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CB Music, Movies and Television Review of Be Productions-My Artists Place
Be Productions-My Artists Place

Be Productions-My Artists Place review: Scam/violates 1701 Calif Labor Code 5

S
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7:07 pm EDT
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Here is a copy of the complaint I filed with the Better Business Bureau in regards to the con that was played on my wife and myself. Also are several emails that prove that these people are "Cons" and will say or do anything to get your money! My BBB complaint is as follows:

Consumer's Original Complaint :
On May 8, 2008, we signed a contract with Be., LLC for their "Movie Star Package". At the time of signing the contract we made a verbal agreement that once our son has completed requirements, which included several things that we had to pay for (this was in addition to the $3, 495 we paid), our son would be given a paid a role in a Be produced t.v. show. Mu=y son completed all the requirements by Sept.2008. When we attempted to contact the person that made that agreement, we received the following e-mail.Hi! Thank you! Arthur will be on one of our shows by end of year...

Our crew took off to the San Diego area for the BeBopping shows that are
currently being looked up by different networks. We were hoping that they
would be back in production in the Bay Area for our two shows here by September...However Season two of Kids Unlimited and Say What will start
in end of Oct and Nov...So you will be hearing from me then. Sorry, for the delay but Yes! it will happen.

Thanks!

Domingo Ivan

From: Scott and Maribel
Sent: Sat 9/13/2008 8:25 AM
To: Domingo Casanas
Cc:
Subject: Arthur's promise

Hello Domingo,

When we were at Be studio's and prior to us signing-up with Be, you promised a paying role on one of the Be production (once he completed all of his requirements) television shows for our son Arthur. Can you please let us know a.s.a.p. when your promise will be full-filled and Arthur will be in a one of the Be production television shows.

Thank-you,

Scott and Maribel
We never received the services, as stated, a direct violation of the contract. Last week, in another attempt to contact Be, we found out they closed all of their Northern California Offices and their phone was disconnected. After checking their Web site http://gonnabe, there is a note from their president, that they are moving to Tarzana Ca. The [protected] is automated and no one has returned numerous phone calls.

Consumer's Desired Resolution:
We are requesting a full refund for services not rendered. This is based on the fact that the agreement that was made, was not done. We also had a different contact at Be (or My Artists Place, as our charge slip has on it) and sent her a e-mail. Her e-mail stated she was "no longer with the company, while they were relocating" and to contact the 800 customer service phone number. They closed shop without notifying anyone, and committed fraud by making a agreement (as stated in the e-mail) that they never planed on doing.

Now since they ran away from Emeryville and all Northern Calfiornia locations, (like rats with their tail between their legs)the BBB is going after them down south. I hope anyone that talks to anyone from Be down there, to stay away. They were using 6 Flags name on their web site, until I let 6 flags know, and they had to pull it. The scam is to approach you in a amusement park or in my case a mall. They then sucker you into going to a cattle call. They say "if you did well, with your audition, we will call you back". They then figure out who has some money, call them back, then lie to you, to get you to sign-up! The sad thing is, the RAT that did the CON JOB on us, is now working for Barbizon (or IPACSTAR). The jerk had the nerve to try to recruit us..check this out:

Hope all is well. I was recruited by IPAC in February and decided to jump ship.

Keep Smiling if I may be of service in the future just let me know.

Thank You!

Domingo Ivan

-----Original Message-----
From: Auditions
Sent: Apr 14, 2009 7:48 PM
To: [protected]@barbizonmodeling.org
Subject: Fwd: Enter the Entertainment Industry

Begin forwarded message:

From: Scott and Maribel
Date: April 14, 2009 7:38:14 PM PDT
To: [protected]@ipacstar.com
Subject: Re: Enter the Entertainment Industry

Thanks Domingo..now we know where you are.

From: Domingo Ivan Casanas
To: [protected]@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 3:07:00 PM
Subject: Enter the Entertainment Industry

Enter the Entertainment Industry

Hello,

I am contacting you today is to inform you of a great opportunity for your child. If you feel your child is now ready for agent or agency representation, then I would like to invite you to an informative, no obligation photo shoot and presentation in our studio in San Francisco, CA.

This opportunity is for a five day/four night showcase conference where your child will have the chance to present their talents to 40 top licensed agents, managers, casting directors and producers.

