equals mgmt.

how we
work with
agencies.

A guide for creatives, producers, and heads of production
Where we come in / 02

Think of us like your Rep.
Without the retainer.
Without the exclusivity.
Without the fee on top.

You shouldn't have to sign your account over to a production company just to work with the director you want. We handle the search across territories and prod cos. You get one number for the whole job.

equals mgmt. / how we work with agencies 02 / 10
Where we fit / 03

Six inboxes,
or one.

Not another layer. A curator.
Before 12 prod cos · 36 directors · 6 inboxes
AGENCY Prod A Prod B Prod C Rep 1 Rep 2 Rep 3 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 each prod co's own bench P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 3 dirs 3 dirs 3 dirs 3 dirs 3 dirs 3 dirs 3 dirs 3 dirs 3 dirs each rep pushes 9 more directors through 3 more prod cos
  • Six inboxes on the surface. Twelve prod cos in the traffic.
  • Every prod co keeps its own bench, no overlap.
  • Every rep pushes 3 prod cos, 9 directors each.
  • You do the pairing, and the availability chase.
After 1 inbox · 3–5 matched directors · prod co agnostic
AGENCY equals Shortlist + prod co pairing Job on set
Curator's eye. Not locked to any prod co.
Budget-aware from the first pass.
  • Taste-led pairing. Built for the brief, not our commercial ties.
  • Hundreds of prod cos vetted. A handful put forward.
  • Availability confirmed at source, not pencilled from memory.
  • One inbox absorbs the coordination work.
equals mgmt. / how we work with agencies 03 / 10
Ground rules / 04

What we won't do.

01
We won't send you assholes.
Talent isn't enough. If the director is a nightmare in a PPM, they don't go on your shortlist. That filter is the whole point.
02
We won't misrepresent who we rep.
You'll know who we rep, in which territory, and who reps them everywhere else. No games with split territories, no ambiguity when a producer asks.
03
We won't dump the roster on you.
That's our job. You get a fast reply with two or three directors who fit the brief, reels cut to the work that matters. No folder of twenty and a "let us know what you think."
04
We won't leak your brief.
Everything stays tight and on a need-to-know basis. If you want budgets pressure-tested with the market, we'll do it without your name or the creative attached.
equals mgmt. / how we work with agencies 04 / 10
What we do for you / 05

You brief once.
We handle the rest.

Budget fit
No A-lister day rates on a B-list job. The names you get already fit what the job can actually spend, so nobody has to walk anyone back from a wish list that isn't in reach.
International shoot brain
Tax credits, rebates, service partners, crew depth. When "somewhere cheaper" comes up in a status, we've got the answer.
Real availability
When we say a director's free, they are. We've usually spoken to them the same day, so you don't get a pencil from three weeks ago that no one's confirmed.
Prod co pairing on request
If you haven't locked in a production company, we can pair the director with one we've worked with before. Both sides briefed by us, both sides vouched for. If you already have your prod co, we work with them.
equals mgmt. / how we work with agencies 05 / 10
How it works / 06

From brief to
booked director.

1
You send the brief
Scripts, mood, budget, dates. Rough stage is fine. The earlier we see it, the better the fit.
2
Directors matched in 24 hours
Small, considered, budget-tuned. Each director comes paired with a prod co - domestic or international, your call.
3
We stay close
Through the process, we stay in the loop. Availability shifts, questions, anything that needs a nudge - one point of contact throughout.
equals mgmt. / how we work with agencies 06 / 10
The money / 07

We come out
of the total.
Not on top.

The rate we quote is the total. Our commission comes out of it, not on top. What your producer bids is what we said.

No fees to brief us. We only earn when you book.

equals mgmt. / how we work with agencies 07 / 10
Territories / 08

Where we work.

Directors and production companies across every territory below. 45 countries with an equals director on set.

United Kingdom
United States
Continental Europe
Middle East
India
Southeast Asia
Latin America
Africa
30%
Did you know?
Kosovo runs a cash rebate this size on qualifying advertising spend.
equals mgmt. / how we work with agencies 08 / 10
Case study / 09

$1.3m
$800k.

US pharma brand. Same director, half a million saved.

A US pharma brand came to us via a global network agency. $1.3m for a New York shoot. The CD had already fallen in love with a director who normally works out of Europe.

We proposed Romania with a service partner we've used for eight years. Same director. Same finish. Half a million saved, redirected to an OOH extension and a paid social cutdown that beat the hero. Plus set builds and extras the New York budget wouldn't have stretched to.

equals mgmt. / how we work with agencies 09 / 10
Two ways to start / 10

Send a brief.
Or just book time.

01
Send us a brief
Any stage, any budget. Matched directors and production company recommendations in your inbox within 24 hours.
nell@equalsmgmt.com →
02
Book a call
30 minutes with Nell Sherman, our US Rep. Roster walkthrough, territory intel, and how we've solved briefs like yours.
calendly.com/equalsmgmt →
Scott Pugnetti
Founder · equals mgmt
scott@equalsmgmt.com
Nell Sherman
US Representative · equals mgmt
nell@equalsmgmt.com
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