Trans Continental Talent in The NewsTrans Continental Talent Violates California Labor Code; Labor Commission Says Models Entitled to Full Refund"They're acting as a talent agency, pure and simple. They are in violation of the State Labor Code and anyone who pays a fee to procure work for them, they are entitled to that fee back." — Dean Fryer, California Labor Commission ("Modeling Agency: Big Fees, Small Return," KRON-4 San Francisco, February 18, 2003) High Priced TalentBy Michelle Mauch "Trans Continental Talent Agency claims it is the #1 talent scouting company in the world but a local family disagrees. A local fourteen-year-old and her family were out shopping over the weekend, when they were approached by a talent scout. The company promised to put the teen's picture on the internet, but it wouldn't be cheap. For more than $1,000, Trans Continental Talent promises to make your face famous. A local teen and her grandmother nearly took the company up on its offer. Model Jasmine Bella, says, "We were so convinced; we were going to do it. We were going to pay $795 and $19.95 per month. We were convinced and then we started doing research and found out it was a big scam." Her grandmother, Darlyn Bellah, felt the same way, "I was convinced when we left the other day, and, yes, I was convinced I was going to do it, and my daughter-in-law said, 'How are we gonna check this company out?'" An internet search turned up more information about the company than they imagined. Todd Bellah, Jasmine's father, says, "The more I looked, the more I didn't like the move. I thought there was something going on with investigative reports from Detroit and Atlanta." Pearlman ProbedBy Tim Arango "Pearlman, the music impresario known for discovering the pop bands N*SYNC and Backstreet Boys, is in hot water over allegations that his talent agency, TransContinental Talent, told thousands of aspiring models and actors it would help them find work, and then simply posted their photos in its database. Numerous former employees and clients have come forward with complaints in recent months, triggering investigations in California, Massachusetts and Florida. Pearlman is the chairman of Trans Continental. Meanwhile, the Orlando, Fla.-based company has raised eyebrows by continuing to work with at least two men who have spent time in prison on fraud charges, according to sources and SEC filings." Talent Company Investigation Part 1KCTV 5 Kansas City "What could be more flattering than being asked -- by a complete stranger -- "Have you ever considered modeling?" That's what people all over the metro are hearing since Trans Continental Talent opened up here in December. But KCTV5 Investigative Reporter Steve Chamraz has the not so glamorous details about this worldwide talent company." Talent Company Investigation Part 2"We continue our KCTV5 investigation with the story of a TCT employee so disgusted with the company, she quit. She came to KCTV5 and handed over "Talent Scout" training manuals. According to TCT's guidelines, almost anyone is model material, as long as they're willing to pay." Complaints Pour In About Talent Company"Since KCTV5 exposed the questionable business tactics of an Overland Park talent company, people have been coming out of the woodwork with complaints. KCTV5 Investigative reporter Steve Chamraz has a follow up to a story you saw only on 5." How To File A Complaint And Get Results"Since KCTV5 exposed the questionable business tactics of an Overland Park talent company, more people have been coming forward claming to be victims of TCT's sales pitch. KCTV5 Investigative reporter Steve Chamraz has information on how you can file a complaint and get results." Modeling Agency: Big Fees, Small ReturnKRON-4 San Francisco "What was once E-models, then Options Talent, is now Transcontinental Talent... A company that claims to be the largest model scouting firm in the world is under scrutiny by the San Francisco District Attorney's office... The company is not only being examined here. Two other states are also now investigating complaints.... TC Talent scouted Ericka Wingerter, a KRON 4 employee, in the locker room of her gym. We went with her to an open call in San Francisco.... By law, talent agencies can't collect upfront fees. TC Talent gets around that by claiming it's not an agency, it's a scouting company. Last year the state labor commission didn't act on our concerns, but now? Dean Fryer of the SF Labor Commission says, "They're acting as a talent agency, pure and simple. They are in violation of the state labor code and anyone who pays a fee to procure work for them, they are entitled to that fee back." The Model MakerK-CAL 9 Los Angeles "It's an invitation to the glamorous, fast-paced world of modeling and acting... Trans Continental Talent. On the Internet, billed as the world's largest entertainment scouting company, with success stories plastered on the main page -- a place where your picture can allegedly be seen by a thousand modeling agencies worldwide. These are the agencies allegedly searching for that new look -- but some Trans Continental clients say look out!" State probe may stall plans for Church StreetBy Jon Steinman "A state attorney general's investigation into one of Lou Pearlman's business interests might create problems for the music impresario when he goes before the City Council on Monday in hopes of winning millions of dollars in incentives to redevelop downtown's Church Street Station. The state is investigating whether Trans Continental Talent Inc. duped hundreds of wannabe models and actors into paying as much as $1,500 for a