NotaPushyMum.Com

Hi, we're pretty new to this performing lark. We've done our homework, and find this site very useful. Anyhow, despite the fact that dgd has had "extra"film work, she signed on to Starnow about six months ago, hoping to do an unpaid short film, and hopefully gain a showreel. This week we saw this Casting call 179980, and checked out both Elite Casting (and capelondon modelling Agency on the logo) both seemed genuine, and the supporting role seemed tailor made for our budding actor, affording her the opportunity to widen her range. So, dgd applied (protected by a hotmail address,fortunately). Starnow have withdrawn this advert because offer may not be genuine. I have spent twenty years of my working life in child protection as a Local Authority Social Worker, and am aware that this can be a wicked world, and have of necessity a suspicious mind. In addition, dgd has an Agent who would certainly asked many questions before a live audition. But this is the THIRD occasion we have been advised of something rotten. My question is this - is the preying on children worse in the film side of the business? Because it seems like all the posts on musical theatre may not result in a part, but at least the auditions are REAL. I want all these creeps prosecuted. I am just so angry.

I saw the advert on Starnow. My first reaction was suspicious because it was offering £25k for a major part in feature film to be screened at UK cinema and said "no experience necessary". It seeed unlikely that size of role would be advertised on Starnow and asking for no experience. It is interesting it has now been removed by Starnow. My dd has had some really good roles through Starnow (most unpaid) and it has been well worth the subcription so don't be put off but you do have to be careful. I am really not sure what Starnow can do other than react quickly to any concerns and they do seem to do that.

Sorry about your experiences.

I have seen a few questionable things get through on starnow although the vast majority of their castings are genuine. If I do not recognise the production company or casting director (even when the job is passed on by the agent!), I always do a google search particularly as my ds has been doing this for a number of years and I recognise lots of names. This is good practice as you learn about the business slowly and thoroughly. Sometimes casting directors or production companies are new or perhaps students. Still, the film school will have a record and often their prior short films, for example, will be listed somewhere on the school website or elsewhere. If nothing comes up but their own website, I would not trust it.

I do the same when searching for a new electrician, hotel, getting reviews of them off the website.

Best of luck.

I was suspicious too - film not listed on imdb, production company not got any google hits except for the starnow advert, plus casting a child part through a model agency??
DD's agent had not heard of it either.

It is up to us to be vigilant but I must say that all the many subscribers to Starnow are paying a fee for a service - surely that service should include Starnow doing at least some basic checks of genuine-ness. It only took me 3 mins on google to realise that this project (whatever it is) was not something I wanted to find out more about.

I am not a starnow subscriber but I wonder if any starnow subscribers on napm could ask the company what they are doing about stopping these adverts getting on the listings. Surely there are not so many adverts which want children that it would be too much work for them to run some basic checks?

i agree Doris, I think Starnow should be doing a lot more checking before accepting "job" ads, especially when you consider how many young people are registered with them.

I don't know whether there are more scams in show business than in other business but I do think that perhaps there are some easier targets than in other businesses. Fortunately for your daughter, bcnups, she has someone looking out for her who is circumspect and cautious on her behalf. I don't think that's always the case!

In show business, there are lots of people so keen to get a "job" (even though many of them are unpaid) that they can let stardust blind them and they look no further than the surface of an internet page. Anyone can claim (and many do!) all sorts of associations with famous people and/or organisations. In a way, the more important sounding the project, the more circumspect you need to be. It is very rare for any high profile work to be cast via internet casting sites. (Especially sites like Gumtree and Ukscreen). The Stage newspaper, PCR, Castingcallpro, Starnow and many others have often carried decidedly dodgy advertisements (especially The Stage!).

I think there are at least four distinct types of dodgy dealings to look out for:

1. The truly sinister stalkers who hope to get access to pictures/contact details etc for their own nefarious dealings or who invite people to "auditions" where no job exists and then film unsuspecting/naive hopefuls.

2. The "legitimate" employers who try to get people to work for nothing, or even encourage people to invest money in a project when they should damn well be paying people.

3. Those who ask for money for some kind of "opportunity" and try to entice people by name-dropping.

4. The people with delusions of grandeur who grossly exaggerate their experience and try to convince people that working for nothing with them will lead to great things in the future.

This site is great for asking around and the internet is a good research tool - providing you don't believe everything you read!

Things to look out for are: "no experience necessary". "looking for unknowns". This usually translates as " we hope to find people with no knowledge of how the industry works with no agents to look out for them".

Other things that ring alarm bells for me are any mention of "celebrity", "Hollywood", "fame", "stardom" "be a TV star". You don't find genunine opportunities for any of these things on internet casting information sites.

Other things that might make you think twice: " may lead to paid work in the future". - no it won't. It just doesn't work like this! If they haven't got the money to pay you now, they will either employ experienced/bankable people if/when the money is available or they will find some more willing souls who will work for nothing again.

Paid work can lead to more paid work. Unpaid work very rarely leads directly to paid work so its important to know why you want to work unpaid and to be firm and unapologetic about what you want out of it. If you are not being paid, you are entitled to ask any number of questions!

