IPAC IPAS IPAA review: SCAM 20

Um also there's this black lady named Shantel, she's a "model" . And also that old blond tall lady is names Patty Rangville .

Well I just don't know what to say. I was outside the acting class today and nobody was in class, the classroom was locked. A couple of my classmates were there and nobody emailed/messaged/called them and told them there was not going to be class today. Does anyone know a guy named Nigel ? He's supposed to be from the San Francisco Corp. Office. Anyways i think it's a complete scam. I heard from other people online that there is this tall blond lady that's old, and basically she's a director, anyways two classes later on to the third class nobody's there. I don't know who to believe? Can anyone answer my qustions? I don't want to jump to conclusions though without knowing the correct answers.

I am a child that went through the entire course, IPAA, and the showcase, IPAS. This was about 2011. At the time I was so caught up in it and I truly thought I had a shot if I went through with this. I was oblivious about the payment and my parents never spoke about it. I can tell you a bit about the classes that were held every other week. I learned absolutely NOTHING. These "teachers" taught so called "valuable techniques" that I could've googled and learnt more from. Although this entire thing is nonsense, I met with an agent who attended the showcase. I was not accepted into the agency but I was connected with a photographer, who gave me the contact information to a legit agency in LA not affiliated with IPAA. I got a meeting and was accepted. I started being sent out on auditions as well as actually booking things. I booked my first movie following my first LA audition. That movie never went anywhere but it opened up many more doors to many more job opportunities. I've now been in several short films, tv episodes, and feature films. I now am getting more opportunities than ever before with my new manager who has actually worked with some of the biggest stars, (unlike these so called talent agents from IPAA). My point is although this IPAA, IPAS, Barbizon is complete and utter bs, it did in a way lead me to a real agent and manager. I moved out to LA for a year and was going on auditions constantly, sometimes even three times a day. I am now 15, and I would like to advise parents and kids that although this scam does have a slight chance of connecting you to some real agents and managers, there are much better and cheaper ways of getting into the business. An agency should NEVER request payment upfront, that is a tell tale sign that it is a scam. Please save yourself the money and go the cheaper route of getting yourself a local agency and pursuing jobs within your state. Once you feel you want to pursue this career, take the jump and move to LA. But don't fall for this company.

We have been trying for months to get our $250 back. We were skeptical after signing up and submitted the required cancellation letter as specified and within the required time for cancelling. They first said they received our cancellation notice and have been giving us the run-around ever since. Today they said they didn't receive the letter in time. They are liars. BEWARE!

Someone from IPAA Registrar Lost Angeles was very rude & Liar because when I was asking for my money because I cancelled my daughter membership is that they kept lying & said that my money was already process Monday & I waited but didn't see my refund & I called again Friday & they said it wasn't until Thursday when the money was process & she started to be so super rude & hang up the phone on me but I called again & she answer the phone right away & said, is that you again! Yeah sure! File a complaint she said... Never again will do business to IPAA because they are liars & rude!

My daughter just completed the 2015 Hollywood Showcase at the Biltmore Hotel in Hollywood. She took the IPAA classes prior to the showcase and then the showcase classes after. She had wonderful instructors and coaches. She has learned a lot! As have me and my husband. She went from a shy girl to blossoming into a very outgoing actress. We did not have to share a room with anyone and we were given everything promised. My daughter got a call back from a prestigious talent manager as well as a famous casting director. We are happy with our experience. As with most things in life, you get what you put into it. If you work hard and learn what you can you will succeed.

This was very helpful information, My daughter and I went to IPAA this afternoon and I could really tell this guy was trying to Scam me for over $2, 000! He told my Daughter how great of a Model She was and By attending IPAA she would only get better. Yes this sounds all good until they ask for your Credit card to Charge $2400! I told him I would have to talk to my Husband about the Financing
and He did not like that at all! Seems as if he was getting fraustrated, So he informed My Daughter and I if We leave he would not be able to secure her Spot! So I informed him that I Apologize My Daughter is very Smart, Intelligent and Very Confident in whatever she does and there are many other Opportunities for her to Act and Model! Then he spoke about the Payment Plan, Then I knew it was a bunch of Bull! We than got up and Thanked Him for the Opportunity and Left! As I can See that was a Great Move...

My apologies, my daughter went to IPAS in June 2013.

IPAA and IPAS is definately a scam. My daughter never got her graduation certificate from the IPAA coorporate office as promised. Although she learned a few things from IPAA about modeling and acting, it was not worth the $2000. She never got any of the supplies that was promised. To add further insult to the matter, I took a chance on going through IPAS. As the video stated, it would further enhance your chances. The participants would go through additional workshops to teach them emotions during scenes and how to cry when needed for acting. She learned none of that. She went to LA in 2003 and it was a monstrosity and very disorganized. The red carpet was just a piece of red carpet laid down in the hotel we were living in. Parents weren't allow to go upstairs during the "Red Carpet" photo shots. The money that the parents had to pay to 'tag along' was utterly ridiculous. Most of the participants got the pick 3 categories but they were cut during auditions from the local host and never got the chance to perform for the talent scouts. Do not, I repeat, do not spend a dime for this sham of a process.

