A question was posed about audition scams

A question was posed on an internet group. This is the question and my answer and advice is below:

I received a call this weekend for my daughters ages 10 and 18 to audition for a “Greeting Card” project with a “Fairy” theme, implying that the girls will be dressed as “fairies”. He wanted to meet with them at a public store location in Longwood. I submit my daughters for alot of projects and asked him which one this was. He stated that he received the girls information from another casting director, who we had submitted to in the past on (a local acting group forum). I asked for his name and company name and googled him and nothing came back. RED FLAGS CAME UP AT THAT POINT. So I sent him an email asking alot of questions: His title and company name, what projects he has worked on, if he had a studio, website and where it would be shot….and who specifically sent him our information. Shortly after I received a reply stating “I think we have found talent for this project, there will be no need to meet at this point. Thank you.” His name is (removed) and said his company was (removed). Does anyone know of him and his company? I HONESTLY DO NOT WANT TO HURT ANYONE OR RUIN THEIR NAME…I just wanted to post this as a potential warning to others, to please BE CAREFUL and check things out before meeting with potential castings. WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. If I am wrong about this I APOLOGIZE and please correct me if I am. I know there are alot of new people out there trying to make a start and do not realize how they are going about it…and that it may appear questionable.

Suzanne,

You are SO right to question these kinds of things…and not just with regard to the children. Obviously, we should be looking out for their best interests, but even for the teens and adults trying to break-in to the industry, you should be asking every conceivable question. Those that refuse to answer or when you get a door slammed in your face, just walk away because it wasn’t real. There are more scams out there than real opportunities, so good for you for having the fortitude to ask probing questions. You should qualify everybody you come into contact with including attorneys, directors & producers…everyone. If you can’t find any information about them, as THEM directly. If you get the run-around, just leave…you’ll save yourself and your child more headaches, time and money than it’s even worth. There are more jobs…the current “biggest deal” is not that at all…it’s just “right now.” There will be more.

I had a similar experience once. I’ll leave the names out to protect the innocent (and the shady). I was told I was going to be brought on to a project by a person claiming to be the director/producer. This person knew my work and even told me how much I would be paid. (front and back-end monies) It sounded very enticing. This person told me who the other stars in the project were going to be. (and some were famous names) This person also said where they would shoot and what the budget was, so it seemed legit. But something in me didn’t jive.

As a producer, I call these things out all the time, so I decided I would find the author of the project, (which was based on a book or a play, I don’t recall right now). I called the author and inquired as to the status of the project and mentioned the person’s name that said I would be “hired.” The author didn’t know anything about it. The author even said in so many words that this individual didn’t have any rights to be “shopping” his project…which in actuality was what this person was doing. The “producer/director” was trying to lure some people in to the project that have some street cred and then go after investors. So I called this person who tried to hire me and would you believe this person was angry with ME? This person said I had no right to go around them. Well guess what? The project still has not been made and I have inside information from the people the person said were included (the other stars) that they had never heard of this project either. This kind of thing happens EVERY DAY in this business.

Here are a couple of things to remember:

If you’re starting out (and have to work for no pay) not only do you have the right, but you should feel obligated to ask things like:

1. “what’s the budget?” (Some may disagree with this concept, but I maintain that you should know where the money is being spent if it isn’t on you or your child?) Please note: getting a copy of this budget might be overstepping, but if the producers are honest, they might offer you a copy of at least the top sheet, ESPECIALLY considering they’re asking you to work for free. If you’re not going to receive compensation for a project, that makes you a “partner” not an employee and you have every right, as a partner to know what’s happening on a project to which you’re “lending” yourself, your likeness and your voice.

Also remember, if you’re being hired and you know you’re getting a check, GET A CONTRACT. Any legit project will have contracts, even if you’re being asked to work for free. With a contract and payment though, you can ask less questions. You’re a hired-gun at that point. Should you be concerned about the outcome of the project? Of course you should, but as a hired-gun, show up, do your job and collect your check. Show up early and stay late and always give 110% as you should on any shoot. But getting paid means they have at least some sort of budget and although there are still exceptions, you will most likely be working on something more reputable. You’re an “employee” as opposed to a partner.

Another question to ask before you sign-on to work for free might be:

2. What are the plans for distribution? This is a biggie. Let’s say you (or your child) has been around a while and now you’re being asked to work for free (or very little), wouldn’t you want to know where the project will go when it’s completed? You should. So many people work on projects that never get completed and in most cases, never get distributed. Filmmakers (the ones that want to be professional) should know their exit strategy before they shoot their film. After all, this is a business and they will want their project to be sold, ESPECIALLY if they want you to sign a deferred pay deal. (which in Florida really means no pay…99% of deferred pay deals will never see a dime and most won’t even get completed). A true professional filmmaker, no matter what their budget might be, should have a business plan, a budget of some sort and a marketing plan. Please note: “We’re going to do the ‘festival thing’ when the movie is completed” is NOT a marketing plan, it’s a festival plan. Festivals do not make anyone any money and if they’re only going to show it at festivals with the HOPES of getting a distribution deal is not a solid plan. Truth be told, you only need to put a film in 3-5 strategically planned festivals before you distribute. Any more is fluff and a waste of time. (I brokered nearly a dozen films last year and I saw many angles, so this comes from experience, not speculation)

3. Another reasonable question might be, since you’re not paying the actors, where will you spend that money and what do you hope to save by not compensating the performers? Remember this: If you go to a casting office and/or your agent sent you on an audition, someone’s getting paid. Casting directors don’t typically work for free…just ask one. They get paid to do the duties of the casting. Your agent will get paid “IF” you get the job. Some casting directors who are also acting coaches play favorites so if you’re not taking their classes, don’t get your hopes up too high about getting the gig. SOME of them tend to give the roles to those taking their classes. Notice I said SOME, because not all of them do this, but you should be aware that this can and does happen. Take a class from a casting director and see if you’re suddenly requested for a gig or you get a callback for the very next day. Try this as a test and see what happens.

So Suzanne, to sum-up…always ask questions. If you sense any trepidation on the part of the person answering, something is fishy. You’re not going to tarnish the careers of reputable folks by asking questions, nor will you tarnish your own. If anything, you should be viewed as a responsible industry professional who is looking out for the best interests of your child or yourself.

If you do get straight/solid answers, just like everything else in life, use your gut. This is a business and you have EVERY right to ask these questions and more.

Best regards,

Russell Hess
Producer/Distributor