Please contact me directly to see if your child qualifies to attend the conference. You may reach me at: [protected].

Sincerely;

Domingo Casanas
Talent Director

Remember the old saying "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me"...I am not the only "member" Be that these people have contacted since Be closed shop. Be either sold names or the ex-employees stole them. The way these people use kids and play with their hopes is disgusting! I removed my e-mail address from the copies I am posting, but if has suffered the same experience, please feel free post your e-mail, with a comment on this complaint! Don't take it sitting down! File a complaint with BBB, The Federal Trade Commission, The Calif Atourney General for Consumers Attorney Generals Office and every consumer group you can contact! Keep in mind..when they closed shop here, they TOLD NO ONE. If we did not have a computer and access to the web site, we would not have known. How many people do you think are out there and have no clue the place is closed in Northern California, and that they set-up shop in TARZANA

Barry Flack is Full of it!
Barry Flack the president of Be, called me this week..here is a copy of the e-mail I sent to 7 on your side, and what he sent me. Note..he also can make a promise..but cannot say when!:

Renee,
I received a phone call from Barry Flack this morning. In our phone conversation he debated the issue of not giving me a refund, and made the following promises as stated below. When I explained to him that they had more than ample time to fix this issue, his only excuse was that it was "just put on his desk, this morning". When I told him that I have no trust with anyone at Be any longer, he continued to tell me, that by giving me (what is on his e-mail) he is full-filling what we were promised before signing our contract.

When I told him that I was not interested in what he was offering, and that I will let the people that I have reached out to, help settle the issue (and I mentioned 7 On Your Side), he sarcastically told me "go ahead, they can't help you".."and when your done doing what you want to, on t.v., my offer still stands. When I explained that when I called last week and was told by Liz that she was meeting with Barry and Eric the next day (I sent you that e-mail) and no one called me..he said he was not told. When I said after I had to call back the next day myself, I was told by Liz, that they had a meeting their accountant the next day on our issue and she would call us. When I told Barry no one called us (as a matter of fact my wife was told Barry and Eric were in Japan filming after she called on Friday) that I have NO TRUST with Be whatsoever, and that was no way to handle any customer issue. Again he said that he did not know anything about this, until it was on his desk today. I really appreciate your help on this matter..while talking to him today, I wished I could put my hands through the phone line, or at least wish he was in front of me, man to man. He gave me his phone number, if I wanted to contact him [protected]. Please help show that he was wrong and you can help.

Thanks again,

Scott P

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Barry Falck
To:
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 12:25:11 PM
Subject: FW: Reply from Barry Falck, president of Be.

------ Forwarded Message
From: Barry Falck
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:18:59 -0700
To:, Nick Tabri, Cristina
Mendoza
Cc: Liz Brainard, Nicolas Fordham, Nicolas Fordham
Conversation: Reply from Barry Falck, president of Be.
Subject: Reply from Barry Falck, president of Be.

Scott and Maribel,

Scott, I am glad I spoke to you this morning. I would like to make sure we
bring your family back into the fold.

contact: LIZ ---Please email or call [protected] for Liz in scheduling
for classes, showcases, etc. We will give you a FREE showcase.

contact: CRISTINA -- Please email Cristina to verify your email. Cristina
publishes our weekly newsletters. This will keep you up to date on what is
happening here at Be.

contact: MARTIN -- Please send verification of new northern Cal job
listings to these members. Maybe email the first few direct, if you can.

contact: NICHOLAUS -- Please review this members site on our website and
make sure they have all they need to apply for our job listings. Also, give
them 1 year of web membership into the job site FREE!

contact: NICK -- pkease book this member for an upcoming TV shoot or two.

Barry Falck
President
Be., llc

------ End of Forwarded Message

Update by Scott0424
May 06, 2009 11:17 am EDT

Please read my blog:

http://beproductionsscam.blogspot.com/2009/04/be-productions-is-scam.html

Update by Scott0424
May 22, 2009 8:20 pm EDT

I found this..follow the link:

Jason Sullivan
Burbank, California
U.S.A.
THEY ARE A BIIIIIIGGGGGG SCAM!

Be. Productions a.k.a. My Artist's Place a.k.a. Gonnabe.com is definitely a SCAM!

