Jessica’s A List

Love this calling service. The only calling service I know that actually cares about there clients. My car got totaled and I could work for 3 weeks as soon as I got a car and I told them what happened, they booked me non stop and I really appreciate that. They are so sweet and they are really good when is comes to booking Union.

They have changed the game for background actors! So happy that it is all through calling in and being able to talk with the lovely women that work there, rather than texting like so many services do nowadays! You actually get a chance for them to know you and feel comfortable booking you on jobs and know that you are a reliable client. They are the best in the business and therefore expect the best, and if you aren’t ready to give it to them, then I would suggest a different service! You get what you give my fellow BG!

Eek! Methinks not. Jessica Pappas has got to be one of the worst, most uncompassionate of people in the industry. It was all fine and dandy when I was new and she was getting me a lot of jobs, but then I made a mistake. I’m human. But then Jessica, always thinking for herself and not others, pounced on me. She’ll use things against you that you’ve told her. One time I received a call from her late ust to receive a berating. I didn’t need that nor did I deserve it. She’s very old school and set in her ways. Even the mere mention of technology and all this social media stuff made her uncomfortable enough to try to spin it as some diss to anyone who liked it or used it. Red flag. I can only imagine if these are her friends or she gave a discount or kickback to in exchange for her star ratings to go higher. One time she even said for me to go to set and not even brush my teeth as I had been late. The more professional thing would be to not stress out that her «reputation» was on the line and get your talent to set, tell him/​her to bring his brush and paste to set and do it there on a break/​downtime. Don’t trust her with anything but to help herself out. She’s always costed more than the other scam services in town and got away with it. Mostly known for having the older talent of the industry, she gets away with it because of the desperation older people have because of the already lack of work there is out there for those types. Just another snooty stuck up person who hides behind a phone and a fake mailbox in east Hollywood. If you want to save yourself some heartache, don’t even deal with this less than a mere sliver sham of a business where she only cares abour herself. Not you.

I have been with 4 different calling services since I moved to LA in 1999. Jessica’s A-​list has been the best one by far. I usually get my long term stand in work on my own, but every time I’m not on those jobs, they always hustle to get me work and there have been times where they’ve even helped me in getting the long term gigs. I can’t say enough nice things about them as everyone on their staff are super hard workers and amazing at what they do!

I have been with Jessica’s A List since 2009 and have had nothing but the best experience with them. They keep me busy and are such fun ladies to work with, I highly recommend them!

As a member of the screen actors Guild, I don’t know how I would stay employed as much as I do if it wasn’t for Jessica’s A List. I’ve been with them for a few years now and have been pretty fortunate with the work they’ve gotten me. The ladies have always been courteous and professional with me on the phone, and are quite understanding if I have a sudden schedule conflict. Much more so than other services I’ve used in the past.
Whenever I’ve not received steady work, I feel that it was a result of a slow time in the local industry and not because they weren’t trying to find employment for me. In fact, whenever I speak to other members in the film industry, they are overwhelmingly positive with Jessica’s service, which is why I believe so many people try to join and stay with them.
I’ve learned, over the years, that work in this field can come and go and many factors can affect how often you get called in for parts. That being said, I truly feel that Jessica’s A-​List is a great match for me, and I’m always happy to recommend them to people looking for quality representation.

I have been with Jessica’s A-​List for about 2 years now, and I wouldn’t be working without them. These ladies have seen me through from the early lost stages of this job, into the organized professional that I am today. The A-​list staff has a strong reputation with casting directors, and as a result their clients get the good jobs. That is really the bottom line. When you put your trust in a company, you need to know that they have the resources to produce results.
This business is tough, because it is so easy to be taken personally. We feel that if we don’t get a certain job, or a service doesn’t take us on as a client, that we aren’t good enough, or aren’t bookable. That is the reason most people have an issue with any company of this nature even though a lot of times that has nothing to do with it.
The absolute best part of the A-​List is that they take their submission process very seriously. They only take on clients that are professional, and reliable, which furthers the legitimacy of both their own reputation, and their clients. This makes them stand out against a canvas of other calling services. Along with exclusively taking on only the upmost professionals, they also keep a personal approach in a business that has become all too impersonal. When I call them I get greeted with my name and a conversation, rather than a webpage and an 800 number.
The caliber of work, paired with the personal approach is why I couldn’t see myself with any other company.

If I didn’t have to rate this company, I wouldn’t. Certainly not worth one star.
After submitting the necessary paperwork and being accepted for consideration for various film & commercial jobs through Jessica’s Calling Service, I had the most unfortunate experience of speaking to Mollye (whom I believe to be one of the company’s co-​founders), just one day following my acceptance therein.
Mollye has a very pseudo-​authoritative, bossy, and loud voiced demeanor and tried to both intimidate and discomfort me (a 6’2″ 215lb man), with constant interruption, overspeaking, a smug attitude, and (most astonishingly) an obvious aversion to me being Multiracial/​mixed-​race.
When speaking over the phone, some people create a mental depiction of the race and appearance of the person with whom they’re speaking based upon certain verbal cues, and apparently, my ‘ethnic sounding’ (read here: non-​white) & deep bass voice must’ve triggered an image in her mind that led her to believe that I wasn’t worthy of her respect and professionalism.
Regarding the racial issue in particular, she was confused and dumb-​founded as to my racial identity although I had clearly stated as much in my initial e-​mail to her in which I provided a clear and easy to follow synopsis of who I am in a nutshell (including my racial heritage).
Being the naïve, inexperienced, or more perhaps lily-​white, and/​or the simple minded person that she is, she attempted to project her inadequate and passive-​aggressive racist attitude and feelings about me being mixed-​race upon me, by saying such rude things like «what are you?» and «you’re in between». I had to remind this moron that the Multiracial population is not ‘in-​between’ anything but is in fact one in which augments, or is in addition to, the previously existing racial categories. Her response: «we’ll choose the roles for you based on how we see you», showing no respect to my own judgement, self-​knowledge, and decision making prowess when taking into consideration particular roles.
A few moments later into this very uncomfortable conversation, I asked a very simple, easy question regarding the rates for particular roles (I believe for commercials), and it was at this moment that she blew up in an arrogant tiff, completely insulted that someone like me would ask someone like her such a question. She was incensed that I asked the question, stating very proudly, loudly, and matter of factly, «well, our clients already know these things prior to joining us», to which I responded sarcastically (after already being pissed off regarding her racial rudeness), «well excuse me Mollye! Excuse me!». She then very snootily retorted, «You know what, I don’t think we’re going to bring you on as a client», and then promptly hung up!
In conclusion, I’d recommend avoiding these people, Mollye in particular, who is a complete ass, jerk, and b****. I’ve come to find out that this display is in fact indicative of Mollye’s reputation in the industry as well, as I’ve questioned many people about her and her business.
If Mollye’s conduct is any indication, they are completely unprofessional and narrow-​minded when it comes to dealing with the diversity of today’s world. I’m not sure of the lily-​white insular enclave that these people come from, but if you’re not cut from the same cloth, I’d highly recommend you look elsewhere.
*To respond to Mollye, my comments are completely true. I am professional, and I have a great attitude. I’ve been working for 15 years as a Project Manager and Supervisor, and I hold a B.S. Biology/​Sociology. It is insulting for you to suggest that someone like me would have been a detriment to your business when my history proves otherwise, but your comment proves my point. I have more real life/​real world experience than you do. There is nothing about me, other your own racist passive-​aggression, misperceptions, fears, and insecurities, that should’ve prompted you to behave in such a manner during our conversation. It was in your best interest to not do business with me if you wished to maintain as white/​white-​washed of an employee base as possible.*