael or this agency. Just a read this if you'd prefer a nicer and easy going agent. Being rude doesn't make you seem respectable. read more

I used to be a callow 25-year-old actor. Now that I'm a callow 50-something year-old-actor I wish I had known Michael Zanuck back then. I'm from the UK originally and, after being with MZA for several years, decided to return to London in 2008, Michael wished me farewell with no acrimony. I came back in 2010 and Michael said: "Let's just pick up where we left off shall we?". He immediately got me in to read for Pirates of the Caribbean. The best agent I ever had? The agent I wish I had twenty years ago? Yep. He has great energy and a wonderful way about him. Hard to describe. It's very laid-back, but no BS. Sanguine but focused. Maybe it's that mid-west upbringing in Cincinnati? He's loyal, hardworking, with great instincts and a superb knowledge of the show-business landscape. Michael is now guiding the next generation of the Laing family and doing sterling work for my kids, one of who booked a national commercial and the other just booked a phone commercial for the Asian market and another for a toy company. The sub agents are just as good - Kyle Jolly, Liana, former Christian Anthony and the late, beloved Olivia May. Great team, led by the fearless MZA himself - Michael Zanuck. read more

I've been a client of Michael's for a year now. The team at MZA has helped me land several great paying TV and movie roles since I signed with them. Michael is always busy. Always working deals on the phone. Always sending out emails and submitting his clients to auditions. He never stops. His work ethic is unmatched. His methods may be different than other agencies', but he gets results. read more

I have been a client of Michael's for about 8 years now and honestly feel like he is not only the best agent I've ever had...he is family. He LITERALLY makes you feel like you are his only client and treats me like I'm his daughter, he cares that much!!! 9 times out of 10, he picks up the phone when I call and if he doesn't, he texts/emails or calls me back by the end of the day. He really acts more like a manager than an agent in that he cares SO much about you and your career. He has marketing and strategizing sessions with me all the time and he's always there for me to cheer me on, making me feel like I'm literally the best actor on the planet. Any time I ask him to pitch for me, he does. And I don't even need to ask because most of the time he's already done it. I have had more auditions and more bookings than ever, and he constantly pushes me to make myself the most competitive actor I can be. I've heard that people think Michael takes kickbacks because he wants you to shoot specific headshots...this could not be further from the truth. First of all, he organizes group photo shoots with a very reasonable photographer so that it will be even CHEAPER for you, but he is totally fine if you choose your own photographer...he truly is trying to save you money. Second, he wants you to shoot specific headshots because he knows this is WHAT WORKS and he truly wants you to WORK. I actually fought him on his photo ideas for years and when I finally bit the bullet and shot new pics the way he wanted, I started auditioning and booking like crazy. He has been in the industry forever and KNOWS what works. And every casting director I talk to appreciates that about him and loves to work with him. Another thing I should mention is his heart for the homeless, just because it shows what a great guy he is. He started his own organization that raises money and feeds the homeless, and he also helps facilitate getting them jobs. He is a wonderful man and I am so grateful he is in my life and in my corner. read more

He's terrible and a creep. Now I'm working again but had an awful experience with him and his staff. They had me do 14 new looks with a photographer, which is crazy. He's in with the photographer and that's how he makes most of his money, is by signing a 100 new people every day and having them go to a specific photographer and do way more pictures than is necessary. He's uneducated and crass. He hugged me several times and it was creepy. He caressed my hand and it was also creepy. They get you 3 auditions (got mine with my old head shots too) and then they dump you after you get all the new shots. He even told me to get 25 copies printed of each one! lol, I didn't but he's got a deal with his Printer people as well. Just horrible business practices all around. DO NOT GO TO HIM NO MATTER HOW DESPERATE you are, it'll just be worse. read more

I have been a client of Michael's for more than a decade, and it is he that has helped me make my mark on Hollywood. When I received a call from his office in 2008 for possible representation, a 'friend' (a non-working actress) told me not to go, that he was a crook. I didn't listen and went anyway, claiming that I was going to have a great experience with meeting him, and I absolutely did. I booked the very first network job I auditioned for, "Til Death" with Brad Garrett. Because of Michael, I am now a working actor with over 50 IMBd credits large and small, and he and his team have been my best friends in this business and beyond. I do what he requests of me as a client, because he is always honorable, always looking out for my best interests, and it has paid off. He has been an agent for more than 30 years, so what he knows about how the TV & Film business works, only a veteran like him would know how to navigate. He couples this expertise with a wealth of knowledge about how to get the most for his clients. Because he is a veteran in the Hollywood trenches, he is not afraid to pitch me and others when he sees a great role that fits. This type of 'can do' attitude has gotten me onto the radar of huge casting offices that I could not otherwise even dream of getting into. Michael and I are a great team and I don't take our respective team roles lightly-- he gets me into the room; I go in and give my best and close the deal. He also has a great team of people on board that help him facilitate his tried and true agency process (Olivia is pure gold). I don't need to see submission reports because I am consistently auditioning all year long for quality roles, from Co-Star to Series Regular and everything in between. I love my agent! Here's to 12 more years, Michael! Oh, and by the way, that 'friend' eventually showed her true colors and we are no longer 'friends'. read more

