Complaint Review: Wild Strawberry Films - Wayne Schotten - San Francisco California

Wayne Schotten - Do Not Trust Him - Wild Strawberry Films

I'm writing this to warn people about Wayne Schotten, a man who screwed me out of money.

The following are my personal opinions based on my experiences working with Wayne Schotten and Wild Strawberry Films............

I am a successful Hollywood Publicist, 32 years experience. Wild Strawberry Films (WSF) is run by two struggling actors and a struggling filmmaker who lives mostly on government assistance and travels by local bus. I agreed to help Wayne take his struggling company to a higher level and he screwed me out of over Four Hundred Dollars. I recently resigned from WSF. I provided Wayne my services, free of charge, for over 2 years.


******  Is Wayne Schotten Honest?  My Opinion?  No.

Wayne promised to reimburse me for any expenses I paid. He never did. In addition to other expenses, on two occasions, I paid for Wayne's train ticket to Los Angeles. On one trip, Wayne was planning to travel to Los Angeles to attend American Film Market. When he couldn't come up with enough money he sent me an email asking for my financial support. I agreed to pay for his train ticket (again) and he promised that he would soon pay me back. He gave me all the info. The ticket was about $120.00. Before purchasing the ticket I went online and found a fare that would save me about $20.00. It was a good
schedule, getting Wayne in to Los Angeles around 6 PM, approximately 2 hours later than the schedule he provided. Since I was paying for the ticket I had a right to save a few dollars if possible. After purchasing the ticket I sent Wayne the info. He sends me an email. Instead of thanking me, Wayne is upset that I didn't book him the schedule he wanted. Wayne promised to make me a partner, and he promised to reimburse me for my expenses. He never kept his promises. He used me for my connections and money.


******  Is Wayne Schotten A Sexual Predator?  My Opinion?  Yes.


My first warning should have been: Wayne is a gay man in his 60's. He recruits two young struggling actors in their 20's. He makes these two young men his business partners and promises them the lead roles in two of his films. In one of the films Wayne wants to direct these two young men making love and having sex. The scene also requires these two young men to expose their asses.

One of Wayne's young partners, Steven Vilendrer, sent me the following statements in an email............

"If I refused to be intimate with David part-way through filming, Wayne would have no option to replace me, and may lose some of the integrity of this vision............The fact that Wayne wants to elongate a sex scene that includes an a*s-shot shows a confusion between the film's themes and
its target audience."

"Regarding Dave T. and my statuses as business partners, trust me, I've questioned this many times over. My wife also does not hesitate to remind me of the odd dynamic. Wayne's strength lies in his imagination, not his networking or business skills."

I have introduced Wayne to Hollywood Actors, Agents, and Managers. The only Hollywood person Wayne introduced me to was a guy named Jim. I later found out that Jim is a convicted child molester and registered sex offender.

In an email from Wayne, he says "I may direct for free if David and Steven put out." He is referring to the two young guys he recruited to be his business partners and lead actors in two of his films.

Wayne has never produced or directed a real film. In 1970 Wayne wrote and directed a low budget 57 minute movie called FRIDAY ON MY MIND. Below is the NY Times review............

"Ted (Michael Scott) has homosexual yearnings after he is raped by Harry (Con Covert). He encounters a series of gays that are across section of homosexual stereotypes. The all American boy, the mincing dancer, a street hustler, an over the top fairy, and a simpering, heartbroken emotional
basket case. Technically the film suffers on all levels and the acting is not much better."


******  Is Wayne Schotten A Good Business Leader?  My Opinion?  No.

I think Steven's email said it best "Wayne's strength lies in his imagination, not his networking or business skills." I believe Wayne is a con artist. He is not a real director or producer. He can not help anyone's career. He's just a joke who thinks he's a successful filmmaker. He is not. I offered him many projects that would have helped put him and his company on the map. He never followed through. Instead he continues to focus on pushing that crap he writes. His website looks impressive. A lot of projects in development. Those projects have been in development for years. So far no one is willing to invest in the crap Wayne is trying to sell.

Others who have helped Wayne worked hard to help him, but Wayne let them down when he turned downed my offer that could have finally givem him the funding he's been looking for.


TRUST ME - DO NOT TRUST WAYNE SCHOTTEN

He promised to reimburse me, instead he screwed me out of a lot of money.