FROM: THE ACTOR'S
JOURNEY PROJECT
TO: THE PARENTS of ALL NEW CHILD & TEEN TALENT
RE: The Parents of Child & Teen Actors need to
educate themselves and gain awareness of
the many
companies and individuals running
talent search, talent development and talent
consulting scams. These companies are designed
and set up for one purpose: to exploit and financially
victimize the Parents whose children are just starting
out in the entertainment industry.
READ THIS INFORMATIVE REPORT TO LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF - AND YOUR CHILD
AND/OR TEEN FROM TALENT SCAMS:
At
this time, and in many cities across the United States, there are a plethora of Companies, Organizations and Individuals setting
up businesses in your area for the sole purpose of exploiting a parent's lack of knowledge about how the entertainment industry
actually works in relation to child and teen actors. Please be aware that - without going into the specific names of
these companies - these businesses run the gamut - from offering poorly taught classes by inexperienced teachers - to outright
FRAUDULENT OPERATIONS and SCAMS.
All of these companies have one thing in common: they operate entirely outside
scope and regulation of the mainstream entertainment industry. These type of companies and organizations are not sanctioned,
condoned, or policed in any manner by the professional members of the entertainment industry! Professional members of the
entertainment community go out of their way to disassociate themselves from these type of operations. They do not want
their good names and reputations tainted or tarnished by association with these type of businesses or activities.
It should be noted that the businesses and organizations that engage these type of deceptive and predatory practices
are "experts" at presenting themselves as legitimate and bone-fide Talent Search Companies, Acting Schools, Modeling
Schools, Talent Scouts and/or Talent Consultants. These Organizations employ highly sophisticated radio, television
and print ads to lure new and unsuspecting parents and their to their place of business. However, these companies
exist solely to exploit parents - and their children - for financial gain. They do this by exploiting a parent's intense
desire to help their child break into the industry and his or her lack of knowledge about how the industry really operates
when it comes to finding new talent.
These companies invariably make extraordinary PROMISES of "introductions"
to talent agents, talent managers and casting directors. Many of these companies promise child and teen actors "shortcuts"
into the industry and rewards of film, television or stage work. Some companies promise that your child or teen will
be the next Lindsey Lohan or Zac Efron. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THESE ARE ALL LIES AND SALES
TACTICS DESIGNED TO GET YOU TO SIGN A LONG-TERM CONTRACT FOR CLASSES AND HAND OVER SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY.
We know you and your child or teen are in a hurry to get where you want to go...but - PARENTS, do not toss away or ignore
your basic intuitions and common sense.
The "REAL" entertainment industry, and the legitimate businesses
and individuals associated with it, will NEVER "PROMISE" an actor (child, teen or adult) - or anyone else
for that matter - ANYTHING. After an actor's initial training period, finding a path into the legitimate part of the
entertainment industry is a task each and every parent - and their child or teen actors - face alone. Any company or
any individual offering to help you or assist you and your child or teen in any way - for a fee - IS NOT LEGITIMATE!!!
THIS MAY SEEM DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE, BUT THIS IS HOW THE LEGITIMATE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
ACTUALLY WORKS:
A child or teen actor gets his or her initial training. When the child or
teen actor completes his or her initial training and is confident in his or her level of skill and ability - the child or
teen actor has his or her first photo session and walks away with his or her first industry headshot. The child or teen actor
uses this headshot as an initial "calling card" to the industry in an attempt to interest agents, managers in representation
- and to give to casting directors, producers and directors in an initial attempt to get professional or semi-professional
non-union work.
The only thing actors are required to pay for is their acting classes and training, textbooks
and other materials related to their education as an actor - and their photographic needs (a photo session, a master headshot
and duplicates made from that master photo to distribute to the industry). The Entertainment
Industry DOES NOT CHARGE FEES to MEET agents, managers or casting directors. The industry DOES NOT CHARGE FEES to sign
with a legitimate agent or manager. The industry DOES NOT CHARGE FEES for access to auditions
or interviews for legitimate industry acting work. The ONLY TIME an actor pays an agent or manager is
from INCOME EARNED as a direct result of ACTUAL ACTING WORK. A fee (of 10% of the gross amount earned), called a commission,
is paid to the agent. A commission is also paid to the manager - if an actor has a manager (generally 15% - sometimes
more depending on the arrangement the actor has with the manager).
