Comments for Be Free To Choose [befreetochoose.org] http://www.befreetochoose.org Dedicated to affirming the right of actors to choose to attend any workshop they deem effective, paid or not. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:46:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Full Text of AB 1319 by Professional http://www.befreetochoose.org/full-text-of-ab-1319/comment-page-1#comment-1620 Professional Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:46:27 +0000 http://www.befreetochoose.org/?p=6#comment-1620 and Barbizon can operate under this law. Such a disapointment and Barbizon can operate under this law. Such a disapointment

]]> Comment on Mark Lambert’s Letter to Casting Directors by jared stevens http://www.befreetochoose.org/mark-lamberts-letter-to-casting-directors/comment-page-1#comment-397 jared stevens Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:04:08 +0000 http://www.befreetochoose.org/?p=10#comment-397 This Mark Lambert dude apparantly has filed criminal charges against 2 companies under the new laws here in los angeles. well, looks like it’s time to put the law to the test….the constitutionality test. I think major areas of the law will be tossed. I reviewed the law on another website talking about this Lambert guy. I’m personally in ah that the county of los angeles actually has the resources to pursue these types of claims. I mean give me a break. I think we would all agree that cali has much better things to worry about. Modeling and acting companies charges fees to a bunch of wanna be’s? I agree 100% with this site’s opinions that there are major political motives here in play. Lambert, as well as Paul Krekorian (?) are obviously trying to make a name for themselves. Civil servants tend to do that. Hey, they have to try to justify why taxpapers are paying their salaries, right? The LA City Attorney’s Office is really filing some pretty ‘out there’ cases. Like I said, Cali is broke and we’re wasting time on cases like these? Hey, like another writer said, if a person is not happy with a business, go to Small Claims Court. Isn’t that what it’s for? Instead the City Attorney wish to waste taxpayers money. What has Cali become? a JOKE? More and more of us will be leaving Cali. Sad. Also, check out scooterfightscityhall.com Great website. This Mark Lambert dude apparantly has filed criminal charges against 2 companies under the new laws here in los angeles. well, looks like it’s time to put the law to the test….the constitutionality test. I think major areas of the law will be tossed. I reviewed the law on another website talking about this Lambert guy.
I’m personally in ah that the county of los angeles actually has the resources to pursue these types of claims. I mean give me a break. I think we would all agree that cali has much better things to worry about. Modeling and acting companies charges fees to a bunch of wanna be’s? I agree 100% with this site’s opinions that there are major political motives here in play. Lambert, as well as Paul Krekorian (?) are obviously trying to make a name for themselves. Civil servants tend to do that. Hey, they have to try to justify why taxpapers are paying their salaries, right? The LA City Attorney’s Office is really filing some pretty ‘out there’ cases. Like I said, Cali is broke and we’re wasting time on cases like these? Hey, like another writer said, if a person is not happy with a business, go to Small Claims Court. Isn’t that what it’s for? Instead the City Attorney wish to waste taxpayers money. What has Cali become? a JOKE?
More and more of us will be leaving Cali. Sad.

Also, check out scooterfightscityhall.com
Great website.

]]> Comment on Mark Lambert’s Letter to Casting Directors by John F. McCormick http://www.befreetochoose.org/mark-lamberts-letter-to-casting-directors/comment-page-1#comment-375 John F. McCormick Wed, 29 Dec 2010 06:10:50 +0000 http://www.befreetochoose.org/?p=10#comment-375 It's overkill. What started out as a law to protect kids from the John Robert Powers scams of the world became this mess. The issue was that the "anti workshop" people were just more vocal when the law was being written. Laws are amended all the time. It's up to a persistent, vocal group of "workshop supporters" to lobby the city/state heavily now to revise the language. At a professional level the law is wrong in that it keeps us from effectively networking with commonplace employment tools, i.e. head shots. It would be equal to the city/state saying that a musician could not give a demo tape to a record company or producer or a writer can submit spec scripts. They need to separate the ground rules into professional vs student/aspiring levels of talent services. It’s overkill. What started out as a law to protect kids from the John Robert Powers scams of the world became this mess.

