Talent Packaging
Bundling multiple talent clients together for a production project.
Definition
Talent packaging is the practice, typically by agencies, of bundling multiple talent clients together—writer, director, stars—as a package offered to studios or financiers. A well-constructed package can make a project more attractive by reducing the need for studios to assemble elements individually.
Packaging has been controversial, with some studios and guilds pushing back on packaging fees that agencies charge. However, the practice remains common, particularly for projects being assembled outside the studio system.
Why It Matters
Understanding packaging dynamics helps producers and talent navigate project assembly. Package construction can determine whether projects get made and on what terms.
For talent, knowing how packaging works helps them understand their role in project development and compensation structures.
Examples in Practice
An agency packages their client director with two actor clients, presenting a ready-to-greenlight project that sells quickly.
A producer works with an agency to assemble a package that changes the project's commercial profile and attracts studio interest.
A writer discovers their project is being packaged with agency clients they didn't choose, raising questions about creative fit.