New Faces Development Center ripoff scam Hicksville New York
I am writing to report about New Faces in Hicksville. They are running a complete circus show at that company at the expense of hundreds of people's hard earned money. Let me tell you how their entire operation works.
First they find a way to pull you in so they send out scouts to malls, beaches, or any other crowded area where there are a lot of young people. These scouts have no special training and usually know nothing about the modelling or acting business themselves but are told to just bring anyone and they get paid based on how many people sign up.
You call up the number you get on the card and are told to come in for an interview. So you go in and meet a "director" who is nothing more than a salesman and convinces you that you need comp cards or headshots or any kind of photo shoot. They charge you a ridiculous amount of money and say that you have everything it takes and once you get your pictures taken you will get your $800 back or whatever they happend to charge you. What they don't tell you is that they own the photo studio and the photographer and if it were legit you would be able to take your photos anywhere and get much better quality.
After your photos you meet with them again and find out that you need to get copies of all of them and after discussing that you need about 5 photos for a good comp card you end spending about $450 or so on 100 comp cards. They happen to own the printing place also that makes the comp cards and that is more money in their pocket. Then they explain that agents and casting directors go ti gigacomps.com and you need your comp card on the site and you will get more work that way and they charge another $800 for a 1 year membership. Well surprise surprise...they happen to own the website as well.
So they end up getting you no work or at least any legitimate work and they don't send your comp cards out to anyone usefull in the industry but decide to call you in to bring you to IMTA (International Model and Talent Association). They feed you some garbage about how only the best models and actors can go there when in fact they will send anyone who pays them. It's also interesting that the LA convention and the NY convention cost the same even though there is no air fare for the NY one if you live here. That is because they claim that they stay in a very expensive hotel.
The IMTA is the biggest scam out of all of them. They pay a whole bunch of industry guests to come on down and look at the talent even though they may not be scouting talent at the time. Hundreds of people attend and a very minimal percentage of people get no work out of it and most just end up throwing their money away. What you also didn't know is that the IMTA pays places like New Faces to send people there.
My advice to you. Stay as far away from these people as possible. They are crooks and do not deserve to bring in another penny!! Spread the word! Only with your help can we put these crooks out of business. Trust me. I have been involved in the business for many years and now have made it a promise to run companies like these to the ground.
Richard
New York, New York
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Angry-j
St. Charles,Missouri,
U.S.A.
New Faces got you a job as an EXTRA? Anyone can be an extra in a movie...you were ripped off!
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, February 20, 2008
You paid all that money for photoshoots, etc. and all your son got was one call to be an EXTRA in a movie? You can be an extra in a movie by calling a number in the local newspaper looking for extras! You don't need a "talent agency" to represent you.
Those places are supposed to get you jobs IN the movie as in ACTOR with lines or something more than just an extra...anyone can be an extra...
your blind to your scam!
Eagle
Hardy,Arkansas,
U.S.A.
New Faces Development was straight with my son and myself
#3Consumer Comment
Mon, February 11, 2008
New Faces Development Company of Hicksville, NY was very straight with my son and me a few years ago. He was 16 or 17 at the time. My son had been approached by an NFDC scout in Manhattan, we went out there and they advised us to have pictures taken, and that they could help him find work in the fields that involved such need for pictures. Since I could not afford to pay for all the things my son wanted in life, I thought that if I could help him position himself to make a lot of money in some form of media work, that he could fish himself instead of just get a fish from me once in awhile, so to speak. It was a financial stretch to get the photos done, but I consider it a good thing that may still bring in a return on investment in the years to come if my son so chooses.
My son was called out of the blue over a year later by the casting company of a major motion picture that is now up for a Golden Globe. Although he is just a 'background artist' (formerly called 'extra'), it was a great experience and gives him a golden memory...and he made a nice day's pay for a teenager. If he chose to, he could pursue that path and do very well. He is in college now and has other plans, but his experience with New Faces and being in a major motion picture, even if his part of the shoot was only a day and he never does it again, was golden. And if he wanted to, he could go all the way in the field. It was totally worth it. Thanks to NFDC for all their support and encouragement.