The Casting Society of America is launching a special committee to investigate allegedly illegal acting classes.
The controversy surrounding acting classes held by casting directors is heating up in Hollywood. Following allegations that the Criminal Minds’ casting director was fired for holding pay-to-play acting classes things started to change in the film industry. For example, thousands of actors signed petitions to investigate and possibly prosecute casting directors who hold acting classes. In addition, news surfaced The Vampire Diaries casting director would be cancelling all future acting classes. Now one of the most powerful casting groups is now creating an investigation committee to identify and hopefully prosecute those who are breaking the law.
Related: Are Casting Director Acting Workshops Illegal?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Casting Society of America has announced that the group will create a committee to study and investigate the issue. And it looks like the group is taking it very seriously. According to reports, the group has communicated with the city attorney’s office about investigating and prosecuting casting directors who are holding these “illegal” casting workshops. But, the Casting Society of America is basically powerless as only the Los Angeles city attorney can decide to enforce the Krekorian Talent Scam Act.
Related: [UPDATE] ‘Criminal Minds’ Casting Director Fired After “Illegal” Workshops
But, what is the Casting Society of America (CSA)? Similar to the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, the Casting Society was created in 1982 with the intention of “establishing a recognized standard of professionalism in the casting field and providing its members with a support organization to further their goals and protect their common interests. ”
According to reports, members of the special committee include the casting director behind Black-ish and Mean Girls, Amanda Lenker Doyle and Marci Liroff. According to a press release sent to CSA members, the goal of the committee “will seek to preserve and enhance the educational value of casting workshops” taught by CSA casting directors. In addition, the goal is to “foster increased awareness and understanding” surrounding the legal rules and regulations of the California Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act in 2009.
But two members of the CSA, who have never held a single paid acting workshop, bashed the recent announcement. Dea Vise and Billy DaMota said, “If the CSA is looking for a way to continue the practice as it is now, this group will work perfectly,” she says. “Some of the people on that list of the workshop committee do workshops.”
However, it is important to point out that both Amanda Lenker Doyle and Marci Liroff, members of the special committee offer acting workshops. For example, according Marci Liroff’s website, actors can pay for one-on-one Skype acting classes for $130/hour. In addition, Doyle recently held a $55 evening acting class on March 28th.
Related: Actors’ Start Petition to Crackdown on “Illegal” Casting Director Workshops
Billy DaMota continued by saying: “The idea of a committee to explore ways to stop the abuse is a good one – but means nothing if there’s no way to enforce anything that comes out of the committee.”
According to California state law, the Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act, which became effective six years ago, makes it explicitly illegal to exchange money for the possibility of getting a job in California. Despite this alleged scam, Los Angeles City Attorney and Department of Consumer Affairs has not investigated nor prosecuted a single case against pay-to-play companies
Source: THR
