FLIX INSTITUTE: Why use Royalty Free photos?

A good friend of mine was once a student at a Brisbane Makeup School called Flix Institute of Makeup. After seeing my friend being taken for a ride by this place and left not happy with the quality of this school, I decided to do something that not many people have done before and RESEARCHED this place! I feel that it is important to reveal to anyone wanting to learn this craft what I have found and what this unprofessional place falsely displays to promote themselves. Firstly Flix Institute is a Makeup Training School which is run by a lady named Angela Waugh that also runs a business called Angel IFX that supplies makeup and hair services for weddings. The one thing that I would firstly like to bring up is that photos on the Flix Institute web site and the photos on the Angel IFX web site are "ROYALTY FREE IMAGES" this means that the photos of makeup that are obviously displayed to showcase what they can do are not and have not been created by Angela Waugh, any trainer or any artist or student! All these photos have been bought. This is a major red light to start with. On the Angel IFX website the following is said: "Over the last six years, Angel IFX have grown to become one of Australia’s largest hair and makeup Bridal Agencies. Our fully Qualified and experienced makeup artists and Hairstylists have all been trained by leading academies world wide, and have been called upon by such magazines as CLEO, Ralph and Black and White magazine to name but a few. Angel IFX consists of award winning and Internationally renowned Artists whose work has also features in such productions as Lord Of the Rings, Harry Potter, Anaconda II and House of Wax, and have also been requested personally by Paris Hilton and Kate Hudson, among others, for various red Carpet Events". If this place has been running for 6 years and has "INTERNATIONAL" artists, why is this site full of royalty free images? I would think that they should have enough photos of there own work to show case there skills?? With Flix Institute, the last place I would want to learn from is a place that displays only 10 photos of students work and the rest Royalty Free?? Below are the links to the royalty free photos used on Flix Institute and Angel IFX web sites. http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/object/3747159_the_beautiful_young_blonde.php?id=3747159 http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/relationships/weddings/brides/3084425_the_bride.php?id=3084425 http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/object/3977047_bride_and_groom.php?id=3977047 http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/gender/female/women/3428801_pearls.php?id=3428801 http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/object/4021853_bride_in_the_limousine.php?id=4021853 http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4366561

Have you contacted the media about this yet? If not, I suggest you do.

You're better off reading this thread first: http://www.theatre.asn.au/billboard_bulletins/flix_institute_of_makeup before the whole thread disappears entirely. Secondly, you might want to find out more about the royalty free photos thing. You may not know: photographers these days are keen to find more ways of making money. So they take the photos - which they would have copyright of - and sell them online via royalty free sites. In this case, for instance, the photographer who has worked for Flix, may be selling their photos via istockphoto.com. I'm not saying this is what's happened, merely pointing out that there needs to be more research before you can accuse anybody of anything. Lastly, due to recent spammers, I'm left wondering whether or not this is just some way of drumming up interest in the aforementioned photo site. (IE. You mean to tell me you were so concerned with your friend's experience with Flix, you went out and compared photos? Not exactly the first thing I'd do if I wanted to figure out whether or not the place was dodgy. After a few minutes, this is what I found: website for Angel IFX, registered to CUMMING, ANGELA JEAN, Eligibility Type: Sole Trader, Eligibility ID: ABN 15959579763. Both the sites - incl. Flix's - seem to have been last updated in 07) Mini-monster puppets customised just for you! at Puppets in Melbourne

It all sounds very interesting. I am a trainer at FLIX institute of Makeup; and I have actually worked on some of the publications they use as part of there credits; including Ralph and Cleo. And have also completed work for Angel IFX over the last 6 months. I don't know about all of the photo's that are used to advertise on their websites; however know that some of them I have worked with conjointly with different photographers and have given full permission for both companies to use the photo's for advertising purposes on the sites. I know most of the other trainers, and many of the students that have come through over the last 6 months and know that they have all done the same. There are over 15 trainers at FLIX now, Angela not being one of them currently, and if you visit the institute and walk around much of the work that the trainers and students have completed are show cased. I am currently training three different courses, and over 30 students; all of which are extremely excited about the courses they are doing and have nothing but positive feedback on what they are doing, and the work and experience the team at FLIX are getting them. So everyone must realise that Angela (who it seems everyone seems to focus on in these posts); is just one of the managers of Flix, she is currently not training, and has brought together a large group of experienced trainers from all over the world to train the interested students of Brisbane. There is nothing dodgy what so ever about FLIX, and from a makeup artists point of view, I think they are doing really well in training for the industry, and personally recommend them to everyone.

