United Talent Agency

Good-looking 20-something crack addicts needed for Fox reality series "Peer Pressure Island." Chance to work with kids; please bring self-background check and packed bag to interview. Fax resume, head shots and forearm shots to Bethany. --From a spoof of the United Talent Agency's jobs list * The United Talent Agency's jobs list is such a big secret that the agency won't even confirm or deny it exists. But it's an open secret, and we have a copy in our hot little hands.

Hollywood's talent agencies are tightening their belts to build up financial reserves, another sign that the entertainment industry is preparing for a strike by writers and actors later this year. Many cost-cutting efforts took effect this week when agents returned to work after the holidays. The measures include deferring salaries and bonuses, cutting expenses and travel, and skipping annual rituals such as the Sundance and Cannes film festivals.

United Talent Agency named longtime agent and founding partner Jim Berkus as its sole chairman, with Marty Bauer stepping down as president to take on a consulting role with the agency. Bauer become a senior counselor to the agency, which represents such major stars as Jim Carrey and Sandra Bullock. The agency will be run by a board of directors that includes Berkus and agents Jeremy Zimmer, Nick Stevens, Peter Benedek and Gary Cosay. Other principals of the company include David Schiff and J.J.

Here is a look at Hollywood's top talent agencies. Arrivals and departures date from July 1, 1995; client lists are not exhaustive. CREATIVE ARTISTS AGENCY Location: Beverly Hills Founded: 1975 Management: Richard Lovett, president; Lee Gabler, Jack Rapke and Rick Nicita, co-chairmen.

United Talent Agency confirmed it has reorganized its executive structure, with President Marty Bauer stepping down in favor of a seven-member committee. Bauer will be on that committee along with agents Jeremy Zimmer, Gary Cosay, Gavin Polone, Nick Stevens, Jim Berkus and Peter Benedek. Daily Variety reported that the change was announced to UTA's staff late Friday. UTA is a fast-growing agency representing such stars as Jim Carrey and Kelsey Grammer.

Michael Jackson Signs With United Talent, Trade Paper Says: The pop superstar, a client of Hollywood's most powerful talent agency, Michael Ovitz's Creative Artists Agency, made the move in an effort to revive his marginal movie career, Daily Variety reported. The trade paper said the self-styled King of Pop had signed with United Talent Agency, which will represent him as an actor only.

In November of 1989, a brash young literary agent named Jeremy Zimmer, who then worked for International Creative Management, told a group of wanna-be filmmakers at an industry seminar that "the big agencies are all like animals, raping and pillaging one another day in and day out." The next day, ICM honcho Jeff Berg hurried out a press release apologizing to "our colleagues in the agency business for the misguided and inappropriate remarks. . . .

Some civilizations turn historic places into shrines to good or evil. Others merely redecorate them and move on, which helps explain how United Talent Agency came to occupy the sweeping Beverly Hills office that junk bond kingpin Michael Milken lorded over in the 1980s. UTA signed a lease on the space just one day after Drexel Burnham Lambert abandoned ship.

Leslie Maskin has joined the TV literary department of United Talent Agency, where she will package TV projects and individually represent writers and producers. Maskin previously worked as vice president of business affairs at NBC, after beginning her career as a program attorney at ABC in 1986. She holds a law degree from Fordham University. Greg Peck is the new vice president of promotion and black music marketing at Qwest Records. He will oversee its urban marketing and promotion efforts.