For brand new actors who are desparate to get an agent, this is for you. Recently I went in to meet with Michael because a good friend of mine had been solicited by his agency via email. For those of you who a brand new to the business, this is a red flag. However he said he read several good reviews regarding MZA. Having heard many negative stories about Michael Zanuck, I decided to go in and meet him face-to-face and make my own opinion. With No intention to sign with him, I sent a blind email about representation and was contacted within 4 days to come in. This is how it went... RF = Red flag First he acted like knew and remembered me. I've never met him! (RF) Then he proceeded to tell me his history in Hollywood and all the different casting directors he's worked with. Next he asked for my headshot and if I had any questions. Having heard a lot his alleged picture scam, I asked him if he wanted to see my other pics, which consisted of 2 other looks. He glanced at them then grabbed a piece of paper and checked boxes of "characters looks" that he said I should have. "Businessman, young professional, officer, etc." He then handed me the paper and a packet with a list of directions to follow, such as websites to be on, formatting my resume, etc. Signing up for casting websites is a common practice so it didn't alarm me. However, he definitely didn't pay much attention to my headshots, which had been working fairly well for me in terms of getting auditions. (RF) Now here is my Red Flag List 1. He never asked me to read for him. Not a commercial scene or theatrical. I used my early resume which had little to nothing, but he was willing to rep me across the board. I can see how this would excite an actor desperately seeking representation, but you should sign with someone who believes in you as had an idea of what you can do! Not just look at you as a face that might fit a breakdown. 2. He didn't require you to book out if you're going to be unable to go on Auditions. That shocked me! Agents want to know if you're not available to go on auditions so they don't waste their time submitting you. If they are really submitting you. 3. HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN SUBMISSION REPORTS! Young actors, a submission report is your way of knowing your agent is actually doing his/her job. The agents I've had and have will provide one if requested, especially if you aren't getting auditions. The report allows you to see how often you've been submitted and what projects you eye submitted for. You don't need one every week, but every few months is a reasonable request! It takes 2 clicks of a button to get a submission report. The only reason I can imagine why he doesn't do this for his clients is because he doesn't want you to be able to monitor how little he is truly working for YOU. If you are a client, ask to see your submission reports for every 2 months, especially if you haven't had any auditions. If you see that you've been submitted for projects but are not getting called in, then you can't fault him. If he's really working hard for you, he'd be happy to prove it! 4. After I showed false interest and thanked him for his time. He mentioned the bad press he'd been getting and wouldnt mind a good review. Never had an agent request that. 5. I Imdbpro'd his roster and he has over two hundred actors that he SUPPOSEDLY does all of the theatrical submissions for. This alone would scare me off. There is no way that he can appropriately represent that many people by himself. I told my friend he should wait until he finds an agent with a bit more credibility and scruples. In my and many others opinion, Michael Zanuck is an unethical, fast- talking agent who relies on the desperation and naivete of actors who need are uniformed actors! read more

Michael is kind, shrewd, and absolutely invaluable to me. I had nary a credit to my name when he took me on and now I've worked on The Fosters, Two Broke Girls and others NDAs prevent me from naming. He has guided me, supported me, logged hours on the phone calming me down, the only time I'm unable to get ahold of him is when he does volunteer work on Monday nights. I'm grateful to have this particular being in my life, he makes it possible for me to do what I love. read more

I have never had an issue with MZA! Michael is a great agent who has been around a long time and knows what he is talking about. He has sent me out on multiple huge budge projects and I have booked with him many times. Not every agent is right for everyone but Michael is great for me. A perfect agent who answers when I call and handles his business professionally. A great agent in a business that is completely unpredictable. Keep rocking MZA! read more

Michael is a great agent! I've been with him for almost 10 years and I've booked over 50 different televisions shows. Thank you for all of your hard work! -BJ Clinkscales read more