spot on the company's Web site. Clients have complained that they were led to believe the company would help them find work rather than simply post their pictures online." Council member questions Pearlman's dealingsBy Jill Krueger "Here's how Trans Continental Talent works: The company sends out independent contractors to look for potential customers for its modeling and acting database services. Potential customers are invited to an open call and to visit the company's local office, then another appointment is made to seal the deal. "They are being made to feel like they were selected and if they don't do it now they won't have an opportunity to do it again for another year," Judy Pepper, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau.... Meanwhile, dissatisfied customers have filed more than 350 complaints with the Florida Attorney General's Office. Specific complaints include violations of the customer's right in Florida to cancel the contract within three days, misrepresentations, deceptive advertising, and unfair and deceptive trade practices, says Jackie Dowd, assistant attorney general of the Orlando economic crimes division." I Am Not A ModelBy Katy McColl TransContinental Talent pp. 136-139 5 Investigates: Recruiting Model WannabesBy Barbara Rodgers "But what about his scouts? Do they really have a trained eye for talent? A 5 Investigates producer applied for a job to find out. Despite not having a resume as required, she was hired the very next day. After a few hours in the classroom, her training moves to the street, where veterans show the novices how to scout. In our case, the veteran was San Francisco Office Director Mark Pfeiler, and our hidden camera caught him working the streets. "My name is Mark," he told one recruit. "I'm looking for models and actors. Have you ever thought of doing anything in the industry?" Our camera caught another scout who had been on the job for a week. "There's a good chance of getting work right now," the scout said. "I had one that signed on; three days later, he was interviewing to go to Singapore. There's 283 agencies here in the city so there's a lot going on here, too." News of those 283 agencies was new to the labor board, which licenses talent agencies in San Francisco. The board says there are actually only 17." 5 Investigates: Modeling Agency or Scam?By Barbara Rodgers "For people who want to be a model, being discovered is the stuff that dreams are made of. For Katherine Johnson, it happened while shopping. She was approached by a scout for Transcontinental Talent, who said they were looking for all ages, and invited her to an open call. "I was like, 'Great, someone discovered me,'" she said. Johnson went to an open call, and so did we, along with our hidden cameras. We're told the chances of getting work are good. "Eighty six percent of our models have actually received jobs, or have been signed by agencies," San Francisco office directors Mark Pfeiler told us. And the pay is great. "They said anywhere between $300 to $500 an hour," Pfeiler said. "For runway, anywhere from $500 to $700 an hour." Talented or Taken?News 5 i-Team "Melanie scouted for E-Model which changed its name to Options Talent and again to TransContinental Talent all within a year. Based in Orlando, Florida, TransContinental touts itself as the largest model scouting company in the world.... We went undercover to learn what happens inside. Our 5-i team producer applied for a job as a scout with no experience in the fashion industry. TCT immediately hired him." Trans Continental Talent: An I-Team InvestigationFox News-Atlanta "Even though Trans Continental Talent says it now offers a 72-hour refund policy, the Orlando Better Business Bureau says the new company has the same unsatisfactory record as the old one because of "a pattern of complaints concerning misrepresentation in recruiting practices and misrepresentation of the modeling agencies who use their services."... after the second day of shooting, Doberman decided to fight back. He says he made copies of the Better Business Bureau report on TCT and took them to a TCT open call in Atlanta. "I walked straight up to the front of the room and start passing them out to people and I made an announcement," he said. "This is scam! Leave as fast as you can!"" Child Modeling ScamsCBS 58 News-Milwaukee "Carole Kozminski didn't seriously think of modeling as an option for her girls before the scout for Trans Continental Talent approached her. But the offer peaked her curiosity. So she took her four-year-old daughter Carly to the first session. There were two gentlemen taking digital pictures; they shot head shots and full body shots. The first meeting still didn't answer all her questions, so she went back at our request, this time with a camera rolling." Hidden Cameras Expose Talent Agency ScamNBC WDIV-Detroit "Hidden cameras exposed the conniving side of the catwalk inside Transcontinental Talent's Ferndale office, Ruth Spencer reported. Local 4's undercover producer and dozens of other model-wannabes attended a model open call after being selected by a TCT talent scout....Ruth to the Rescue put TCT's recruiting practices to the test. The undercover producer filled out a TCT scout application online. Within hours, he received a letter from the TCT telling him that he would be a tremendous asset to the company. He has never scouted or worked in the entertainment business, but that doesn't bother TCT, the station reported. A Local 4 photographer and a volunteer also signed on, and received the same letter.... Ruth also signed up her 10-year-old dog, Lochie Spencer, who also