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Audition scam

182 replies

ranger100 · 09/12/2013 08:12

Hi
Did anyone else go to the CGTV auditions this weekend (7th Dec) at the Hammersmith Novotel?
They said that the select 30-40 out of the 300 kids that they see. I reckon they select everyone in the hope that you'll pay the $5000 to send your kid to LA for a week. If 200 people sign up, they've made themselves an easy $1m.
My kid got "the call" the following morning to say that they had made it. Did yours??

OP posts:
EduCated · 27/06/2014 20:55

And yes, pointing out that the process may not be as simple or as probable as the company you're paying all this money to implies is very clearly bullying.

Nasty people, trying to make sure people are all fully informed and clued up. Meanies.

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 27/06/2014 20:57

Utter bastards. That's what we are.

I feel such shame. We should all bow our heads.

Ziggyzoom · 27/06/2014 21:00

I don't know why you are all so 'skeptical'. After all, all of these American child stars have grown up to be such happy well-rounded individuals. Get your hands in your pockets people!

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 27/06/2014 21:03

Ziggy, that's the kind of reasoned argument I cannot resist.

Take my money!

saintlyjimjams · 27/06/2014 21:17

"You can fail at what you don't want so you might as well take a chance at what you DO love!" Jim Carey

And you can flush £50 notes down the toilet, or find a sensible, realistic, cheaper more useful way to take your chances.

PigletJohn · 27/06/2014 21:29

Kraken, you were asking about visas.

Citizens of most EC countries, including the UK, who have a right of abode, have a concession that allows them temporary entry to the US, for up to 90 days, without needing a visa, provided that they are coming for a holiday or on business. They are not allowed to convert that temporary concession. If they want to seek work they have to go home and apply for a visa and work permit.

You may possibly be surprised to know that US work permits and visas are not handed out like confetti.

A person who wants to enter the US for education or to seek employment has a very, very, very much harder time of it. You may be aware that to the South of your country is a substantial border fence to keep out such people.

When Hugh Grant is offered a part in Hollywood, his application for entry will be sponsored by a US employer who undertakes that he has a firm job offer for Hugh, and that it is for a job which no US citizen can do, and the sponsor guarantees that Hugh will not become a charge on the public purse by being destitute, sick or unemployed, or try to take jobs from other Americans. The sponsor has to bear the cost or supporting Hugh or sending him home if it all goes wrong.

Do you know anybody who will do that for hundreds of untrained, inexperienced, starry-eyed foreign teens who have been given the impression that shovelling thousands of dollars into the pockets of an exploitative company will lead to Hollywood and stardom?

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 27/06/2014 21:36

Now now, don't be negative, Piglet John.
Just think calming thoughts and believe and all your wishes can come true.

It's the Disney-dream.

When you wish upon a star,
Visas appear where you are!

And so on and so forth.

PigletJohn · 27/06/2014 21:36

btw, Kraken, you said "any job outside your country needs a visa and everyone must research extensively for their own cause"

this is not true.

The citizens of my country, and the other 505,572,499 citizens of the EC, can generally live and take jobs in each others countries without needing work permits or visas, as well as a variety of other countries outside the EC. There are different opinions on whether this is a good idea or not.

WingDefence · 27/06/2014 22:16

Wow, this really is a good thread. And that's just based on the posts remaining now all the really fun obvious ones have been deleted Grin

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 27/06/2014 22:18

Wing :o

I can't wait for the next exciting instalment.

I miss Adrian :(

CarolineKnappShappey · 27/06/2014 22:47

Do you think Adrian would like to meet Sharon?

DenzelWashington · 27/06/2014 22:53

gushingly positive first-time posters from the colonies

Class put-down.

And distrustful? Well yes, we are British, dear.

HenI5 · 27/06/2014 23:47

Let's just go right back to basics based on the UK poster experience.

At no cost - other than travel expenses - you take your child to an 'audition'
At this group gathering there is what's effectively a presentation and the child(ren) get very excited about going to America.

