Star Casting
To Whom It May Concern:
Star Casting is located in downtown
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Their website address is: www.starcastingonline.com.
They claim to represent the best actors in Utah, creating
the #1 Talent Bank in the Intermountain West.
According to them they are a full-service multi-faceted
Talent bank that can guide your future in modeling and
acting every step of the way.
They claim to have the major clients we've all heard
of.
They claim they have the best Photographer and Stylist
in the State.
For $85 (Cash Only) they are offering 36 exposures,
hair and makeup services, their photographer and sitting,
processing, and a set of proofs for myself.
After the Makeover and Photo Session they evaluate the
proofs and answer:
How well do you photograph?
Can you do print work?
What types?
During screening procedure, they provide an audition
script to do a cold reading with the camera, then they
make their decision to cast you in TV, films, commercials,
etc.
The owner claims to be well connected in Hollywood having
produced and directed over 350 TV Commercials and music
videos.
Is this a scam or legitimate?
Thanks,
B.A.
B.,
Star Casting has a clean record at the BBB.
As far as all their claims go, their website does not
substantiate any of them. You can't tell when they started.
There are no tear sheets, no letters or quotes from leaders,
no names of anyone they have discovered, nor any names
of people they represent. And there was no news page
to show recent successes. Which means their website is
weak or their claims are false.
On their New Star Search page, they said:
- Unlike our competitors, we don't offer classes, workshops,
expensive portfolios, we don't pretend to be everything
to everybody. But if you are serious and want state-of-the-art
management and guidance along the way, Star is your
answer.
-
- Why not save yourself a lot of time and money. Talk
to everyone you can... are they trying to sell you
classes? portfolios? sign you exclusively? Of course
they are! Star doesn't entertain any of that nonsense,
and the people that are with us appreciate it and benefit
everyday.
Star Casting noted the common scams out there (modeling
schools and modeling photography scams). The cost of
the test shoot is very reasonable, and the fact they
are starting with a test shoot is very sensible. Bogus
modeling agencies want to start you right into an expensive
portfolio or comp cards without testing, because they
are paid for the photos.
Even if Star Casting wants payment in cash, $85 is certainly
not a lot of money compared to other firms which want
$500 or more up front for photos, online comp cards,
or as a deposit for classes.
None of that, however, proves they are legitimate. You
need to verify their claims by asking for and checking
out what they told you. Get references and find out more.
If their client list is as big as they claim, they should
be able to provide the references as soon as you ask.
|