Hello,
I need some advice.
A credited and known producer with a profile on Stage 32 sent me a message expressing an interest in my projects and offering help with development, etc. He provided his email and invited me to send my pilot and other materials which he said he would evaluate to see if it fit his criteria. He then asked me for $3,000 to “get the production ball rolling,” telling me how much I would make (after I signed an NDA), what credits I would receive, and he would basically do everything else. When I told him “no thank you,” I received a follow-up email listing all the reasons I should consider paying him the money:
1. Covering Initial Production Costs: The fee is crucial for covering the initial expenses associated with bringing a project to life. This includes script development, securing rights, creating pitch materials, and assembling the necessary team. These are foundational steps that require upfront investment.
2. Ensuring Commitment: The fee also reflects a mutual commitment to the project. It ensures that both parties are equally invested in moving the project forward, which is vital for maintaining momentum and achieving our shared goals.
3. Streamlining the Process: By securing this fee, we can streamline the production process, ensuring that we have the necessary resources in place to hit the ground running.
This allows us to focus on the creative aspects of the project without being hindered by financial constraints.
What do y’all think?
Cheryl
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Just be careful. This for example is a fake profile of Andre Relis. Wrote an email to VMI Worldwide Andre Relis that he has nothing to do with the person and the email coming from this profile here on stage 32.
https://www.stage32.com/profile/1135701/about
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Thank you. I’m going to follow suit and message his company.
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Hi Cheryl, be careful because can be a scammer! I had a similar situation when I arrive to Stage 32 and we must always confirm with Stage 32 team! All the best!
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Follow-up: I could not find a website for his company so I emailed support@stage32.com with the details. If it turns out to be a scam, I will post the perp’s details here.
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100% bullshit
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A producer shouldn't ask a screenwriter to pay them, Cheryl Boyles. You did the right thing emailing Stage 32.
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Thanks, Sandra Isabel Correia — I have contacted the team.
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Don't walk, RUN. Had the same experience about 6 months ago. Gave a definitive no thank you. Saw that he got banned on Stage 32.
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Maurice Vaughan As soon as he asked for money it felt fishy, but it feels good to have that intuition validated. Thank you!
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You're welcome, Cheryl Boyles. Thanks for bringing attention to this.
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Agreed - the only reason any producer charges is if they are working for you as a consultant or a coach (for example, if you wanted script notes or a budget breakdown - in both instances there would a be a clear deliverable AND no further attachment to your project upon delivery).
If they are attaching themselves as a producer on your project, then, much like the lawyer in Erin Brockovich, they don't get anything if the film isn't made. Thus why it takes to long to get a producer to be attached - it is a HUGE risk for them.
That being said, if you encounter anyone attempting to charge you to produce, please email our Head of Community, Ashley, at COMMUNITY@stage32.com so we can deal with these people. Thank you for reaching out and asking, Cheryl Boyles !
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Thank you, Karen. Will send an email regarding Andre Relis to them.
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Karen "Kay" Ross I just emailed Ashely as you suggested as this guy was trying to charge me to produce. Thanks so much!
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This is the "new division of the cottage industry of bilking money from screenwriters" it is everywhere. Facebook, LinkedIn, you name it. It's bad enough that anyone can call themselves a producer when they've never set foot on a set or know the first thing about what it means to pull together a project, but then they come at you with zero pay shopping agreements and demand thousands for that right. Every single day, I see this across multiple platforms and every day I get emails and DMs from writers who have been targeted and misled because someone said they "worked with" a high profile studio or star, or they have movie posters on their profile. When most of those 'working arrangements" are the equivalent of a car lot attendant.
GOOGLE AND IMDb Pro will support you far more than any of these predators. DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE!
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Well you all have left no room for doubt. Here is his profile (Joshua Astrachan): https://www.stage32.com/profile/1137088/about
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Pay them for your script! Since when?
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Huh? Producers have always optioned or paid Screenwriters. Probably ever since film and the motion picture camera was invented?
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This is always cause for concerns!
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How does the finances flow then, Maurice Vaughan - in this film project/ industry ?
I would think it would come from producer, though it does sound smarter coming from a film company/ film production company. - ie Universal / Paramount.
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The producer, director, production company, network, or studio would pay the screenwriter for a script, Kerry Kennard.
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Never never never!
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No!
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FYI, I sent him an email saying that I would like to move ahead but had some questions. I then asked; “Are you there?” He answered immediately saying, “Please go ahead and ask them.” I replied that first I needed to verify his identity since anyone could create a Stage 32 profile and gmail account. I requested that he snap a quick selfie with a big smile (since the real J.A. has distinctive teeth), to send a photo of his driver’s license (number covered, of course), and finally, to tell me where the sound editing was done on Gosford Park — a film which J.A. helped produce. This was about 90 minutes ago… still waiting…
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I agree with everyone. Fishy.
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I love this community. Thank you to everyone for helping police the community! This clearly was someone who was a bad apple. Profile is suspended.
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That was fast work Amanda Toney!!!
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You did the right thing. Sounds like a scam. Would have ran if you gave him that money.