At no point in this process is a cost mentioned until parents are given a leaflet where they discover there's a US$5,000 charge for a week's 'course' plus the cost of passports, visas, flights, accommodation and living expenses for the child and accompanying adult(s)

This represents a very sizeable outlay and even without going beyond the week in question - which is held at a time when UK parents would be financially penalised by way of fines for removing their child from school - is a considerable commitment for parents who could simply enroll their child in convenient home based and accredited courses with a frame of reference which is relevant to European people.

I'm also not understanding why the management of the 'audition' process need to enquire why the auditionee knows anyone else who's attending the same open 'auditions' Why would that be a valid question?

I'd like to ask any of the satisfied customers posting on this thread how much they paid for the course, what other expenses were incurred and what kind of percentage of their weekly net income the overall cost represented. As they all seem to satisfied and this forum is anonymous, I think that's a very valid and easy to answer question.

BanjoKazooie · 28/06/2014 01:14

The cgtv website LINKY HERE is a lesson in how to make a company seem as dodgy as possible. Confused

No mention anywhere of how much anything costs = check
No address anywhere = check
No company details = check
No proper details on the camps = check
No 'facts and figures' = check
No history = check (oldest 'blog' is jan 2014)
Very little info in general = check
No links to other professional organisations/memberships etc = check
No 'terms and conditions' = check

It may well be legal but it's not coming across very well. understatement If they genuinely believe they have a good 'product' you would think they would be more enthusiastic about providing clear information.

Companies are allowed to charge exorbitant prices for things but it seems a shame this company isn't upfront and open about the costs involved for its intended customers.

PigletJohn · 28/06/2014 07:54

I wonder if it is considered normal for businesses in the US to have a web presence which omits their company name and contact details.

The "Schedule" page on the CGTV.la site is especially interesting (though not at all informative)

"ABOUT CGTV" does not tell you anything about CGTV.

I had a look at "Fresh from the blog". Can anyone guess what the latest entry is? January 24, 2014

I had a look at the Archive. The oldest entry is January 24, 2014. Can anyone guess what the newest entry is? January 25, 2014.

PigletJohn · 28/06/2014 07:58

Looking on the bright side, it's wonderful that anyone doing a web search on CGTV or Auditions or child opportunities in Hollywood is quite likely to turn up this Mumsnet discussion about CGTV and Auditions in Hollywood.

I'm really grateful to the CGTV supporters who reactivated this thread about CGTV and brought the company to the public eye for people who are interested in child auditions and acting opportunities in film and TV.

XcopMom · 28/06/2014 08:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 28/06/2014 08:38

Pfft, none of that should cost $5000.

Adrian is people.

That website's lack of substance is scary.

Shnickyshnackers · 28/06/2014 08:52

I'm weetling

PinkSquash · 28/06/2014 09:01

This is a front company isn't it. The love for Adrian is pushing PALFHK into insignificance.

PinkSquash · 28/06/2014 09:02

Oh and which agency is TOP LA AGENCY!!!! ?

Deverethemuzzler · 28/06/2014 09:16

Reading this thread with great amusement.
The highlight so far is the Jim Carey inspirational quote.

I am SO going to live my life according to his wise words from now on.

Is he taking over from Will Smith as the Facebook Dali Lama?

And at someone expressing disbelief at people being 'so distrustful'.
How cynical of everyone. Show business is, and always has been, the very epitome of integrity and altruism

Shame on you all!

saintlyjimjams · 28/06/2014 09:42

I thought anyone could buy a day ticket to Universal. Or Coronation Street for that matter. You could probably visit Ramsey Street for free.

AlpacaLypse · 28/06/2014 10:01

You know, every time one of CGTV's stooges puts another rapturous comment on, it increases the rating for Googling this thread...

EduCated · 28/06/2014 10:39

Saintly You can just drive up to Ramsay St, it's just a normal old road in Melbourne. It's very bizarre, you're just driving through the suburbs and then BAM, Neighbours.

Of course, I paid to go on the Neighbours bus so I could fart about with the road sign. It was fab Grin

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