I have not been personally victimized by this company, but being a member of the real Arizona film community, you get a sense of belonging and support and after a discussion with another member of the community I decided to file a report. If this is the only way to bring down the scumbags of our society then I'm all for it.
I really cannot stand when organizations such as "Ranalli Models" a.k.a. VIA Entertainment take advantage of our industry. I hear the name comes from the receptionist by the way. They come into our cities pretending to offer the world to unsuspecting actors and models, especially parents who want to give the world to their children.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT take a meeting with these people. Don't sign up on their website, and especially DO NOT give them any money (or take a job with them expecting to be paid). From my understanding this guy (E. W., Eric Wadedon) is trying to pay off his own gambling addiction and is using this "business" as a front for that. Let me lay out a couple things that stood out to me on their "website", which should be an obvious turn-off for anyone!!!
First, their website doesn't say ".com", it says ".sitewith.us", which is something they're probably not paying for or have very low maintenance fees. Second, the main contact has a generic domain name email address "@hotmail.com". If this were a real website and a real business making real money and paying people, they'd have a real ".com" web address and they'd also have email addresses that match that (i.e. www.ranallimodels.com;
[email protected]). It's like spam email, you should be able to tell it's fake right off the jump from simple little things like that. Not to mention, who knows what copyrighted material they use for photos on the site. Third, their "casting calls" can be found on Craigslist; what I mean is that they stake claim in casting calls posted on Craigslist, though they didn't actually put them there.
If you are an actor or model and are serious about your career and want to get into the business full time, look up actual agencies in your local area (particularly in Phoenix) as they will be labeled as an agency, they are legally able to call themselves that. This company and others like it cannot, therefore they have to go by "ABC Entertainment" or "XYZ Talent and Modeling Casting, Etc." Do your research on what a real casting/talent/modeling agency is all about and how they work. None of them, I REPEAT, none of them will ask for money up front. They may suggest getting headshots done and may recommend a photographer, but they aren't going to get any of that money, the photographer will, and the price will be reasonable!!
PARENTS!!!!!!! I know how much you want your kids to succeed and break into the industry, a fake business like this is NOT the way to go. Spend time and some money on acting classes, have a meeting with agents in town and see what they're looking for in talent/models and allow them to give the gut honest truth about yourself (or your kids). Some of us just aint cut out for this industry, but for those that are please take heed to what I'm saying and be patient. That's what really matters in this industry. Going to these liars, scam artists, cheaters, swindlers, and sleezy businessmen is definitely a quick way in.......to trouble. You won't find a faster way into gullible than with companies like this.
DO NOT TAKE A MEETING/INTERVIEW/PHOTOSHOOT/ETC. WITH RANALLI MODELS.