It is hard to describe this company as it appears they are acting as Talent Agents up front, but this is the description from their own website.
"Hollywood Access, Inc. is an exclusive entertainment company with a three -fold purpose. We are in the business of developing talent, in the form of acting, modeling and singing classes, and marketing actors, models and singers to top Hollywood and New York Agents, Casting Directors, Entertainment Managers, and Producers and Directors. Hollywood Access, Inc. also serves as a personal management company to a select group of talent including actors, models and singers."
This company hands out brochures at places like the Circus and Disney on Ice stating that shows on Disney are looking for fresh new faces. First two red flags. Disney does not work that way and a great company would not need to hand out cards like that. After they have you fill out your info they call you a few months later for an "audition" as they only take select few. You spend over 2hrs in a small room with parents and children that are getting uncomfortable and tired since you arrive at 6:30pm, fill out papers, sit in a room with a music video until a partner comes in to give you their long drawn out explanation of who they are. The explanations draw you in with the expectation of your child being a "star". Then they show you check stubs and videos of some students that have booked commercials and small roles. That is fantastic for them. However, the time spent to "prove themselves" via check stubs and paperwork is grueling. They state they have "connections" and "access" to top Hollywood Agents and Casting Directors. These big directors and agents come to their office once a month. However, what everyone does not know is that companies like these pay big bucks for those people to give seminars and workshops. You don't have to have connections. Plus directors and not allowed to hire you at those places and must return any headshots they see at the end of the session. Then she spends a large amount of time discussing her daughter who is doing well in the industry and sang for Bill and Hillary Clinton. Great.... This part is so drawn out you start to wonder about it.
After this, (which is shortened for this review), they call the children in to a camera audition that includes 2-3 lines on some commercial product. Parents do not go in the camera room. Everyone will meet in the other office to discuss the next step and take all your forms including two pictures of your child. They have your child so excited that you as a parent want to do anything you can for them. They tell you they only take a select few so you need to call at a specified time in the morning with your child on the phone also. They will tell you if you made the cut and have you come back the next day for a 2nd audition. They want your child on the phone to hear what is next and expected. (Why would a child have to be on the phone? So they can get the child all excited again to push the parents emotions)
At that time you get the real way they make money. A sheet with a price for their classes. 10, 20, and 30 week sessions ranging in price from 1275-2900. The kicker is that if you are chosen you must be ready to pay the money right then and there. (Big Red Flag). Well the 2nd audition consists of your child reading again a 2 line script and then another couple of lines with a specific emotion. They say they want to see how your child takes to couching and direction. After that is done they yell "YEAH you are great and I want you". Your child is so excited and they almost look down on you if you question paying then and say your are skeptical and don't have faith in your child. That is so wrong to do in front of a parent and child. They do state "We don't work with a skeptical parent" but in a way that goes along with you don't believe in your child. They also give you a "scholarship" but have to whisper in the office so no one else hears. If a scholarship is legit then why whisper.
I must say the company is not doing anything illegal. Well at least I don't think so. They say they do not guarantee work and they just offer training and opportunities to audition for casting directions. Well anyone can send in video auditions. However, the checks they show you are also made to Hollywood Access, plus there are videos of auditions on You Tube with children stating they are represented by Hollywood Access or Vision Entertainment which is their older company that was closed. So it appears they are towing the line in the legalities and making the majority of money on their training. Again they have some kids working but that is not where they make the money.
Preying on the emotions of parents and children is disgraceful and expecting immediate payment the night they say they want you is a complete red flag. Not many people can just come up with that kind of money. However, if you do, they know they can make money on you.
Other points to note is that the former company Visions Entertainment was closed and evicted from their former place of business. (Can be seen on Clark County court website). After that was closed they opened it up under the new name. One of the partners formerly worked for John Robert Powers which has very bad reviews and scammed people out of money by one day closing their doors on one of their franchises in Virginia. Many people losing their money. After that scandal the partner opened up Hollywood Access and it is being run the same way with the exact same statements used back in 2008 under the JRP franchise.
You will not find any bad reviews on this new company yet. Plus they really don't lie but use a bait and switch sales tactic. However, reviews on the above relationship can be found and the former business was closed and they were evicted. When will that happen again. It is fine to have classes and send in audition tapes for clients but don't suck people in with these tactics. I was ready to do it full well knowing that it was classes (after a 2+ grueling hour presentation) but having to pay someone immediately or nothing and finding out all the other information was not very comforting. Plus children should NOT be in the decision making part. They are so excited to do it that a parent feels obligated to do it for their child even though you feel in the pit of your stomach it is wrong. My child is taking classes at a reputable place and is meeting with an Agent once the head shots are completed. That is all you need to do.. Her agent will send her to the same auditions just like Hollywood Access but it won't cost almost $3,000. The classes here don't offer anything better then other reputable acting classes and experience.