I WORKED FOR THEM AND THEY ARE A SCAM. I was a 'talent director' with Be. I have no experience in the entertainment industry what so ever, all of my experience is in sales, from furniture to gym memberships
. They advised me to come up with a phoney backround to pitch to parents and kids to make myself seem more 'hollywood'. All of the 'talent directors' are sales people. I was let go of because I wasn't selling enough memberships a week. What could I do, I felt guilty pushing families into a dead end. They conduct at several 'callbacks' a day and break them down into small groups to make you feel like there was a cut and they conduct screen tests EVERY week! They call EVERYONE back as long as when you filled out the form at the screen test your income level fit the bill. Notice that letter they write at the top of your form then circle? That is a code letting the sales person a.k.a. 'talent director' know how much money you make and what tactic of sale to use on you and your family. This is 100% true and I wish I had never worked for a bunch of frauds like Be.

This company needs to be exposed for the scam they are. I remember seeing the scouts come in for interviews EVERY week with Danny and his girls, who are all also big frauds themselves. And the Buzz Band? The 'kids' in that band are actually a bunch of 20-somethings that are made up of the owner's daughter and her friends from school! It is the only real interest the company has and the members' money all goes to funding their career and journey to discovery. The band sounds horrible too. It's all horrific. And they definitely DO NOT PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES! That is why they interview for scouts every week!

/URL removed/#378257

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

5 comments
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Christine Shaw
, US
Mar 04, 2010 10:42 am EST

WOW! Sorry to hear of all these troubles. I always investigate thoroughly any company I might be interested in even working for. Many SCAM artists come out of SO America, Africa, and parts of Asia. Be very careful especially when they want money up front. Many legitimate companies require a portfolio prior to interview - remember that. I worked in Hollywood for several large studios during the 90's and I know that the practices that many small companies use are not conventional, bt it doesn't mean they aren't ethical. But if just ANYONE can sign up and be a STAR, that is an indicator that you need to look carefully before giving away your money, your child, (remember they use these kids' photos and videos in other parts of the world without permission) and your valuable time.

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rae6075
, US
Feb 28, 2010 8:42 pm EST

I am from South San Francisco and my daughter was also a victim. I was at Costco and this guy approached me and my daughter. I went for the "screen test" also and the photoshoot; which was a rip off. At emeryville, we were told that the producers really liked our child and in order to join, we had to pay $1500.0o. We were sent for the acting class, and they wanted me to sign a contract which said if my daughter got hurt it would not be their fault--I refused. I told them that if "you are training her, then you pay the bills if she gets hurt" or I go to the channel 4 news. Maybe they got "scared" or I don't know. After a while I did realize that this was a scam, but my daughter was also not interested any more, and I just let it go. I recently got an e-mail from "My rising stars" and I gave them a call--someone returned my call and told me that MAP was out of business--First time I ever heard about it. I am also interested in suing them--not for the money, but I do want people to know that there are some of us who work very hard and each and every single penny counts. If I am not wrong, I think that the owner was Christina G or someone like that. Please e-mail me at rae6075@yahoo.com if anyone hears anything more.

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Honey71015
Palmdale, US
Jan 07, 2010 1:47 am EST

I asm from the Hollywood area and I just received an email today regarding this. Please let me know if anyone is gonna take the next step. Thank You You can email me at honey1d2s@aol.com

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ScammedBELLCParent
San Francisco, US
Sep 11, 2009 1:52 pm EDT

My Artists Place/Be LLC/gonnabe/My Talent Service has now evolved into gobeontv in Dallas and surrounding areas of TX

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Juliansmommy7
, US
Jun 29, 2009 7:54 pm EDT

I have a SERIOUS concern about MYARTISTPLACE in SACRAMENTO/EMERYVILLE/SANJOSE/SANDIEGO/ORANGECOUNTY! I know MANY of the MAIN TalentDirector Scam ARTISTIS and I have A TON of USEFUL Information for a Law Suit! I have the facts, the proof, the sex scams, the scripts..EVERYTHING! I have been wanting to reach out to the people scamed by them for awhile and I realize I was ahead of the cattle heard and now I am ready to jump on the Ship to destroy these people! If anyone has any questions please feel free to email me@:Juliansmommy7@aol.com

Thank you

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