Agence Adequat
Paris agency that inspired the Netflix series 'Ten Percent' (Dix Pour Cent)
Overview
Agence Adequat is a distinguished Paris-based artistic agency that has earned both industry respect and popular recognition as the agency that inspired the hit Netflix series 'Ten Percent' (originally titled 'Dix Pour Cent' in French). The agency was established as an artist-driven management firm representing actors, directors, and authors working in French film, television, and theatre. Adequat was founded with the conviction that talent representation should be more than a commercial transaction — that agents should be genuine advocates and creative partners who understand the artistic process and respect the creative autonomy of their clients. The agency's offices are located at 42/44 rue de Paradis in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, a vibrant neighborhood that has become home to many creative businesses and cultural institutions. The agency is directed by experienced agents who came up through the French entertainment industry and bring deep knowledge of both the business mechanics and artistic culture of French cinema and television. When the creators of 'Ten Percent' wanted to depict the inner workings of a French talent agency authentically, they looked to Agence Adequat as their model, giving the agency a level of cultural visibility rare for talent management firms.
Today Agence Adequat operates as one of Paris's respected artistic agencies, representing a carefully curated roster of established and emerging talent working in French and European productions. The agency's clients appear in French cinema ranging from auteur-driven art films to popular commercial features, French television series for both traditional broadcasters and streaming platforms, international co-productions that shoot in France, and theatre productions in Paris and across French-speaking regions. The agency maintains active relationships with casting directors, producers, and production companies throughout France, and increasingly with international producers and streamers who are investing in French-language content as global audiences develop stronger appetites for non-English programming. The cultural recognition that came from being the model for 'Ten Percent' has given the agency a unique profile both within the industry and among the general public, though the agency's professional reputation was well-established long before the series aired. Adequat's representation philosophy emphasizes long-term career development over short-term gains, artist autonomy in creative decisions, and the importance of maintaining artistic integrity even while pursuing commercial success.
How It Works
Agence Adequat accepts submissions from professional actors, directors, and authors who have demonstrable training, professional credits, and artistic sensibility aligned with the agency's values and aesthetic. For actors, this means formal training from recognized French drama schools or conservatories such as the Cours Florent, Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique, or equivalent international institutions, along with professional credits in French film, television, or theatre that demonstrate on-camera ability and artistic range. The agency seeks performers who are serious about their craft, who view acting as an artistic calling rather than merely a career, and who are committed to building sustainable long-term careers in French and European entertainment. Directors and authors should submit portfolios or writing samples that demonstrate distinctive artistic voices and professional readiness. All submissions should be made through professional channels with materials in French, as the agency operates primarily in the French market and language fluency is essential. The agency is highly selective about new signings, prioritizing quality over quantity and ensuring they can provide genuine career attention to every client they represent.
Agence Adequat provides comprehensive artistic management services rooted in deep knowledge of French cinema, television, and theatre. For actors, this includes strategic career guidance that considers both artistic goals and commercial realities, submission to casting directors for film, television, and theatre projects throughout France and French-speaking markets, audition coordination and coaching when appropriate, negotiation of contracts and fees to ensure fair compensation and proper working conditions, and ongoing advocacy with casting directors, producers, and filmmakers on behalf of their clients. The agency's agents are experienced industry professionals who understand both the business mechanics of entertainment and the artistic process, allowing them to provide nuanced guidance that respects their clients' creative autonomy while also being realistic about market conditions and career strategy. The agency's Paris location provides direct access to the center of the French entertainment industry, facilitating relationship-building, networking opportunities, and staying connected to emerging trends and projects. Adequat's long-term approach to representation means they invest in building clients' careers over years and decades, making strategic decisions that prioritize sustainable development over quick wins that might compromise artistic reputation or career trajectory.
Who Uses It
Agence Adequat represents a selective roster of French and French-speaking actors, directors, and authors who share the agency's commitment to artistic quality and professional excellence. The actors represented by the agency range from emerging talent building their early credits to established stars of French cinema and television, with a common thread of serious artistic commitment and strong technical craft. The agency's roster reflects the diversity of French entertainment, including actors who work across film, television, and theatre, performers with both commercial appeal and critical credibility, and talent who move between mainstream French productions and more experimental, auteur-driven projects. The directors and authors represented by Adequat similarly span career stages and creative approaches, from emerging voices developing their first features to established auteurs with festival recognition and critical acclaim. Casting directors and producers who work with Agence Adequat know the agency for representing talented, reliable, professionally serious artists whose work meets high standards.
