According to Wired, you no longer need that coked-up agent, that fancy-pants manager or your massive rolodex to find work anymore:

Instead of displaying simple “away from my computer” messages, Hollywood buddy lists now overflow with come-ons, from “need work” to “wrapping up shoot.” Producers hiring for a new production can tell at a glance who’s available now, who’s not and who might be free in the near future.

“Ninety percent of my work is given to me through a pop-up (chat window) on my desktop,” said Simon Foster, 32, a freelance production coordinator living in Santa Monica, California.

If our buddy lists are any indication, work in town is pretty hard to come by. Somehow we think that Wired is over-hyping this IM thing.