John Casablanca's modeling and career centers MTM ( Model Takent Management ) They start telling you about all the people they helped and that they will help you get jobs but to only crush your dreams when you cant do anything. I graduated and paid all the money i had to and my Charlotte, North Carolina

 When I was in grade 7, i was called to audition on November 3 for John Casablanca's. I was filled with joy at an audition that could hopefully help my acting career start off. My father drove me to the location. When we went in, we waited in a dressing room.

When I was interviewed, I was asked questions like if i was nervous and my reply was "Not, really", another question was about my grades in school. John Casablamca's did not want anyone that was making a grade lower than a C. Their reason for it  was beacause, if we don't take school seriously then how would we take these classes seriously. That made sense.  

We were asked to walk across the catwalk and do a pose at the end. When we did, we were seperated into groups. Don the man from Michigan that worked there had me in his group. He had said that we all made it into the school. Although, during the audition time a man from Spain kept reassuring everyone that this place was not a scam, and even explained scams that have happened in a business like theirs.

Before we had left, i had an appointment the next day to come back. When I had gotten there Don told me Happy Brithday. I had mentioned previously the day before that it was my birthday the next day. When my dad and I were sitting there with Don, Don was explaining everything to us. Part of that was the cost. My dad was laid off at the time and it was hard on us. When I heard how much it cost, I was ready to walk out. I knew we didn't have that money. The cost was $1995. Don mention that we didn't have to pay for the head shots and body shots they would take of us. My dad had faith in my dream, and the contract got signed. He put in monthly payments on his credit card.

I had missed the second class, because I was sick. Then when it was rescheduled, I had to miss it again, because we were going to visit family members. John Casablancas and I never did my second class. When we had gotten head shots done, that was when the photographer at John Casablancs had told us the cot of head shots would be $150.00 and it would be the same for body shots to. They also said that they wouldn't accept checks. Only cash. The day of the body shots, I had heard a fellow student say she thinks that this is a scam. That worried me, because previously to that, when I was trying to find their phone number I stumbled onto pages upon pages on the internet claim for John Casablancas to be a scam. I cried and alerted my dad. My dad did talk it over with Don, and Don reassured us that it was just people who hadn't finishedthe course and never tried to get jobs.

Also, during my "lovely" time at John Casablanca's the "teachers" were not always nice to the students. An instuctor called D R  had said the reason I am so pale is because, I don't go outside enough. Keep in mind this is the Winter months I am in. I also have a lot of Irish in me, and I am naturally Pale all year round. Then another one of their instructors had made fun of the clothes I brought for the body shots.   He acted as if they seemed really small. I am also petit. I have always been underwieght, and it is hard for me to gain weight. I got those new to me from the Goodwill, so I would have some solid clothing to that was appropraite to their standards to wear. Basically, not anything shiny, black, or white. They were pink pants that fit my legs well. Alhough I can't say that all the instructors were rude. One did ask me general questions to ensure I was eating properly to stay healthy. She basically did not want me to drink as much soda. Also, was shocked about how much i ate before i came into that class, when I had her previously. It is true that we had some fun classes. I mostly enjoyed the classes that focused on Acting instead of Modeling.

During the program I had recieved a call from them about an audition, but my hopes failed me. It wasn't an audtion for anything television related or theatrical related. It wsa audition for them. They couldn't even keep up with their own clients, and had forgotten I currently went there. They hung up, when they realized the mistake. When it was in spring I graduated. This class was three hours long and every other week on a Saturday as it was. It was April 23, 2011. I know that because, I had begged for my parents to take me to the extra auditions for The Hunger Games. I had only recieved the information about the audition, because my friend had told me that her English teacher had let her class know about it. She also told me that her teacherrecieved the information from News 14. Eventually I was able to be taken to the audition. It was April 24, 2011. My church happened to have a lunch being served that day. When it reached one o'clock I alerted my mother. That way we could get to the Audition and make it back home in time for my dad to go to work. I went and I did see another person from John Casablancas there. She was not in my class, but had the bag. My mom told me to stop telling people how to Slate.

It was mid-May, and I had just finished my chorus concert at my middle school. My mom told me she had a surprise. I assumed it was like chocolate cake or something. When I got home  she told me that I made it as an extra in the movie The Hunger Games. I was estatic.  Although, I kept checking the audtions available on the John Casablanca's website, none seem to fit my description. Mostly the age. I never got contacted again by them accept to be hired again as a client shortly after I graduated. This was their second time trying to rehire me and they already had a 3 year contract with me that expired when I turned 16.

This place is a waste of time, the same stuff that they teach can be learned in a high school Theatre class. I took the first Theatre class and i was a biginner in there, since having no prior Theatre classes in school. The next time though, I ended up having Advanced theatre. My teacher also selected when I would perform a monologue for the audience, because he wanted us to start strong and end strong. With that he got his two best students Kristen and I to do so. We also performed in the school musical. We also did childrens theatre with our theatre class. Kristen and I did a play with a couple other students for the 7X7@7. I love acting and have had the dream since the second grade, and still do to this day. I will never give up, even with the pit falls of scams. Everyone keep on dreaming, don't let them crush, let John Casablanca's only make you wiser and stronger. Now we know to always research a place, ask question from people that went there or currently go there if possible. Remeber follow your dreams.