Does this sound legit?
 

Okay I was refraining from posting this in a public forum, but after today, I feel that I need to get some opinions from some experts here..

For the past couple of weeks I have been in negotiations with an adult video production company here in Vancouver, to be a part of an adult video. I have already done a test photoshoot which was basically a simulated sex session (ie no intercourse).

Anyhow, I was contacted by the casting director a few days ago saying that she heard back from one of their clients who they submitted my photos to, that they want me to be the lead role for their upcoming production.

I was pretty happy about this up until today's meeting with her. I went to see the contract that was prepared. Apparantly I will be paid $1,000 per day, a 2% royalty on the sale of the dvd, they'll give me 100 copies of the dvd, and they will also design and host a website on myself.

This sounded almost too good to be true - until I discovered the catch. They required me to make an investment into the production of $2,400 CAD. When I asked why, she said that the client has had trouble with actors not showing up, costing them production money. She also said that their client was willing to let me make the investment in payments until May.

I should also mention that before the photoshoot I have never performed infront of a camera before, so I'm completely new at this.

I'm posting this here mainly because alarm bells started ringing as soon as I learnt about the "investment" on my part. I wanted to know from everyone here who is involved in adult video production if this sounds legit or not.

Oh also, they would not let me take a copy of the contract with me so I could show it to my lawyer. I won't post the name of the company here, incase they are legit, as I certainly don't want to ruin anyone's reputation or my chances, I just want to get some advice on this before I think about proceeding any further.

Would appreciate your thoughts on this. If anyone would like to contact me on icq about this my uin is 916173.

why on god's green earth would they not allow you to have your lawyer look at the contract?? Paying to work is something that doesn't seem right, either, but I don't have any experience with video production, so who knows, it could be SOP. But not letting you have a copy of the contract?? What's up with that?

turbo, that's what I thought... They basically said that it was illegal in BC to give a copy of a contract to someone that isn't signed. I don't know if that is true or not, but it sounds suspicious to me. She said that I was welcome to bring my lawyer with me to see it, but until it was signed I could not get a copy of it..

There is a good ol saying in Texas, im sure in canada too, If it sounds to good to be true........

No legit company would not allow you to show the contract to your lawyer. It is a scam, don't walk away from it, run.

BIG RED FLAG.

I wouldn't work for these people. You're an actress, not an investor.

I wouldn't sign that contract. I wouldn't shoot w/them.
When you do content, you get payed... they want you to give them money? Thats fucking ridiculous.

Thats my humble opinion.

That's a scam.

Well, they had no problem in me bringing my laywer with me to their office to see it, they just wouldn't allow me to take a copy of the contract off their premises unless it was signed..

sCaMaRaMa

They say this because they know it'd cost you alot more in legal fees to actually have him physically with you, as opposed to just going to his office for an appoitment. At least that's what I would think... just all seems fishy to me.

:disgust not allowing your laywer for contract negotiations is a scam for sure. BTW isn't this what your lawyer told you?

That's what I thought. What do you guys think of their pay rate offer? $1,000 a day? I mean I can see them paying that to female stars, and well established stars, but to newbies??

sounds like you're already getting fucked

RUN! Do Not Walk. Do Not Look Back!
:feels-hot

In the immortal words of Sir Robin from Monty Python and the Holy Grail


"RUN AWAY RUN AWAAAAAY!!!!"

I thought I should also mention the photoshoot seemed fairly professional, and the pictures were very high in quality. That did make me believe that they were legit, and everything would be okay. I dunno, once again it just seems too good to be true.

Why wonder about the pay, when they will steal your money beforehand anyhow?

yes... when I told him what she said to me, he said that it sounded highly suspicious and that I should not sign anything until he was able to see the contract.

Run. Run now. Run like hell.

Good point. Man I always seem to run into the scam artists. When I asked her if I could bring my lawyer with me to see the contract she said "sure, we have nothing to hide" - but of course one can say anything in order to get people to believe what you want them to.

S C A M

(And why would they pay a newb a royality?)

Well once you get paid, I have a bridge to sell you. It has a toll booth on it so you can get recurring revenue from it but first I will need you to be an investor to hire the Illinois Dept of Transportation and fix it up a bit.

