Model One Casting, Don Catalano aka Dylan Marciano, Mary Brady, Little Hamlets, The Hollywood Company are all connected.
My most recent experience with this "group" (which is actually all one person) is from responding to an ad on Craig's List seeking new models who are not currently working and/or signed with an agency. The ad was a blind ad (as most of them are) with no agency name listed.
I received a response from a woman who said she is "Kim" and a talent scout for Model One Casting. Since I then had the agency name, it rang a bell and I searched it on the California Talent Agency database: http://www.dir.ca. Gov/databases/dlselr/Talag.html
According to California Civil Code Section 1700.5, it clearly states that an agency must be licensed prior to conducting business (also, if the agency is not licensed, they cannot get one work, so what's the point of signing with them?):
"No person shall engage in or carry on the occupation of a talent agency without first procuring a license therefor from the Labor Commissioner. The license shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the office of the licensee. The license number shall be referred to in any advertisement for the purpose of the solicitation of talent for the talent agency."
http://www.leginfo.ca. Gov/cgi-bin/displaycode? Section=lab&group=01001-02000&file=1700.5-1700.22
So anyway, I told "Kim" that Model One Casting is not licensed, and if I am incorrect, please establish legitimacy.
She responded by saying that per all "websites involved, Model One Casting is a sister company of Central Casting."
Uh-huh, rrrriiiiiggghhht.
I responded by saying, "If Model One Casting is a sister company of Central Casting, then why is the website for Model One Casting registered to Don Catalano and not Entertainment Partners?"
She responded by saying that she had no idea what I was talking about, but to forward her the information about this person because "her company" is legit.
She did not answer my question. How can the website for her "legit company" be registered to someone that she does not know?
I contacted Entertainment Partners and forwarded the emails to their legal department. When I spoke to two different people at Entertainment Partners, they immediately established that Model One Casting is not associated with them.
Furthermore, I have previously met, in person, Dylan Marciano aka Don Catalano. I have business cards for Model One Casting with the name of "Mary Brady" as the "VP of Talent"... He explained to me that Mary is high-end fashion, has a house in the Hills and she's a serious business woman.
He does not have a cell phone or voicemail, or an email address listed on his cards.
The scam in which I was involved was his Little Hamlets gig. He told me he is starting a training classes for children, gave me the website info, advised me that it's not complete yet b/c he's just launching it and he is hiring a part-time sales person. The kicker is, the commissions would be close to $100K per year in the first year... Part-time... Rriiiggghht.
We spent quite a long time talking to one another. He also explained to me that he is working on a pilot for t.V. And that he's a writer, but has not had the time to write anything because he's been busy all his life working as a manager. He finally now has the time and money to get a pilot done and he believes there to be no problem getting it picked up.
He was currently casting for the "Don Juan Club, " explained to me the plot... He is casting women who run a modeling agency... It would be along the lines of "Entourage" meets "Sex in the City." Of course, the actors would not be paid!
I went home and did extensive research on him. The first thing I found was a complaint about him and the "Don Juan Club" casting... A woman wrote that she came from San Francisco to audition for the pilot and he propositioned her. She supposedly reported him to the Wilshire police.
For me, I not only found the casting agency to be illegit, but everything that he told me was too "out there." First of all, he wanted to meet me after hours (even for the 2nd meeting). I was in his office at 6363 Wilshire Blvd., however, when meeting someone after hours, there's no one in the office, so how does one know it's not just a front?
I did at reverse telephone search on the phone number listed on the card: 323-852-1774... It comes back as registred to "Hollywood Company." I did an extensive search on "Hollywood Company"... I went to the website for the Better Business Bureau and did a search by using his address... 6363 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 202... There is a complaint against "The Hollywood Company" at that address filed on 10/09 due to requesting a refund for money.
When I called to cancel my second meeting with him, a young male receptionist answered. When I asked for voicemail, I was told he does not have it. Isn't that strange? Also, that a business person in this day and age does not have a cell phone? Or an email address on their cards?
If I have the time, I like to see who is on the other end of these deals. It's not a big deal for me to go see what scams are about. I like to see what happens. I have nothing to lose. They are playing a game to see if they can get me to have sex with them and I play the game in having them tell me everything that's involved. They open up, I open up and it's really interesting to see how far these idiots will go just to get sex.
First of all, Dylan Marciano aka Don Catalano is about 65 years of age. He's not attractive by any means of the word. He explained to me that he gets propositioned all the time from gorgeous women who are so desperate to get ahead... They will do whatever it takes.
And that, I'm sure is why, he goes to these extremes.
Sarah
Los Angeles, California
U.S.A.
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