Robert Amatruda and Associates
To Whom It May Concern:
I met with Robert Amatruda and his BAM associates in
August of 2002 in Columbus, OH. I had received a letter
in the mail inviting me to an open call.
I had heard of Robert Amatruda before because he had
been featured on the Montel Williams Show. They showed
Amatruda bringing a young girl out to LA to become a
model. It showed Amatruda in a very favorable light.
I never really thought about how they received my name.
I went based upon Amatruda's reputation.
I went through the herding process, seminar about the
modeling industry, and meeting with Mr. Amatruda directly.
I was then informed that if Mr. Amatruda was interested
in representing me, I would receive a phone call the
next day.
Of course I received a phone call and I chose to meet
with Annmarie Scarpia, Amatruda's assistant (or so I
was told) the next day.
So I went but I was kept waiting for over an hour. When
Annmarie finally got off of her cell phone, she informed
me that Robert loved my pictures and the video which
I had done. He wanted to represent me but needed me to
get some pictures done first.
I was a little hesitant; however, Annmarie stated that
the only way Robert would be able to promote me is if
I had my zed cards put together so he could send them
out to clients.
She then said that I could easily get my pictures done
for $1,780 out in LA. All I needed to do was give her
a check for whatever I could afford so she could book
my shoot.
I didn't see this as a scam. I seriously thought this
was legit. So I wrote her a check for $150.
I contacted my parents and we flew out to LA and had
my photo shoot at B1Studios.
The makeup artist barely put any makeup on me, but I
really enjoyed shooting with the photographer and his
assistant. The shoot took a total of five hours and I
had eight different looks.
But the photographer had to tell the makeup artist/stylist/hairstylist
to fix my makeup or change my lipstick. If he wouldn't
have, she would never have changed it.
After the shoot, I returned to Columbus, and waited
a week to hear back from Annmarie, because she told me
that she would be in contact with me within one week.
But I never heard back from her. I had to keep calling
her, and, when I did call at the office number which
I had for her, the person there was answering “FLASH
STUDIOS,” instead of Robert Amatruda and Associates.
I had been told that Amatruda was representing me.
Well, when Annmarie finally contacted me, she told me
that I needed to pay her ANOTHER $1,780 for developing
and proof sheets!!
I decided not to do it and asked for my negatives. That
was three months ago and I am now out $1,780.
I have spoken with Amatruda directly along with his
cohort Robert Macias. Both have promised to help, but
unless I hound them I receive no response.
My last dealing with Amatruda was a message I received
stating that my negatives had been mailed to me.
That was well over a week ago and no negatives have
been received and no phone calls have been returned.
I don't know what to do or from whom I can get help.
In my opinion, this is a scam, and people need to be
made aware of it.
Is there anyone else out there having this same problem?
I paid the money and I never received what I was promised.
This has to be against the law.
Please give me advice.
Thank you for your time.
J.K.
J.,
Being asked to fly to LA at your own expense and then
pay $1,780, and then another $1,780 sounds extreme. How
much have you already paid, total, including all expenses
for your round trip ticket, hotel, food, etc.?
To whom did you make your check? The photographer or
Amatruda? When you said Flash Studios answered, is this
a photography studio? Is it a photography studio posing
as a modeling agency? Do they make their money from selling
expensive photos instead of commissions from modeling
jobs?
It sounds as if they never made it clear up front they
were going to charge you twice the original cost, because
you seemed surprised by the request for an additional
$1,780. Did they really expect you to pay $3,560? And
you don't even live anywhere near the work in LA/NY?
Do they expect you to pay another $1,780 for the actual
prints? $1,780 for the photography, $1,780 for the developing
and proof sheets, and $1,780 for prints? For a total
of $5,340? How many more hidden costs are there?
As far as getting your negatives, you could fax them
daily until they FedEx them and give you the tracking
number to prove they were sent. If they still don't respond,
report them to the BBB. If that doesn't work, get a lawyer.
Your situation again underscores the importance of not
dealing with people who want your money when they are
not in your city or even your state. Customer service
issues, etc., are very awkward, because they can ignore
you so easily, not returning calls, basically giving
you the run around.
Ironically, the producer of the Montel Williams Show,
which you said led you to believe in what Amatruda was
doing, previously wrote the site, saying she was looking
for scam victims. You may want to write to her and see
if she can help you figure out if you have been scammed.
Robert
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