Anthony LaPaglia gave Without a Trace producers a ''laundry list'' before accepting the role
No matter what industry you work in, learning to negotiate is a must. Whether you’re in Hollywood or at a regular business, employers look out for their own interests, so you need to do the same. Established actors, whether they have agents or represent themselves, often have a list of demands before accepting a role.
For example, Without A Trace star Anthony LaPaglia took a year off from Hollywood to spend more time with his family. After that, his agent asked him to read the pilot script for crime drama. He read it, liked what he saw, and met with the producers.
"I told them I was not crazy about doing a series. They asked what it would take; I gave them a laundry list. They came back and said, 'Yes.'" While the Associated Press interview in 2002 didn't specify exactly what was on that long list, one thing wasn't: Creative control. "I didn't waste my time with creative because it doesn't mean anything on television...It's meaningless because you don't have time."
LaPaglia plays Jack Malone, the lead agent of the FBI’s missing persons unit in New York City. His character works hard, which creates problems in his personal life. Jack is popular because of his leadership, but Anthony said he would have been happy just sitting at a desk giving orders while his team took the spotlight.
"I get to sit behind a desk and say, 'Check for fingerprints.'"