If you - as the parent of a child or teen actor
- encounter anything other than the above description as to how the entertainment industry works - don't walk...RUN... from
the organization company or individual as fast as you can. DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR CREDIT CARD
NUMBER or YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS.
The worst feeling in the world is to be deceived and
to be taken advantage of financially. Not only is money lost - but weeks, months and sometimes even years are wasted.
Parents - and their child or teen - are forced to regroup financially and start over at square one! This scenario has
happened to thousands of unsuspecting, naive and uninformed parents and their children. In every case of exploitation - parents
and their children do not discover that they have been "scammed" until the child or teen reaches the end of the
course. The PROMISES made by the company do not materialize. The money paid is gone. That horrible moment of truth
as to what just happened can be deferred weeks or sometimes months later when the classes end. By then, it is too late.
The companies have shuttered their doors and moved on. The more brazen companies keep operating until consumer complaints
mount and are posted on the internet for all to see by angry victims - or are made in formal complaints to the city, your
local law enforcement officials, and/or the Better Business Bureau. These companies are eventually forced to shut down
their operations in a particular city. Generally, the company then moves on to establish operations in the next unsuspecting
city. The doors re-open and the next group of parents and their children are lured in with print, television and/or
radio ads to be the next "Star".
PARENTS - DO YOUR HOMEWORK: PLEASE
CHECK WITH LOCAL CITY AND/OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS FOR COMPLAINTS BEFORE ASSOCIATING YOURSELF - YOUR CHILD OR YOUR TEEN
- WITH ANY TYPE OF TALENT SEARCH OPERATION OR ACTING SCHOOLS THAT OFFER EXPENSIVE CLASSES AND/OR A FAST-TRACK TO STARDOM.
AT
THE VERY MINIMUM - DO A GOOGLE SEARCH. CHECKING UP ON A PERSON, SCHOOL OR ORGANIZATION IS VERY SIMPLE TO DO ON A COMPUTER.
TYPE THE NAME INTO THE GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINE BOX - ADD A HYPHEN - THEN ADD THE WORD "COMPLAINT". YOU MIGHT
BE SURPRISED WHAT INFORMATION COMES UP!
There are other schemes involving the setting up of legitimate, but not inexpensive ACTING SCHOOLS.
Sometimes these schools make the same promises as outlined above. Almost all of these type of schools exist solely to
financially exploit the parents of child and teen actors by charging excessive tuitions or fees. These schools are set
up by individuals who may have worked briefly in the industry - or who may never have worked in the industry at all.
Parents of child and teen actors need to exercise extreme caution and take responsibility by investigating the schools
online. Check with city and/or local law enforcement agencies - and/or the Better Business Bureau for prior complaints.
Be sure to investigate the school thoroughly BEFORE paying any deposit, fee or tuition for classes. Know what you are
getting involved in!
It should be pointed out that some of these larger acting schools are actually FRANCHISES
- and are part of a larger organization. Here's how that works: an individual - you...me...anyone... pays the parent
organization a franchise fee for the use of their established company name and for some shared cost advertising. That
person is now in business and the proud owner/operator a recognized brand-name acting school. That owner is not required to
have any ability, skills or knowledge of acting or the entertainment industry at all. That person may have been a plumber
the day before! Invariably the classes at these type of acting-mills are, by nature, sub-standard and are taught in
over-crowded classrooms by teachers with little actual industry or teaching experience - or teaching credentials. Is this
really where you want to go to learn acting?
NEVER attend an acting school or a class that won't let you
and your child or teen AUDIT a class to see how the teacher works with his/her students - and his or her level of ability
and skills as a teacher. Some classes are taught by very frustrated, irritable and disgruntled former actors.
This does not make a good or productive classroom experience. Classes should not be over-crowded. Acting in class
is not about sitting in a chair and watching. Acting is about getting up each and every week and doing scenes or exercise
work.
DON'T BECOME A VICTIM! After a child or
teen actor's initial training period - but prior to entering the industry and attempting to look for work - every parent owes
it to his or her child or teen actor educate him or herself about the business aspects of the industry. Until the parent
of a child or teen actor has been around the business a few years - the parent must be very wary of the companies, organizations
and individuals that exist to separate him or her from their hard earned dollars. After, or during, your child or teen's
initial training period parents must attempt to learn everything they can about the business side of the industry. The more
a parent knows, the less likely he or she will be scammed or exploited by the sharks and swimming around the periphery of
the industry.
