...Marina says. I say no way, anything can go here. It's all about Phases and Stages.
So this days Sun casts bright into my eyes on her way past Oceans horizon and this day marks a baby step towards something that I have joked and dreamt about for more than 20 years and even bigger than that, maybe only two people in my Life even know about.
I went on a casting appointment. Why do I even mention this? Don't know, some where in the back of my hungry/dreamy mind I think, "Wow, wut if? And if so I would like to leave a trail for others to reflect upon one day, if for no other reason, for entertainment.
Looked on Craigslist, because it's easy and plentiful. One of the category's is TV/FILM/VIDEO--well I emailed some crazy(shitty) photos from my hard drive to something titled
ACTORS AND ACTRESSES WANTED and then another SEEKING BACHELORS FOR TV SHOW and others of which have not heard anything.
So today I meet w/ Charles Stevens, owner of ICP Films. 1:30 I show up and he greets me at the door holding a small child, in his living room/dining room/kitchen. He tells me straight away to fill this out, a generic questionnaire. After changing a diaper and me filling in blanks he calls me in and says leave the clip board behind. Interesting? Of the 2 hours w/ Charles, maybe 40% was spent on "business" related talk, the rest was of his new born at the age of 71!?!?
He carefully read specific items in a "contract" and specifically did not read the remainder. In the end he would be my "Manager" and take 15% of my gross earnings and I needed to pay him $480 to get started. Interesting. He seemed credible but, hell I am naive to the greenest shade of Figian waters. Stories and photos all seemed legit, yet heavily weighted to Asian folk.
He said I really needed photos, which is true and any agent or manager would say this, however would they pitch this..."I have the best guy, here look at his work. The total cost is $280. You pay me $100 and I set it up and then pay him $180 at the time of shooting."...I suppose a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks. He only wants to sign up 5 new guys. Every 3 months I think he said, due to turnover. But only manages 60 people total. $2,900 for every 5 people signed up. Do all "Managers" do this?
What I should have asked was, "Can I have the last 25 peoples name and number so I can contact them for referrals and see how many auditions each has went on?" Anyways this was a great FIRST of the first meetings. Next will be July 24th for "Love Wars", seeking bachelors.
All of this thanks to my lovely wife, I would surely be sweeping all these thoughts under the rug, if not for her. She has supported me in all ways. Thank you -to- you always, we just do not know what is round the bend...
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Thanx 4 posting this! I totally went 2 see charles 2day and he told me he needed more black teenagers because he didn't have any. I was so gonna sign the contract till he told me about the $400. I was like wtf? I was looking for info on him to see if he was a scam or what. And wat was up with all the asian clients btw. If he was a real manager he wouldn't need 2 take money upfront. Now I know. Thanx
ReplyDeletehey there "teenqueen"
ReplyDeletesounds like you may be as green as me, so i am going to give you a referral. google
hey,i saw your commercial. START HERE and i can not suggest this strongly enough, if you are passionate about this choice then do it. he has a free class you can attend. be sure to tell him "I" sent you, he works on a referral basis and will give me $20 cash, but instead you can keep the cash and use it towards your classes. from one brief comment about mentors, i realized he has experienced Anthony Robbins series of events. and Robbins is better than any "college" education. peoples lives change in his classes. i have been thru series myself. so again look online and go to the class.
HE IS THE PLACE TO BEGIN!
I went to see charles today as well!!
ReplyDeleteHe had me in there for three hours talking about mostly his personal life! He seems legit in theory, but I hear to never pay money upfront, so how do I know if this is really worth it or not? I just moved here and the last thing I can afford is to be scammed by someone.
Did either of you hear anything else about it or have any sort of follow up??
Yes, the follow up is...DON'T DO IT. He is totally preying on "newbies" like us, hundreds of them that show up every week.
ReplyDeleteI met a gal in class and she also shared a hesitation, of wanting to believe him but her insides told her not to do it.
Ya gotta follow yer gut, it will save yer ass!
Go to an Actor Improv Studio w/ Bill Applebaum 818.790.3413 (you can audit his class free) it is great! OR mike@heyisawyourcommercial.com 323.939.4612 (Mike offers a referral of $20, as I told "teenqueen", "go to class, tell Mike that I said you can have the referral from me and put it towards your class." or Brian Reise classes.
Cuz here's the deal, the professional agents out there do not want us, not yet. We are not ready, but you go to some of these classes, prepare, learn, improv and gain momentum and then a real agent w/ real connections will want us and he won't be patting his little girl on the back while in a meeting or pouring milk into cereal.
LEARN FIRST. One thing Charles was right about, "...you gotta invest in yourself.", headshots, class, lacasting.com , actorsaccess.com , castingfrontier.com...these are the places to start.
DON'T BLOW AN ENTIRE MONTHS WORTH OF CLASS FEES TO CHARLES!!! He will leave ya dry.
so if someone is signed with this guy on the contract and they want out, how does one go about doing that?
ReplyDeleteBe a professional. Send a certified letter that requires a signature, stating you are informing him that you are seeking other representation.