The last comment came rather quick for a busy trainer? I believe the last comment was more along the lines of "Damage Control".Its great to see that after my comment made relating to the Royalty Free images used all over the web site of Flix Institute (A makeup training School and Angel IFX (wedding service)have now been REMOVED!! ( well most of them)and the Flix Institute web site has been re-vamped! Someone must of had a big guilty conscience??

I live in Adelaide so have no axe to grind in this situation at all. This is the second attack launched on the Flix Institute on this site. I am beginning to detect a degree of ill will by someone. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

i am a past student from flix and i would not an do not recommend it to anyone and quite frankly i hope it gets shut down. it all started out pretty well, we were all excited for our first few lessons then it went down hill... first shay lawrence left and our class was not told, we heard he had left through gossip on the grapevine. im not going to say why he left because we were never told the full story but there were vicious rumours going around about him, none of which were true, so im not suprised why he left. so we were left without our spfx trainer, mind you he was the single reason i decided to attend flix, i cried when i met him just overwhelemed by his passion and they way he talked about how much he wanted to teach us. days went by where we had no trainer at all and were left on our own to try and do something, our class was so passionate about learning that we didnt just pack up and leave beacuse we had no teacher we read books and watched dvds to try and get something out of it. but thats not what we had paid for! we were promised top trainers, were told of "this person" and "that person" and we would "be training with them soon" yet not one sight of these promised teachers instead we ended up being "taught" by past flix students with a mere 1-2 months experience more than ourselves. these trainers enjoyed checking their emails, straightning their hair or watching dvds or heading out for a bit of shopping instead of teaching us. we constantly had no products to use, the premises were filthy and the little makeup we did have access to was very unhygenic and on its very last legs. there were days were we would just be sitting there waiting for products to be couriered into us because we couldnt do anything without them. we were contantly being "taught" by printed notes from the internet that did not belong to flix and were often left on our own to learn from these notes with no supervision. alternatively the "teacher" would be out the back on her computer checking emails etc and if we asked for help it would take her about 30 minutes to emerge to tell us something like, "just do it like this" and give a poor 5 second demonstration before returning to her computer. we would have exams and 90% of the questions were on stuff we hadnt learnt, and when we argued this we were literally talked down to and made to feel like stupid morons by the teacher (who we had for no joke about 5 days out of the 3 months, the rest were student substitutes), she would say "its in your notes", we would look and lo and behold, the stuff wasnt in our notes, practical exams called for us to do stuff we had NEVER learnt. it was an absolute joke. we actually sat down and went through our syllabus to see what we had actually learnt, it was less than half! our major assesment was a script breakdown, we never learnt how to do it and constantly asked for direction but no answers! so naturally we pretty much got it all wrong and were threatened with failing the whole course if we didnt re-do it! seriously when ive paid 13 grand to do this i expect to be taught! i personally complained about this and was sent notes in the mail on how to do a breakdown, after the course was finished and after they told me it wasnt good enough and i had extra time to re-do it or i would fail! it was disgusting. i kept getting letters saying i didnt do assesments, especially practicals, i had the photos to prove it! flix do not keep good track of records! i was evn getting letters saying i hadnt paid fees when i had and even had receipts to prove it! i was constantly in tears over them and the amount of stress was unbareable! they treat everyone like shit once they get your money. im sorry to say it but its true, im not just making this up to have a dig! another example of my quality flix training was our portfolio shoot which were told not to bring models to because they would organise profesionals to see how we interacted. and suprise suprise, no models turned up, most of us were in tears after we had planned so hard for it, we were then informed by the receptionist that any models they may have organised were a bonus anyway and we shouldnt have expected it. a few people walked out and never came back and as far as i know have taken legal action. But flix was not all bad there was one beautiful trainer by the name of nicole lawrence who actually gave a shit about us, she helped us, taught us, sat beside us talked us through everthing, shes amazing and i never learnt from anyone better. she would come early and stay late with us, she stayed the last 2 days with us to help us learn anything we anted to know. If anyone is interested nicole has her own studio and does private lessons i would highly recommend her and i intend on going back to her! I hope it gets out that flix is a really bad excuse for a training centre, its not accredited like they lied to us about, i still have not recieved my certificate and i doubt they will ever send it. it was the biggest waste of money of my life and the biggest waste of time. angela waugh just wants your money and then doesnt care what happens after that. once again this is the truth, it all happened and it was really disappointing, i will never get my money back which i worked so hard for. if anyone wants to have a go at me, go ahead, but deep down you know flix isnt what they make it out to be. if you are serious in a makeup career i suggest you really investigate your school first, make sure its accredited and that the trainers have qualifications.

