We'll just powder his snout
Promoted via television, radio, newspaper, direct mail and the internet, Screen Tests Inc. Advertises that they seek children to appear in TV commercials and magazines.
They say that they have created more stars than any other company and that their clients appear in national advertising campaigns.
Hoping to make a movie star of your child you respond by calling the number in the ad. They tell you that for a prepaid fee of $45 you will receive an objective, selective evaluation, called a "screen test" to determine whether your child will be one of the select few likely to obtain paid work as an actor or model..
The screen test consists of a ten minute session taped with a video camera, conducted at a local hotel. Beforehand, they encourage you to buy a copy of the test for an additional $20, but do not discuss any further fees.
The talent director, who claims to have many years of professional experience in talent evaluation, fills out a form printed on letterhead of the American Child Actor and Modeling Association, showing that your child has passed the screen test and can begin to earn money right away.
He then pressures you to spend $795 for their "agency introduction program" which they claim includes the type of photographs your child needs to interest agents or casting directors and help finding agency representation.
During this initial visit, the talent director claims that those who buy and complete their program have a high rate of success and are likely to obtain agency representation with acting or modeling jobs and guarantee that at least one agency will offer to represent your child.
To boost their claims they tell you they are members of the American Child Actor and Modeling Association ("ACAMA") which they say is an independent, objective, charitable, educational organization formed to protect you from unethical business practices in the performing arts, and that the ACAMA has recognized and endorsed Screen Tests Inc.
They encourage you to check out Screen Tests Inc.'s reputation by contacting ACAMA so you call and visit its web site, "http://www.acama.com, " where it is indeed shown that Screen Tests is an ACAMA-endorsed company.
About two weeks after you buy the agency introduction program and have your child attend a photo shoot, you receive only 100 color portrait-type photos of your child along with envelopes and address labels for a few model and talent agents.
When you complain to them and demand a refund of your $795, they refuse. They claim you waived the right to a refund when you signed receipts that state they have fully explained the program, that you understood the program, and that you agreed that no refunds were available.
So it turns out that the screen test was not an experienced person's professional, objective, selective, reliable evaluation of whether your child will obtain work as an actor or model.in fact, the screen test was a marketing ploy designed solely to induce the purchase of agency introduction programs.
The talent directors have no professional experience or basis for talent evaluation. Even if your child bore a startling resemblance to a pot-belly pig they would pass their screen test.
Your child is not likely to obtain agency representation or modeling jobs as the result of buying their introduction program. The type of photographs they sell are neither necessary nor likely to secure agency representation or a modeling or acting job primarily because an infant's looks change so quickly the photos become outdated.
Legitimate agents, advertising agencies, casting directors and producers generally ask for casual snapshots of infants that have been taken by family members or friends.
Another big surprise, the ACAMA is not an objective, charitable organization, and is not at all independent because the owner of Screen Tests formed ACAMA, shares an address and telephone number with them and is the registered owner of ACAMA's web site.
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Getting looks from crooks
You are approached at the mall by a talent scout who states that you have just been selected to interview with Model 1 because "you have the look" that could get you work as a model or actor.
He gives you his card with a flyer and suggests you give him a call to set up an appointment.
The promotional brochure contains the following:
The hunt is on for new faces. MODEL 1, one of the largest talent management and scouting companies in the country, is looking for new faces. With offices in major cities we have everything you need to enter the industry...
Visions of glamour, travel and money flash before your eyes so you attend the interview where you find yourself in an office filled with lots of other model and actor hopefuls. The Vice President of Talent Management informs you that he will likely recommend you for talent management services but that a committee of industry experts will make the final selection.
The Vice President also tells you that, as a prerequisite for agency representation, you must take modeling and acting training from Model 1. He states that their modeling and acting workshops have a limited enrollment and that only 10% of people interviewed are accepted for this training.
He then indicates that you must pay a deposit for the workshops which is fully refundable if you're not accepted by the review committee.
He also says that you are likely to obtain substantial paid employment if selected for their management services and that they have numerous well-known client businesses, organizations and entertainment entities who hire the models and actors they manage.
You are told that the way they get paid is by a percentage of the money paid by their clients to the models and actors they represent. They also claim to have provided casting services on numerous film productions, including, but not limited to, True Lies and Dave.
Excited about your future career in acting you agree to purchase the expensive talent management services sold by their agency.
In fact, their talent management services are not selective in scouting, screening and reviewing consumers for marketability as models or actors. Their principal source of income is not client-paid commissions but fees paid by consumers for their talent management services, including modeling and acting training.
It is highly unlikely that you will ever be able to obtain substantial paid employment as a model or actor through their efforts.
