Complaint Review: The (pronounced Tay) - Internet

I am in Hawaii and experienced an audition with a shady company by the name of The pronounced "Tay". They were really hard to do research on but in doing so I found links between PMAA, ACT, and The. Apparently they use the same recruiting people and techniques. They change their name to stay off the radar. It is very hard to find anything about their company. Very sketchy! They lead you to believe that if you are selected you are being given this rare chance and entice you into purchasing their very expensive packages for seminars. The woman who was the head honcho of our audition met with me and my child one on one for a few minutes. I was to contact her today to see if we got the "call back". She told me her name was Yen, at least that is what she wrote on my paper next to (scout). In looking online I found reports done by inside edition, a hidden camera investigation into a child acting school. The woman who was on their was Linda Kwock. She is the SAME LADY that was at our audition...the same one who told me her name was Yen. In the inside edition report she was working with ACT...now with The. I also found clips from coverage that CBS Atlanta did when reporting their findings and allegations on ACT. These people I believe are ripping off families who love their children and will do anything for them. So we work hard to come up with the money to send them to the classes or seminars but are industry people really going to take a second look at our kids? Perhaps, but if ACT and THE callback all the kids that interviewed is the pool of kids the industry people are looking at really refinded? I don't think so. They just want our money. I have a whole list of website addresses I put together as I tried to link this web of lies. They may be legit but i doubt it. look for yourself. I am upset that many Hawai'i people may have fell for their lies...I'm glad I researched for HOURS but apparently they scammed a lot of people all over the country and possibly Canada for years now under different names.
BEWARE OF SCAMS! The may be one. Check out these sites and make your own
educated decision. I almost got sucked in but I was up till 4am searching for things and
this is what I found. Hope this helps people. I don't usually do this stuff but if they are a scam we need to know about it and see the connection between these companies.
 
(((link redacted)))
 
This shows that ACT is no longer called that but The the company that we all will be contacting here in Hawaii!
 
 
 Posted
December
04, 2009 09:55
PM 
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This scam is currently in Boston, appearing at the Marriot Copley hotel. Now, it is not "ACT" but
"The". There was an 888 number to call, there was some pre-recorded message and clips from some
disney show person played during the recording. They sent me an email to confirm my appointment
from [email protected]. 
 
The email consisted of directions to the hotel plus the following: 
 
 
Models should bring in their portfolio book. Bring a headshot, mid length, and 
full body shot and be prepared to explain "Why you want to be a Model"
Actors will perform the attached commercial on camera.
 
Bring two pictures that we can keep. A medium shot showing head and shoulders is 
preferable. The dress is upscale, no jeans or sneakers. Dress like your going to 
a nice dinner.
 
See you at the Audition and Good Luck!
 
 
MALES AND FEMALES 6-9 YEARS OLD 
 
CORN PUFFS SO, I OVER SLEPT. I WANT MY KRAVER'S CORN PUFFS! LIKE SWEET 
POPCORN, YOU ALWAYS WANT MORE. KRAVER'S CORN PUFFS. I'VE JUST GOT TO
HAVE MY 
PUFFS! 
 
MALES AND FEMALES 10-13 YEARS OLD 
 
CHOCO-LICIOUS 
 
HAVE YOU GONE ALL DAY WITHOUT ANY CRUNCHY ROASTED ALMONDS IN PURE
MILK 
CHOCOLATE? NOW IS THE TIME TO CORRECT THAT, WITH A CHOCO-LICIOUS ALMOND
BAR. 
CHOCO-LISCIOUS, THE WORLD FAMOUS CHOCOLATE BAR! 
 
MALES AND FEMALES 14-17 YEARS OLD 
 
RONNIE'S 
 
COME INTO RONNIE'S AND PICK UP YOUR FREE GAME CARD. YOU COULD WIN UP TO
$50,000 
CASH! OR A DELICIOUS FOOD PRIZE, LIKE A BIGGIE BEEF SANDWICH OR AN ICY COLD
COCA 
COLA. AND HOLD ON TO YOUR CARDS, BECAUSE EVERY WEEK THEY POST NEW
WINNING 
NUMBERS. SO RUN DOWN TO YOUR NEAREST RONNIE'S AND PICK UP YOUR FREE
GAME CARD 
TODAY! 
 
http://www.ripoffreport.com/modeling-talent-agencies/act-or-a-c-t-jimmy-v/act-or-a-c-t-
lindy-kwock-6d3z6.htm
shows how Lindy Kwock who I believe is the same woman who did our presentation last
night is affiliated with ACT and he shares of his experience with their auditions and calls
 
http://www.insideedition.com/news/4074/inside-editions-hidden-camera-investigation-
into-a-child-acting-school.aspx
Inside Edition does an undercover story; the producer poses as a mother and deals with
the same lady, Lindy Kwock who dealth with us!! I recognize her face!
 
