Has anyone ever heard of this company (21st Century Entertainment) and are they for real?

They had a temporary booth in the mall advertising talent auditions. They were clear about not being a school or agents but essentially talent scouts. We had our 3yr old daughter audition and make it through. They dismissed about a third of the people who auditioned. They requested the remainder to come back with the "decision makers" in the family if they were very serious and that they may not be back in town ever again. The idea is you pay them money to go to a showcase of agents to audition. We obviously paid but only the cheapest package (which wasn't cheap). They provide some coaching etc. and a photoshoot where you have to buy $100 worth of pics. They played videos of real actors, like Taylor Atelian from According to Jim, that say they got their start from 21st Century Entertainment. If it's a scam its a good one because it seems so real and I cannot find anything about this company anywhere on the web. Any Advice?

Since I'm already committed, any advice on a monologue or what my 3 yr old daughter should do for her audtion?

First red flag... booth at a mall.

Second red flag... there is no such thing as a talent scout.

Third red flag... you need to pay them.

While they may have taken the cream of the crop of the people who auditioned (or maybe just the people they felt they could fleece) that doesn't make it legit. Beither does the fact that they are ofering coaching and headshots as part of their package.

I'd try to cancel and get my money back.

Fourth Red Flag: Nobody asks a 3 yr old to do a monologue!!!! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!

This is a TOTAL scam. See if you can get your money back. If not, do not give them another penny! Search "ACT" and "THE" on this board. Sounds like the same setup. Does your contract have any of these names on it:
ACT,
Edge One Productions
DGS Productions.

Check out this video...sound familiar?

http://www.abc6.com/home/related/40804477.html

They didn't say she had to do an actual monologue, but to find one for a oyoung child to get ideas and then get her to act out something. They're supposed to provide advice on this. We have a preshowcase workshop tomorrow in Vegas.

I see what your both saying and I felt this was a scam as I wrote my post however this company seems legit. That video does sound a little like this. They've been around for a while and I'm not sure why this message board doesn't have single post about them! Surprising because this board is fantastic really with all the information. Does anyone know a Michael Cushman?

http://www.zoominfo.com/people...cheal_160782972.aspx

Kana Steinmeyer and her daughter were the two at our auditions making the audition decisions and explaining how this works and of course running the credit cards. They never pressured us at all though. Here's a few links with some info...

http://www.portfolio.com/resou...Entertainment-231567

http://www.xxicenturyent.com/


We are so confused!

http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/f...=598106421#598106421

Lil'Griff, I checked out out the website and links. Please read the posts in the link I've provided so you can understand how these bottom feeding scam operators prey upon people with dreams for their children.

The company is a self-described "talent scouting company." There is no such thing as a talent scout or talent scouting company in the legitimate side of showbiz. They also state that if selected by an agent at one of their "Hollywood Showcases" "The requirement for signing a contract with an agent from Los Angeles is either permanent relocation or you must reside in Los Angeles during pilot season." Recommending that parents of children with no experience or credits relocate to LA as a part of a requirement is completely inappropriate. And as far as pilot season goes....well, it doesn't really exist anymore. This year, the number of pilots produced was down 50% from seasons past.

This operation sounds no different than ACT, THE and the former Pacific Modeling and Talent. And none of those are what we'd consider legitimate business models.

They are legit; it's only those who do not have a true passion for the entertainment business that would attach negativity to their program. It's similar to a personal trainer at a gym: they will
guide you through the process and give you the tools to succeed; it's up to you to make it happen.

It's normal to be confused about something like this. I agree that there are scam operators in this business, but XXI Entertainment isn't one of them. I went through their program, and ended up with talent agencies in both OC & LA.

Any young child is going to benefit from their program(s) regardless of whether they "make it" or not; their emphasis is on building confidence, enjoyment, and love for one another.
They're Christian-based, but they also do not force any religious beliefs on anyone. It's just a supporting statement to their legitimacy.

Yawn...Another ripoff company outed, and sure as the sunrise, someone immediately joins Backstage JUST to praise the company. What a surprise (not).

Shill, shill, shill.

Maybe the best thing to do is ask the people who actually have used XXI Century Entertainment. My daughter heard a radio ad about XXI. I was VERY reluctant to join up, but it sounded legit. She auditioned, was selected, so we gave it a try. I'm so glad now that I did. Without XXI, I would have had NO idea how to get started (it's much more complicated than you can imagine). My daughter got her manager through XXI who in turn got her various agents. They did exactly what we paid them to do. Since signing up with XXI, our daughter has been on numerous TV shows (including Law & Order: SVU and Zoey 101). I assure you, it doesn't get any more legit than XXI Century Entertainment. I understand your reluctance, but I can't speak highly enough about these folks. Good luck!

