Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Need an opinion on a dispute worth 1000's of dollars. +KARMA

profile picture
solitaryman
Posts: 3578 - Karma: 123
The company's name is John Robert Powers

Alright, so 2 weeks ago i was at the mall with my sister.  I was walking down the hall, and a person asks me if i wanted to audition for a disney part.  So i think why not, of course..  I put down my info and they call me back telling me i have an "audition" on saturday.  So on Saturday, i get there for an interview and they asked me to read a script in front of a camera.  Next day they call me back telling me back telling me i was one of the "few selected that really has promise"  and i had to sign up for the program that day.  I figured of course they're legit, they have been established since 1921 or something.  Anyways, the programs are thousands of dollars.  So now, i've been doing some research on this company, i googled their name and it showed up as SCAM. 

I searched the company on better buisness bureau.org (bbb.org) and it says that they are un-liscensed and have 8 complaints filed against them in Vancouver, where i'm supposed to attend.

The company's name is John Robert Powers

Could you guys give me a 2nd opinion on this, and maybe do a quick google search of their name and tell me what you think.  I got results like the following.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/119/ripoff0119080.htm

I've also read  that any company that asks for money up front in the acting industry is a SCAM, and if i pull out of the program it costs my parents $500. 

Sounds fishy right?  Second Opinions? Any first hand experiences? Know anyone that has first hand experiences? 
Oct 14 2009 2:20AM
0 0
profile picture
thedutchmayn
Posts: 1653 - Karma: 45
jesus man dont do it.
Oct 14 2009 2:22AM
0 0
profile picture
solitaryman
Posts: 3578 - Karma: 123
Well, they used pressure sales saying that we had to sign up the day of the callback otherwise i missed out.  And we didn't google their name first.  To the first post, it's not even disney, that's the even more fishy part.. It's John Robert Powers.  But they told me Disney..
Oct 14 2009 2:27AM
0 0
profile picture
J-Wallz
Posts: 1264 - Karma: 54
does it cost you to do the program.. if not then do it and then back out. just dont ever give them money.
Oct 14 2009 2:36AM
0 0
profile picture
skeedle
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 628
this is called undue influence and its an abuse of their power. also it is a misrepresentation of the disney company and what you should be doing is calling up a local lawyer or ask your parents if they have any lawyer friends and see what you can do. also how old are you? because if you are under 18 and in BC they can't do anything without your parents permission like that anyways (i am pretty sure).

good luck
Oct 14 2009 2:41AM
0 0
profile picture
shragler
Posts: 572 - Karma: 32
dont be a fuckin moron. and why would you want to be a counterpart to shit like miley cyrus. Wake the fuck up dude. if you want to act or some shit go to a reputable school. noone gets discovered off the street. do you audition for american idol too? That aint the way that game works. they want your money and dont give a fuck about you. you know that already so please dont search in the hope that we say "GO FOR IT THAT SOUNDS GREAT" coz i think you already know its a scam
Oct 14 2009 2:42AM
0 0
profile picture
solitaryman
Posts: 3578 - Karma: 123
My mom was in on it, she put it on her credit card. 

To the fucktard Shragler, stop being ignorant.  Did you know that asian chick on the show
"the suite life of zach and cody" makes 45 000 dollars an episode.  How many episodes of that show has she been in 50?  She's 17.  Shutup.  You'd do it too.  And i wouldn't mind banging miley cyrus just cause.
Oct 14 2009 2:52AM
0 0
profile picture
shragler
Posts: 572 - Karma: 32

ok dipshit so your mum has an iq of 50. You are a fuckin imbecile for believing there is serious talent scouts at the mall. No i dont know the asian chick coz im not fuckin 12. Youd fuck miley cyrus and then probably want to cuddle her all night. then you might grow a pube.

Click for larger image

Oct 14 2009 3:05AM
0 0
profile picture
Static
Posts: 8553 - Karma: 4,089
haha, you must've looked like an easy mark. Almost all of the modeling/acting talent agencies are scams. You pay to have a portfolio made, then they shop their whole catalogue out to production companies. There's a slim chance you might get some work, but not likely that you'll recoup expenses.

The movie Great World Of Sound is about this same thing, only in the music industry.

Oct 14 2009 3:13AM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
Do your impression of yourself running away from a girl with herpes, HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, and hepatitis.  And she is on her period.  And has an open wound on the corner of her mouth.

Basically, be Sonic the Hedgehog and go the other direction.
Oct 14 2009 3:17AM
0 0
profile picture
GORlLLA
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 45
Well my friend... if you have ever turned on a television you have seen this scam happen before. Dont trust it. 1000s of dollars is a lot of money, even if it was real I wouldnt drop that much for a program or whatever. Let me know what you do but I sure as hell wouldnt do it; especially after what that google search came up with.
Oct 14 2009 3:17AM
0 0
profile picture
Frank_Spinatra
Posts: 1203 - Karma: 75
tell your mom to cancel her credit card before they can attempt to charge you any money and get the fuck out of there.  File a complaint as well.
Oct 14 2009 3:33AM
0 0
profile picture
BC.
Posts: 1551 - Karma: 86
clearly this
Oct 14 2009 6:41AM
0 0
profile picture
willmiller
Posts: 364 - Karma: 44
SCAM!!!!
Nov 1 2009 11:05PM
0 0
profile picture
factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
Hey I got this awesome way to make some cash bro, its like a job, but you need these set of knives first....

