Solomon Artistes

About Us

http://www.solomon-artistes.co.uk

17:51 10-Sep-2010

Solomon Artistes is an agency which specialises in supplying supporting and walk-on Artistes for Film & Television Productions, Corporate/Pop Videos, Commercials and character models for photographic/modeling assignments in London and the South East.

Solomon Artistes was formed in June 1995 and we represent approximately 2000 carefully selected Artistes with a professional approach to the work, and with some form of theatrical, performing or media background. They can be found both on our website and on our files.

For the first three years the agency only represented actors and not Extra's (Supporting Artistes). At that time we had approximately 50 actors on our books all highly talented. We represented two of the original cast of Phantom of the Opera, a young lady who starred in Carousel, one of the Guys from Five Guys Named Mo & Carmen Jones as well as two of the cast of Starlight Express.

We produced two showcases, one at our late friends theatre in Farnborough and the other at The Jermyn Street Theatre in the West End of London. We invited casting directors to come and see our artistes perform. One of the Casting Directors that came to the showcase was from the The Bill and quite a few of our actors were asked to come down to their offices at the studios for interviews.

It was then decided that we would have two sides to the agency. One would be SAMI 1 (SAMI being the first letters of the company name) representing actors and the other would be SAMI 2 which represented Extras (Supporting Artistes).

As the agency grew, mainly because of its reputation for quality and reliability, we decided to move solely into providing supporting and walk-on artistes and focused on the Extras/Supporting Artistes supplying them for TV, Film, Commercials, Pop Videos, Corporate Videos and Photographic work. The company was then referred to as Solomon Artistes.

Some of the actors that were with us stayed with the agency to work as an SA (Supporting Artiste) and we have always been very stringent on who we take on ensuring that they have a good background within the industry rather than someone who has just walked off the street and "wants to be on TV!" Some of our artistes have special skills ranging from Dancing and Singing to Fire Breathing and Unicycling.

Infact these special skills came in very useful when we were contacted by a local shopping centre (The Eastgate Centre, Basildon) to help them with a big relaunch after they had refitted the whole centre. They asked for Circus performers and acts and we were able to provide several people over two-three weeks that belly danced, performed magic, unicycled, juggled etc. We have also provided Father Christmas' for some of the Debenham stores too.

In the very early days we provided Extra's for a Channel 4 production called "Mosley". This was a four part drama about Oswald Mosley and his black shirts. Although we were a relatively new company we were given the opportunity of providing half the artistes on the production. However, shortly into the filming of the production we were asked if we would be able to provide all the artistes required for the production because they were very happy with us. We were absolutely delighted and went on to provide aproximately 2000 SA's.

We also provided many extras on the "The Borrowers" starring John Candy. The production company asked us for red headed people and we provided them with many people some of whom actually dyed their hair red for the occasion!

We have gained many commercials and photographic jobs over the years, including Yellow Pages, British Gas, BT, Boots, Woolworths etc (please see our CV for more productions). 

Other large productions that we have been involved include Possessions with Nicole Kidman, Thunderbirds, This Years Love with Kathy Burke, Love Is The Devil with Derek Jacobi, and Dinotopia to name but a few.

The agency has been involved with most of the current and past television productions for example EastEnders, The Bill, Holby, Bad Girls series 8 & 9, Dream Team (six series), Oliver Twist, League of Gentleman, The Lenny Henry Show, My Family, Ready When You Are Mr McGill, White Teeth, Playing The Field, Wyrdsister, Mile High, Perfect Strangers (previously titled Family Tree) with Michael Gambon, Footballers Wives, Midsommer Murders, Silent Witness, Nighty Night, The Catherine Tate Show, Lil Miss Jocelyne, Plus One, Murder in Mind, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Green Green Grass, Mighty Bhoosh, Wall of Silence and Family Affairs.

Some of the more recent and large Films/TV productions that we have been involved with are Franklyn, Death At A Funeral directed by Frank Oz, Green Green Grass, Broken, Plus One, Shoot on Sight, Spooks, Missing (with Pauline Quirke) and Stockwell (reconstruction of the shooting in London). 

Our website is updated on a daily basis in order that production companies, assistant directors and casting personnel can see any new artistes and obviously any new photographs.

We recruit suitable Artistes on an ongoing basis, according to need and have many reliable sources for any additional or unusual requirements.

Salary vouchers and release forms are provided free of charge to production companies for Artistes booked through this Agency.

We also offer a payroll service whereby the handling of National Insurance deductions for employee and employer are done on behalf of the employer and accounted for to the Inland Revenue.
Our Office Hours are 0930 to 1800 Monday to Friday.
At all other times a member of staff is available on the mobile to deal with changes, late bookings and emergencies.

We are an extremely competitive and energetic company, and we care about the work we do.  

Please contact us on 020 7748 4409 or 07808 740918 with any requirements that you may have. Alternatively email us on info@solomon-artistes.co.uk and we will contact you as soon as possible.

If you are an artiste that would like to join the agency please visit the information for artistes (how to join page) for further instructions.