Complaint Review: MTM Modeling Agency - John Casablancas Modeling School And Agency - Oklahoma City Oklahoma

As a graduate of the OKC JC School and now represented by the Agency I can't begin to tell you how frustrating this little girl's Rip Off report is and why it should be removed.

#1 (and I think the biggest reason) SHE WAS NOT A CONSUMER! She never paid a dime, she never attended the school and she knows NOTHING that she is claiming to know FIRST HAND. Everything she assumes to claim as a "fraud" is not from her experience. This is called "Hearsay" and is not allowed in court from a witness. If you have no direct experience of any type of fraud activity between you and whomever you are making these claims against then don't file a report. Let the people who may have had an issue file them and seeing as how you are the ONLY person to file one concerning the OKC branch do you not see how what you ASSUMED might be a scam IS NOT and your jumping to conclusions without any real evidence and that is dang near defamation.

As Ashley so eloquently writes: "When I seen all the other Ripoff Report's me and my mom decided it's not worth it to ever go back there. I'd rather just be founded for my talent." Which from reading that last sentence I can only assume your talent must be Lead Tooter in your High School Jug Band. And yes Ashley we would all rather just be, ahem, founded for our talent however, and I am just assuming here but just assuming that Tecumpseh Oklahoma isn't a HUGE hub of television, print and runway work thereby pretty much eliminating the possibility of running into, oh say, Michael Kors in line at Burger King where he has to have you as the "face" of his new collection how exactly to you plan to be "founded?"

I have been working successfully in Hollywood the last three years and even here where there actually IS a good chance of running into famous designers, directors and producers I know of no one since Lana Turner being founded--uck you know what "Discovered" thats the word you want. I know of nobody just being "discovered" in a crowd, thrown into a multi-million dollar film and given a life of fame and riches to never worry again. Yes there are those who become a "star overnight" but I can promise you before that night came they were working very hard to get there.  You watch American Idol? What do you think THEY are doing? They aren't hanging out with their friends at the mall or the park while whomever is on that show now walks around from group to group and town to town and pics out who they like. No they are AUDITIONING by coming TO the audition often driving hundreds of miles to get there then walking into a room, hitting their mark, slating then performing their rehearsed piece.

Oh.

Sorry.

You don't know what "hitting your mark" means or how to do it? What is slating you ask? How do YOU find the best audition material for you and the roles you want and where can you find where auditions are being held? Well first off. . Whats that? Oh you found an audition but they say you have to have Agency representation to be seen and they need your headshots digitally now with printed ones including complete resume in industry standard formatting attached when you arrive in person. What are you gonna do you ask? 

WELLLL I could suggest a school that could train you, teach you, polish you and prepare you for being just "founded for your talent" as well as by graduation they would have helped you get  your headshots and portfolio finished and ready from a professional photographer (which by the way and let me make this clear THEY MAKE NO MONEY OFF OF. You are not required to get your headshots from John Casablancas and you never have to buy photos from them. They arrange for the shoot, makeup and give the photographer the space and any pictures you may buy will be between you and the photographer. Period.) and you'll have a correctly formatted resume AND Agency representaion to even get in the door but  like you said "I'd rather just be founded for my talent instead of having to go spend my time at a school every other Saturday when I'm just a kid and would rather hangout with my friends, and it's way too far too drive from where I live." And if thats the case then all I have to say is "Best of luck to you." (BTW because JCOKC is an accredited school some students drive from KANSAS every week for class.)

You see, I am not sure why people don't think that tons and tons and tons of work and effort go into a careen on stage and screen. I don't know why people just think one of the toughest industries in the world just has a magic open door policy which you can just magically waltz through to a billion dollar lifestyle with no training or effort on your part. Just you.

People understand years of guitar lessons, piano lessons, Cheerleading camp, football practice often twice a day, gold practice, ANYTHING anyone wants to be great at everyone understands the time, devotion and cost that goes into these things except for some reason acting and modeling. Parents will pay thousands of dollars on football equipment, soccer stuff, a PIANO for God's sake but when it comes to acting suddenly its a scam. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND! Especially when being told that by someone who has never even attended the school!!

