Plz tell me whether what im about to audition for is a scam...!

Mon, 17 Dec 2007, 02:51 pm

eyeforhigh15 posts in thread

I got an audition, i think, the producer just said to come to the place and there he will decide who gets it. This is the letter, The headshot need not be professional. << (thats the reply to when i told him i did not have a proffessionally done headshot) Here are details: Thanks for your interest in this feature film. I am holding a meeting for key people who want to be involved. The time and address is:530pm December 19th 525 Harris Street Ultimo (ground floor) - it will run until 630 and it is here that roles will be allocated. If you have any photos in hard copy, it would be beneficial to bring them here. If you need to be in touch please contact me on 0411719997. Best regards, Scott Free Producer, SLAG BEST ENEMIES Sent from my BlackBerry® from Optus I read the advertisement from seek.com I dont know whther i could trust this person, also it said in the advertisement that i wouldnt get paid upfront and will get paid once the film starts making money. What kinds of thing should i be looking out for to make sure this isnt a scam. This is the link to the advertisement, http://seek.com.au/showjob.asp?jobid=11343678 pleas ehelp me so i dont fall for a scam. Im a little suspicious of this "audition"

Thread (15 posts)

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eyeforhighMon, 17 Dec 2007, 02:51 pm

Walter PlingeMon, 17 Dec 2007, 02:57 pm

Surely

You must be bloody stupid if you think this is real?!!!

LogosMon, 17 Dec 2007, 03:00 pm

First of all delayed

First of all delayed payment contracts do happen in the film industry so that is not necesarily a scam. I suggest you try and do some simple research by googleing all the names you know that are associated. It does sound a bit dodgy. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

eyeforhighMon, 17 Dec 2007, 03:04 pm

yea i tried googling scott

yea i tried googling scott free or the movies name, but nothing came up. So u guys think that this is a scam? Should payments be upfront?

eyeforhighMon, 17 Dec 2007, 03:06 pm

so what should a real

so what should a real audition or whatever say?

NaMon, 17 Dec 2007, 05:14 pm

First of all, are you under

First of all, are you under 18? If so, go with an adult. Secondly, contact the person via phone, and ask them some questions: how will you be paid, how is the film financed, do they have funding, etc. The answers are important of course, but they are more about finding out whether the person is prepared or not. If they um and ah, then it suggests they don't really know what they're doing or how they're going to do it. Thirdly, get a copy of their CV. Check their references. Fourth: is this an audition, or is he asking everybody who applied to go to a general meeting. Someone who accepts everyone who applies may not necessarily be someone you want to work with. Fifth: if the money is going to be paid upfront, ask how much, and what payment later will be. Royalties are fine for later, but if you're being paid up front, is it per hour/wages, or a fee. A fee might not be worth your time. Find out how many hours you'll be expected to be available. Ask them if you'll get a contract, with all the payment and rights laid out clearly. If you don't get a contract, or if they say no, I would avoid. Six: why advertise for writers in the same place you're seeking cast? Because the script isn't finished. The script isn't finished, and yet you can cast people? Sounds odd to me. Lastly... has nobody thought about the name? "Scott Free"... is that a pseudonym? ... Ultimately, go with your gut. If you feel uncomfortable after some research, don't do it. Other roles will turn up. Sticky Apple Legs www.thepromptcopy.com/sal Puppets in Melbourne www.puppetsinmelbourne.com.au My puppets www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

eyeforhighMon, 17 Dec 2007, 05:24 pm

ok thank you, yeah my gut

ok thank you, yeah my gut tells me to be very careful.

NaMon, 17 Dec 2007, 05:30 pm

It's not so much what it

It's not so much what it says, but what it doesn't say. There's no right or wrong way to write an audition advert... it's an intuition. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Read a lot of audition adverts, get to know the reputations of the companies who advertise... after a while, you'll get a feeling for 'good' audition adverts and 'bad' ones. Generally speaking, an audition advert will list a bit about the company or director, a bit about the production/film/whatever, what you need to bring or do at the audition, where the audition is and what times, and perhaps a little about payment (ie. volunteer only, profit-share, wages, etc). The ad you have applied for has all those things... but again, it's more about intuition for the 'good' adverts. Additionally, I would suggest that advertising on Seek is not the best thing ever. People involved in the arts industry advertise through agents and arts/theatre/film sites and publications, not really on Seek. Seek is good for finding arts admin jobs, and the occasional 'adult dancer' ad, but not for auditions. (Having done arts job listings on a publication for a living, I can tell you, looking on Seek for arts jobs is practically worthless. The reputable arts admin jobs can be found on most other arts sites, and auditions really are mostly dodgy stuff) Sticky Apple Legs www.thepromptcopy.com/sal Puppets in Melbourne www.puppetsinmelbourne.com.au My puppets www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