I am a past student of Flix Also, and I have the opposite to report. I loved it. I met 7 different trainers, worked on 2 features throughout the course, around 6 fashion shows, and two photoshoots. Since I have been working on different films, and with the other trainers I have heard nothing but bad reports on a few of the previous trainers, and speaking with some of the other students it was some of these other trainers that were lying to the students. I also saw some of these past trainers working at woolworths - I find it funny how great makeup artists can't find anywork and have to go back to woolworths after such a long 'successful' career. I have also heard the new owners/management discussing court hearings with previous staff members regarding proven falsified reports on this thread (IP Addresses have been traced). I dont know the full story of things, as I just overhear certain things when working in the studio; But remember everything you hear is 20% true. Every students story is different. I loved my time there, and they have done nothing but help me. I am sure there are students that arent happy - as there are with every school. As for accreditation, I hear what they say to students - and they are completely honest. They are going through the final stages of getting accredited; which I have seen them in meetings with the government people. I think everyone needs to grow up.

This Whole thread is a waste of time. As a former student I loved it. I love the training team, and from what i know of the guys there I believe none of this bullshit. Let other people make up there own mind

well maybe flix have pulled their socks up but all i know is that while i was there it was a bit of a let down. so investigate for youself and make sure you get what you paid for! im working full time in the industry now and have learnt so much from different people that i work with everyday and through my own hard work and personal study. and if anyone wants to have a go at me and say what i have written is false, i know what i saw and i know how i felt about the situation so basically i think its going to be a personal thing. dont just settle on the first school you come across, actually go out and meet with people from other schools and get as much info and feedback as you can before deciding on where to study because i wouldnt hope for anyone else to waste their money! good luck.

Angela I don't know if you read this blog, but it's apparent that people connected with your business do. My interest in your business, is of course is trying to settle an outstanding advertising account that we claim you owe our business, Scene Magazine. You will remember that we also published a great editorial on Flix Institute in our careers supplement as well as providing a discount on the ad - all good. However that was five months ago (10th September 2007). In that time we have left numerous messages for you (land line and mobile), written polite e-mails - none of which have been returned. The last step in our process is to refer the matter to Dun and Bradstreet for collection. However, as you were a cash sale we had no details to give them (no account was set up, we were happy to take you on your word - it was such a small amount anyway $165.00). Like others on this site, we had to do a bit of research on your company to identify Flix Institute as a legal entity. This was just a little difficult because our searches with ASIC revealed that Flix is not an incorporated company, and Flix Institute had not taken the courteous (necessary) step of identifying itself (legally) on any of its web-site material. Amazingly, even your credit and course applications did not identify your ABN, ACN or ABRN. I'd like to suggest that you investigate this immediately because I believe you are obligated to do so on your site(s) and certainly the terms and conditions you ask your prospects to sign are entitled to have the legal identity with whom they are contracting identified. Flix Institute, as far as I could tell is not a registered name with ANY of ASIC, ATO or Australian Business Regsiter. The only information we could find is that you have trading name registered as Flix Agency QLD BN20496230. We are thankful to the other posters who have given us your last name as Waugh. We were not given this information when we called and asked for it. While I am not in the market for your agency's products, I did stumble across this thread in Google and wasn't surprised to see a number of other people having difficulty interacting with Flix Institute, based on our own experiences. This information is offered as fair comment and in context. If any party (including Angela) has any issue with what has been posted here, please call our offices on (07) 3216 0630 and ask me, Howard Duggan, CEO to discuss.