The issue was that the “anti workshop” people were just more vocal when the law was being written. Laws are amended all the time. It’s up to a persistent, vocal group of “workshop supporters” to lobby the city/state heavily now to revise the language.

At a professional level the law is wrong in that it keeps us from effectively networking with commonplace employment tools, i.e. head shots. It would be equal to the city/state saying that a musician could not give a demo tape to a record company or producer or a writer can submit spec scripts.

They need to separate the ground rules into professional vs student/aspiring levels of talent services.

]]> Comment on Mark Lambert’s Letter to Casting Directors by sean sellers http://www.befreetochoose.org/mark-lamberts-letter-to-casting-directors/comment-page-1#comment-147 sean sellers Sat, 18 Sep 2010 08:03:45 +0000 http://www.befreetochoose.org/?p=10#comment-147 mark lambert from the Los Angeles City Attorney's office is a complete idiot trying to make a name for himself, obviously. These laws are all for show and for political motives. Come on. California is bankrupt but we're worrying about further regulating this business? Every actor should be PISSED AS HELL AT SAG for supporting this. Actually actors should BOYCOTT SAG for doing this. Who are they? Our union? Really? Since when? SAG is also always coming up with new itmes to sell actors so who are they to talk? Geezzzzzz.... gimme me a break people! Maybe SAG should refund all of the union dues for any actors that don't get jobs? Yeah, and then they'll go bankrupt. We all may be better off. mark lambert from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office is a complete idiot trying to make a name for himself, obviously.
These laws are all for show and for political motives. Come on. California is bankrupt but we’re worrying about further regulating this business? Every actor should be PISSED AS HELL AT SAG for supporting this. Actually actors should BOYCOTT SAG for doing this. Who are they? Our union? Really? Since when? SAG is also always coming up with new itmes to sell actors so who are they to talk? Geezzzzzz…. gimme me a break people!
Maybe SAG should refund all of the union dues for any actors that don’t get jobs? Yeah, and then they’ll go bankrupt. We all may be better off.

]]> Comment on Mark Lambert’s Letter to Casting Directors by Thomas Jefferson http://www.befreetochoose.org/mark-lamberts-letter-to-casting-directors/comment-page-1#comment-138 Thomas Jefferson Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:18:30 +0000 http://www.befreetochoose.org/?p=10#comment-138 I seriously have to say this has to be one of the most idiotic LAW I have found for towards actors, CD and businesses. Why did any organization including SAG even spent their time or effort in supporting this "IDIOTIC" bill, why, why??? This lousy law will only make it difficult for actors, CD and business to to stay in business. This "Paul Krekorian" only made this bill to get fame for something of nothing. This new law is not only idiotic but it's offending the actors of our intellegence. Actors! do you really want the city lawmakers to start running our show in how to stay in business! Unless you're "A" class actors It's tough enough to make a living with all the CRAP we are facing but for them to get involved in this petty issue such as workshops is just stupit. No wonder with these idiots we have for lawmakers and who we have trying to enforce these stupid law California is now facing bankrupsy. Start focusing on going after the real criminals you idiots! I seriously have to say this has to be one of the most idiotic LAW I have found for towards actors, CD and businesses. Why did any organization including SAG even spent their time or effort in supporting this “IDIOTIC” bill, why, why??? This lousy law will only make it difficult for actors, CD and business to to stay in business. This “Paul Krekorian” only made this bill to get fame for something of nothing. This new law is not only idiotic but it’s offending the actors of our intellegence. Actors! do you really want the city lawmakers to start running our show in how to stay in business! Unless you’re “A” class actors It’s tough enough to make a living with all the CRAP we are facing but for them to get involved in this petty issue such as workshops is just stupit. No wonder with these idiots we have for lawmakers and who we have trying to enforce these stupid law California is now facing bankrupsy. Start focusing on going after the real criminals you idiots!

