Modeling Agency News: American Modeling Industry Headlines

"Actors should also remember that if they do agree to pay their management company upfront money for any services, they should at least make sure the services they pay for are rendered as promised. In some cases they are not. When actor Casey Reidling agreed to pay his new management company $195 to place his photo and resumé on its website, the check was cashed, he said, but the photo never appeared online. Actor Deborah Ramaglia claimed to have faced a similar situation; after the company cashed her check, it placed her photo on a separate website — a website that, she said, she never knew existed. When their attempts to get a refund failed, the actors took the Van Nuys-based International Actors Management Company to court. While company owner Keith Kaminsky claimed all the allegations were false, a Small Claims Court judge ordered IAMC to pay the actors restitution."¹

Malibu Talent Hits the Highway

"The Advanced Fee Talent Act has finally been given its first starring role. Last week Malibu Talent pled "no contest" to charges of grand theft, false and misleading advertising, and violations of the Act, which became law in 2000. The law prohibits talent representatives from charging upfront fees as a condition of representation. Malibu Talent owner Simone McCue was ordered to pay $11,933 in restitution and $500 in investigative costs within 90 days or else serve 90 days in jail or on CalTrans community service. Business operator Donald John Cherry will face 30 days of jail or CalTrans community service and $500 in restitution. "Director of submissions" Michael Pasby will pay restitution of $660 and perform 20 days of CalTrans community service. All people involved with the company are forbidden to work in the talent business for the next three years. With an estimated 1,000 clients, Malibu Talent had been charging fees of $290-340 for mandatory photos with one of the company's photographers?a "kickback" scheme prohibited by the new Advance Fee statute. The company had also placed ads in The Penny Saver and LA Weekly ads that the city claimed made false statements."¹

"Said deputy city attorney Mark Lambert, "The gist of their advertising was something like, 'Auditions now. Submitting,' and they would list a bunch of places. We're alleging that they were not submitting [actors] as advertised. We are alleging that's the basis of the fraud. It's theft by false pretenses." The ads also failed to mention the mandatory fees. An investigation began, said Lambert, after the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs and the Better Business Bureau had received numerous complaints about the company?people claiming they weren't receiving auditions or photos (BSW, 8/2/01). Those who filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the Department of Consumer Affairs will receive restitution. "This is why it's important to make complaints," said Lambert. "The persons who made complaints are in line to get their money back."²

1. Laura Weinert, "Malibu Talent Hits the Highway," Backstage West, Sept. 26, 2002.
2. Ibid.

Manager Valentino and Photographer Kraft Convicted

"Talent manager Christopher Valentino received a jail sentence on Apr. 20 after pleading no contest to one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of grand theft for conspiring with photographer Svetlana Kraft to swindle clients by charging them for photographic sessions and promising them acting work that was never provided. Valentino told clients that he represented former Miss America Ali Landry, that he had appeared in numerous soap operas--including a 16--year stint on All My Children--and that he was represented by the William Morris Agency, according to investigators. Unfortunately, none of this was true. Neither were his alleged promises to find these actors work. What he did find them, however, were headshots from a "highly recommended" photographer, who, he said, was a "former European model" who had done a lot of work for Jennifer Aniston. In fact, Aniston had never heard of Kraft, investigators determined."¹

"According to deputy city attorney Mark Lambert, a prosecutor with the Consumer Protection Unit who handled the case, Valentino told clients, "'Oh, you should definitely go to this photographer. She's great, she shoots for so-and-so. I can see if I can arrange it for you.' In fact, she was part of his business? Clients complained because once they got their photos, that was the end of it. They were expecting to get jobs." Valentino was sentenced to 150 days in jail, ordered to close down his business and website, and banned from directly or indirectly owning, operating, or being employed as a talent agent or manager for three years. He was also banned from referring an artist or aspiring artist to any photographer, manager, agent, or acting class. Kraft, of Beverly Hills' Lana Kraft Photography (270 N. Canon Dr.), pled no contest to one count of making false and misleading statements and was sentenced to 20 days of community service and forbidden to accept any clients referred to her directly or indirectly by Valentino. Both were put on three years summary probation and ordered to pay a total of $4952.23 in restitution to six victims in amounts ranging from $200-$1,850. Valentino had run Beverly Hills Artists Management (9250 Wilshire Blvd.) for 13 months, along with a website on which he advertised entertainment industry-oriented business seminars."²

