Has anybody heard or utilized or have an opinion on LA mentor studio?
The site is:
http://dev.mentorstudiosla.com/about.php
The mentors are:

Dan Ireland
Cindy Pickett
Matthew Arkin
Andrew Bloch

Are they providers of casting workshops? Managers? I can't figure them out, they messaged a friend of mine on LA casting who just moved here (whoo, another actor in our ranks).

It's an overpriced "school." Tell him to look elsewhere

FYI, I do not teach acting at The Mentor Studios. They have been in touch with me about teaching a voiceover class for them, but that is not happening at present, and if it does, it will be my own class, taught there as a guest teacher.

If you are interested in my acting class, you can find information about it at www.matthewarkin.com

helloZZZ?

They are managers and an acting school which is illegal, They call themselves the celebrity mentor project, they must have changed there name to the mentor studio la. All I know is I went there and met some rude man named Tristen that told me he was the grandson of someone I've never heard of but he seemed to think it would impress me. He kept calling me to harrass my family. I finally called back to tell him to stop calling me and the lady said that he had been fired because he lied about some director that was supposedly his relative and that the police came in and took him away. She said this has happened to him before what ever that means?????I don't know much about the place but I know I'm glad I din't get taken by that man Tristen who is exactly what I though he was A LIAR!!!!!!

Oh I just found his card his name is Tristen Cutler who was the scummy guy I met from the celebrity mentor project. I just found them on line and now they are called the celebrity mentor institute. SCUM SCUM SCUM STAY AWAY !!!

Hi I just saw this message board after searching for the LA Mentor Studios for a week. I have an audition set up with them tomorrow, and now Im concerned that I should not go.

I spoke with a guy named Xavier and he told me to just have a monlogue ready. I went to the website, no information.

I went to the facebook page and twitter, not much there either. I think it would be wise for me to cancel the audition because I dont have time to waste on scams.

Thank you everyone for the information.

Go anyways and report back.

quote:

Originally posted by TRUTHTELLER59:
Go anyways and report back.

I auditioned there a week ago I walked up the stairs and was greeted by an older women she didn't even say her name all she said was "hello i'm the owner" if you need anything just ask then walked off, She didn't seem to be in her element and looked very needy and awkward. Then while filling a confidentiality form I over heard the women talking very negative about some gentlemen literally 6 feet away from me then I meet with a younger gentlemen who was very nice and very sincere and passionate about the place which was very helpful and got a greater understanding of the place at this point I really wanted to join and planed on doing so until I got home and did a little research on the place and the owner "Megan Woodard" and found this bottle scam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQsNOdk4SxM plus this Theft by deception http://www.mpbn.net/News/MPBNN...d/17634/Default.aspx

After I seen this about the owners Thomas & Megan Woodard I don't think I will ever return to this place as long they are there "SCUM BAG SCAM ARTIST" I knew it as soon as I meet this women she was fake and artificial and seems to be a BACK STABBER which is sad for the actors who do believe in the place.

I have to say, I too had a negative experience with Tristen, but since he has been gone and the Woodards have been in charge, I have seen nothing but positive improvement. Communication has improved tremendously, they are no longer trying to intimidate and/or bully people in their audition process, the website and facebook pages are kept more current and have much more information, they are making improvements to the facility, and the voice over class I just took was the best and most applicable acting class I have ever taken (taught by David Vincent). I have studied at several schools in several states, and this is the best place I have found so far. I have been to their casting workshops (which are basically paid auditions), and those are good too because if nothing else, you are getting your face in front of casting agents and talent agents. I'm sure the Maine story posted about above is true, but I believe in giving people second chances, and I have found no reason not to trust these people so far. So, until I do, I'm a student at The Director's Playhouse (new name after Tristen left).

quote:

Originally posted by mbarlow:
I have to say, I too had a negative experience with Tristen, but since he has been gone and the Woodards have been in charge, I have seen nothing but positive improvement. Communication has improved tremendously, they are no longer trying to intimidate and/or bully people in their audition process, the website and facebook pages are kept more current and have much more information, they are making improvements to the facility, and the voice over class I just took was the best and most applicable acting class I have ever taken (taught by David Vincent). I have studied at several schools in several states, and this is the best place I have found so far. I have been to their casting workshops (which are basically paid auditions), and those are good too because if nothing else, you are getting your face in front of casting agents and talent agents. I'm sure the Maine story posted about above is true, but I believe in giving people second chances, and I have found no reason not to trust these people so far. So, until I do, I'm a student at The Director's Playhouse (new name after Tristen left).

'
Hi woodwards.....