received the same e-mail." The Model ScamBy Shelly Sindland "Former talent scouts looking for models claim they weren't selling a dream, they claim they we're hired to sell a scam! Thomas Edward Seymour is a former talent scout for Options and says that "open calls" are a trip to fantasy land. “I would call it fraud. But you could call it a scam or a rip off," said Seymour, “the reason that they are open is their dishonesty. That's the only way they can function." “They train you how to be deceptive," said Keith Walkley, another former Options Talent scout." Lou's Next MoveBy David J. Plotkin "Pearlman's oddest move came in early September, when Trans Continental purchased the controversial model-scouting firm, Options Talent Inc. That company has gone by three names in two years: Studio 58, eModel and Options Talent. The first was a test company of sorts, while the second and third shared virtually the same staff. Each incarnation carried with it scores of unhappy clients who felt they were ripped off, and bad blood from other talent agencies that thought Studio 58/eModel/Options Talent preyed on model and actor wannabes who don't know how the industry works. Today, Options Talent is called Trans Continental Talent. Aside from the name change, it's largely the same company it ever was..." Beware of fly-by-night talent scoutsBy Lael Morgan "The 10-year-old girl heard about the Starz National Models and Talent.... led by Jeff Helms, president of Starz National, a Boca Raton company, who talked about all the well-known agencies and companies for which Starz provided models. Helms said these companies, including L.L. Bean .... (An L.L. Bean spokesperson could not recall dealing with Starz.)... an audition held in Portland by Face National Models and Talent of Charlotte, N.C., and when she was selected for signing, she decided to have photographs taken by the company’s photographer for $500. “It was like a big cattle call.” Neither Options Talent nor Face was able to provide any local success stories or answer questions about complaints to Casco Bay Weekly. Unsuccessful in locating a representative from Starz, CBW discovered that a Florida Better Business Bureau found the agency’s Boca Raton phone number to be non-working." Buyer Beware: Ever Thought About Being A Model?By Connie Thompson "Imagine a talent scout walking up and inviting you to an "open call" for models. It's happening for hundreds of local wannabes who dream of being discovered. But who are these talent scouts? We looked into one new scouting company in Bellevue called "Options Talent." The scouts just started recruiting, and they're getting people very excited -- especially teenage girls." Glam Scam? (Seattle Youth Complains of Modeling Rip-off)By Sandeep Kaushik "As 25-year-old Asian American "John" (he's too embarrassed to use his real name) lolled in Green Lake Park, a well-dressed stranger approached and said that John had a great look. The smooth talker was a scout for Options Talent, "the largest model-scouting company in the world," newly operating in Seattle. There was an open call coming up; John should go. "It was very flattering," John says, so he went. When he arrived, the talent brokers complimented him profusely. His ethnicity was an added bonus: "The Asian look is very hot right now." At the meeting, they admitted Options wasn't a modeling agency. Still, "They told me they scouted for Elite and Ford [modeling agencies], and dropped other big names." Investigation of a Local Modeling AgencyBy Becky Thompson "A company new to the Pittsburgh area that posts pictures of potential models on the web has opened its doors. But consumer investigator Becky Thompson has uncovered questions about how it recruits its talent." Glamour and GimmicksBy Todd Ulrich "She says emodel's sales team is managed by Ralph Bell. Our Action 9 investigation revealed he's a man with a past that includes a modeling rip-off in another state.... Our Action 9 investigation uncovered a charge against Bell by the Federal Trade Commission three years ago. The commission charged that Bell used deceptive tactics to sign up models in Virginia and he was banned from using casting calls to sell products. Our investigation uncovered Bell wasn't the only one with a past..." Options Talent Group: An I-Team InvestigationBy Randy Travis "An IMG spokesperson told us they've never booked an Options model. Neither has Elite-Atlanta. A Wilhelmina official told us they've signed two Options models. That's two out of 33,000 on their site. Ford Model Management hasn't signed any Options talent to contracts." Modeling Scouts Run Less-Than-Model CompanyKRON "Contact 4 investigated Options' alleged connections, and found most didn't pan out. Don Johnson has nothing to do with the company, that from his agent who says he's asked Options to stop using Johnson's name. Max Azria of BCBG? He too says he never authorized the use of his name. And we found more. J.R. Larsen is indeed a super model for Ford, the top modeling agency in the country, but Ford president Katie Ford told us they didn't use Options to find J.R. In fact, they've never used Options Talent. And the Elite Agency, shown in an Options Talent Group brochure as praising the company, denies any link to Options, telling us they're upset by the use of their name." Modeling Aspirations Could Cost YouBy Todd Ulrich "There's a new modeling company in Central Florida that could be approaching you about making you or your child a very rich model. But first they want you to spend hundreds of dollars. Our Action 9 investigation uncovers this modeling company is related to one we've