Pricing & Plans
Agence Adequat operates on a commission-based representation model standard in the French entertainment industry, earning a percentage of the fees their clients receive for work secured through the agency's representation and relationships. For actors, commission typically ranges from 10-15% of acting fees for film, television, and theatre engagements, consistent with French industry norms and regulated by professional standards governing artist representation in France. Directors and authors similarly pay commission on work facilitated by the agency's efforts, with specific terms established in individual management contracts. The agency does not charge upfront fees, administrative costs, or any charges unrelated to successfully booked work — their financial interests are directly aligned with their clients' professional success. All contract terms, commission structures, and the scope of representation are clearly defined in the management agreement signed at the beginning of the representation relationship. Agence Adequat handles contract negotiation on behalf of their clients, ensuring that fees are appropriate to the project budget and the client's experience level, and that working conditions, credits, screen billing, and other professional terms properly protect the artist's interests and reflect their market position.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Agence Adequat's greatest strength is the combination of their deep roots in French cinema and theatre, their genuine respect for the artistic process and their clients' creative autonomy, and their experienced agents who bring both business acumen and cultural sophistication to the representation relationship. The agency's cultural profile as the inspiration for 'Ten Percent' has given them unique visibility and has introduced the general public to the important role that thoughtful, artist-focused representation plays in creative careers, though their professional reputation in the industry was well-established before the series aired. The boutique scale of the agency ensures that each client receives genuine personal attention and strategic career guidance rather than being lost in a massive roster. Adequat's selective approach to new signings means that being represented by the agency carries implicit credibility with casting directors and producers who trust the agency's judgment and know their recommendations are carefully considered. The agency's long-term approach to career development aligns their interests with sustainable artistic success rather than short-term commercial exploitation, creating representation relationships that can last decades and evolve as clients' careers develop.
What Could Be Better
Agence Adequat's highly selective approach and established client roster mean they have very limited capacity for new signings, making them extremely difficult to access for emerging actors who do not yet have significant professional credits or training from recognized French institutions. The agency's focus on the French and French-speaking markets means they are not the right fit for talent seeking primary representation in other major markets such as the US, UK, or non-Francophone European countries where different agency relationships would be more strategically valuable. The boutique scale of the agency, while providing personalized attention, also means they have less overall market presence and casting leverage than the very largest French agencies with bigger rosters and more agents. The agency's emphasis on artistic quality and auteur-driven projects may mean they are less active in purely commercial work like advertising, corporate video, or high-volume commercial casting that some actors rely on for income during slow periods. Fluency in French is essential for working with the agency and in the French market generally, which limits accessibility for non-French-speaking talent.
Our Recommendation
Agence Adequat is ideal for professionally trained French actors, directors, and authors who are based in France and committed to building serious, sustainable careers in French cinema, television, and theatre, particularly those who value artistic integrity and long-term career development over purely commercial considerations. The agency is best suited for talent who have formal training from recognized institutions, who have some professional credits already established, and who are looking for representation that will invest in their career as a multi-decade journey. If you are an emerging actor without significant credits, seeking representation primarily for commercial work, or interested in markets outside the French-speaking world, a different agency with more specific focus in those areas would likely be more appropriate. Actors who thrive at Agence Adequat are those who take their craft seriously, who value the quality of their representation relationship, who respect the collaborative nature of the agent-client partnership, and who understand that building a meaningful career in French entertainment requires patience, artistic commitment, and strategic long-term thinking.
Pro Tips
When approaching Agence Adequat, ensure your submission materials are professionally excellent and presented in French — this demonstrates both your professionalism and your readiness to work in the French market. Your showreel should showcase your range and screen presence through clips from professional productions, not student films or amateur work, as the agency's standards are high and they will only consider talent who demonstrate clear professional readiness. Research the agency's existing roster to understand the type of work they represent and be prepared to articulate why their representation philosophy aligns with your own career values and goals. Demonstrate your commitment to your craft through continued training, theatre work, and engagement with French artistic culture beyond simply seeking commercial success. Once represented, approach the relationship with the seriousness and respect it deserves — be strategic about role selection with input from your agent, maintain the highest standards of professionalism in all industry interactions, invest in your ongoing development as an artist, and recognize that Adequat's strength is playing the long game of building sustainable careers rather than chasing short-term opportunities that might not serve your larger artistic goals.