Hollywood Access, Inc. Reviews
It is hard to describe this company as it appears they are acting as Talent Agents up front, but this is the description from their own website.
"Hollywood Access, Inc. is an exclusive entertainment company with a three -fold purpose. We are in the business of developing talent, in the form of acting, modeling and singing classes, and marketing actors, models and singers to top Hollywood and New York Agents, Casting Directors, Entertainment Managers, and Producers and Directors. Hollywood Access, Inc. also serves as a personal management company to a select group of talent including actors, models and singers."
This company hands out brochures at places like the Circus and Disney on Ice stating that shows on Disney are looking for fresh new faces. First two red flags. Disney does not work that way and a great company would not need to hand out cards like that. After they have you fill out your info they call you a few months later for an "audition" as they only take select few. You spend over 2hrs in a small room with parents and children that are getting uncomfortable and tired since you arrive at 6:30pm, fill out papers, sit in a room with a music video until a partner comes in to give you their long drawn out explanation of who they are. The explanations draw you in with the expectation of your child being a "star". Then they show you check stubs and videos of some students that have booked commercials and small roles. That is fantastic for them. However, the time spent to "prove themselves" via check stubs and paperwork is grueling. They state they have "connections" and "access" to top Hollywood Agents and Casting Directors. These big directors and agents come to their office once a month. However, what everyone does not know is that companies like these pay big bucks for those people to give seminars and workshops. You don't have to have connections. Plus directors and not allowed to hire you at those places and must return any headshots they see at the end of the session. Then she spends a large amount of time discussing her daughter who is doing well in the industry and sang for Bill and Hillary Clinton. Great.... This part is so drawn out you start to wonder about it.
After this, (which is shortened for this review), they call the children in to a camera audition that includes 2-3 lines on some commercial product. Parents do not go in the camera room. Everyone will meet in the other office to discuss the next step and take all your forms including two pictures of your child. They have your child so excited that you as a parent want to do anything you can for them. They tell you they only take a select few so you need to call at a specified time in the morning with your child on the phone also. They will tell you if you made the cut and have you come back the next day for a 2nd audition. They want your child on the phone to hear what is next and expected. (Why would a child have to be on the phone? So they can get the child all excited again to push the parents emotions)
At that time you get the real way they make money. A sheet with a price for their classes. 10, 20, and 30 week sessions ranging in price from 1275-2900. The kicker is that if you are chosen you must be ready to pay the money right then and there. (Big Red Flag). Well the 2nd audition consists of your child reading again a 2 line script and then another couple of lines with a specific emotion. They say they want to see how your child takes to couching and direction. After that is done they yell "YEAH you are great and I want you". Your child is so excited and they almost look down on you if you question paying then and say your are skeptical and don't have faith in your child. That is so wrong to do in front of a parent and child. They do state "We don't work with a skeptical parent" but in a way that goes along with you don't believe in your child. They also give you a "scholarship" but have to whisper in the office so no one else hears. If a scholarship is legit then why whisper.
I must say the company is not doing anything illegal. Well at least I don't think so. They say they do not guarantee work and they just offer training and opportunities to audition for casting directions. Well anyone can send in video auditions. However, the checks they show you are also made to Hollywood Access, plus there are videos of auditions on You Tube with children stating they are represented by Hollywood Access or Vision Entertainment which is their older company that was closed. So it appears they are towing the line in the legalities and making the majority of money on their training. Again they have some kids working but that is not where they make the money.
Preying on the emotions of parents and children is disgraceful and expecting immediate payment the night they say they want you is a complete red flag. Not many people can just come up with that kind of money. However, if you do, they know they can make money on you.
Other points to note is that the former company Visions Entertainment was closed and evicted from their former place of business. (Can be seen on Clark County court website). After that was closed they opened it up under the new name. One of the partners formerly worked for John Robert Powers which has very bad reviews and scammed people out of money by one day closing their doors on one of their franchises in Virginia. Many people losing their money. After that scandal the partner opened up Hollywood Access and it is being run the same way with the exact same statements used back in 2008 under the JRP franchise.
You will not find any bad reviews on this new company yet. Plus they really don't lie but use a bait and switch sales tactic. However, reviews on the above relationship can be found and the former business was closed and they were evicted. When will that happen again. It is fine to have classes and send in audition tapes for clients but don't suck people in with these tactics. I was ready to do it full well knowing that it was classes (after a 2+ grueling hour presentation) but having to pay someone immediately or nothing and finding out all the other information was not very comforting. Plus children should NOT be in the decision making part. They are so excited to do it that a parent feels obligated to do it for their child even though you feel in the pit of your stomach it is wrong. My child is taking classes at a reputable place and is meeting with an Agent once the head shots are completed. That is all you need to do.. Her agent will send her to the same auditions just like Hollywood Access but it won't cost almost $3,000. The classes here don't offer anything better then other reputable acting classes and experience.