Dude you're like a deer caught in the headlights and a whole bunch of deer are yelling, GET THE FUCK OUT THE WAY and you're still sitting here, hmm..pretty lights...

get away from this, don't rationalize it, justify it, run, run

SCAM! If they want an "investment" due to actors not showing up, then (and I still think this whole thing is a load of crap) but if that REALLY were the concern--they would be asking you for a fully refundable deposit once the shoot was complete, not for you to give them a non-refundable deposit.

Yea - I don't think I will be doing this now. It just sounds too much like a scam. I mean if you sign a contract stating that you will work for a company, you are legally obligated to fullfill the terms of that contract by law.. So why would they need an investment as well? It just doesn't add up.

I can't imagine why you would even be asking here whether you should work with them when they want <I>you</I> to pay <I>them</I> AND won't let you take the contract to your lawyer.

A contract is a piece of paper covered in words. Under what conceivable law would it be illegal to show an unsigned contract to your lawyer? I'll bet THEIR lawyers have seen it. Does that viloate the law? Exactly what building is an unsigned contract in BC allowed to be in? Sounds like an enormous chunk of scammy bullshit to me. As far as I'm concerned, the $2,400 should be enough to send you packing.

SpaceAce

I'll pay you $2000 a day just as soon as I get my money from them nice Nigerian fellows I'm helping out.

Snazzy, for a mere $150 I'll sell you any star you want in our entire universe. I'll even send you a certificate with a gold seal :Graucho

lol, well it's a safe bet to say that I won't be pursuing this option. I guess the only good thing I got out of it was the photoshoot. I guess I could always use that as a portfolio if there are any other companies out there that are willing to give me a shot :).

ha ha

Production company requiring investment from models? thats just plain ridiculous. any producer knows that "no shows" happen and the best you can do is make the arrangements convenient (dont shoot 2 miles up a hill and hand the model a map written in crayon on toilet paper) ... $1000 is a bit much for someone without a name in the biz, especially if you are getting more work. if i was hiring someone for a few days, i would negotiate down since im giving the model extra guaranteed work.

scam.

Okay well I have a question here, serious - how do people usually get involved in adult video production that have no previous experience?

*bump*

That's weird you should be saying that, I'm dealing with this positevely well mannered Nigerian gentleman myself right now..something about a bridge..

production? You want to get into that side? I thought you were the talent?

So is your question really how should you go about finding a reputable adult video producer?

Show us.

Sorry, I meant I wanted to be the talent, yes...

hmm, who else wants to see?

I can see myself tomorrow morning telling Kate

"BTW Kate, I need 500 bucks for you in case you don't show up again"
Damn I never see her again.

I guess most models do it for the money because they don't have any! Asking them for money in advance uh uh

1000 dollars a day.. I have paid that before. However I rather not tell you what the girl has done in that shoot, OK,, it has to do with a lot of guys and a lot of dp. And yes she was a newbie and it was very very kinky ;-)

Did they tell you what kind of shoots they were looking for? $ 1000.00 per day might be low if you are doing some kind of kinky BDSM/Kinky scene with 50 guys and shooting for 10 DVD's.

I guess it just depends.

Go with your gut feeling.
Don't ever pay in advance unless it is a deposit and it says in the contract that you money will be returned to you after the shooting has been finished and you haven't missed any days, stuff like that.

Good luck to you

Uhm, I got this dog Great Dane,, I pay you 1k per day to play fetch with him NEKKID!!! he he he

I'll bet there's a little fine print in the contract that says the money is non-refundable, and that you have no recourse should they decide not to use you...

You pay, they decide not to use you, there goes your money..

Never work with anyone that requires money. That goes for this agency, talent agencies, modeling agencies, or anyone else..

If they want you, and are legit, they foot the bill..

The money that they require is non-refundable. Fuck, I'm so pissed about this. After losing my "day job" I'm kinda screwed. I have enough money to pay rent for March, but unless I'm able to get another job reasonably quickly, I'm out of luck.

No, they did not go into detail about what kind of shoots they were looking for. I was so sure that this was going to be my "lucky break". Oh well, shit happens right?

I guess I could always hit up the other adult agencies in Vancouver.. Does anyone know how I go about finding them?

Forget about them :2 cents:

waving his hand