 
(((link redacted)))
shows that ACT is the same as Edge 1 Production
 
(((link redacted)))
 
shows many links with info about ACT
 
(((link redacted)))

shows that Pacific Modeling Acting Academy PMAA was run by the same man who ran
a John Roberts Power (JRP) in Santa Clara, CA. He stole money from JRP and stole
money from parents. He sold packages to parents whose children in FL never got a single
class. Also this company has the same business model as ACT and even uses a common
recruiter, Kathy Eisner.  Further posts show that PMAA, Edge 1 Production, and ACT are
all the same 
 (((link redacted)))
 
shows a news clip that the PMAA signed parents for thousands of dollars and then went
bankrupt and couldnt be contacted, their website taken down. When the news tried to
contact the founder the number went to a John Roberts Powers
 
http://www.ripoffreport.com/celebrities/a-c-t/a-c-t-academy-of-cinema-and-dddfm.htm
 shows that ACT is also known as DGS Productions, LLC and Edge One, LLC. People
use the same names at times of actual people affiliated with Disney but they may not be
the real person.
 
http://www.ripoffreport.com/government-stupidity/kathy-warren-cem-a*s/kathy-warren-
cem-associates-a6z9c.htm
 A CEM Associates company apparent scam that coincidentally has the same address as
 
(((link redacted)))
this shows how Stanley Robinson owned PMAA and worked with George Gammon the
owner of ACT
 
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/18485603/index.html
CBS Atlanta Coverage on ACT and that is may be a huge scam
 
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/18494106/index.html
CBS Atlanta Coverage on ACT and that is may be a huge scam
 
http://www.ripoffreport.com/modeling-schools/pacific-modeling-act/pacific-modeling-acting-acad-p274m.htm
pacific acting and modeling, LLC could be  scam
 
The copied section below shows how PMAA may be related to ACT and that they use the same recruiter 
 
henryshowbiz 
Morgan Freeman
 Posted
June
02, 2008
02:13
PM 
We've discussed the idea of standard business models quite a lot on this board lately. Alot about John
Robert Powers too. I think this is an important news article, as it may very well be the biggest money
scam in kid actor history. 
 
We estimate that in a matter of a few months, Pacific Modeling and Acting Academy would have
taken around $12 MILLION from parents across the country. And the same guy owned a John Robert
Powers in Santa Clara, CA. He apparently stole their money as well. Pacific wasn't a JRP officially,
but the business model was EXACTLY the same. 
 
"Wannabe Child Stars Get Cold Introduction to Show Business"
(((link redacted)))
 
"Families Scammed out of Shot at Stardom"
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=81648
 
The email they sent to some of the parents they were ripping off:
http://www.tampabays10.com/images/pdfs/pacific.pdf 
 
We first heard of Pacific Modeling and Ating (based in Seattle) when they stole two BizParentz
CARE press releases and reworded them to make it appear that they were sponsoring the event
(NOT!!!) 
 
Then we fielded a few phone calls from Tampa FL parents a month or so ago. Apparently, this
company flew into town and did open casting calls at the convention center. They used various people
in different cities, but in Florida, they used Talentworks agent Brandy Gold as bait. They ended up
selling parents packages of classes, at the end of which they would go to a competition/showcase. 
 
The parents in FL never got a single class. Apparently there were schools in Nashville, Albuquerque,
Greensboro NC, and more...
 
HERE'S WHY THIS MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO YOU...
There is another company called A.C.T. (Academy of Cinema and Television). Their business model
is the same, and it even appears that they use a common recruiter, Kathy Eisner (yeah...ya noticing
that Disney name...isn't that a convenient name for scamming??). In fact, we've seen a few common
threads. 
 
ACT is ALSO recruiting all over the country and is holding open calls RIGHT NOW. 
 
Please be careful out there...
A
 
Additionally, the owner of Pacific , Stanley Robinsion, owned other John Robert Powers franchises.
Are you starting to see a commonality? his is the same business model over and over and over again. 
 
If you have been ripped off by either of these schools, please drop us an email. PAcfic parents are
working on a class action, so we can try to help you out/connect you to the right people. 
 
Another lesson for all of us that package deals, advance payment of acting class blocks and "open
calls" are just not the way to get into this business.
 
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.