The Scene Magazine matter has been resolved.

i just finished training with flix, and thought it was good. there were a few topics that i felt i needed more help with and when i told them i got trained by a trainer by myself with these topics. they got our feedback everday about what we lernt and if ne one wanted more training, we got it straight away. i lernt of 9 different trainers all up in different areas and they were all really nice.

i just finished training with flix, and thought it was good. there were a few topics that i felt i needed more help with and when i told them i got trained by a trainer by myself with these topics. they got our feedback everday about what we lernt and if ne one wanted more training, we got it straight away. i lernt of 9 different trainers all up in different areas and they were all really nice.

flix has closed down. dodgy schools don't last!!! sadly no one will be getting the promised certificates and no one will be getting their money back (not even the students who where half way through their course when it closed the door on them)

I just got onto the internet to visit the Flix Institute website to scope out when the next course dates started and just found out that Flix has closed down. I am so so so disappointed! I had an interview last year with Flix when they first opened, to attend their college and start studying a course in which I have been wanting to do for about 10 years. Although I was accepted by Angela and Shay into the college, I was slightly apprehensive as they had only just opened and I thought that perhaps it would be a good idea to wait another year before attending the school. Just to see how the first round of students went and to make sure that it was worth me spending so much money on a course that had not as yet managed to find itself a reputation. I am so happy that I waited even though it was a very difficult decision to make. I am devastated that they have closed down and I am now in another quandary of where can I study Special FX Makeup in Brisbane. I feel like my dreams have been shattered. I am not going to enter into this slandering match againist Angela and Shay as from the meetings and communication I had with them, it was fantastic. They were very professional and lovely and were both full of so much enthusiasm and knowledge, it was electric! Shay's work was fantastic and I was amped to be able to attend his classes. To meet someone who is so passionate about something that I am so passionate about is rad. If anybody hears as to where he may be teaching, I would love to find out. Or if anybody knows if there is another college specialising in Special FX make-up in Australia, I would love to know. I've waited this long to study this and I'm sure I can wait a little longer.... Lizzie

I just got onto the internet to visit the Flix Institute website to scope out when the next course dates started and just found out that Flix has closed down. I am so so so disappointed! I had an interview last year with Flix when they first opened, to attend their college and start studying a course in which I have been wanting to do for about 10 years. Although I was accepted by Angela and Shay into the college, I was slightly apprehensive as they had only just opened and I thought that perhaps it would be a good idea to wait another year before attending the school. Just to see how the first round of students went and to make sure that it was worth me spending so much money on a course that had not as yet managed to find itself a reputation. I am so happy that I waited even though it was a very difficult decision to make. I am devastated that they have closed down and I am now in another quandary of where can I study Special FX Makeup in Brisbane. I feel like my dreams have been shattered. I am not going to enter into this slandering match againist Angela and Shay as from the meetings and communication I had with them, it was fantastic. They were very professional and lovely and were both full of so much enthusiasm and knowledge, it was electric! Shay's work was fantastic and I was amped to be able to attend his classes. To meet someone who is so passionate about something that I am so passionate about is rad. If anybody hears as to where he may be teaching, I would love to find out. Or if anybody knows if there is another college specialising in Special FX make-up in Australia, I would love to know. I've waited this long to study this and I'm sure I can wait a little longer.... Lizzie

I am just curious to know where you got your information about Flix not refunding course fees for courses cancelled when the school closed?

