Complaint Review: MAX AGENCY - Toronto Ontario

I don't know why people think that by just enrolling in a talent firm like max agency, they can get guaranteed jobs. Jobs depend a lot on your looks and talent. If you have not, max agency can't help it out. Work hard on this and you can surely make a mark. 

AFTER over 30 years in the business, I am finding myself involved in a situation that is in someway beyond my control.  I am being accused of stealing (not true) fraud (not true) harrassment (not true) and many other things. 

I write this post to warn all of the new actors to please do your research before giving one penny.  Unfortunately it is not against the law for Agencies to take money for Photo's, and website stuff...and tell you to sign a non exclusive contract. it's a bit unethical to own the photography place or have a deal with them.. but not against the law...And it is not against the law to own an agency and an Acting Academy, although it is a conflict in the industry only because the agency is in control of who teaches there and how much money they charge for the courses. Simply because this means all monies go to the same person.  In my case I was paid 700 dollars a week, and he was making 595 + taxes per person.  You do the math.

I myself worked at this Academy for ACTORS and knew that this person owned the Agency (did not do my research at first on the agency) very silly on my part.

I am a Casting Director, so also knew what I was teaching and tried very hard to get some of the talent work, and did so many times. 

I worked very hard at training them... I did my job.  I was always under the impression that the owner was selling this Agency and was going to consentrate on the Academy and other things.  I was wrong to wait as long as I did, and If I wasn't fired... who knows I would have probably waited longer as the students became a mission and a passion (meaning training them right).  When certain people came and let me know that they couldn't afford the classes along with what they had just paid at their Agency or they were an old student of mine (before I even knew him) who had already taken classes with me... depending on the situation I was told to deal with these people from me to them, and I did. So I told them to paid what they could afford which was very low or free.  The owner Knew this all along and now is denying it.... silly me. I was asked that I did not let the other students know because everyone would be asking for the same deal.  I gave rec'ts TAX included/non quote/cash as this was not my rate, and it wasn't to a lot of people....I wont lie... if I could have given everyone that same deal I would have.... as it was becoming evident that people were being told it was my school therefore not aware that it was the owner of the Agencies school.  Here is my warning to all of you.  Don't take anyone's word for things and don't sign contracts unless they sign a contract on what they will do for your money... I am a resident of this business not a visitor...and now find myself being accused of things that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.  I have helped more people in this industry including this man... and am now being called down to the lowest by him.

I will not let this stop me.  It makes me sad that people can take my name and use it to their advantage ... and I have to fight for something I have worked hard for, for over 30 years. 

This Man has more money than most of us will see in a life time, but will still fight for more.... I don't live in his world, so I am not good at it. 

But I will have to become good or my name will be slammed and slandered.  All because I was not careful and didn't get him to sign something... I slipped up and started to feel he care for a bit.  and now I am being accused of stealing and fraud, and what ever else he can throw my way.  His past is his past... and is now blending into my life by just being associated with him... believe me this is not an easy time for me... but I will get through it.  I am not perfect... but I don't hurt people and have never ripped anyone off.... I love my industry way to much to do that... having people pay what they can or having them in my class for free is not a rip off... I guess it was his way of showing me how stupid I was for thinking that he cared... he is now saying he knew nothing... I am still trying to figure this one out.  I am also trying to figure out how and what I was thinking when I truly thought he was on the same page as me when it came to working in this industry.  I will probably retire in a few years so it was important to me when it came to making a difference or change with new blood in the industry.  Even if I wanted to believe there was a bit of truth to him.. he is proving me wrong every day that he continues this behaviour.

IMAGINE THIS MAN WHO NEVER EVEN KNEW WHAT ACTING WAS BEFORE TAKING OVER THIS ACADEMY IS TRYING TO STOP ME FROM TEACHING BECAUSE HE THINKS HE CAN.... HE HAS BEEN DOING THINGS LIKE THIS FOR SO LONG THAT HE NOW BELIEVES HE IS ABOVE THE LAW.. AND TO SOME DEGREE MAYBE THE LAW LETS HIM BELIEVE THIS.  HOWEVER I STILL BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT TAKE THIS ANYMORE... WE CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY.

MY POINT IS PLEASE DON'T "JUST" TRUST PEOPLE.  CHECK THINGS OUT.  I AM SAD TO SAY THAT I THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE THEIR POSSIBILITIES NOT THEIR PAST.  I AM BEING SLAPPED IN THE FACE FOR THAT WAY OF THINKING AND IT STINGS BUT I AM LEARNING.  NOT TO SAY I WASN'T TOLD BECAUSE I WAS, ACTUALLY BY SOMEONE HE IS RELATED TO. I REALLY THOUGHT THINGS WERE GENUINE.   PLEASE BECAREFUL AND IF YOU THINK OR EVEN HAVE THE SLIGHTEST FEELING THAT THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT.... THEN IT'S NOT RIGHT.

When I begin again which will be very soon, I will make sure things are done properly and with people who care about the same things I do.  I am now 52 years old and feel like I am starting all over again.  But I take responsiblity for this and believe I am not the victum, but that the people that got caught up in this situation are the real victums.  I will do my best to make that up to them and myself.

OH AND BY THE WAY .. I DID NOT POST ANYTHING THAT SAYS CONTACT POLICE OR ACTRA... ANYTHING I POST... I HAVE NO PROBLEM PUTTING MY NAME TO IT... ACTRA AND THE POLICE ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF ONE ANOTHER AND I BELIEVE THIS WAS WORDED WRONG... AND THEREFORE WAS MIS UNDERSTOOD.  THAT IS ONLY MY ASSUMPTION.  BUT "NO" I DID NOT POST THAT... ON THIS RIP OFF REPORT.

Cheers,

JAK

Juli-Ann Kay,

Casting Director / Acting & Performance Coach

To Whom It May Concern,

The Toronto Police are currently accepting any complaints towards MAX Agency & your experiences with them.

Please direct all concerns (past or present; no time limit as complaints are being matched through-out the years) to:

ACTRA: Karl Pruner

[email protected]
[email protected]
416-928-2278

TORONTO POLICE, Div 22: Detective David Knowles

[email protected]
416-808-2204

Help them help all of you.