Modeling Agency News
Pearlman's jihad
"I could almost hear Lou Pearlman chortling — actually, I imagine it to be more like wheezing — as I read the July 21 Orlando Sentinel story “State clears Pearlman after modeling probe,” which noted that a two-year attorney general’s investigation into Big Lou’s model-scouting company — variously Wilhelmina Scouting Network, Options Talent, Trans Continental Talent and eModels, Inc., — had ended, “unable to find any substantial violation” of law."1
"Despite 2,000 complaints to state investigators alleging that the modeling company Pearlman owned from September 2002 to October 2003 was a scam, the state attorney general’s office decided the case wasn’t worth pursuing. (Recall that Pearlman publicly, and vehemently, distanced himself from the companies in question by suing dozens of Options Talent consultants and employees for $100 million, alleging they misled him during negotiations for Pearlman’s takeover. That got him a big headline in the Sentinel. What the paper didn’t report was that Pearlman dropped the suit in April.)"2
"Perhaps pissed off at the months of bad press, Pearlman’s newest offering, Fashion Rock, LLC, has gone on the offensive, inundating his critics with lawsuits. On June 4, Fashion Rock, which sells weekend conventions to wannabe actors and models for $1,500 a pop, filed a lawsuit against 200-plus named and unnamed detractors and 50 unnamed companies."3
"Rosenberger and Torelli both point to the fact that the state attorney’s lead investigator on the Pearlman case, Jacqueline Dowd, was forced to resign in February from the attorney general’s office. They believe she was focusing too aggressively on Pearlman. A few months after she was replaced, the case disappeared."4
1. Jeffrey C. Billman, "Pearlman's jihad," Orlando Weekly, July
29, 2004.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/slug/index.asp?navId=1031
(Fashion Rock LLC, Lou Pearlman)
Your Stories Alert: Fashion Rock
""I was online and went through a search engine to look up talent scouting agencies, you know to get exposure and get resumes out." Which led Rob to Fashion Rock's website - a talent company owned by the same man who made ‘n-Sync and Back Street Boys world famous... "I'm really passionate about that and so when I talked they were like 'wow! This is awesome!'" Accepted into their training program after 90 minutes of phone interviews, during which, Rob was never asked to sing. Rob would pay $1,600 for a weekend of workshops with top industry executives. Rob put down a $100 deposit. "Wait a second! They don't even know if I'm good! Maybe this was just to sell me into that spot." Rob cancelled his reservation and for now, will spend his time here, working on his voice, letting Hollywood come to him."1
1. "Your Stories Alert: Fashion Rock," WIXT News Channel 9, July 22, 2004.
http://www.wixt.com/news/yournews/solutions/story.aspx?content_id=4B0FDFFF-E47B-4BE0-83A4-A35588BF0500
(Fashion Rock LLC)
Another day, another dollar
"I was cruising the net one day looking up auditions in Florida. I want to go there for spring break and thought I'd try something new while I was there. That's when I came across Fashion Rock Now. The company claims to bring top scouting agents in the entertainment industry for modeling, acting, singing and dancing. It's a two-day convention at a resort in Orlando. When I saw Lou Pearlman's name on the Web site, I figured it might be a scam."1
"When I was transferred, I heard the all too familiar background sound of dozens of phone operators. I decided to stick with the interview because I had some questions that the Web site did not answer. I also did a little homework beforehand. I checked the hotel prices at the resort and the most expensive was just $120 a night. The operator kept trying to flatter me and ask me what I wanted to do with my life. Then it was on to my measurements."2
"Nine hundred and ninety-five dollars? Yes, and this was the cheaper conference, she said. They usually run at $1,500. I realized this was complete B.S. If a room cost at most $120 a night, they were making more than triple that from innocent people."3
1. Mariam Sobh, "Another day, another dollar," Daily Illini, Mar.
18, 2004.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
http://www.dailyillini.com/opinions/1271
(Fashion Rock LLC)
Model Scams Book
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