Complaint Review: Phyllis Stuart - Los Angeles California

I am distressed to learn that Phyllis Stewart is doing another WIN awards. I was paid the first year i worked. But I personally witnessed her bully and belittle her staff (who are primarily young women) accuse people, without evidence, of stealing, be rude, mean and refused to pay several other people. I tried many times to communicate with her both verbally and by email about her behavior and that it was contrary to the message she is sending with her event. She ignored attempts by all of her staff to communicate with her. I told Ms Stewart I would never work with her again and left it at that. When I watch hard working, young women and some men give their all to a women who not only is thankless for their work but belittles, accuses and than doest pay them yet she finds money to put the event up again, my sense of justice and concern for the innocent staff this year is understandably enraged. Even the venue had trouble with and witnessed Ms Stewart's behavior. I just can not, in good conscience, hold my tongue after what I witnessed the last two years at The WIN awards. By the way, The WIN awards are just Ms Stewart's creation. There is nothing the organization does through out the year to help women. There is no staff, no classes or out reach programs etc. She hires young women off Craig's list every year, treats them in a deplorable manner, doesn't pay some of them or only partially pays them, then lives the rest of the year off what she raised for the awards show.

I would like to update you regarding a previous post regarding Phyllis Stuart, President of the Women's Image network. In December 2014, Ms. Stuart contracted me to operate my camera and jib arm to help videotape the Women's Image Awards Show for a mutually agreed upon sum of money. However, after completion of the event, we came into a disgreement over payment of my invoice (retrosperctively due to possible misunderstanding regarding a call to the Beverly Hills Fire Department regarding a potential safety concern.) However, I am happy to say that as of December 21,

Phyllis Stuarts has paid my my invoice in fulland she and I have agreed to move forward in mutual respect and professional regard, and no legal action regasrding this issue will be acted upon by either party. In return for payment of my invoice, I will no llonger be contacting WIN vendors, staff, crew, clients, associates, talent, nominees, honorees, co-chairs, or any one else currently or formerly working or associated with WIN regarding this matter.I believe Ms. Stuart is a good person with a demonstared passion and laudable causes, and I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

I was hired to work the WIN Awards she hosted 2013 at the Santa Monica Women's Club; and she did not behave in a professional way. -The majority of her staff and vendors were not paid the wages she promised, and she refused to reimburse people for out-of-pocket purchases made at her behest. -The credit cards used to make purchases for the entire event were declined repeatedly, causing delays and out-of-pocket spending by her staff -Freelance vendors including a Graphic artist/Photographer, Stylist, and Fine Artist were not paid for services rendered -She refused to pay contracted event staff including her Stage Manager and technicians. -Despite having food catered, she did not hire any catering staff, instead forcing her interns to serve food and drinks and clean the venue following load-out. -Presenters were made promises of payment/gifts that were never received -She was verbally abusive and unprofessional.

It is true that I did call the Beverly Hills Fire Department and requested a Fire Marshal come to the venue after I observed Phyllis Stuart crowding tables and chairs up against fire exits, creating a potentially dangerous work environment. The room was simply too small to safety accommodate all of the tables she was trying to place. Since she was personally over-seeing the placement of the tables and chairs, it would have been a waste of time to ask her to clear the exits. When the Fire Marshal came in he made Phyllis strike at least two tables and move others to clear the Fire exits. This can all be verified by the Beverly Hills Fire Department. I take the safety of my work environment seriously.

I call Phyllis Stuart once or twice a day, to politely remind her that she owes me my rate for her show, no matter what transpired with the potential fire hazard she had created. I should also state that she had refused to pay me long before learning that I was the crew member who requested the Fire Marshal. 

Additionally, after my initial RipOff Report was filed, I was contacted by another crew member from one of Phyllis Stuart's previous events, stating that he had also been ripped off by her and was in the process of collecting on a judgement.

If a producer hires a one day freelancer...a cameraman, like this tool. They would not expect him to call the fire department which arrived as our event guests were arriving. No, a producer would expect a person on the team to address their concerns about a potential fire hazard (the fire deparment found NO hazard and did not fine the venue), that the day player would ask the showrunner a question. 

 I should sue this idiot. He thought he was a big man and called the government (which cost me over $700 in the end, because fire departments charge you for this thing). It also cost me overtime for the 15 other staffers, enormous confusion for the arriving guests, late start time and very late end time..which cost me in venue overtime and valet overtime.

 So the truth is that he got partial payment. I should not have paid him anything...he ruined my show / event which took be 5 months to create for a one night three hour event...

 I've been polite. But now I am out of patience. This man is nuts. He uses dozens of phone numbers and he calls me on my cell phone...at 4 AM, 2 AM, every single day. This person is a liability to any show, and all producers considering hiring this cameraman must know he is not right n the head.

Be WARNED...Do NOT hire Joseph Walsh...