I am one of the photographers that Flix & Angela Waugh Ripped off. She was using my copywrited photos. I did a 2 day shoot for her students in Nov 07 & have been chasing her for payment ever since. I even registered on the debt collector site www.badpayer.com.au. But she still didint pay. I had a number od students contact me for sample pics of thier work as Flix woul not supply them. Since then a few have stated they never received thier certificates of completion. All I can say is they are better off closed, at least this way they cant rip anyone else off.

My god I can't believe all the incorrect information that gets posted on this thread! For starters Shay in not the golden boy you all make him out to be.....considering he now works at woolies, he really must have stuffed up his carrier....I'm not denying his experience or abilities, but if he still had all his industry contacts I wouldn't have seen him stocking shelves at the local supermarket! And with regards to Flix & Angela - you should really do some REAL research and not listen to all the rumors. The institute didn't close because it was "dodgy", it was closed due to poor health - which must be serious considering Angela's had to shut down her dream business. And how do you know you won't be getting the certificates promised to you?? have you asked?? I've found if you're civil and contact them, they are more that willing to help - just give them a chance as they're obviously going through a tough patch. Maybe quit with the bitching & start being a little more humane!!

My daughter had the misfortune to attend Flix Institute in the second half of 2007. From the beginning she knew that things weren't right there but tried to remain positive. These are just a few of the issues my daughter confronted during her time at Flix: poor working materials, lack of makeup, notes downloaded from the internet, students from the immediately previous class "teaching" her and her fellow class mates, often no teacher, some extremely insensitive treatment by Angela on one particular occasion when Angela was undertaking a promotional activity during class time, no models for the student photo shoots and a general lack of regard on Angela's part for her clients, the people who had paid a significant amount of money to participate in what could only be loosely called a course or training. I am aware that Angela had health issues during this period but if Flix was a legitimate business she would have had contingency plans in place. I have been really sorry to read the comments which fit with how I know things were at least in late 2007. As my husband and I financially supported our daughter to attend Flix, I believe we are also part of a group of aggrieved people - the photographer, my daughter and other students from her course, whom we know were given a really bad deal, and other parents. It is very good that Flix has closed down.

Angela you are a petty fraud. You know that you are the only one reading these posts and it just goes to show who you really are and pathetic you are. If I were you I would honestly quit with the childish games,and instead of wasting time with your personal vendettas, why don't you squeeze out a little more trust money from you husband to get another "award winning" business going. Because if you really want, I can open up every single reason for why your Fake Institute has been shut down. There are records from the Department of Education, and call attendances recorded by legal parties. Do you really think people are that naive. Not to mention the innocent people who you have personally screwed. Or how about the fact that you have no experience in the Film industry whatsoever, you think there's no record of you misrepresenting yourself to be in House of Wax and Harry Potter, and even more to the point no evidence of you even being involved with those films. If you really had an important role in those movies, you would at the very least be somewhere on the credits. Otherwise you have no business holding out yourself on that level as you done to each and every one of the students who paid their money to be scammed by you. Do you think there are no records of you from your tenure at STAR FX? Posting phony authographed posters which can be bought on eBay does make you a legitimate part of this business, it makes you a fraud, the type of person who wants to deceive people - hence the heavy use of royalty free people. Do you think people have forgotten your bullshit about your alleged New York deal or going to LA? Honestly, give me a break. You see the fact of the matter is you have no talent, no class, and no business sense. Throwing money at a problem doesn't do anything, and digging your self in more holes is only something that I would believe a bonehead like you is capable of. Do you think people cannot ask Jeff Flinton or Tyrone, what there opinion is on the matter. Or why don't reasearch every name and film you clamed to be part of. Hell if you were there pouring coffee i'll even take that.. It seems that all you can do is make up fake aliases to defame Shay Lawrence. And no i am not Shay Lawrence, but I have been at your crapshack for a long time. And you know, defaming Shay's name, doesn't change the fact that you will never ever mean anything in this industry. Believe me, anyone whos a somebody in this business knows what a fraud you are. And the people who do matter, believe me, your not even so much as a zit on their face. Thats how little anyone thinks of you. All the makeup, and push-up bras will not get you anywhere. And like I said if you think I'm kidding, if you think I haven't seen this before, and if you think I don't have the resources to expose you, then you are wrong. I'll even give you some free business advice, why don't you clam up, and use your money to invest in a different business. That is if you're not getting hammered with debt collectors, oh and by the way those records are accessible to. Now believe me when I tell you, I am watching you very closely. These people truly want to follow their dream because they have a passion, its not for fame or money, and its people like you that give this business a bad name, and why this post is necssary. For all those reading, please heed my advice before it is removed, research everything you can on Angela Waugh, call all that you can. She has no control over the records on her, and she certainly can fake them. Learn for yourself, make smart decisions and work passionately as hard you can. That is the only way you will succeed in this business, and certainly not following FLIX and Angela's garbage.

