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

Warning on shonky child model agencies

"They face incredible odds to crack the big time. And increasing numbers of aspiring young actors and models are dealing with the additional hurdle of here today, gone tomorrow talent agents, latest figures reveal. NSW Fair Trading Minister Reba Meagher said complaints against acting and modelling agents had surged over recent months and that two companies had ceased trading, leaving clients disappointed."¹

"Ms Meagher said two agents, Xpose Talent Management in Sydney and The Dolls House in Port Macquarie, had ceased trading since the end of 2003. "Both agencies had signed up numerous clients and taken payments for things such as photo portfolios, only to leave them with unfulfilled expectations regarding the work offers they would be getting," she said."²

1. Daniel Dasey, "Warning on shonky child model agencies," Sydney Morning Herald, Mar. 14, 2004.
2. Ibid.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/13/1078594616013.html

(Modeling scams)

Agencies exploit dreams of fame

"They paid between $100 to $140 to an Oceanside, Calif., company to have their photos and biographical information placed on a Web site. They said they were told casting directors scan the pages looking for potential actors. None of them has received any job offers. Metzger and Gaddy said they have waited more than six months. Andrich and Amvame signed up this month. "I took a chance," said Andrich, whose father worked at Republic Pictures. And they shouldn't expect to get any work from the company, Primetime Casting, which is also known as Showtime Entertainment."¹

"If a talent agency wants advance fees, run," said Karen Stuart, executive director for the industry trade group Association of Talent Agents in Los Angeles. "We only make money from the success of our clients."²

"Anybody can put up a Web site and claim casting directors look at a site. No casting director is looking for extras or actors on these sites," said Susan Gard, spokeswoman for the California state agency that oversees talent agent licensing. "A lot of people have dreams to exploit. People get Hollywood stars in their eyes."³

"Metzger said she doesn't think her son, Parish, now 14 months old, will get work through Primetime even though 11 photos of him are on the company's Web site. The only response she's received are pitches to manage the tyke for a $400 fee."⁴

"If you really want to act, perform in local theater productions or any other activity that gets you stage experience, said Karen Stuart, executive director for the industry trade group Association of Talent Agents. Agents care about stage experience as much as looks, she said."⁵

1. Andrew Shain, "Agencies exploit dreams of fame," Charlotte Observer, July 26, 2004.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/9243579.htm

(Primetime Casting, Showtime Entertainment)

Nice try, state told on new fee

"In late June, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation issued an $1,800 assessment fee to the state's 336 talent agencies. The reason: Its talent-agency division was operating in a deficit, and, according to Florida statute, no division may operate with a negative balance. Last week, 25 people, representing about 15 Broward and Miami-Dade talent agencies, gathered at the Surf Club in Surfside to discuss the fee, which is due Sept. 30, and whether the DBPR is regulating the agencies well."¹

"Investigations are a particularly sore point with the talent agencies, who say they're tired of reporting illegitimate agents and seeing no results. "Even after the department began regulating the talent-agency industry, there have still been countless scams. When we report scams, the DBPR does nothing,'' said Irene Marie, who's been in the industry for more than 15 years and owns the Irene Marie Talent Agency in Miami Beach."²

"The key to it all is education,'' Marie told Margolis and others at the meeting. "Policing doesn't stop people from conning. What the public needs from us and you, Senator, is educational programs that say what's a manager, what's a contract and how to differentiate between a legitimate agent and a false one."³

"Then came the plan of action: Each agency would write a letter to his senator or representative, asking for a moratorium on the assessment and an investigation of the deparment."⁴

1. Romina Garber, "Nice try, state told on new fee," Miami Herald, Aug. 1, 2004.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/9287067.htm

(Talent agencies, Florida, DBPR)