Sorry. It just really frustrates me seeing the work they do up there and the difference in the kids confidence and appearance and their self esteem and then I hear Ashley say these things that CLEARLY she knows nothing about.

You end by saying "They asked me to pay $1,950. Would you?" which again is so unfair. You are attending a credited school! When you graduate you have 60 credit hours. The course runs for 20 weeks and everything is included. Most places you pay your tution THEN go spend hundreds more on books, supplies and equipment. They include everything and yes as one lump sum (you can pay small amounts weekly its not all due at once) it seems like a lot but again your average Football/Cheer camp runs right at about $300 for Fri night Sat and Sun morn. and thats it. Compare that to 20 weeks of study with a total of 60 classroom hours with everything you need provided by them and you'll see it is actually an incredible value for the amount of training and education you get.

Look, the fact that I knew there was no way I could get any real world experience working in film and TV as a kid who couldn't even drive in Oklahoma at the time BUT I could go to school and get the equivilant of that experience with John Casablancas was such a blessing to me because when I got old enough and moved to California with ZERO actual work under my belt I had an Agent, a portfolio, a resume and I was knew what to do when that door opened for me. And it did. And I couldn't have ever done it without John Casablancas OKC.

And Ashley, between you and me, before you post slanderous statements against people (you call Darcy by name) make sure you know what you are talking about. Everytime someone new Googles John Casablancas OKC one of the first things that pops up is your lies and out of all the models that have graduated from there the one picture that comes up is of you in a Santa hat making that Facebook Duckbill pose which Im not saying you aren't cute but thats the first thing people encounter is you doing that horrible unprofessional mirror pose and you saying the school is a fraud. Its hurful, misleading, lies and you have not only probably cost the school thousands and thousands of dollars but how many people have you robbed of the tools they needed to Wow a casting director and get that part and live their dreams?

I graduated from John Casablaca's a few weeks ago. The classes were so great, fun, and informative! Yes in the interviewing process they ask a few things about you to see if you are MARKETABLE! And they inform you that they dont have much space because if the BUILDING. You have to make sacrifices if you want to be famous. You think they can run a business like that with no funds?! They money goes to into helping pay for all the stuff that the students will NEED! I had a blast every minute I spent at John Casablanca's and I learned so much!

You dont simply take the class and expect them to call you ASAP. You have to WORK for it! I recently recieved a letter inviting me to a Talent Scout Expo thanks to John Casablanca's. They have provided me with every bit of information that they could to help me begin my modeling career. You have NO RIGHT to say that John Casablanca's in Oklahoma City is a rip off or a scam because you never experienced the classes! You walked inside the building ONCE. Did you expect them to push you in front of a camera sign you a $10,000 contract when you had NO EXPERIENCE?! These complaints are so stupid.

Is this place a modeling school or modeling agency? They are charging a fee as if they were a "school" however they are making these kids sign 5 year contracts as if they were an "agency". Has the smell of scam written all over it! My daughter is in this "class" or "agency" or whatever it is and I feel like she has been taken advantage of. How do I get her out of this mess? Can anyone help me?

John Casablancas is a school which teaches interested people how to act in television and film and how to model on runway and in print.  It also teaches basic etiquette, makeup application, fashion sense, speaking well before an audience, etc. etc. which will help individuals throughout their lives on the job and in any social situation.  My kids go to a private school which charges 15,000.00 a year for each child, and college is going to cost quite a bit as well, but they are going to learn something there which will help them succeed throughout their lives in this competitive world.  J Casablancas, the school is no different.  What the students learn in the classes there will remain with them throughout their lives, helping them to be successful citizens of society....and happier, too.  Of course J. Casablancas is a business and it charges a fee like every other business, but it is a worthwhile business that helps many, many people in a very positive way!  Yes, it is worth it.