]]> Comment on Mark Lambert’s Letter to Casting Directors by David H. Lawrence XVII http://www.befreetochoose.org/mark-lamberts-letter-to-casting-directors/comment-page-1#comment-118 David H. Lawrence XVII Sun, 01 Aug 2010 04:49:20 +0000 http://www.befreetochoose.org/?p=10#comment-118 The part of the law you're quoting has to do with services (Talent Listing Services) like Breakdown Services, Actors' Access and Now Casting, not casting workshops. The part of the law you’re quoting has to do with services (Talent Listing Services) like Breakdown Services, Actors’ Access and Now Casting, not casting workshops.

]]> Comment on Mark Lambert’s Letter to Casting Directors by The New Law Stinks! http://www.befreetochoose.org/mark-lamberts-letter-to-casting-directors/comment-page-1#comment-116 The New Law Stinks! Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:56:46 +0000 http://www.befreetochoose.org/?p=10#comment-116 OK, here is that second link again asit did not post correctly: http://cricketfeet.com/temp/showfax/CSAguidelinesforCDworkshopsMay2010.pdf Hope this one works. OK, here is that second link again asit did not post correctly: http://cricketfeet.com/temp/showfax/CSAguidelinesforCDworkshopsMay2010.pdf

Hope this one works.

]]> Comment on Mark Lambert’s Letter to Casting Directors by The New Law Stinks! http://www.befreetochoose.org/mark-lamberts-letter-to-casting-directors/comment-page-1#comment-115 The New Law Stinks! Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:55:18 +0000 http://www.befreetochoose.org/?p=10#comment-115 I stumbled onto this site as an actor friend of mine was just told that he could not give the CD a headshot at a workshop. HUH?? I am not an attorney but it appears as if the headshot rule is a part of this law (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1301-1350/ab_1319_bill_20091011_chaptered.html). I found the following passage: (g) "Talent listing service" means a person who, for a fee from, or on behalf of, an artist, provides or offers to provide, or advertises or represents itself as providing, an artist, directly or by referral to another person, with any of the following: (1) A list of one or more auditions or employment opportunities. (2) A list of talent agents or talent managers, including an associate, representative, or designee thereof. (3) A search, or providing the artist with the ability to perform a self-directed search, of any database for an audition or employment opportunity, or a database of talent agents or talent managers, or an associate, representative, or designee thereof. (4) Storage or maintenance for distribution or disclosure to a person represented as offering an audition or employment opportunity, or to a talent agent, talent manager, or an associate, representative, or designee of a talent agent or talent manager, of either of the following: (A) an artist's name, photograph, Internet Web site, filmstrip, videotape, audition tape, demonstration reel, resume, portfolio, or other reproduction or promotional material of the artist or (B) an artist's schedule of availability for an audition or employment opportunity. In addition, The Casting Society of America is representing the law as such, where on completing the workshop, the Casting Director or Casting Associate must return the headshot back to the actor (see page 5: http://cricketfeet.com/temp/showfax/CSAguidelinesforCDworkshopsMay2010.pdf). Any attorneys out there that can provide clariffication? I stumbled onto this site as an actor friend of mine was just told that he could not give the CD a headshot at a workshop. HUH??

I am not an attorney but it appears as if the headshot rule is a part of this law (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1301-1350/ab_1319_bill_20091011_chaptered.html). I found the following passage:
(g) “Talent listing service” means a person who, for a fee from,
or on behalf of, an artist, provides or offers to provide, or
advertises or represents itself as providing, an artist, directly or
by referral to another person, with any of the following:
(1) A list of one or more auditions or employment opportunities.
(2) A list of talent agents or talent managers, including an
associate, representative, or designee thereof.
(3) A search, or providing the artist with the ability to perform
a self-directed search, of any database for an audition or employment
opportunity, or a database of talent agents or talent managers, or
an associate, representative, or designee thereof.
(4) Storage or maintenance for distribution or disclosure to a
person represented as offering an audition or employment opportunity,
or to a talent agent, talent manager, or an associate,
representative, or designee of a talent agent or talent manager, of
either of the following: (A) an artist’s name, photograph, Internet
Web site, filmstrip, videotape, audition tape, demonstration reel,
resume, portfolio, or other reproduction or promotional material of
the artist or (B) an artist’s schedule of availability for an
audition or employment opportunity.

