A.C.T. Academy Of Cinema And Television Exploiting young children and their parents Phoenix Arizona

I see that ACT employees, like Drama Free above, are spamming consumer websites trying to combat the negative publicity. The same posts above are on many ACT ripoff reports. They are called shills.

ACT has also changed their name to avoid the consumer reports. Academy of Cinema and Television is now also operating as ACT and as "THE" (pronounced Tay), a talent showcase. They have new websites with the new names. They travel around the country without mentioning their real names, their background with John Robert Powers, or the corporations they hide behind.

Lily Neda is now telling people that her name is Lily Verdu. As usual, she has no business cards or proof of any kind that she is connected to the real entertainment industry, because she isn't.

The CBS station in Atlanta, GA did an undercover consumer report in January 2009. WATCH THEM SQUIRM:
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/18485603/index.html
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/18494106/index.html

Let's just insult the families of potential students by playing the "you don't pay attention to what you are told" card. I am going to rush to get in line and work with this school, and allow them to influence my child RIGHT AWAY. Good thing it isn't an academic school because that rebuttal post is a poor example of written communication.

The intent of the marketing is very clear - it is designed to make a child think they can get on a tv show and be a star. PERIOD There's no two part audition, and very very little selection process. If you can sell it, and someone will buy it, that is all that matters. And what the first report said about it being sickening couldn't be more true.

I don't believe that Scarlett Johansenn has any connection to ACT, other than scoring a paid endorsement gig that I'm sure she will back away from eventually.

We can talk about that "real work" on the website if you want. Some local non-paying stuff and background work which is easily accessible to everyone.

Considering I've read elsewhere that the agents aren't even allowed to have contact information about the potential students it would be darn hard for them to decide to work with someone before they've paid the big bucks for the bad classes.

Really I think everyone (sales staff, agents, and endorsers) are too busy cashing their checks at the bank. There is a building unrest among consumers about this.

- Shameful

hi

here is what scarlett johansen has to say about act:

ACT: Thanks for taking the time out to interview for us today, Scarlett. Our students were thrilled to hear that you were going to take part in our series.

Scarlett: No problem I think what you guys are doing at ACT is great. And I love to help kids out whenever I can!"

ACT: Please share with us how you were discovered and how many auditions you had to go on before booking your first job?


Scarlett: I didn't really have a discovery in the way other people had. I booked my first audition at 8 years old and went on about fifteen auditions.. I loved musical theatre and loved performing. I wanted to be in theatre as a child. I did a lot of vocal training. I also took classes at Lee Strasberg and then was cast in a film called North." I played John Ritter's daughter and after that I started booking films. I never acted in television or commercials. My mom was also very supportive, she saw that I was having fun. I still pounded the pavement though.


ACT: What was your first job in the business (before you starred in NORTH) and were you nervous or did you feel prepared for your big day?


Scarlett: My first job was North" and I wasn't nervous. The film set felt really intimate and whatever kind of anxiety I had, disappeared when the cameras started rolling. I felt it was my moment to shine. I just knew this is what I was meant to be doing. I get nervous when I'm presenting an award, but when I'm on set I don't.


ACT: What is one important piece of advice you would give talent who are trying to get started in this business?

Scarlett: To constantly re-evaluate what your intentions are and re-access where you are -- set goals for yourself. Setting goals is really important in such an all consuming business. Do you want to be an actor or a celebrity or movie star?

ACT: When you first decided that you wanted to be an actor, did you take any type of performing arts classes? And if so, do you feel that it was an important aspect to your success and do you still participate in any classes or coaching?


Scarlett: I went to Lee Strasberg and did a lot of improv and movement classes. That was the only professional training I had. Acting is a tool and it gets rusty if you don't use it. It's also important to be able to take experiences from your life and apply them to your work. Developing a character and research is very important for me.

ACT: How much did you understand about the business of the biz" when you were auditioning or networking within the industry?

Scarlett: That's difficult to say since I started so young. It was a learning process who were the right people to know? When you're a child actor it's about being professional and being able to focus, not to network. When I was starting out it was about building awareness with casting directors and producers, and hopefully making a lasting impression with my work.

ACT: Tell us about your worst audition experience and what you learned from it?

Scarlett: I had a hard time with commercial auditions, selling stuff, it felt corny going on commercial auditions. My heart wasn't in it and that was a valuable lesson. I learned it was important to go on auditions that felt true for me. If they wanted a cute bubbly kid, that wasn't me, so I never booked a commercial. You should give it your all when you go on an audition, but for me it's important not to audition just for experience.

ACT: If you could have done something differently or wished you could have learned something prior to getting into this industry, what would you have done?


Scarlett: Don't know that I have any regrets. I love the entertainment industry. It has always been really great to me. It's difficult and challenging, because you never know what's going to happen. It can be exhilarating or disappointing. I've always known this is what I wanted to do. I learn something new or different all the time and that's one of the best parts of what I do.

ACT: Do you think training for this industry on the artistic side, as well as understanding the business aspect, is important for any young talent to learn and why?
Scarlett: It's important to understand the business side and what you are entitled to as a union member of the Screen Actors Guild, and as an employee of a studio. Training is very important in character development and it's a personal choice where and how you gain that experience.


ACT: What is your process for choosing a project or a particular role?

Scarlett:First thing I look for in a script is that it is solid, cohesive and attention grabbing. Whether it's drama or sci-fi, I have to believe it and believe the characters. I also take into consideration what other actors are attached to the project and who the director is -- I want to make sure I am going into a project feeling safe, and that the director is a creative leader.

