Under Investigation: The inside story of the Florida Attorney General’s investigation of Wilhelmina Scouting Network, the largest model and talent scam in America.

ISBN-0968713335 Paperback 512 pages $29.95

Modeling Agency News

Star Struck

"Channel 4 News obtained an internal company memo from a Powers School in Ontario, Calif.,--a sales and marketing pitch that is read to prospective students. Teacher: "All the pictures on the walls are of graduates of JRP. We've had Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, Heather Locklear." Two of Marlene Rodriguez's children attended Powers. "It's a big scam...I mean that's how they draw you in," said Rodriguez. Mitchell added, "They're putting these classes on credit cards and paying thousands and thousands of dollars." Paul Moyer: "Marlene, how much are you out?" Marlene Rodriguez: "Five thousand nine hundred dollars." Moyer: "Five thousand nine hundred dollars." Mitchell said letters came back from a variety of famous people who said they never went to Powers and didn't give permission to the school to use their names. But, we didn't take his word for it. We checked, too.”¹

1. "Star Struck," NBC-4 Los Angeles, May 25, 2004.

http://www.nbc4.tv/team4reports/3346302/detail.html

(John Robert Powers)

Warning Bright Lights, Big Bucks

"They have been around since the twenties, since Hollywood first began. The late John Robert Powers wrote several books on beauty and success, before starting his original acting and modeling school. Some consumer advocates have a problem with a few of the John Robert Powers franchises. The Better Business Bureau says complaints have come in consistently over the years at many JRP franchise locations. Consumers are warned to look before you leap - especially when it comes to signing big contracts. You could end up paying a big price, in your search for Hollywood success. John Robert Powers is a school steeped in tradition and entrenched in Hollywood history, but several of the company's franchises have earned an unsatisfactory rating with the Better Bureau. Here are a few reasons why they have earned an unsatisfactory rating: According to Bill Mitchell of the BBB, "This modeling and talent business generally makes people believe that they are really talent agents or that they have talent agents sitting in the wings back there looking for fresh faces--and what they are really after is just that check." Most JRP student take a class that teaches everything from goal setting to social graces. It costs around $1,200. Modeling and acting classes at JRP are by invitation only. Melody Martin say a JRP rep at the Agoura Hills location convinced her to sign up two or her daughters for classes. Melody was sold on the impression they were headed for stardom. Martin says, "She said with our connections we could have you auditioning by tomorrow. Then she said but they need to take the classes so that they know how to audition." President of the Casting Society of America Gary Zuckerbrod points out--promises for auditions is a major red flag. Zuckerbrod says, "Classes should not be taught with the idea that you will be meeting casting directors with the idea of getting a job from that class."¹

1. "Warning Bright Lights, Big Bucks," Eyewitness News, ABC-7 KABC-TV Los Angeles, Nov. 17, 2003.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/111703_fs_bright_lights_big_bucks.html

(John Robert Powers)

Powers That Be

"Angry former employees and clients say the local John Robert Powers school charged high dollars for a promised ticket to professional modeling and acting careers, but used phony 'talent scouts' and high-pressure sales tactics."¹

1. Traci Hukill, "Powers That Be," Metro Active, Dec. 9, 1999.

http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/12.09.99/powers-9949.html

(John Robert Powers)

Preying on Kids Who Long for Fame

"Sitting at an outdoor table on the Santa Monica promenade, whistle-blower Rick Espinoza Jr. calls over the young waitress, just to illustrate his point. "Have you ever modeled before?" he asks. The woman's face brightens like a Klieg light. "Oh, I've always wanted to," she gushes. "But I guess I'm too short, at least that's what my mom tells me. But I'm taking acting classes. Anything is better than waitressing." Across Southern California, Espinoza observes, are legions of star-gazing youngsters like the waitress, dreaming of a career as an actress or model--many pushed by their parents to try to strike it rich with a lucrative performing contract. Waiting to pounce on these people, he says, are too many fly-by-night operators posing as talent agents who operate for only one reason: to sell overpriced acting and modeling classes and picture shoots. These operators make wild, unethical promises of movie roles and magazine modeling jobs that are rarely, if ever, delivered. Espinoza, who says he once nearly fell into this trap as a 14-year-old, decided to do something about it last year: He'd write a book about the secrets of these fringe show business operators. He got jobs at two local talent companies to learn firsthand how the system works."¹

1. John M. Glionna, "Preying on Kids Who Long for Fame," Los Angeles Times, July 26, 1998.

(John Robert Powers)

Is Your Baby The Next Super Model?

"Gabriella's mother, Roxanne Joven says, "They gave us a pamphlet saying you need to invest money into your career. People spend that on college. You should spend that on pictures." Consumer Bob says, "Roxanne Joven is talking about the high pressure tactics she faced when she took her child to John Robert Powers." A Penny Saver Ad said the company was looking for kids. They told Roxanne that Gabriella was one of 600 they were looking at. Roxanne says, "Just bring some snapshots in there and the baby and they looked at her and called the next day and said she was the one."¹

"Sierra's mother Gina says, "She said she'd been auditioning 300 kids and it was a hectic week." Consumer Bob says, "Gina Rutz got the same line when she took Sierra to John Robert Powers. And like Roxanne the modeling agency said the 10 month old needed professional photographs." Gina Rutz says, "They said she had to have a portfolio before she could do anything in the entertainment business she had to have it." Consumer Bob says, "But the photos didn't come cheap. John Robert Powers turned the mothers over to Pascucci Productions, a talent agency owned and operated in the same office. And their charge for photos? A whopping $1475.00."²

1. "Is Your Baby The Next Super Model?," Consumer Bob, KFMB TV CBS Local 8 San Diego, 1999.
2. Ibid.

http://www.kfmb.com/bob/baby_model.htm [Oct. 3, 1999]

(John Robert Powers, Pascucci Productions)

Beware, If You Want Your Child To Be A Model or Star

"Bob Hansen says, "It's called a vanity racket because as parents we're not always objective when it comes to our children. That's why an unscrupulous business or school can milk us out of thousands of dollars, telling us the whole time our kids are on the brink of stardom. That's how it works at John Robert Powers. I know, I've talked to the victims and that's not all, we went undercover." Woman says, "It's very glamorous and very exciting, but it's not for everybody."¹

"Bob Hansen says, "Three months ago I showed you how John Robert Powers was charging parents thousands of dollars for unnecesary photo packages in clear violation of state laws. Our undercover investigation showed they've switched from selling pictures to selling classes."²

"Bob Hansen says, "Toward the end of our meeting Staci tried to close the deal. Pressuring us to hand over a $500.00 deposit." Woman says, "Do I have to do that now? Woman says, "Well this is the thing, we're making all the decision tonight. Do you want to call your husband?"³

1. "Beware, If You Want Your Child To Be A Model or Star," KFMB TV CBS Local 8 San Diego, 2000.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.

(John Robert Powers, Pascucci Productions)

http://www.kfmb.com/bob/kid_model.htm [Jan. 18, 2000]