You mean that you flew to NY to shoot a role on L&O that paid less then the flight? No wonder you got taken by XXI. That's why they use locals here.

If you believe that XXI is a legitimate service, then you would not have a problem in explaining to the other parents on this board what the actual costs and benefits of this program are.

We are all looking for what is best for our children and are willing to speak highly of the services that we have found to help us achieve our goals.

Lil'Griff mentions "packages". What are the packages - what services are included? Training, pictures etc - please include the details. What is the cost of each package?

Did you sign a contract?

First off, it isn't that complicated to "get started." Just do your homework.

This is a huge, huge scam. MLatishaw, being "Christian" doesn't mean legitimacy. Wow. But whatever, you work for them anyway, so moot point. Lil'Griff, get out now and try to get your money back. You're shelling out a ton of money to people who don't want to help you, but just want to bleed you dry. Be an informed parent. GET OUT NOW.

I'm going to define "legitimate" in a very specific, narrow way that I think we can all agree on. My definition of "legitimate" is LEGAL. As in, they have the licenses they need to do business. As in, following the laws in this state.

The answer for this business is, apparently, NO.

They are an LLC listed in California, since 2002. Their principal is a man named Tim Ballout. You can find this on the California Secretary of State website. So far so good.

BUT...Their business is quite clearly and Advance Fee Talent Service. In California, those businesses are regulated (because there are so many scams). For a start, an Advance Fee Talent Service must register with the state and post a bond. I do not see XXI Entertainment on the list.

You can read more about the current AFTS law here:
http://www.bizparentz.org/ente...dvancefeetalent.html

You'll note that there is a link there to the CURRENT BILL, AB1319 that would update that bill. For all the parents who are sick to death of these scams, I highly suggest you write to your CA Senator (or the author, Assemblyman Krekorian) and just say SUPPORT 1319.

But back to XXI Entertainment:
Laws are pretty basic...pretty black and white. If you are willing to work with them, you are willing to work with people who are already, apparently, breaking the law. Not a very good start to your career, I wouldn't think.

If you can get over that (those silly laws! pshaw!), you can entertain thoughts of the OTHER multiple red flags, as listed correctly above. Compare your experiences to this article:
http://www.bizparentz.org/gett...d/avoidingscams.html

For more red flags:
--No mention of the pricetag on their website. From other message boards I'm gathering that their showcases are about $2000. Yipes.
--I found no record of MTM as a San Diego agency, as listed in Daisy Ramos' bio. Of course, maybe it I knew what MTM stood for, it would help.
-Pacific Coast Talent, which Daisy lists in her bio, is a a showcase/beauty pageant thing.
--Taylor Atelian -- I might be doing my math incorrectly, but I believe Taylor was hired for According to Jim before XXI was in existence.
Often celebrities hire themselves out to "appear" at events...and scams use this ploy often. Usually, the celeb doesn't even know the business at all...they are just there to get paid $5K and sign autographs. Taylor has a publicist, so maybe this is what happened here. I wouldn't put too much weight on any celebrity appearance.
--Michael Cushman. I find MGC/Cushman Entertainment listed on IMDb, but with no clients and no credits. The only other listings I see are the usual address type stuff picked up by google on lists of talent managers. Nothing really good or bad...just nothing. Which is in conflict with XXI Century's website.

Perhaps these people are all wonderful, and just severely misguided about how to do business legitimately.

Lesson for showbiz:
1. NICE does not equal GOOD.
2. Christian (or any other faith that they go out of their way to list) does not equal legitimate. People's integrity should be judged by their actions in this business, not the "word" they choose to wear as a label.

So there ya go....my 2 cents.
A

Lil Griff gave me another tidbit on Michael Cushman:

Cut and pasted from within her link:
IMTA - International Modeling and Talent Association -... - [Cached Version]
Published on: 4/16/2004 Last Visited: 9/21/2006
IMTA is an excellent resource to find young, fresh faces ... Michael Cushman, MGC & Associates, Los Angeles

Where did those "one hit wonders" go?

bacon&eggs??

mlatishaw??

Where are you?
When it comes to laying out the facts... they crawl back into their holes.

Janet P, henryshowbiz, anyone else in the know - backstage could use a thread on "What To Do After You've Been Scammed".

quote:

backstage could use a thread on "What To Do After You've Been Scammed".

