Ryan Artists

Ryan Artists was founded in 1981, giving the agency more than 40 years of continuous operation that establishes it as Portland's longest-running and most historically significant talent agency in Oregon's entertainment and fashion industries. Located at 4804 NW Bethany Blvd in Portland, Ryan Artists holds the distinction of being Oregon's only full-service union-franchised talent agency, a credential that provides both professional legitimacy and the legal authorization to represent talent on SAG-AFTRA union projects — a status that many agencies claim but few actually possess through official franchise agreements. The agency represents actors for film, television, and commercial work, models for fashion, lifestyle, runway, and print campaigns, and voiceover artists for commercial, narration, animation, and corporate projects, creating a comprehensive full-service operation that serves the complete spectrum of Oregon's production and fashion economy. Their four-decade history demonstrates sustained business effectiveness and genuine value delivery in a competitive industry where agencies without real results do not survive for 40-plus years. The union franchise status ensures adherence to SAG-AFTRA's ethical business practice requirements and provides represented union talent with the contractual protections and compensation standards that franchise agreements guarantee.

In the current Portland and Oregon market, Ryan Artists operates as the state's premier full-service talent operation, uniquely positioned as the only union-franchised agency in Oregon and therefore the exclusive legitimate pathway for Oregon actors seeking representation on SAG-AFTRA projects. The theatrical division represents actors for film and television productions shooting in Oregon, a market that has grown substantially due to the Oregon Production Investment Fund (OPIF) which provides rebates for qualified film and television productions, attracting projects that might otherwise shoot elsewhere. The commercial division handles high-volume audition and booking activity for regional and national commercial campaigns, a category that generates significant income for working actors in the Portland market. The modeling division serves Portland's active fashion scene including runway work, print campaigns for regional brands, lifestyle and catalog photography, and the substantial e-commerce sector driven by Oregon-based companies. The voiceover department represents voice talent for commercial spots, corporate narration, animation, gaming, and other voice applications that the Portland market produces with increasing frequency.

Prospective talent can submit to Ryan Artists through the agency's established submission channels, with materials evaluated based on professional quality, marketability, training and experience, and how well you fill gaps in the existing roster's demographic and type coverage across the acting, modeling, and voiceover categories. For theatrical submissions, professional headshots and a detailed resume highlighting training credentials from recognized institutions, performance credits, and special skills provide the foundation for consideration, with demo reels significantly strengthening your submission. For modeling submissions, professional photos with current measurements and statistics are essential, as fashion and commercial clients make casting decisions based on specific physical requirements. For voiceover consideration, professional voice demos showcasing your range, character capabilities, and commercial read technique are required. The union-franchised status means the agency can represent both SAG-AFTRA union members and non-union performers, though union actors seeking union project representation should prioritize agencies with franchise status. The Portland location at 4804 NW Bethany Blvd is accessible for in-person meetings and go-sees when required by clients.

Once represented by Ryan Artists, talent experience comprehensive submission activity across the acting, modeling, and voiceover categories, with the agency's 40-plus years of accumulated industry relationships providing access to casting directors, production companies, fashion clients, advertising agencies, and commercial photographers throughout Oregon and increasingly to national opportunities as remote auditions have normalized digital casting from Portland. The theatrical division secures auditions for film and television projects shooting in Oregon under the state's production incentive program, including both union and non-union productions across budget levels. The commercial division provides high-volume audition flow for regional campaigns targeting Pacific Northwest markets and national campaigns casting from Portland. The modeling division books runway shows during Portland Fashion Week, editorial and commercial print work for Oregon brands, lifestyle and catalog photography, and promotional modeling for events and activations. The voiceover department handles commercial spots, corporate narration, e-learning modules, and other voice work that Oregon's creative economy generates. The union franchise status ensures that bookings on SAG-AFTRA projects are handled with proper contracts and compensation structures.

Ryan Artists' roster reflects the full diversity of the Oregon talent pool, representing actors, models, and voiceover artists across all ages, ethnicities, body types, and looks to serve the complete range of casting needs that modern productions and clients require. The acting roster includes experienced SAG-AFTRA union members with substantial credits alongside non-union performers building toward union eligibility through accumulated work. The modeling division represents both traditional fashion models for runway and editorial work and commercial lifestyle models who book consistently in catalog, e-commerce, and advertising campaigns. The voiceover talent pool includes character voice actors, commercial announcers, narrators, and voice generalists working across multiple applications. The agency's 40-year history means their alumni include talent who have transitioned to major market careers in Los Angeles, New York, and internationally, many of whom built their initial professional foundation through Ryan Artists representation in Portland. The union franchise status attracts serious, career-oriented talent who understand the value of working with an agency that meets SAG-AFTRA's professional standards.

Ryan Artists operates on the standard industry commission-based model with no upfront fees for representation, consistent with the requirements of their SAG-AFTRA franchise agreement and professional agency practices. Commission rates follow industry standards, typically 10 percent for theatrical work and up to 20 percent for commercial and modeling projects, with specific terms outlined in the representation agreement. The agency earns exclusively through commissions on booked work, aligning their financial incentives directly with getting their clients hired. Oregon's production market offers competitive compensation governed by SAG-AFTRA union scales for union projects and negotiated rates for non-union work, with the state's production incentive program attracting higher-budget productions that pay professional rates. Commercial work in the Portland market can be quite lucrative, particularly for regional campaigns targeting Pacific Northwest consumers and national campaigns that cast from Portland. The modeling market offers competitive rates for runway, editorial, and commercial print work. Voiceover bookings for national commercial spots and major brand campaigns provide premium compensation. There are no mandatory fees for headshots, training, composite cards, or any other services tied to maintaining your representation.

Ryan Artists is the essential choice for Oregon-based actors seeking union-franchised representation for SAG-AFTRA projects, as it is literally the only agency in Oregon with franchise status and therefore the only legitimate pathway to union project representation within the state. The agency is ideal for full-service talent who can work across acting, modeling, and voiceover categories, as the comprehensive structure allows you to pursue the full range of available opportunities through a single representation relationship. If you are committed to building a career in the Portland and Oregon market, Ryan Artists' 40-plus year history and exclusive franchise status make it the clear first choice for professional representation. Talent whose ambitions center primarily on high-level theatrical work in major film and television will eventually need representation in Los Angeles or New York, though Ryan Artists can serve as an excellent regional foundation while you build credits and skills. For any serious Oregon performer who values professional legitimacy, union project access, and the credibility that 40 years of proven results provide, Ryan Artists delivers representation that no other Oregon agency can match.

Maintain your SAG-AFTRA union membership if applicable and pursue union eligibility if you are non-union, as Ryan Artists' franchise status provides the most value when you can work on union projects that the agency is specifically authorized to handle. Develop the casting types and skills that serve the Oregon market's distinctive production landscape, including outdoor and Pacific Northwest authenticity, active lifestyle presentation, and the Portland creative culture aesthetic that drives much of the region's commercial and corporate work. Build professional materials across all categories you intend to pursue — separate headshots for theatrical and commercial casting, modeling composites with current measurements, and professional voiceover demos — as the full-service structure means opportunities can arise across multiple divisions and you need appropriate materials ready for each category. Network within the Portland creative community by attending film screenings, fashion events, industry mixers, and creative sector gatherings, as Oregon's relatively compact market operates substantially on personal relationships and being a known presence creates opportunities that complement your agency representation. Stay informed about Oregon's production incentive program and the projects it attracts to the state, as understanding which productions are shooting locally allows you to prepare for the types of roles that will actually cast through Portland agencies.