1. Laura Weinert, "Manager Valentino and Photographer Kraft Convicted," Backstage West, Apr. 26, 2001.
2. Ibid.

(Christopher Valentino, Svetlana Kraft, Beverly Hills Artists Management, Lana Kraft Photography)

Malibu Talent and Flashcast Entertainment Face Charges

"Thanks to the efforts of the city attorney's office, actors who believe they have been scammed by two L.A.-based companies just might find compensation. Two landmark cases were filed last week against Malibu Talent and Flashcast Entertainment with a combined 31 charges. According to deputy city attorney Mark Lambert, who heads up the consumer protection unit, the case against Malibu Talent will be the first time that the new advanced fee talent service law--which prevents talent managers from charging up front fees--has been used in a court of law."¹

"The case against Flashcast Entertainment is based on a 14-count complaint against owner Carl Ken Carranza and Deborah Elton Haugen charging them of being an unlawful job-listing service as well as falsely advertising in the LA Weekly and on the company's own website, www.flashcastkids.com. "They advertise what looks like an audition in the industry," said Lambert, "and then they sell what they call their 'computerized casting service.' So you go there, you audition, they don't tell you about a fee. Then if you're called back, they tell you at that point that you have to make your decision right then. There's an initial fee of around $495 and you're obligated for the next two years to send them 20 photos plus a $50 fee a month. That's $1,200 over two years, plus the initial $500 registration, plus the cost of 20 photos per month." Lambert said the company, which specializes in kids ages 4 and under, has breakdowns and sends out clients' photos with breakdowns. "They claim that's where their responsibility ends," said Lambert. "They don't manage you; they don't negotiate for you. We're charging them with being a job-listing service, matching potential job seekers with employment opportunities for a fee." Flashcast Entertainment owner Carranza did not return phone calls to Back Stage West."²

1. Laura Weinert, "Malibu Talent and Flashcast Entertainment Face Charges," Backstage West, Aug. 2, 2001.
2. Ibid.

(Malibu Talent, Flashcast Entertainment aka Flashcast Kids, Carl Carranza, Deborah Haugen)

Beauty Contest Corruption Storm

"An undercover journalist bribed a regional beauty pageant judge, revealing alleged corruption in the Miss Spain contest. Gema Garcia Marcos, 31, won the Miss Alicante crown after she offered 27,000 euros ($23,700) to a judge. The transaction was filmed by hidden camera and shown in a television documentary this week. Winning the Miss Alicante crown--despite being seven years too old and barely able to walk in high heels--put Garcia Marcos in the running for last weekend's Miss Spain contest, but she was disqualified when organisers discovered that she was too old. "I know I have done something that will benefit women," Garcia Marcos said in El Mundo newspaper which she works for. "They treat them like fairgrounds monkeys." The crown of an aspiring Miss Spain "costs 4-1/2 million pesetas," the journalist was quoted as saying on a web site affiliated to El Mundo's newspaper. The alleged bribe was offered by a fake clothing company set up by the documentary's producers."¹

Modeling Uses Glamour To Cheat Consumers

"A local modeling company offering big bucks modeling careers could be taking local consumers for the ride of their lives. Action 9's Consumer Investigative Reporter, Todd Ulrich found this company using glamour and gimmicks to cheat consumers out of hundreds of dollars."¹

1. Todd Ulrich, "Modeling Uses Glamour To Cheat Consumers," EyeWitness News 9, Feb. 14, 2002.

Is eModel Golden Opportunity Or Big Business?

"It all seemed all glitz and glamour," Lopez said. "They (eModel scouts) mentioned people who'd had success with it, and kept mentioning Tyra Banks and Cindy Crawford."¹

1. "Is eModel Golden Opportunity Or Big Business?," KSAT 12 News San Antonio, Feb. 12, 2002.

Equity Alert: Options Talent

"Equity has become aware that the above company, also trading as e-model and Transcontinental Talent is now in operation in Australia. The company operates an on line database of actors and models. The company has approached Equity and some agents seeking support for their activities in Australia and asking Equity to encourage performers to join the site. Equity will not support this company."¹

"The company says the site is used by many people who would employ actors such as the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and Clemenger BBDO. When Equity contacted some of those named they said that they do not in fact use the site."²

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