Well, for those people just registering and Private messaging me on the same day asking me what to do if they've been scammed..I'm sorry I cannot answer to private messages with specific questions. I at this time am not accepting any private messages. They, themselves have to determine why they feel they have been - I cannot determine that for anyone, especially if I do not know who is asking me the question.


There are universal guidelines already in place, made by consumer advocates to help people make decisions on purchasing any product, whether it be a TV, Car, info about a college, a service contract for a product you purchased..except it's bit different here because we have children we are working with..who have special needs and have to be protected.


I think we need to concentrate on how to educate yourself about the business and make the best possible decisions based on your goals, your own personal family issues and financial situation and never spend beyond your means. so it's which comes first, the chicken or the egg? if you are well prepared and undertand the industry standards and use gut instinct and your 6th sense..it all works out fine.

12 years ago, I had no internet, no way to research anything, I knew no one who had a child who acted or did modeling, I only knew of Wilhelmina and Ford as familiar names. I began to understand that this so-called management company streteched the truth a bit when they said there was plenty of work on LI and you didn't have to go into the City and that they did not explain thoroughly enough to explain why my child's picture was sent all over NY promoting their company without my knowledge and no payment for it and WHY there was an extra fee of $5,000 now connected to the video that ran for 8 hours a day on the TV in their waiting room for a "talent competition" that they now told us they were a sponsor for...and THAT was the connection they were leading you to! That 6th sense kicked in, it didn't feel right..I needed to find answers! I just knew this was all wrong. Luckily I found out sooner than later.

So what to do? I had no one to ask. I knew I had purchased a service and truly didn't have the information we should have been given (A senator from our State and Consumer Protection Board and Attorney General determined this as well 6 years later for other parents).

I picked myself up, dusted myself off, realized I was a consumer, called the consumer protection board and gave them my situation and said, please help, what should I do! I had no one else to ask and had a gut instinct this was not the way to conduct business.

Yes, I had my contract voided, yes I had my negatives returned and I said no thank you to another $5 to 6,000 for an event with no promises attached. That was my personal decision as my family finances needed to be considered first and I decided there was another way, on my own and found our way to a wonderful manager.

Yes the company is still going, now with a disclaimer that basically states if you sign this, oh well! that's your problem, not ours!

Disclaimers are important to read...confusing, yes and the more confusing they are..the more you tend to say, thanks but no thanks.

There were parents who signed a 22 page contract with the devil..with Kid Nation who signed their child's rights away to be protected against injury, HIV, pregnancy and death and left them in the desert without education or parental guidance for 40 days when the industry standard is that a parent is to be within sight and sound. Would I ever sign that, absolutely not..even IF someone had told me this WAS an industry standard. Gut instinct to protect HAS TO KICK IN and that is what guides you through the maze because there won't always be another parent around to ask..should I or shouldn't I do this...your child's welfare comes first and you know, as a parent whether something feels right or wrong and to where that fine line is between making a right and wrong decision that may also affect your entire family and your finances.

Understanding your rights to photos, promotional material, negatives and the right for the company to use them to promote their company is something that has to be understood.

This is the best advice I'd give anyone..Standards set up by the Federal Trade Commission. These guidelines have been around for decades and it's solid advice. Nothing I or anyone else has made up or given an opinion on and it includes who to contact.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pub.../products/pro23.shtm


SAG.ORG SCREEN ACTORS GUILD - Here are the industry standards set by the theatrical unions, SAG/AFTRA agreement with the employers of minors in the industry..again, basic information which is not personal opinions, but industry acceptable guidelines.

http://www.sag.org/content/young-performers

Branches to call all over the U.S.

http://www.sag.org/branches

Find a branch near you and ask for the "Agency Department" and then can provide to you a list of agencies in your state.

FILM COMMISSIONS - There are usually casting notices placed on your state film commission. this is done because film crews come in and like to hire local actors and/or background actors. Every state and City has one.

http://www.masterguide.com/glo...dia/commissions.html

Resource 411 production services, union regulations, talent agencies, background agencies...for NY and LA.

http://www.resource411.com/

I had to hit the pavement and I suppose you can say I just got street smart and used my gut instinct...beyond that, I am sure I have a few names made up for me by confronting this industry head on but seriously, the only answer is that everyone has to use their own judgement if something just doesn't feel right and seek help from those gov't agencies who's job it is to protect consumers if you have a question.

Not my personal opinion..it's industry standards and consumer guidelines in place for a very long time to protect people when they have to purchase a service.