warned you about before." Talent Scout Arrested for Sexual AbuseNBC 13 "A local talent scout was arrested Thursday and charged with sexual abuse by force.... Several clients told NBC13 they had also been subject to abuse by Harris and they had witnessed several instances of inappropriate contact. "It's just not necessary in this business for people to touch," said Jennifer Rankin, a former talent scout." Talent Scout Accused Of Sex Abuse Out On BondNBC 13 "Former employees say they were sexually harassed and saw their boss inappropriately touch clients during interviews.... Harris was arrested Thursday after an 18-year-old filed charges alleging Harris touched her inappropriately." Talent Agent ChargedCBS 42 "[Talent agent Cathi] Larsen say any physical contact should [have] sent up a red flag. “No touching should be involved ever, except shaking hands or measurements. If it’s a girl, a woman should do that,” said Larsen." Models ProtestBy Brandi Davis "Some local would-be models will finally get their money back after weeks of protests.... The scouts ask for $496, and promise young models their picture will be posted on an agency web page. But some teenagers say the company doesn't follow-up and is hard to reach. Now Options has told them they will get their money back." Modeling Scouts: An Action News Special ReportABC News 6 "One of the companies mentioned – Elite Models in New York City – says it is not working with Options Talent and it's asked Options Talent to stop mentioning its name in any way, shape or form. We also checked with [a] leading local modeling firm. Virginia Doyle of the Reinhard Agency [said]: "As an agency, we certainly wouldn't look at a web site looking for models." Modeling Co. Uses Glamour To Cheat ConsumersBy Todd Ulrich "A local modeling company offering big bucks modeling careers could be taking local consumers for the ride of their lives. Action 9's Consumer Investigative Reporter, Todd Ulrich found this company using glamour and gimmicks to cheat consumers out of hundreds of dollars." Is eModel Golden Opportunity Or Big Business?KSAT 12 News "It all seemed all glitz and glamour," Lopez said. "They (eModel scouts) mentioned people who'd had success with it, and kept mentioning Tyra Banks and Cindy Crawford." The Dream BoatBy Sandy Brundage "Would you give $500 to a stranger who promised exactly nothing in return? Thousands of people did. And they got what they were promised." eModel changes name to Options Talent Group after buyoutBy Joanne Kimberlin "It's not the first name change for emodel ... the company has operated in the past under eFashionshow.com Inc., Whymodel.com and Whytalent.com." Cashing in On Dreams of GlamourBy Joanne Kimberlin "Nichole Oaten, 22, of Newport News, was browsing the paint department at Lowe's when an emodel scout handed her a business card." Disputed eModel President Has Two Fraud ConvictionsBy Joanne Kimberlin "Investors lost millions when Randell was caught falsifying financial reports to inflate profits.... In 1975, he pleaded guilty to four related fraud charges.... emodel's Web site... lists Randell as a board member and credits him with giving the company "strong guidance." Ford Models Official on eModel: "What they're doing isn't right"By Joanne Kimberlin "When eModel says it works with "Ford," the company is referring to a Boston-based agency by the same name, not the fabled, New York-based Ford Models, which has launched countless high-profile careers." Mannequin MessBy Lauren Barack "Both Elite and Ford say they have asked eModel to remove their names from its Web site. Elite sent a cease-and-desist letter last May." emodelBy Jill Farmer "Sharon Tucci is a little concerned about emodel, too. She owns St. Louis' most prestigious modeling firm, Talent Plus. She says some emodel scouts in St. Louis have claimed they work with Talent Plus. Sharon Tucci: "We do not. I don't even know who they are." Hustling for ModelsBy Wyatt Olson "We are having problems with them," says Bill Ford, vice president of Ford Models Inc. in New York City, one of the most respected agencies in the nation. "They say they work with us. We do not work with them. They're not reputable people." Asked if he saw any value in eModel searchable database, Ford replies, "They walk up and down the streets with [scouts] who've never been in the business before. Why would they know what to look for?" eModel ControversyWLBT NBC News Channel 3 "A parent is complaining about the way his daughter was approached by a new national on-line modeling agency that recently opened an office in Ridgeland. He says the sales pitch was great, but the company left out one major detail until the end." FTC Goes After D.C. Modeling Agency ScamsBy Carl Messineo "Modeling scams are big business. While it is true that some successful models have been discovered in malls or on the street, the talent scouts are few and far between that can make a star out of a mall roamer. Many talent scouts are really just slick salespeople, trying to make a fast buck out of your aspirations and ego." Virginia-Based Modeling Agencies Lure Thousands of Consumers with Exaggerated Promises of Lucrative Modeling/Acting JobsFTC "If someone stops you on the street, hands you a card, and tells you "you've got the look," you may be on your way to becoming the victim of a modeling scam.... That was the case with three Washington, D.C.-area modeling agencies that, the FTC alleged, lured consumers into making substantial investments in their talent management services by promising high-paying assignments with well-known entities in the entertainment and fashion world." |