quote:

Originally posted by henryshowbiz:
So excited to report that AB1319 has been passed by the Governor!

This bill creates an extensive system of labels and requirements for Advanced Fee Talent Services. Now, many new services will be covered, including internet listing services, anyone who charges an advance fee etc. Truth in advertising is covered, mandatory cancellation clauses, etc.

There are four categories of talent services under the bill (not counting Talent Agents, who have their own law).

ILLEGAL
Advance Fee Talent Representation Service (agents and managers who charge an upfront fee instead of a percentage of income).

LEGAL BUT REGULATED ($50K bond, certain wording, right to cancel in 10 days, no contracts for more than a year, they must keep extensive records, etc):

--Talent Counseling Service (companies who charge a fee to "get you started", talent promotional companies, etc)
--Talent Listing Service (internet companies that list jobs and actor profiles--databases)
--Talent Training Service (companies that charge for long term contracts for training, seminars, workshops, etc)

Most of these types of services will have to post a bond of $50,000 so if they rip people off, there will at least be some hope of getting the family's money back.

It also makes it ILLEGAL TO SELL ACCESS TO A TALENT AGENT, CHARGE FOR AN AUDITION OR A JOB. Sooo...all those companies who are simply selling an opportunity to meet and by signed by agents will need to curb their activities.

Another tidbit: actors who find themselves used as a "success" story by one of these businesses can ask for their name and/or photo to be removed and the business has to do it.

Woo hoo!! This is a HUGE step for consumers.

To read the actual text of the bill click here:
http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-1...090910_enrolled.html

quote:

Originally posted by Mominbiz:
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! *clap*clap*clap*clap*clap*clap*clap*

Now, I wonder how long it will actually take to start working!

quote:

Originally posted by Janet P:

quote:

Originally posted by Mominbiz:
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! *clap*clap*clap*clap*clap*clap*clap*

Now, I wonder how long it will actually take to start working!

Continuing those claps here!!!!

Amazing step forward! Hopefully it will set a template for other states to follow as well!

High Five to SAG for their support!

quote:

Originally posted by henryshowbiz:
Since our industry seems to think everyone is always fighting, I want to point out that this bill was an INCREDIBLE joint effort. These are the organizations that worked hard to get this done. It involved a million re-writes, lobbyists from each organization ($$$), trips to Sacramento to testify...basically a year of full time work. These are not just names on a list, I promise--these organizations WORKED.

Look at this list. Is there any doubt that the industry is just SICK of the scammers? This is who deserves the high fives:

Sponsor and Author: Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, Burbank

Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney
Better Business Bureau
Screen Actors Guild
BizParentz Foundation
Billy DaMota Casting
California District Attorney's Association
Marin County District Attorney
Orange County District Attorney
San Diego City Attorney
San Francisco District Attorney
The Walt Disney Company
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (includes Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc., Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., Universal Studios LLLP, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)

The lone opposition to the bill?
John Robert Powers and their affiliated companies. They actually created a *new* "organization" to oppose the bill. They called it "Association of Modeling and Talent Agencies".
NO ONE in that "organization" is a licensed talent agent.

Just want to give credit where credit is due.

Cheers big time,
A

quote:

Originally posted by Ricky1009:
Then how is it that NOW CASTING and LA CASTING can charge those bull**** prices for castings and to change a stupid picture? That bill isn't going to stop anyone. CD's are still charging for workshops, Wait I forgot, now it's a seminar. All crap.

quote:

It also makes it ILLEGAL TO SELL ACCESS TO A TALENT AGENT, CHARGE FOR AN AUDITION OR A JOB. Sooo...all those companies who are simply selling an opportunity to meet and by signed by agents will need to curb their activities.

quote:

"Audition" means any activity for the purpose of obtaining employment, compensated or not, as an artist whereby an artist meets with, interviews or performs before, or displays his or her talent before, any person, including a producer, a director, or a casting director, or an associate, representative, or designee of a producer, director, or casting director, who has, or is represented to have, input into the decision to select an artist for an employment opportunity.