International Modeling and Talent
Association (IMTA)
To Whom It May Concern:
About a year ago, my daughter was "recruited" by
Barbizon. She first signed up for the "modeling
school" after an impressive presentation including
a "Casting Director" from LA.
Approximately 1/3 of the way through the "school," she
was "invited" to an audition for IMTA, which
was to be held in July 2002 in NYC.
We attended the presentation with approximately 500
other aspiring models at a local hotel; again the same "Casting
Agent from LA" was present and gave an impressive
presentation. (This should have been the first clue.)
Needless to say, my daughter was accepted for the week
for the meager sum of $4,500. Since she is my youngest
daughter at 15, and in light of the recent NYC crisis,
I had no intention of sending her alone. So the total
cost for our trip came to $7,000.
The details of the IMTA convention were very vague,
as were the competitions in which my daughter would be
allowed to compete.
She was very interested in runway modeling, but it was
not until after we had paid the deposit, and she had
attended approximately four classes, that she was informed
she was "too short" for runway, and would have
to go for acting/commercial print.
She never had any intention of, or interest in, acting.
However, since we had already invested the deposit —non-refundable,
of course —we had to continue.
To make a long story short, she had a great time in
NYC. Of course, what 15-year-old girl wouldn't, believing
that she is on her way to be discovered and stardom?
One other point, prior to leaving for NYC, another casting
agent from LA, "Claire Sinclair," was brought
to the school to prep the kids on their monologues.
When we arrived in NYC, we found through other parents
that our Barbizon Director had arranged for Claire Sinclair
to have some of her colleagues do a private audition
for students whom she and the school director felt were "promising."
Many of the kids were terribly hurt. Additionally, the
director never even learned the names of most of the
kids from his two schools who attended, only the favorites.
These types of situations continued throughout the week.
As for my daughter, she had a great time (although we
could have also had a great time in any other city in
the world for $7,000 for a week for two people).
She did get two callbacks, and thus entered the famous "callback
room," only to discover that if she stood inline
for three hours, she might get to meet one agent.
The few agents she met told her they would represent
her if she came to LA, but otherwise find work in the
Chicago market.
We came back, hit the Chicago agents, she signed with
four, and, to date, she has worked with one.
We could have saved the $7,000 and she would have still
received the commercial print job and had the same agents.
I wish I had found your site earlier (last year). I
think it's a great help to so many parents that get "sucked
into" so many of these scams.
I have learned a great deal about the modeling/acting
world... basically, it's the luck of the draw... if you
have the look they need today, you get the job; otherwise,
keep trying...
As a follow-up... two of my daughter's friends moved
to LA to work with agents. That was last July... They
still haven't received any jobs; competition is intense,
and they miss their families and friends.
I hope that other parents realize how damaging this
is on a family relationship.
Additionally, do parents realize how many actors and
actresses who live in LA are trying to get their friends,
relatives, etc., jobs through their connections? Chances
are kids without the connections won't have much luck.
My suggestion is stay away from Barbizon and John Robert
Powers (they actually are in some type of partnership
with IMTA). Get good photos locally and contact the local
agents. They don't care about the modeling schools, either.
Thanks,
U.O.
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