...you interested?
Nov 1 2009 11:07PM
0 0
profile picture
Malcolm
Posts: 15951 - Karma: 9,451
id jump on that dude. sounds like a deal of a life time
Nov 1 2009 11:09PM
0 0
profile picture
soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
john powers aka guru powers aka sir
was my high school religion teacher and was a very trustworthy dude
therefore, yes its legit
Nov 1 2009 11:18PM
0 0
profile picture
willmiller
Posts: 364 - Karma: 44
What??? Well of course, there can only be 1 John Powers in the world, and of course you know him!
Nov 1 2009 11:21PM
0 0
profile picture
soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
wait what are you trying to say?
Nov 1 2009 11:25PM
0 0
profile picture
willmiller
Posts: 364 - Karma: 44
Well do you know for a fact that it's the same guy?
Nov 1 2009 11:26PM
0 0
profile picture
soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
yup, there is only one john powers in this world
Nov 1 2009 11:29PM
0 0
profile picture
willmiller
Posts: 364 - Karma: 44
Well then you are super lucky to know him
Nov 1 2009 11:31PM
0 0
profile picture
doublexl
Posts: 8407 - Karma: 27
why the fuck would you audition in the first place? fuck disney.
Nov 1 2009 11:46PM
0 0
profile picture
Bridges
Posts: 193 - Karma: 16
This thread seems like a scam....

I'm feeling a troll here
Nov 2 2009 12:30AM
0 0
profile picture
[Dawn
Posts: 1718 - Karma: 69
this
Nov 2 2009 12:35AM
0 0
profile picture
shragler
Posts: 572 - Karma: 32

its not a scam your goin straight to hollywood!

Congratulations!!

cant wait to see the next episode of JONAS! hooray

[IMG]datelinehollywood.com/.a/6a00e550f08d9b883301156e406839970c-320wi[/IMG]

Nov 2 2009 12:38AM
0 0
profile picture
vincepru
Posts: 5474 - Karma: 17
dude, legit places dont scope you out. you have to work to get with them. i worked with a talent agency back in cleveland for modeling. it took me a while to sign with them. they are VERY picky.
Nov 2 2009 12:46AM
0 0
profile picture
ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,455
John Robert Powers is a legitimate company. My sister used to work with them in high school. However, she must've been in one of the few decent offices for them because just doing a quick search they come up with pretty negative reviews.
Nov 2 2009 12:46AM
0 0
profile picture
Dukeybrains
Posts: 1030 - Karma: 11
One time I got 40 dollars and 2 burritos out of some of these fools for taking pictures of me then dipped.  It was so sketchy though, the entire time my friend and I couldn't figure out what the fuck they were doing. They said they worked for the  Oprah show.  Then afterwards some talent agency kept calling me but I said do I have to pay you??? no no no no I don't care about that. Do I have to PAY YOU??  Oh?  Later!  I didn't give them 500 dollars like a fuckin idiot.
Nov 2 2009 12:56AM
0 0
profile picture
Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
I live across the street from a John Robert Powers.  They are sort of a scam.  Basically, they act as an agent for you.  Unlike a real agent though, they don't take from your profits, they just charge you a fee.  This means that if they don't get you parts, they still get paid.  They will most likely not get you big parts.  It is possible, and the teachers/agents are usually real cool people (I know some of them), but they don't really have the connections to get you a lot of parts.  You will most likely end up with lots of gigs as an extra.  They do have some connections with Disney Channel though.

You also have to do your headshots and other stuff through them so they make more money off you that way.  You also attend classes there i believe, which cost you mo money.

I don't know how old you are but most everyone else there will be 15 or 16 years old.  Some older people go but not many.  The one by me is full of super hot slutty 14 year olds that seriously look like they are 20-25 lol.

So yeah, its not really a scam, but they aren't a real agent either.  The only way they scam you is by projecting themselves as legit agents and big shots when they are essentially an overblown acting school with a few small connections. Its basically the bottom of the entertainment totem pole.  Some people get lucky though, I think Ashley Tidsdale went to the one out here.

I'm talking about one in LA like 15 minutes from hollywood too, so wherever you are is likely to be even less legit.

I think I came across as negative there.  Its a cool program to get into if you are interested in acting/modeling, but don't think they are going to make you famous.
Nov 2 2009 1:17AM
0 0
profile picture
ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,455
^what he said.

they got my sister a couple call backs and i think she made it down to the final 4 cut to be hannah montana's best friend or something hahaha.
Nov 2 2009 1:26AM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)