Complaint Review: Kenny Stevens

"Senior Talent Coordinator" "Kenny Stevens" (changed name from Richard Brennan?) and the rest of the faux-bumbling staff at "Universal Film and Casting Enterprise"/"Talent Finders Entertainment" on the 4th floor of 236 5th Ave New York, NY 10037 are SCAMMING new, NAIVE ACTORS, using ads for feature film extra work on craigslist, cheating them out of $125 ($137 after tax) to be signed up for a fraudulent "casting" database.

--

I recently found an audition notice on craigslist for featured extra work on an upcoming feature film. I received a call from a woman who sounded fun and amiable on the phone, inviting me to audition at an office on fifth avenue.
The next afternoon, I visited the "UFaCE" casting offices at 236 5th Ave 424 and felt strange after 1 minute of sitting in the lobby filling out their "audition form."

I did not meet the woman I talked to on the phone, but instead met with "Kenny Stevens." During my "audition" with Kenny, he perpetually name-dropped, telling stories in what I presume was an effort to prove his "connections" in the industry. He never gave me any information about his business (I found the title UFaCE by looking at an email printed on his desk), and he anxiously evaded answering all questions I asked.

After 2 minutes of chatting, he donned a pathetically fake, deeply thoughtful air and asked me if I was "really serious about being an actor." A bit taken aback, I answered, "...yes...?" and he walked out of the room. He returned with a couple of old emails -- casting notices for TV shows. He only let me glance at them for 10 seconds, then rolled them up in his hand and told me this was an example of the database. I could "sign up for a year and receive emails every day from the 34 TV shows casting in NYC," as well as receive a "welcome package" which tells me what not to do on auditions, AND that HE WOULD TAKE MY HEADSHOTS.

I told him that I already had a headshot and a resume -- they were sitting on his desk in front of him -- to which he uneasily responded, "Yeah, well, the headshots are nothin'. We give 'em to you as part of the package, the database is the big thing."

I was about to politely head for the door, but instead played along and asked, "Well, since I already have headshots, could I have a discount on the database?" Of course, no.

Kenny is not only the "senior talent coordinator" in the office, but he is also the only casting director, manager, AND a headshot photographer. The more questions I asked, the more apprehensive he became until eventually he said, "You know what? Let's just pass on this," and ushered me out to the lobby.

He never looked me in the eye.

I feel so badly for actors trying to break into the industry who don't realize this man is a scammer until after he's taken advantage of them. This cannot possibly be a legitimate business.

Aspiring actors: STAY AWAY.