Walter PlingeMon, 31 Dec 2007, 09:25 am

Hey there,I did some work

Hey there, I did some work on a film two years ago and only just got paid for it. It does happen. Sometimes they have to wait to see if the film will make any money before they can commit to paying people. Chrissy.

LabrugMon, 31 Dec 2007, 10:07 am

Nothing

I looked at the Seek Ad and it is firstly strange that they are casting through a recruitment service as opposed to a casting consultant. Obviously not a big budget pro job. Still, that does not mean it is not legit.

Secondly, I find it very odd that "Highschool International" and the movie title bring up not a little information, but nothing what-so-ever. That's a first.

Also, the film is described as "controversial" which either means that it will never see the light of day, or as an attempt to make a potentially bad idea sound a little better. "Oooo, let's do something controversial."

It is not a scam until they ask you for money or personal information that may give them access to finances, so it does not sound like a scam at this point in time. However, is the project likely to be even a little bit of a success? In this industry, you take your chances where-ever you go. Some risks fall through and become an experience that you can learn from, others can surprise you.

Take Na's advices about having a backup/support person. Do not be afraid to back out when things are feeling just wrong or sus. Do not give out personal financial details or agree to make payments for your involvement. If they ask you to sign a contract, then consult with the MEAA as to what your rights are. In fact consult with them anyway as to what you should be paid. - www.alliance.org.au/ - Check the Resources page for pay rates.

Lastly, I know that I am somewhat late in replying to this, but I wanted to try an research the film as much as possible. That fact that I find nothing concerns me...

Absit invidia

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Director

Home Page
Yahoo Blog Page

AlisterMMon, 31 Dec 2007, 11:54 am

Hard to tell from this.

Hard to tell from this. It certainly gives off an "inexperienced" vibe, but that doesn't have to mean it's dodgy. I absolutely agree with Na, if you go, take somebody with you. (When I was auditioning people for a short film recently, one of the actors brought a friend of hers along - it seemed perfectly reasonable to me). Also, remember that an interview, or audition is a two way street; while they are asking you to read lines and make alterations, you're getting a feeling for how they operate. If you don't like what you see, you can always say no - even if they offer you that starring part.

peedubuWed, 9 Jan 2008, 05:40 pm

I received a similar offer

I did!. Not from the same company, but quite literally the same wording. I googled the words in my offer and came up with the conclusion that - yeah, you guessed it. You were going to be had - big time. There is nothing on the theatre.asn.au site about a new movie coming up in Melbourne which needs extras. (Or IS THERE?) I suggest doing more research on the company before shelling out any dough, love.

NaWed, 9 Jan 2008, 07:05 pm

Just because the

Just because the advertisement is not listed on this site does not make it dodgy. Some people don't know how best to publicise their event/audition well, and some people especially don't know that there is even an online theatre community. Further to that - and no offense to anyone here, especially Grant - this site is not the best place to look for work in the entertainment industry. Mainly because the site is run for and by the community or amateur side of theatre in Australia. Having said all of that, I stand by my initial thoughts of the ad. Sticky Apple Legs www.thepromptcopy.com/sal Puppets in Melbourne www.puppetsinmelbourne.com.au My puppets www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

Walter PlingeWed, 23 Jan 2008, 01:26 pm

did you go? i did, i saw it

did you go? i did, i saw it on seek ages ago, only just saw this bulletin now... it wasnt a scam, but i havent heard from scott since the meeting in december and he said they were filming in january... so im a bit cut that i havent heard anything.

Walter PlingeWed, 6 Feb 2008, 01:55 pm

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