Acting : Advice wanted! Creepy "Blind audition" being held online, claiming to be with [huge international production company] and then disappearing. by Athina Kefalopoulos

Hi Athina Kefalopoulos while I agree that the circumstances are a bit unusual I don't think there is anything to be concerned about. If you didn't have to pay for this audition nor have you been asked for money _you didn't say that you have- I don't see how this can be a scam. There is a podcast series called blind Audition and it's for singers, and the coaches do just that, only hear the voice. Yes the power outage seems a bit sketchy, but again, if you haven't been asked for money, nor provided any personal information, then what would the scam be? I would say you're overthinking it. Sometimes our mind goes looking for things that aren't there. When you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras.

Careful Athina Kefalopoulos and if you go, never go alone and with at least 3 folks just in case. And online means a skype call?*

Wow, that would raise red flags for me, too. But I'm not an actor/actress. Maybe this helps?

https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/how-to-spot-a-casting-scam-72...

Suzanne Bronson I agree entirely. Great to do your due diligence all the same

I always feel that it's best to trust your instincts and do your due diligence to research and ask as many questions as possible. I'm glad you've posted here. Hopefully, others who have had similar experiences can provide specific insight and advice.

"I have tried to cross-reference the name of the person who reached me with IMDb pro and although they match, I am not able to locate any personal social media so as to confirm the person behind the emails is the person on IMDb pro." That's the only red flag I see, Athina Kefalopoulos. It's great that you've done your due diligence and you're asking the community. I hope it's not a scam and you get the role!

Great job Maurice Vaughan

It seems that they’re making the whole process a very impersonal affair. I can’t imagine I’d ever hold an audition in that way. I would want the actor to see our responses. Just my two penneth worth.

Hello Athina, I'm so glad I found your post! I even signed up here to answer it. I received probably the same exact email as you, 3 days ago. And in the midst of holidays I was trying to figure it out if it was a scam or not. I'm from Brazil and he was claiming the fature film will be shoot here early next year. This blind audition instruction you posted is the same as I received from "MS", from a huge film production company. I answered him, but I didn't do the audition. The weirdest thing happened. The second time I was replying this person I receceid an email saying that the recipient’s mail server does not exist or is temporarily unavailable...and once he's never said anything about money and they do this blind audition I just wonder, what's that? What they would get from it? I don't know, but it's weird and even thought we wish to believe it, it's better we have our eyes wide open.

So smart to always do your due diligence and great that you've asked the community here, as well, Athina Kefalopoulos. We're always here to support each other. Art any time in the process, have you been asked to agree to any terms & conditions from them or go through a sign-in process or was it just links to hop on and give your audition?

HI Athena, I certainly can't be sure, but something does not sound right about this project. In the letter, it stated that they would give you feedback after the audition. I have been a full-time actor for 38 + years, and I can't remember a casting director spending time with me after an audition giving me feedback and suggestions. Of course, I might get notes from casting during an audition, but never have I received a critique afterwords. That is not the casting directors job, nor do they have the time.

To learn more about scams, I have gone through the process after being offered a booking in Europe. I knew it was a scam, but just wanted to see how it worked. They were very good. They knew what to say to someone who might not be that experienced in the industry.

Just be very careful with the information you share. And, under no circumstance, should you be fronting any money.

I hope this is a real project and you get cast. Always feel free to continue reaching out if you have questions.

Hi everyone; thank you so much for your feedback and time, it is hugely reassuring to have this bubble of support here.

Viviane Borelli I am so sorry you had the same experience. Indeed, the person contacting me was "MS" and they claimed the film would be shot in Athens, and that they were with the same [huge production company].

I got the "out of office" reply too; during the audition they asked me to read a second monologue because "I had it down", which they then emailed me. When I received that email, they disappeared from the call (did not disconnect, just stopped replying, and so I eventually covered my camera and left the call). Upon replying to this monologue email I received the odd out of office reply and when I pushed back, got their "electricity went down" email the next day.

I spent a while down a Google rabbit hole and was also able to locate the profile photo they used for the Zoom call. What is unnerving here is that the photo is actually of another filmmaker, listed in an article which mentions MS (so, wrong name used with the wrong photo). That's what finally got me to think they are not who they claimed to be; and which also makes me feel awful for the actual person whose 'clout' is being used.

Since your replies I have had one more person reach me on Instagram claiming they had the same experience, from the same person - so that's 3 now.

Suzanne Bronson Indeed, I was not asked to pay any money or sign up to anything. What raised the red flags (aside from the circumstances I outline in my previous comment) was also the strongly suggested sexual subtext in the monologues, so overall I think it was someone's very creepy powerplay, sadly.

Maurice Vaughan Thanks for your reply! After my original post I was able to track down the profile they used for the call and confirmed it's actually of another (well established) filmmaker of a different name. So definitely a creepy case of fake identity, I'm afraid.

Scams are getting more and more sophisticated every day. We all just have to do our due diligence and try to watch out for one another. I'm so glad that you shared this experience with us all, Athina Kefalopoulos!

Thank you for sharing Athina! I'm glad you're not out any money. Good for doing you're due diligence. Always trust your instincts. If they contacted you through the casting website you pay for, then absolutely you should let them know. To piggyback on Ashley, perhaps reverse image search may be something we need to do due casting now, not just dating sites. :(

You're welcome, Athina Kefalopoulos. It does sound like they're not who they claimed to be. Sorry you and the other people experienced that. Thanks for writing this post and sharing the update so others will be warned.

Wow, I'm so sorry you had that experience, Athina Kefalopoulos . It's such a violation of trust! I'm sick to my stomach just thinking about it. I wish I could give you a big supportive "Mom hug."

Suzanne, I love what you said about trusting your instincts. That is such an important and wise comment and a great rule to live by. If something is not feeling right to you, trust it.

Thanks Sallie Olson, appreciated!