Any Thespians...safety question

[snowwite]

DD is a self professed " drama geek". She lives for the stage. Anyway she has been looking at casting calls and I checked out a coupole local reputable ones that she can go through but she found an audition on something called Craig's list. This guy emailed her and says he is producer/director low budget indie film in Boston area. He wants her to audition after seeing resume and pics but says it will have to be at his home because he is too busy to meet her at studi. This does not sound right to me at all. When she applied for another legit indie job we got mailed a copy of the script, the producer/writer spoke w/me to be sure I was ok with the scenes where she would have to pretend to smoke pot and drink. This guy said that I could drop her off and if she is a professsional he should not have to talk to her parents. My red flags,bells and whistles are going off. I think he sounds like a creep and I suspect if there is any movie it is probably a home porno movie he has in mind. She disagress. Does it sound like I am being too over protective? I mean is this sort of thing common for low budget local stuff?
Thanks!

 

[lillygator]

I would not go through someone's home....at all.

 

[LadyyRedd]

Is she a minor? I have no kids...but there's no way in you-know-where that I would drop my daughter off at some grown man's house like that. If he is legit, he should have NO problem with you being there. I would think he'd want you there so he couldn't be accused of anything inappropriate!

And even if she isn't a minor, why would he care if you were there?

I say listen to every single bell, whistle and red flag going off in your head.

Kimya

 

[unfreshdiva1]

If your daughter is under 18, run for the hills! This sounds very shady to me. Any reputable company would allow you to be in the room with your child during an audition. At the very least they would let you wait in the lobby.

 

[snowwite]

She is going to be 18 in Sept. It just doesnt sound right. She has been on other auditions and there are always other people there and usually I am waiting with dozens of parents because they take in several at a time. The whole idea of meeting at his house seems sketchy to me.

 

[LadyyRedd]

Get his "studio" information from him. Then you can check it out to see if he's even telling the truth about being legit.

And even still...after that...no way would I let her go to someone's house.....and I'm sure his studio would not be thrilled to find out he's doing that!

Kimya

 

[Briarprincess]

A bunch of my friends are actors (or are trying to be ) and all over the age of 20. NOT ONE of them would go to someone's house. This man whould be willing to make time to see her at a real studio if he was really interested in her for a movie/tv. No actor I know would let themselves be convinced that it was safe to go to some person's house they don't know, to "audition" for a role they knew nothing about, simply because it was a role. I would ask for information on the studio, find out if it's legit, and if by some sheer stroke of luck it is, run- any company that would let someone audtion actors in their homes is not a company anyone should be working for, let alone kids.

 

[epcotfan]

Do NOT let her go this guy's home. Sounds like set up for a porno. My professional actor friends would NEVER audition in someone's home. Your daughter needs to find a legitimate agent that will point her in the right direction.

 

[preshi]

The alarm bells are for a reason... craigslist is chock full of creeps.


That being said my first indie film I got a part in, the director/producer came to my house to audition me. I agree that it was odd and I had my crazy pyscho karate master boyfriend with me but on that occassion it was totally legit and the film won awards... without me in it but thats another story!

I'm glad you are keeping your daughters safety in mind!

 

[buddy&wooz]

no way would I let my kid go.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

This guy said that I could drop her off and if she is a professsional he should not have to talk to her parents.

This would have definitely done it for me. I did some acting when I was in my early teens, and while the directors preferred that the parents did not accompany us into the audition room or hang around all the rehearsals, they NEVER had an issue with talking to, meeting, or even letting the parents who were nervous hang around.

And in a private home?? No way.

This sounds like someone who wouldn't want you to be able to give the cops a description. JMHO.

 

[amy4bruce]

I don't particularly care for the film, but before she agrees to anything, rent a copy of and show her Fame. That's got about the clearest explanation of this situation that I've ever seen.

Wish her good luck on her career for me. In some other movie.

 

[TDC Nala]

Heck No.

 

[crcormier]

Nope, I wouldn't let her go alone either. If you cannot escort her to the audition, then it is not legitimate. I've never been to an audition in someone's home.

 

[DISUNC]

This guy emailed her and says he is producer/director low budget indie film in Boston area. He wants her to audition after seeing resume and pics but says it will have to be at his home because he is too busy to meet her at studi. This guy said that I could drop her off and if she is a professsional he should not have to talk to her parents.

CALL THE COPS on this guy! NBC DATELINE ran news specials from April to May concerning JUST THIS!!!!

My red flags,bells and whistles are going off. I think he sounds like a creep and I suspect if there is any movie it is probably a home porno movie he has in mind.

With no film in the camera!!!!!! LISTEN TO YOUR "red flags,bells and whistles"!
This guy is NO WAY Legit! They prey on girls like your daughter!

She disagress.

aaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggggghhhhhhhh! kids!

Does it sound like I am being too over protective? I mean is this sort of thing common for low budget local stuff?

NOPE! Really call the cops...this guy is a predator! If not your daughter, then someone elses!!!!
Thanks! [/QUOTE]

 

[cinmell]

Please follow your gut feeling! This guy sounds like a real slime ball, DO NOT LET YOUR DAUGHTER NEAR HIM!!!!!! Also, if he was a real producer/ director, I doubt he would say no parents.

This guy said that I could drop her off and if she is a professsional he should not have to talk to her parents.

 

[barkley]

if she is under 18 (even by a day) and HE is a professional then he would KNOW that he has EVERY reason to talk to her parents. there are incredibly strict laws governing "child" actors and a reputable producer or director is aware of these and takes every appropriate step to ensure they are protecting themselves and the production company from liability for not following them.

if she is over 18 and considers herself adult enough to handle her own decisions, she needs to be aware that if she wishes to pursue acting as a profession simply filling a resume with any theatre or film experience she can get is not the way to go about it. quality producers, directors and casting agents look for actors whose training and body of work speak to knowledge and experience that is of respectable caliber. i have done professional and community theatre for over 35 years and i have several friends who are highly respected professional actors, directors, producers, dancers and musicians in tv, film, the music industry and on broadway-many as they were learning their craft had the opportunity for "professional experience" in a variety of venues-the ones that served them well devlopmentaly as well on thier resumes were with qualified, respected and reputable operations. they, as well as i, have seen time and time again-young actors who complain "why did'nt i get the part, i've done so many more things than he/she has"-it comes down to this-'it's not how much you've done, it's WHAT you've done".

reputable casting calls are not posted on craig's list-they are either handled through casting agencies or are posted in area casting publications (here in the san francisco bay area if a production company is seeking non union actors, more often than not there is either a publicity announcement on the local tv stations and calls outs made to the area theatre groups and theatre training programs (and most of the groups/programs will do some form of background check before they notify their people-there are just too many dangerous people out there).

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

Don't let her go and report him to the police.

 

[snowwite]

Thanks to all of you for making me feel better about stickig to my guns on this one. She was making me feel like I just made her miss the chance of a lifetime. I have to go with my gut and my inclination is the guy is a sleaze. It is nice to hear that other people thought the same thing.

 

[Syrreal]

I have been to many auditions and none of them have ever been in a home. No director/producer is "too busy" at the studio. That is where they are having their auditions. You are definitely doing the right thing. As much as she thinks that you are "ruining" her life, you may, in fact, be saving it.