John Robert Powers They took my money and fed me false hope! Sacramento cALIFORNIA

30 Years in Hollywood
Hi. I am sorry that you were ripped off but I have to say that your experience with the John Robert Powers franchise system is very typical. I have been fascinated by this horrible company for many years and have spoken to many ex students and ex 'employees' about how it works. My understanding is that as a corporation a large part of their income is derived from the selling of 'territories' to people for about 75 thousand dollars despite knowing that it is extremely unlikely that the purchaser will ever be able to keep up with the agresive payment scheme that is a part of the system. When the businesses fail the mother corporation gets to keep the initial payments and then has the territories to sell again and again. This is why so many of the franchisees are willing to go along with the tactics that JRP proposes...because if they do not they know that they will lose their investment and will end up with nothing.

I have been watching people with 'training' from JRP come through our offices for many years and inevitably the 'training' that they may have recieved while having their wallets emptied by JRP has nothing to do with the actors future success.

I have heard that no one is rejected from a JRP casting call....that alone is a good indication of their true motivations.

I can honestly say that in 30 yers or so of productionf I have only ever seen JRP people booked as extras. No reputable talent agent would call JRP and ask them to send over some talent for a real casting session because we all know that those sent will be just the ones available at that time. Who is in house and needs to be pumped for cash...send them to the audition. JRP knows that you wont book the job...but they dont really care about that. Just the fact that they were able to get you into an audition will help them to get more money from the actors.

So we dont call JRP in EVER because by doing so we would just be helping them to take more money from their 'students'.

If you look at the JRP site or at any of the franchise sites you will see many references to success stories and lots of references to big actors who went through JRP.....All I can say is that you should not believe everything that you read on a companiues website. According to a news story taht I saw by Bill Moyers...NONE of the listed actors will admit to ever attending any JRP training!

What does that tell you?

Save your money. Take some acting classes at a real college or school. Avoid any place that tells you that you are going to be a star. Avoid any place that seems to have a bunch of negative comments on many websites.

So good luck with your career. You didnt really miss anything by missing those classes at JRP.. They would probably have tried to get you to pay more money if they had not had to cut and run.

Be well

I don't give a rats behind weather you believe they would make a promise of an agent or not. Obviously that is the case or I would not have been reimbursed partially I might add. PS no I was never paid for these suposed jobs. As far as I am concerned they were probobly a big show to make this company seam real. I mean it is "REAL" A REAL JOKE!

First off in case you have not noticed there are 5 pages of complaints. Obviously it is not just me who has been screwed over. I payed for unnecessary classes and numerous amounts on so called trips to take courses with people who are frauds. It is funny how if this is such a legitimate company you are having to come online and defend your self. Please! so I am ignorant? I guess it takes one to know one right.

This company fuels themselves of peoples inexperience and knowledge of the industry telling people they have a chance. Even if they do it is not like your company is doing their job in any way. You have people working there poising as some big name in the industry, when in fact they are not at all. It is not that hard to do research.

Matter of fact if you really ASSumed, and I do emphasize the a*s, THAT THIS COMPANY IS SO LEGITIMATE THEN WHY REFUND THE MONEY. Also you are right pictures are necessary not at the coast that was being charged. Telling parents hey can only be done through your company with your portfolio when in fact it is not true. I want people to be aware of the fraudulent slimy type of people that are out there and John Robert Powers is one of them.

As I do with many other reports, I will disect your complaint so you may see just how ignorant one can be...


As a child I invested my money into John Robert Powers. Thankfully I had a mom with a brain who took extra percasions. I went in the told me I was gonna be great. They made me spend thousands on pictures hair classes traveling expenses etc. My mom made them right in the contract that if I did not get signed with an agent with in a year they would have to refund half my money. So when the year came around she started fighting them on it.


*So, they MADE YOU SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS??? Please elaborate on what devices they must've used to MAKE YOU SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS...I would love to learn that skill myself. If you spent money on pictures (headshots, comp cards, etc..) THAT IS PART OF THE BUSINESS. If you dont get professional photos taken, then no one will know who you are and no one will work with you! What travelling expenses did you have to endure?? You had to drive to class, but uh, when you signed the contract, you KNEW that, right? As far as putting in the contract that you would be guaranteed an agent or your money back, I simply DONT BELIEVE YOU. JRP never promises or guarantees representation, or employment.

So low and be hold they had one of their inside guys hank whitter sign me. He was a fake along with his little pal Carmen. I never got any work so she threatened them with a law suit and to keep her quit they refunded half of the money. I think these people are evil for taking these children and playing games with their heads. Giving them false hope and eventually karma will bight Mr. Powers and his whole fake as crew in the a**. Then This carmen women suposidly cast me in a nation wide commercial that never aired, and in a grey davis campaign commercial yet he was not even there at the shoot. They said he would be edited in later. yeah right. Even a 12 yr. old could see through that crap.


*Ok, so here goes the wheels spinning again. If you did get signed with an agent, that does not mean you will get work. You people need to get your head on straight!!!!!!! An agent is representation, period. They do not go out and scour the town looking for work for you. That isn't how it works. You have got to go out and seek auditions yourself too! And, it turns out you DID get work apparantly. So, uh, did you get paid for this gig??? If so, what does it matter if it aired or not? You got paid for your work. Thats what professionals do. Do you know how many actors get signed to work on a television show and the show is never heard of, and never airs. Ask anyone who has been a part of pilot season. You have got to be kidding me! You don't seem to understand. Learn more about the business before you start burning the bridges to the people in it. You obviously DO need classes.