In addition, The Casting Society of America is representing the law as such, where on completing the workshop, the Casting Director or Casting Associate must return the headshot back to the actor (see page 5: http://cricketfeet.com/temp/showfax/CSAguidelinesforCDworkshopsMay2010.pdf).

Any attorneys out there that can provide clariffication?

]]> Comment on Mark Lambert’s Letter to Casting Directors by Concerned in LA http://www.befreetochoose.org/mark-lamberts-letter-to-casting-directors/comment-page-1#comment-106 Concerned in LA Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:32:30 +0000 http://www.befreetochoose.org/?p=10#comment-106 Yes in a perfect world it would be nice but here in Los Angeles. Hardly NO jobs, all these nasty people on street or looking like homeless if they are not. Especially by Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey, etc. and HOLLYWood. These CASTING directors namely ABCasting are running SCAMS. they charge 60 to be on site and to AUDITION for shows that have names that confuse people. They set up the auditions at their office and make you think it is super big budget turns out most are DAVID CHAPPA films for Latino Community ONLY. They need MOSTLY spanish or spanish speaking they pay in CASH daily from 20 to 100. Ok no problem but WHERE is SAG when we complained?? They said ABCASTING has all their paperwork. So basically it is ok for them to say they are shooting JOshua Tree or Paranomal which is actually Office Paranormal nothing to do with the other shows on TV at all. WEBISODES under SAG INdie contracts going directly to Netflix or Blocbuster. Ok no problem just tell us and do not charge 60 and then threaten to call police when people ask if you are doing a tv show or movie. If you ask to many questions those mobsters who have some real dirty tactics they act and look like Gangsters. They threaten you. But they also offer these FREE workshops where they try to SCAMMM you for pictures, website fees, and classes. Yes in a perfect world it would be nice but here in Los Angeles. Hardly NO jobs, all these nasty people on street or looking like homeless if they are not. Especially by Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey, etc. and HOLLYWood. These CASTING directors namely ABCasting are running SCAMS. they charge 60 to be on site and to AUDITION for shows that have names that confuse people. They set up the auditions at their office and make you think it is super big budget turns out most are DAVID CHAPPA films for Latino Community ONLY. They need MOSTLY spanish or spanish speaking they pay in CASH daily from 20 to 100. Ok no problem but WHERE is SAG when we complained?? They said ABCASTING has all their paperwork. So basically it is ok for them to say they are shooting JOshua Tree or Paranomal which is actually Office Paranormal nothing to do with the other shows on TV at all. WEBISODES under SAG INdie contracts going directly to Netflix or Blocbuster. Ok no problem just tell us and do not charge 60 and then threaten to call police when people ask if you are doing a tv show or movie. If you ask to many questions those mobsters who have some real dirty tactics they act and look like Gangsters. They threaten you. But they also offer these FREE workshops where they try to SCAMMM you for pictures, website fees, and classes.

]]> Comment on When IP addresses oddly match by suzie http://www.befreetochoose.org/when-ip-addresses-oddly-match/comment-page-1#comment-103 suzie Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:45:03 +0000 http://www.befreetochoose.org/?p=15#comment-103 right on Ken- the law is a joke! a $50,000 bond? What? What other industry has that? NONE! Yes, it's amazing that the BROKE DOWN city of Los Angeles has the money to have officials using Gestapo tactics on small business owners. That letter was a threat. People, get together, get a lawyer and sue the city! They tried paying a similar law 10 years ago and it was stopped by a lawsuit. There's power in numbers. Billy DaMota is a loser. He has a very sketchy background just like most of the politicians. Mark Lambert, city attorney, is was off on this, sorry. right on Ken- the law is a joke! a $50,000 bond? What? What other industry has that? NONE! Yes, it’s amazing that the BROKE DOWN city of Los Angeles has the money to have officials using Gestapo tactics on small business owners. That letter was a threat. People, get together, get a lawyer and sue the city! They tried paying a similar law 10 years ago and it was stopped by a lawsuit. There’s power in numbers. Billy DaMota is a loser. He has a very sketchy background just like most of the politicians. Mark Lambert, city attorney, is was off on this, sorry.

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