Luv when 1 post people post on a thread defending a scam. I would never pay for advice from managers. EVER. This is why actors get no respect, everyone is so friggin desperate they will believe anything. I bet actors keep shake weight in business.

quote:

I auditioned there a week ago I walked up the stairs and was greeted by an older women she didn't even say her name all she said was "hello i'm the owner" if you need anything just ask then walked off, She didn't seem to be in her element and looked very needy and awkward. Then while filling a confidentiality form I over heard the women talking very negative about some gentlemen literally 6 feet away from me then I meet with a younger gentlemen who was very nice and very sincere and passionate about the place which was very helpful and got a greater understanding of the place at this point I really wanted to join and planed on doing so until I got home and did a little research on the place and the owner "Megan Woodard" and found this bottle scam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQsNOdk4SxM plus this Theft by deception http://www.mpbn.net/News/MPBNN...d/17634/Default.aspx

After I seen this about the owners Thomas & Megan Woodard I don't think I will ever return to this place as long they are there "SCUM BAG SCAM ARTIST" I knew it as soon as I meet this women she was fake and artificial and seems to be a BACK STABBER which is sad for the actors who do believe in the place.

The Directors Playhouse is ran by scam artist not artist. I wonder if the directors are in on it?

]Rip Off Report The Directors Playhouse current owners[/B]
http://www.ripoffreport.com/En...Agencies/Search.aspx

I had an opportunity to meet both Tom and Megan Woodard but not as one looking for Acting instruction but rather, assist in their web presence needs. From the beginning, Megan wished to "push" to get something up in such a rush yet when asked as to content, both her and Tom had nothing ready or started for such presentation purposes. All that Tom could offer is a few links to other noteworthy websites with the direction that he wished to have "The Mentors Studio" website look like that,(Yes, I was notified that in future, they would be changing the name yet was left completely in the dark as to development or business strategy for presentation purposes),. I had noticed that both of them have a habit of volleying the responsibility of operations of such a business that leaves one to wonder who is actually the one in charge.
I spent a a full week putting together the programming architecture of a future website and in that time,(as I stated in a letter I wrote to them):
* Megan seemed completely uninvolved other then using the place as a social device.
* Xavier has the talent to be a good hustler/huckster but has no clear background,(both educationally and professionally), with the entertainment business. He is able to throw neat "catch phrases" and give a level of credence to the business but in a very superficial way as well as not having the ability,(or presence of mind), to maintain a position that Tom and Megan feel he is worthy of. In short, they use him as a "pitchman" for the business.
* Tom does have the "know how" as far as running a business but that about sums it up,(yes, that is a very generic term),. Unfortunately because the others misgivings,(as described above), Tom is the one to take on many tasks and in doing so, both his attention as well as his focus is highly distracted.

In short, this is the "Back Room Story" of "The Mentors Studio/ The Directors Playhouse"
-> Tom and Megan are promoting this as a service to assist Actors and those who want to be involved in the Entertainment Industry yet they are using this business as a means to maintain a cash flow for their own personal needs as well as the general overhead costs of rental at the present location of;
11543 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
->Tom and Megan Woodard have no background nor have any contacts with anyone in the business rather, they rely on those they hire as "Mentor's" to establish themselves as being part of the Industry.
-> Xavier Clemente has posted in some professional forums that he has appeared in over a dozen Theatrically released productions as well as a significant amount of TV appearances yet if one were to cross check this, one will find that he has only appeared in bit parts on only two,(2) television shows,(one being uncredited), as referenced on IMDB,(http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3917756/),. His own Academic background in Acting mainly comes from his involvement with this business and nothing more.
-> The services that they promote with the business, they cannot offer and from what I had gathered, they actually make promises that they can not keep.

It was with this info that I chose not to have any part of the web site they wished to have me develop. It was only later that I found out about "The Bottle Scam" in which they were involved in that re-enforced the idea I had about them.
As to that "hustle", Tom was convicted of Fraud where the jury acquitted Megan. From my own observations of how they operate, I do believe they were not only equally complicit but also, felt they were justified.
As such, "The Directors Playhouse" is maintained just for the purpose of financial benefit for the Woodards as well as a social presence they wish to place themselves as being part of.

He may in fact be teaching but sadly, "The Directors Playhouse" is just a whitewash re-branding of "The Mentors Studio" and those who say are the owners are clueless as to the entertainment business.
Your best bet toward seriously expanding your skills and abilities is at http://laaperformingarts.org/ The Los Angeles Academy of Performing Arts,. Owned and operated by professionals in the field, they cater to the needs of many in such a diverse way without the need of gimmicks and sales pitches. Your time is best spent in learning the craft from as many aspects rather then relegating yourself to a third rate operation maintained by those who have only a pedestrian knowledge of the Entertainment Business.