ACT: What is more important: timing, luck and knowing the right people" in the business OR hard work, exposure, determination and education on the craft?

Scarlett: All of the above -- hard work is important being the right age at the right time. You're never going to get a magical audition, you have to come prepped, studied and understand the work. You also need a complete understanding of what is required of you emotionally. It's not just luck, it's also the determination to follow your heart, and make it happen.

Scarlett I would like to thank ACT for their commitment to education in the arts. I think what you guys are doing to promote the arts for today's youth is amazing. I also think it's important for the parents to receive information about a business that so few people know a lot about."

ACT: Well thank you for those kind words and again, thank you for your time.

______________________________________________________________________

WHAT LOGOS? Look again!!!

IF ANY OF YOU PARENTS WHO WERE SCAMMED would open your ears and pay attention when you make the original appointment, you might not be so confused and less likely to take your anger cause by ignorance, out on everyone else! You are auditioning for two different people and AGENT and a PRIVATE ACADEMY! Everyone is told this when they reserve a seat. The problem is no one listens to anything anymore and everyone wants a free hand-out! All you people who were asked to pay for classes.........THAT MEANS YOUR CHILD DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT AND THE ONLY OPTIONS LEFT IF TAKING CLASSES! ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY IS 'NO". So stop screaming SCAM, because it will get you NO WHERE!! If the AGENT is interested in you there is nothing to pay for....Congratulations on your new career! If the ACADEMY is interested in you then you will have the opportunity to review their programs. The AGENT has nothing to do with the PRIVATE ACADEMY and vise versa. THE AUDITION IS FREE that means NO COST, except maybe a few bucks for parking. As soon as you people hear the word 'school' or 'classes' you immediately assume the worst. YOU ARE WRONG! There are several WORKING ACTORS who have graduated from A.C.T.! You can view their site at: www.theact.tv!

WHAT LOGOS? Look again!!!

IF ANY OF YOU PARENTS WHO WERE SCAMMED would open your ears and pay attention when you make the original appointment, you might not be so confused and less likely to take your anger cause by ignorance, out on everyone else! You are auditioning for two different people and AGENT and a PRIVATE ACADEMY! Everyone is told this when they reserve a seat. The problem is no one listens to anything anymore and everyone wants a free hand-out! All you people who were asked to pay for classes.........THAT MEANS YOUR CHILD DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT AND THE ONLY OPTIONS LEFT IF TAKING CLASSES! ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY IS 'NO". So stop screaming SCAM, because it will get you NO WHERE!! If the AGENT is interested in you there is nothing to pay for....Congratulations on your new career! If the ACADEMY is interested in you then you will have the opportunity to review their programs. The AGENT has nothing to do with the PRIVATE ACADEMY and vise versa. THE AUDITION IS FREE that means NO COST, except maybe a few bucks for parking. As soon as you people hear the word 'school' or 'classes' you immediately assume the worst. YOU ARE WRONG! There are several WORKING ACTORS who have graduated from A.C.T.! You can view their site at: www.theact.tv!

Dear Mr. Kurt,

I am an employee of ACT Academy of Cinema and Television. I just wanted to let you know that I am very surprised that a smart intelligent person has made it past our audition process. You have figured out our scam and I commend you for your intelligence. You are very correct, we have not been authorized by Disney to use their logo. Actually we have secretly been using their logo for many many years and Disney simply hasn't done anything about it! So we get to keep on scamming families that think we are telling the truth about our connections with Disney. We are making so much money here at ACT its great!! of course we take a chunk of your money and pay off Mr. Adrian R'Mante to be here because he's just not making enough money playing the role of Esteban back at home in Hollywood. But Adrian will never tell his agency or Disney he comes here to help us scam people, nor will any of our other SCAM supporting agents we pay to be here tell anyone either. We run a really tight underground scam operation here at ACT and we've been doing this for years. We use to go by the name John Robert Powers, then too many people caught on to our lies so we changed our name to something more prestigious. Academy of Cinema and Television... doesn't that name sound so much better than John Robert Powers. Well, WE surely thought so.

We're professionals at this false advertising, false marketing, lying, cheating, thing. We actually got some really good business advice from L. Ron Hubbard. He told us this, "All you need to do is make up a religious belief, create a wonderful marketing plan and charge people enormous amounts of money to be a part of this made up religion!". And what do you know, it works! People will spend their money on anything these days. It's simple, we just market to children who don't know any better. They believe us because, well...children believe adults. Its that simple. The children end up begging their parents and the parents give in! Its great! we make so much money doing this!!!

Kurt, I would say this: We here at ACT want to keep running this perfect scam so that we have lots of your money to buy lots of great things with and we never want to ever have to get a job in the REAL world. That would be terrible! Getting a REAL job!!?? NEVER! We'll just keep scamming people. It pays GREAT! So whatever you do DONT try and stop us! Whatever you do...

DOn't file a report with your local District Attorney
DOn't let Disney know that we are using their logo without clearance
DOn't get other parents involved, collect their names and contact info
DOn't spread the word that you figured us out

Because like I said, I make a lot of money here at ACT and I love my job. I am a professional liar and nobody is going to stop me!!! If America works together to stop us, we're ruined! Please Please whatever you do, don't turn us in!

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The truth is people, children are our future and doing nothing to stop these money cult scam operations is doing nothing for our children and its doing nothing for our future. Shutting these companies down is an absolute must in order to create REAL change in this world. DO NOT rely on someone else to fix the World's problems. Its time to STAND UP and DO SOMETHING about it!