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Thanks Aaron Allen and everyone! It was comforting to see this in my messages, knowing this fraudster will not be able to trick anyone else on this platform.
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FYI this happens at all levels; even at the financing level where the dollar figure is much higher, ie: we need $25k to do the due diligence / paperwork for the $20 million dollar investment into your project
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Laurie Ashbourne unfortunately spec screenwriters have been conditioned to pay-to-play (competition fees, coverage fees, pitching fees, etc.) so it really is no wonder that predators have picked up on this vulnerability.
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Cheryl Boyles of course. Pay to play is the exponential evolution of a much larger issue and discussion than one bad apple preying on screenwriters. It can be traced back to the lack of funding for the arts in public education (at least in the States).
The beauty of any creative endeavor is that anyone can do it. Those who can’t afford the education question if they are doing it right and find services to pay for. Some good, some not, all engage on the hopes and insecurities of the creative soul with slick marketing. Top that off with A LOT OF BAD ADVICE and the predators find the easiest prey. Some don’t even think they are being predatory, they think their bad advice is worth paying for (because they need to pay their bills) when most often it comes down to the subjectivity of creativity — which again feeds the vicious cycle.
The bottom line is that it’s MORE THAN ONE BAD APPLE from concept through to distribution, there are more and more rotten apples every day. Learn the business of art, more specifically -- the business of producing your screenplays, so that when the bad apples roll in, you don’t think twice and toss ‘em out.4 people like this
I am sorry this happened to you and glad to know that your Spidey Sense was tingling and glad to see that he is off the site.
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that guy posing as Joshua Astrachan tried to get me as early as today. He just sent me all, and I mean all of the references made above. I also made the email to the moderator. It's not just in bad form, it is both a felony by state statute (fraudulent schemes and artifices), but federal (interstate computer fraud). I'm going to call Animal Kingdom tomorrow and inform them of what's happening to them.
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also, he/she is now operating under joshuaastrachan5@gmail.com as of today.
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Laurie Ashbourne - thanks for the information. Sad to see . There’s so much of this in the Film Industry .. “and I thought it was bad in the music industry - ha ha ;-)
- from the Star Wars line - (and I thought they smell bad on the outside). ha ha. - 1st Star Wars
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That was the same email he used for me, Christopher Washington. I looked for contact info for Animal Kingdom but couldn’t find it. Great that you are planning to inform them!
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Google and IMDb should be a first stop for any interaction:
animalkingdomfilms.com
212-206-1801 phone
info@animalkingdomfilms.com
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Thanks Laurie Ashbourne — I just emailed Animal Kingdom with the details of my experience.
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I made a call toAnimal Kingdom today and left them with the information. I also informed them that as a retired cop, I saved all of the correspondence and gave the update internet info. Hopefully this will stop, at least from this person. It also appears that the others that you all speak of may be the same person.
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Hey.. that actually sounds like a cool story... a retired cop screenwriter investigates and pursues a fraudster leading him into the underworld of the indie film industry. working title, "Take Two"
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which brings us all back to the original question... is it ethical to pay a producer or better yet... If this was the real Joshua Astrachan (with Meryl Streep in his list), would you give HIM the money? I guess now it's past the matter of principle and more the risk of success. I guess the ask is, do the 'real' Producers ever ask for money? and what would it be for, filing fees, etc or is the script your 'contribution' as the writer? I just want to know.
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Christopher Washington I personally would not pay any producer money to “get the ball rolling.” To ask for it is disrespectful to the tremendous investment of time, creative energy, money, hopes and dreams the screenwriter has already put into their project to make it good enough that a producer would be interested in the first place.
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Cheryl Boyles why is it always $3000. When I hear of schemes/scams like this, it always seems to be for that amount of money. Personally, I would never pay someone to ‘get the ball rolling’. Everyone here has given you good advice. I’m glad the community was here for you, Cheryl.
I've had a couple in the last few months. They're history. Both of them have been deleted. Just look at Joshua's teeth. If he was a reputable producer he would have had shiny teeth.
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Geoff Hall Yes, I’m very grateful to everyone who has so generously shared their advice and experiential wisdom! This is not the first time a scammer has come after me and this community has come to the rescue. Weird about the $3,000!
Claude Gagne those are Joshua Astrachan’s real teeth. That profile picture was downloaded from the internet (shutterstock).
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Cheryl Boyles maybe they all dwell on the same lay-line in the slough of despond? Me too. I think if they are so successful, why would they need my poultry $3000 dollars? Stay safe, healthy and wise.
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Here we go again, y’all, another fake profile, this one impersonating Kevin Weisberg from Plymouth Blvd. Productions: https://www.stage32.com/profile/1141455/about
I contacted the real Kevin Weisberg who confirmed that this account is a fake. He (and I) have reported it to Stage 32, but as his profile is still up, I wanted to sound the alarm.
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Fake!
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and deleted...
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Cheryl Boyles, the update is welcomed!
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Geoff Hall, thankful to see the "swift" actions taken!
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Thank you for helping to keep the community safe!