SOME RULES TO FOLLOW IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT THE COMPANY, ORGANIZATION,
OR INDIVIDUAL YOU HAVE BEEN SOLICITED BY:
COMPANY or ORGANIZATION
- Check the Internet for Complaints. Call Local City or Law Enforcement Agencies as well as the Better
Business Bureau regarding complaints. There are almost always complaints about these type of companies and operations ripping
people off or giving people nothing for the money they took.
AGENT or MANAGER -
Again... check the Internet for Complaints. Call Local City or Law Enforcement Agencies as well as the Better Business
Bureau regarding complaints.. How long has the agency or manager been in operation? If they just opened their
door or request a fee to represent you or to send you out on auditions - move on!
SEMINARS or WORKSHOPS - If these are taught by legitimate actors, agents, managers, or casting directors
- check them out on the internet - GO TO: www.IMDb.com
Every actor, agent, manager - in fact everyone who has worked IN the mainstream industry
has their credits listed on IMDb.com. NOT LISTED? Be suspicious or dubious of all claims and credits made by that person.
There are many IMPOSTORS - individuals posing as legitimate agents, managers or casting directors. Many of these individuals
are not what they seem to be or who they say they are. Many of these individuals have never worked a day in the industry.
Some of these "self-appointed experts" were merely the ASSISTANTS to or SECRETARIES of legitimate agents, managers
or casting directors. These individuals overstate their importance, their reputations - and their industry credits or
associations. BEWARE!
ACTING SCHOOLS - Unless your child or
teen is going to an acting school in New York or Los Angeles - most acting school charge realistic and moderate fees to attend
classes. All legitimate private acting schools allow free audits of classes and teachers before paying to attend.
Again - check for over-crowded classrooms. Make sure that "Hitler-incarnate" is not teaching the class or
your child or teen! Ask to see teaching credentials or the resume of the teacher conducting the class or classes. The
more experience and background the teacher possesses the more rewarding, enriching and invaluable the class will be for your
child or teen. If the person teaching the class has little actual industry experience, or real industry credits - what
information and skills can they possibly impart to your child or teen?
NO PROMISES
- If any organization, company or acting school promises your child or teen an agent, a manager or acting
work - based on signing a contract and paying a fee for the company's classes and incredible career launching services - head
promptly for the door (and check to make sure you still have your wallet or purse). Legitimate schools NEVER PROMISE students
anything besides the very best in classes taught by the very best teachers.
NO FEES
- Paying a modest fee for a legitimate acting class is fine. DO NOT PAY A FEE to obtain
representation by an agent or manager. DO NOT PAY A FEE to anyone calling themselves a Talent Consultant (there is no
such position in the entertainment industry). NEVER PAY A FEE for a acting job. Beware of anyone requesting an ADVANCE-FEE
for any kind of Talent Services.
PART OF WHAT THE ACTOR'S JOURNEY PROJECT IS ATTEMPTING
TO ACCOMPLISH IS EDUCATING NEW AND INEXPERIENCED PARENTS OF CHILD AND TEEN ACTORS - AND THE INTERESTED PUBLIC - ABOUT THE
ACTUAL METHODS, PROCESSES AND PROTOCOLS - OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BUSINESS - OR NON-PERFORMANCE - ASPECTS OF THE INDUSTRY.
ALL OF THE INFORMATION PRESENTED ABOVE - AND MORE - IS INCLUDED IN "THE ACTOR'S JOURNEY for KIDS"
- FIVE VOLUME DVD SET IN THE SEGMENT TITLED: "EXPLOITATION, GRAY AREAS & SCAMS!"
IF YOU STILL HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY OF THE INFORMATION ABOVE - PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT THE ACTOR'S JOURNEY PROJECT WITH YOUR
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. WE ARE HERE TO EDUCATE YOU - AND HOPEFULLY, TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE MANY SCAMS, SCHEMES AND GRAY AREAS
AS OUTLINED ABOVE!
THE
ACTOR'S JOURNEY PROJECT IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ACTORS OF ALL AGES AND LEVELS OF ABILITY CREDIBLE AND USEFUL INFORMATION
THAT IS FROM THE HIGHEST SOURCES OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.
STILL NOT SURE WHAT AN ACTING
SCAM IS?
We will be happy to answer any and all questions you many have.
Please send us an E-Mail at: info@TheActorsJourney.com
