I accompanied my twenty year old friend on what she was told would be a private audition/interview to join the agency as a model. We walked in to a room packed full of young girls and boys and their parents. For an hour and a half we were lectured on ""what it takes to make it in this industry"" by the agency director, Brigitte. She basically spent half the time talking sternly to the fresh young faces on how they need to mold themselves to fit in, and half the time selling the agency to the parents. For about thirty minutes, she went through head shot after head shot of successful actors and models who she claimed had ""made it"" because of the Cary franchise of Casablancas. Towards the end of the meeting I raised my hand to ask a question about up-front costs which may be incurred to new talent (costs for new headshots, model training classes, etc.) Brigitte looked at me and said ""Sorry but I don't have time to answer questions."" The woman had just spent an hour and a half lecturing us. I go to a major research University, and in every single class I've ever taken I have been given the opportunity to raise my hand and ask a question. In talking to a personal friend who is a major talent agent in the Southeast, I have learned that Casablancas is a running joke in the modelling world. No legitimate photographers cast from Casablancas because they see it for what it is: a scheme to sell parents ""talent training"" that is ""necessary"" for their children's success. Again, I went to this audition as a friend and observer. I am also a working actor with a regional agent, and student at UNC Chapel Hill studying Dramatic Arts and Film Production, so I have a working understanding of the business. What I witnessed tonight was nothing more than bold faced exploitation. If they sign any kids from tonight's audition, it will be nothing more than an induction into a very malicious scheme. In a year and a half, and over $5000 out of the pockets of the poor kids' parents, most of the talent will probably have not signed any kind of major job. I took a break from Brigitte's soap box to go and chat with some of the ladies in the office. After digging around for the facts about the agency and how they represent their talent, I was completely disgusted. It is a total rip off. At one point, a larger woman named Charity (or was it Jerri?) walked into the room and interrupted my conversation. I proceeded to talk with her for ten minutes but got nothing but cold, bad vibes from her. Trust me, there are better talent agencies that will shoot straight with you in North Carolina. If you ever have to sit for more than 30 minutes in a modelling audition, something is wrong. The real people don't have more than 30 minutes to give to anyone other than paying clients. But then again, that's what prospective talent is to Casablancas. Also, if you are ever asked to pay any kind of up-front costs before signing with an agency, it is a scheme and you are being ripped off.
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