ReplyDeleteSimply go on w/ your Life and dream. He has nothing on you. As I have now learned, if your agent does not get you a job,
THEY DON'T GET PAID! Period! Think about it, let's say he gets all pissed and threatens you, which is very possible based on my experience and others comments, be ready and be firm. What is he going to do, take you to court? For what? "Oh, Mr. Judge I have a contract with this person and expect to get paid." Judge says, "And what service did you provide on these particular jobs that you seek damages for?" "Oh, well nothing. But I have a contract!"
There isn't a court around that will go for this. Just send the letter. Be professional and don't let him get under your skin. Go sign w/ a real working agent.
Please keep me posted. I will go to bat for you if you need help!
Enjoy The Day!
thank you! I really appreciate that!
ReplyDeleteI went to meet with him today and from the phone call this morning my guts was telling me something is weird. But I really needed a second job so i decided to go anyway and I did. From the red fence, to the weird location of his apt, to the nasty mailbox of his company and the dirty apartment, everything confirmed that this wasn't right. Right away he gave me a clipboard to fill up a talent form. By the way, did i forget to mention that i replied to a babysitting ad on craigslist. But immediately he said he was also a casting director and that he was currently working on a horror film and so that i should bring my headshot too. Anyways, the meeting only lasted 45 minutes, because right away i felt i gotta get out of here. I listened to his BS for all this time, about some asian woman whom he got pregnant in Thailand or something and that when they moved to the states after she gave birth to their daughter, she starting showing her breasts online to find jobs etc. Then he went on and on about the restraining order she had against him, and the fact that for the babysitting job i would have to drive to Encino oh and get this, spend saturday nights at his place to be with his daughter and him. WTF? He also said he if I could massage him as soon as i start working for him that would be great. The more he was talking shit, the more i was getting anxious. at some point he said am I boring you, and i said, no it's just that i left something open with my car, he said then go turn it of. And rushed to the door, i had a hard time opening it, i was really freaking out and finally i managed to open it and i left as quickly as i could. I'm so mad at this so i decided to post on this blog. I will post on other blogs.
ReplyDeleteHi, so I also answered a babysitting craigslist ad and got the exact same story.. red fence, with his 2 year old, staying over sat. night and the custody battle and bla bla. I only spoke with him on the phone and it just seemed weird how he was spilling his whole life story to me. I was nice on the phone and sent him my resume(which i regret now). After I sent the resume, I decided to look him up online and found out he was a con artist??? WTH! I got really freaked out reading all this stuff online about him and am so thankful i didnt actually go over there to his gross house. He has emailed me a few times after but I did not reply. For anyone who is going to CHARLES STEVENS house- DONT!!!!! I am not looking on craigslist for any other jobs, its much too risky.. and no job is worth my life or safety. I hope everyone learns from all these blogs and is wise! Always go with your gut!
ReplyDeleteI was about to go to an "audition" this morning.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this.
Saved me the trouble
Attention all newbies! If it sounds weird, freaky, bizarre, and money is required up front, just get up and leave. Period. You do not owe scoundrels like this Charles Stevens con man any type of courtesy or explanation. Just LEAVE. Always exercise common sense; there are low lifes here whose sole purpose in life is to separate you from your money...and worse.
ReplyDeleteOMG I almost go to his house but the samething is sounds so weird about his offered!
ReplyDeleteHe just posted an ad on craiglist >TV/FILM/VIDEO> Miss/ China / korea/Japan/Thailand/Malaysia/Indonesia..Wanted see Ad (LOS ANGELES)
ALL ASAIN LADYS NEEDED FOR UP COMING FILMS....TV... PILOTS......YOU MAY BE UN-DOCUMENTED... WE CAN ASSIST YOU....
INTERNATIONAL OPPERTUNITYS AS WELL ....
PLEASE SEND PHOTO'S AND YOUR CONTACT NUMBER ASAP.......
Location: LOS ANGELES
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Compensation: OPPERTUNITY FOR HIGH PAY
I am just worried if some other girl will go to meet him!
*****************AFTER I GOOGLED HIM I READLIZED IT IS REALLY A SCAM!********************************
http://icpfilms.com/
310-641-6908
Charles Stevens
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/charles-stevens/2b/842/56b
icpfilms@yahoo.com
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=142647
http://www.castingmovieextras.com/scam-alert-charles-stevens-icp-la/
http://idiotsofcraigslist.com/2010/12/re-charles-stevens-of-icp-films-is-a-con/
http://northfeather.blogspot.com/2010/07/start-new-blog.html
I have worked with him for the last 3 months and knew, day by day, that something is just not right with this guy.
ReplyDeleteWorking from a small dirty apartment is a huge red flag guys!!!
I know for a fact that he signs up new people every week and rarely, rarely does anything for them! He is concerned with only making money for the month and claims to now be in an eviction battle with the land lord. He claims to owe $10,000 and needs to find big, big investors immediately! BEWARE!!!
BTW... I would just love to sit by his red fence for a few days and clue-in the arriving newbies to his scam! Should we ban together and get a group to do this?
I completely agree...you should get by his red fence w/ video camera in hand. Arrival and departure questionnaire sheets would be beneficial as well...could be a nice little short/docu----maybe titled "Hollywood Scum"?
DeleteI wish you well and continue to use your common sense:)
Enjoy The Day!
chad
Charles stevens got arrested! Please call LAPD to tell them about this scum. He needs to be taking off the street. Please do! His booking number is 3702370
ReplyDeleteWhat did he do?? What was the arrest for?
Delete