Oh yeah and by the way Angela, IP noted and tracked.... so put that in your pipe and smoke it

Very clever....but if you did in fact tracked the IP address as you say you have, you would have noticed that I am not Angela and have nothing to do with her....but you obviously feel the need to pose as a know it all. Which is fine, what ever rocks you boat. All I was trying to say in my original post was that after being in touch with them (actually chasing some outstanding certificates), that I found them to be very helpful and once I learnt what they were dealing with, I couldn't understand why everyone else out there was being so cruel to Angela, Not to mention making Shay out to be so wonderful, when during my time at the academy he was nothing but difficult & I can't help it that he works at woolies....he has no one to blame for that but himself! My god, so much for giving people a fair go, you must really have problems in your own life to be such a bitter person. Good luck to you.

First of all, I know exactly who you are, where you live and other details which I'll grant you the courtesy of leaving out. Acting the way your acting has just guaranteed reprocussions, especially considering your identity. Second of all the only reason I haven't made your details public is out of courtesy, but honestly if you are dumb enough to push me, then hell you are just asking for it... You clearly a total hypocrite. You are a former student of FLIX yet you claim you have had nothing to do with Angela - (well actually that may be right since, Angela didn't teach a god damn thing). And yes I agree YOU must have real problems in your own life to be such a bitter person - I mean the fact that your tirade about Shay not being the golden boy and working in woolies clearly is the voice of a bitter person. Giving a fair go? What a joke, cough ahem *hypocrite* I won't even dignify that with a response. People are being cruel to Angela because she screwed them, me included out of money. Does that make sense to you, she conned us out of A LOT of money. And god help me if you say that we have no-one to blame but ourselves then you really are complete moron. As for my life, actually now that you ask, its fantastic. Aside from having to make back the money that Angela screwed me out of, life is peachy...i mean I won't gloat, that is not the purpose of my postings... but lets just say everythin is A OK.. I comment with such zeal because people need to know the truth. Even though the institute has been shut down by the education authorities, People still need to know how harsh trying to get into this business can me, and how many 23-24 year old kids like Angela there are trying to pull a con on the innocent. Angela has ripped off more than just me and deserves all the bad press she is getting, if one person reads this and is duly warned about her, then thats all that matters. And as for you, I wouldn't really frame that piece of toilet paper you have for a certificate. If you wanna make something of yourself then go out there and do it. Its a smarter move to know it all then go in blind. Luck don't cut it, kid - didn't they teach you that at FLIX?

It’s a smarter move to know it all then go in blind. Luck doesn’t cut it, kid - didn't they teach you that at F--X? Gee didn't expect such poetic rhetoric, things are changing you could apply this everywhere I like it

hey .. why not make a time to instead of trying to save what dignity you have left to start paying back all the people you ripped off,, im sure hubbys trust fund should have just enuff for you to pay past employees, students, contractors the money thats owed.. if you have bleed him dry you could always move back to the idea of affair. you have already done it once, why not twice. and just for the know. im thinking that its about time that you start paying money back and quick smart. cos im sure theres plenty more dirty lil secrets to be aired. just putting that one out there. im not as nice as the rest of them. and i have no problem hanging them out for all to see..

Dear all, I would be interested in getting contact details for Angela Waugh if anyone would be kind enough to share. I am still seeking my deposit back from a course I was to do this year that was cancelled. I have been very patience but have still not received a check. If you would like to share details then please contact me. Regards Alanjohn R Jones