FTC vs. MODEL 1, INC., et al., Defendants (Creative Talent Management, Inc., Jason Hoffman and Ralph Edward Bell) Civil No. 99-737 A
Bell's wife or ex-wife, Patricia Erickson was paid to evaluate the suitability of consumers for Creative Talent Management and Model 1 which misrepresented an ability to get lucrative jobs for consumers who contracted for their modeling and acting courses. She also allowed them to use The Erickson Agency, Inc's name and client list to deceptively market their programs
In addition to agreeing to write off approximately $3 million in payments owed by consumers they were given a monetary judgment, which contains an "avalanche clause" that calls for the payment of a $500,000 judgment if the court finds that they made a material misrepresentation or omission on their sworn financial statement.
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Just sign here and here
One Los Angeles modeling scam operation which targeted small towns in Oregon ran ads in the local newspaper saying they were looking for models for TV commercials. You were to send in your bio and a couple of snapshots.
After you sent in your info they would contact you and tell you that you had the look they needed and promptly signed you up for a high-paying commercial.
They would need to do a test shoot before the actual commercial, but they said all of it was paid for, except the makeup artist.
They would send along contracts, airline vouchers, and lots of official looking paperwork. The catch was that the model had to pay for her own make-up artist for which they needed $500, up front.
The small town dreamers, not knowing how the industry worked and having a contract in hand, sent in the $500, but once the check was cashed the scam artist vanished and the commercial contracts, airline vouchers and the guarantees were all found to be bogus.
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Talent management services shall mean the offer and sale of modeling and acting training classes, separately or in combination with other services for aspiring actors and models, including, but not limited to, referrals for representation, job placement and photographic services.
Modeling (or talent) agencies secure employment for experienced models and actors. Some agents require that you sign up exclusively with them; others may allow you to register with them as well as with other agencies in town. Fees for the agency's services are limited to 10% by law, in most instances.
Model/talent managers differ from agencies because managers are in the business of overseeing the careers of their clients. Arranging for employment is only an incidental, or minor, part of the working relationship between manager and client. Thus, managers advise their clients on appearance, style, portfolio layout and direction of their career and generally charge fees ranging from 15% to 20%.
Modeling and acting schools claim to provide instruction, for a fee, in poise, posture, diction, skin care, make-up application, the proper walk, and more. Modeling schools do not necessarily act as agents or find work for you. After you take their classes, you may be on your own.
Beware of any newspaper classified or display ad looking for any kind of model or talent. Modeling agencies have plenty of hopefuls coming to them so they don't have to advertise for models.
To avoid being ripped off, aspiring models should look for and attend open calls at reputable modeling agencies. Well-known agencies in large cities usually have open calls on a weekly basis.
* Do not respond to subway, bus or classified ads that promise modeling and acting jobs to people with no experience, or of all ages and sizes, etc. They are come-ons.
* If an agency has to charge money up front it usually means they do not have enough modeling work for either the agency or the model to survive on.
* You should be free to go to any photographer you want to. Legitimate agencies will provide you with a list of photographers that you could go to.
* Modeling agencies are not employers. So, while they may try to get you work while representing you, there is no way a legitimate agency can guarantee you work.
* The hours of a model are uneven and sporadic. You will not have the flexibility to choose your own hours, so beware of claims that you will be able to "Work full or part time."
* All photographs may be shot in one session by one photographer, but you should still look different in all your photographs by wearing a variety of cosmetics, clothes, and hairstyles. Beware if it's the salesman snapping off a few shots like for a passport photo.
* To break into the business, you need professional photos of which there are two standard types, a "head shot" and a "composite card."
* The head shot usually is an 8" x 10" black and white photo of the face, with your resume printed on the back. A "comp card" usually features several shots on the same sheet, showing off poses in different attire or settings.
* Be sure to get all verbal promises in writing.
* Be leery of companies that only accept payment in cash or by money order. Read it as a strong signal that the company is more interested in your money than your career.
* Often, what you thought was a legitimate job interview with a talent agency turns into a high-pressure sales pitch for modeling or acting classes, or for "screen tests" or "photo shoots" that can range in price from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
* Any professional casting director, agent, or manager has an office and regular business hours. There is no reason to discuss employment opportunities or negotiate contracts late at night or in someone's apartment.
Unscrupulous model and talent scouts have their acts down pat. Listen carefully to read between their lines.
* "We're scouting for people with your 'look' to model and act." - I need to sign up as many people as possible. My commission depends on it.
* "Your deposit is totally refundable." - Your deposit is refundable only if you meet very strict refund conditions.
* "You must be specially selected for our program. Our talent experts will carefully evaluate your chances at success in the field and will only accept a few people into our program." - We take everyone with money.
* "There's a guaranteed refund if you're not accepted into the program." - Everyone's accepted so you can forget the refund.
* "You can't afford our fees? No problem. You can work them off with the high-paying jobs we'll get you." - We demand payment, whether or not you get work.
* "Commissions from our clients are our major source of income." - Our income comes from the fees we charge suckers like you.
CJ
Tampa, Florida
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