I feel as if IPAA IPAS IPAC what ever the name is today is a complete scam. I went to the evaluation and immediately they wanted me. I was skeptical when i heard how much they wanted you to pay, but my mom believed in it so she paid for it. But as everything started to get paid for, i saw that a lot of the stuff they promised were empty promises. Like stated above their was no make up kit and it wasnt very well organized. They let you know very last minute when the graduation was going to be. after the graduation they promised us all auditions with agents which was incorrect. They had us get our head shots done and then sent us to a "Talent scout" who by the way was very rude and kept putting my mom down. She kept telling my mom that she wasnt a good mom because she wouldnt pay another $2000 for my career. It wasnt like we couldnt pay for it or anything it was mainly the fact that they gave us a day to try and pull it together. Then they gave us a long speech about how Taylor Lautner's parents didnt have money for it but they got someone to sponser him. Okqy i understand that but im not Taylor Lautner, nor do i live in his old neighborhood. Noone is going to sponser you in a day's notice because they dont have a reason to believe you. So in my opinion its a scam. Just turn your head. Dont give in to them. They crushed my dreams heavily it made me realize people are only after money. I also realize that i wasnt mad because they crushed my dream or because they used my talent against me. I was upset because my mom wasted her money on something that she thought would help me and in reality it didnt. It only took money from her bank account. I may be 15 but i know exactly what im talking about because i lived through it.

Thank god I didn't pay anything yet. iPas called me and said I made the auditions but I had left early & didn't get a chance to audition, this is such a scam they just want your money & im so dissapointed. A lot of us really want to be models and actresses. They shouldnt be scamming us like this

I just got accepted into this program. Based off of many reviews I have read, I'm still unsure. If this is all true, I'm absolutely devastated. My dreams have been completely crushed, and my beliefs are no longer clear to me. My parents spent $5000 on IPAA, and I'm just PRAYING everything will be okay.

I tried out for International Performing Arts Academy early this year (2012) and was accepted for a fee of roughly $2000. I attended the classes and learned a lot and I don't regret the learning part of it. I was a believer for awhile. I called Barbizon recently and they denied being in league with IPAA, though both are very alike in terms of being schools for acting and modeling. The teachers can be rude sometimes, but they are just doing their job. But...there were only two teachers that showed up most of the time, one came for the first half of the year and never returned, one I never saw again after a few weeks, and the singing coach wasn't too great. Contrary to the above article, we did recieve our make-up kits. I missed the Make-Up Photo Shoot, so I have nothing to say about that other than I heard it was terrible. Our Graduation performance was last week. Yes, we had to provide our own clothing, hair, and make-up. We performed in from of parents, no casting directors or talent scouts. The audition in front of the promised "talent scouts" and "casting directors" was today, as was the headshots. I must say, the hair and make-up team was great, but the scheduling for everything was first come, first serve and very disorganized. The photographer was okay, but we only got two minutes of picture time in front of a blank screen in the corner. The "talent scout" was from IPAA CORPORATE, not a scout from an actual movie or anything. She was looking for people to participate in IPAS--International Performing Arts Showcase that will be held in Hollywood in June 2013. When asked, she said that she was from a company that was not International Performing Arts Academy...we're not stupid. The companies (IPAA and IPAS) have the same name, phone, and office location. I checked out the packets they handed us (lots of name-dropping was going on, by the way) and these were the prices: roughly $6000 for a participant to attend IPAS (this includes lodging, the showcase, and most meals). Here's the catch: to bring a LEGAL PARENT OR GUARDIAN they had to pay $2000. They said they rented out a hotel in Hollywood with 550 rooms. Only 300 students were accepted into IPAS...checking out the packet, there were four people to a room. Which left over 250 rooms empty. Sure, there had to be room for casting directors and staff, but I suspect that more than 300 students will be accepted; anyone who can pay. The additional meeting time with the IPAS agent was scheduled, than rescheduled; to be short, everything was very disorganized. The IPAS agent was snappy and rude. The audition time was promised to be at 12:00, than it was moved to 12:15, than we finally started at 2:45. They also harped on "stage moms"--I agree that if a mother asks questions, IPAS calls you a stage mom.
Please, do not invest in this. Go to a local theater or take local acting classes. Not worth it.

Dear Ryselove please do not feel bad we are all humans and we all make mistakes even Bill Gates makes mistakes and he has Billions of Dollars in his bank account so dont feel bad at all the people who lied to you and made you think what was wasen't will pay in the long run they will go to hell for eternity for thinking they are doing right. You will make it big go to college and study Hedge Fund Managing once you make your first BILLION dollars find the people who lied to you and smash them with your cash for playing childish games with you and your dear family. I pray that you succeed. This is for the rest of you who are reading this the only way to become rich is to go college and learn. Once you study and learn what you must do to make millions even billions NOT A SINGLE SOUL may stop you because you will already have the knowledge stored secretly in your brain. We can all become billionaires like Warren Buffett you just have to want it for yourself and your friends and family, You have to say to yourself I dont want to be a slave working loser, I want that life that Warren Buffett lives THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE SAYING TO YOURSELF once you believe in what you are saying and once you believe in yourself God will see the transformation and he will guide you just like he guided Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Carlos Slim to unstoppable wealth. With that said I hope you all believe what I say to you and above all God Bless Us ALL.