Pg off on one of her rants again

I received this email this morning from StarNow:

It's come to our attention that you may have applied to listing number 179980:
"Exciting feature film requires actress aged 8 to 14 for major role."

We have reason to believe that the person advertising this role may be non-genuine and that this is not a legitimate opportunity for our members. We have removed this listing from the site and have closed this person’s StarNow membership.

Please do not engage in any further correspondence with this advertiser. If they do attempt to communicate with you and you have concerns about their messages please feel free to forward them to me at jacqueline@starnow.com.

Good to see them following up on someone'e suspicions.

Had an email from them this morning - had no idea it was the same film as the previous "exciting feature film" ! Just said 3 children and playing age 8-14. It is obviously the same lot, and this time it includes a guest appearance from Jim Bowen!!!

I have written back telling them no way but wanted to warn others - the website looks very professional but I have very serious concerns about whoever is behind this - hope you are around to advise dogcop!! I am getting very disillisioned by how often this is happening

This is the brief on the website:


Project: An Odd Day Out

Role 1: John, Angela and Diane, friends of the Adams children. Remuneration £3,000 - £5000.

These are supporting roles with good screen time and dialogue and have the following minimum requirements:

*Female or Male, aged 8 to 14 or able to look within this age range.
*Able to portray a range of supportive emotions as one friend to another.
*Excellent verbal skills as many scenes involve telephone conversations where vocal skills are key.
*Able to memorise at least 6 pages of dialogue at a time.
*Able to take direction well and develop a substantial and believable "good friend" character.
*No prior experience is necessary.

Shooting of around 2 months is expected for this role in studio and will, as far as possible, be done during school holidays. Payment of £30000-£5000 (subject to negotiation) plus all expenses for cast and one parent or guardian will be made.

Role 2: Anna & Sophie Adams - principal cast (family daughters). Remuneration: £22,000

These are the principal child roles and have very substantial screen time and dialogue and have the following minimum requirements:

*Female, aged 8 to 14 or able to look within this age range.
*Able to portray a wide range of emotions.
*Able to memorise at least 10 pages of dialogue at a time.
*Able to take direction well and develop a major character.
*Good body confidence and able to both act and behave professionally in a naturist environment.
*No prior experience is necessary though may be advantageous.

Shooting of around 3 months is expected for each of these roles both in studio and on location at the naturist resort and will, as far as possible, be done during school holidays. Payment of £22,000 (subject to negotiation) plus all expenses for cast and one parent or guardian will be made. As some shooting will take place at a naturist resort both roles require the actress to be comfortable and able to act whilst naked in a naturist setting. This is a key component of the film and you will be asked to provide a suitable, relevant photograph to prove that the applicant is comfortable appearing naked on camera prior to getting an audition so no timewasters please. Full guidance to ensure any photograph fully complies with UK law will be given to all applicants on this matter without charge. Anyone unable or unwilling to meet this requirement cannot be considered for these roles.

Aaargh - and the address for the agency doesn't appear to exist - why am I not surprised

I have reported this to star now and hopefully they will take it off their site.

Well done, I have reported it too - lets hope we can get rid of them once and for all.

This is dreadful! Please do forward all the information you have to the police, missmoneypenny, and alert Starnow. No legitimate organisation would be asking parents to send revealing photographs of children in order to secure an audition.

I am also concerned and disappointed that if you search for this, you get a message from the Starnow site which states "sorry, casting for this has successfully completed" as opposed to "don't touch this with a barge pole, currently under investigation" or something like that.

NB: Interrupted in middle of post! Have seen that you have alerted Starnow. I still think you should alert the police missmoneypenny.

Hi pg - I am happy to inform police - do you have any idea how I should do this - ie local police or an online child protetion site?

here's a link to a website that might be useful, but I think, if I were in your shoes, I would phone my local police station first to see whether they could advise you what to do.

http://www.ceop.police.uk/report-abuse/
http://www.ceop.police.uk/Ceop-Report/

I don't think speaking to the police is over-reacting. This stinks to high heaven in my opinion. I'd be very interested to know what response you get.

In case anyone is any doubt: if an ADULT actor is required to appear nude in a commercial or a film, there is NO WAY a company would ask for nude photos of the actor before deciding who to call in for a casting (unless it's pornography...)

I applied for this - before looking on here! and cant access their website but they have emailed me - nothing on ad stating the main roles only minor - probably get that info when you apply on their website!! So GLAD of NAPM again - Dogcop hope you can help us out again!

This is the email I recieved:

Hello

The website is definitely up and running and being accessed without difficulty by everyone else so the issue appears to be on your end. In firefox if you simply clear the address bar and type "cartertalent.tk" (without the quotes) it should take you straight there.

Carter Talent

Oldest dd is in the met in child protection talked to her she is just going to see a client but will talk to me latter asked me to get all the info I can. Can some one please pm me the web site so she can look into it as it's her job to protect children she should be able to sort it out or no of some one who she can hand this over to.