How talent agencies scam aspiring actors and models out of money and destroy families.
Talent Agencies are known for helping actors, models, and talent reach their dreams. Without the help and guidance of a talent agent many actors would never be where they are now. But, at the same time, there are dozens if not hundreds of talent agencies taking advantage of aspiring actor by stealing money, charging up front fees, and even operating without a proper license.
According to a new report by the Los Angeles Times called “Selling Stardom” highlights how actors, models, and talent are taken advantage. For example, one actor was filming on location in Prague when he learned that roughly $450,000 he was owed for his work on the TV series “Borgia” was missing.
What is Street Scouting?
“You can be scouted in a mall, in a restaurant, on the side of the street, literally. It's common — it's part of our job.”
Apparently, scam talent agencies search through rough neighborhoods by “Street Scouting”. According to the Los Angeles Times, “This is something that we as agents do,” a Street Scouting talent agency said. “You can be scouted in a mall, in a restaurant, on the side of the street, literally. It's common — it's part of our job.”
However, despite it being legal, it opens the door for actors to get scammed.
From the Los Angeles Times:
“Street scouting is legal, but some performers say their agents have also pressured them into paying for photo shoots or acting lessons, which are sometimes offered by the agency itself or another company in which it has an economic interest — practices that could be prosecuted under the Krekorian Act.”
