Beware of Fake Castings: Spotting the Red Flags

In the world of modeling and acting, opportunities can pop up seemingly out of nowhere that can seem too good to be true, especially when you see a big brand name behind it. However, not every casting call is legitimate. One recent example below shows some common red flags to watch for. New models take note!

Fake Casting Call Example

The “Casting Call” That Raised Eyebrows

Recently, a model shared a supposed casting opportunity from a company claiming to be Under Armour. The email was enticing, claiming that they were looking for fresh faces for their upcoming ad campaign. Excited by the prospect, the model opened the email, only to find several glaring issues that raised immediate suspicion.

1. The Email Address

First and foremost, the email address itself was a huge red flag: it came from a generic Gmail account, something that would never be used by a major corporation like Under Armour. Established brands typically communicate through company-specific domains (like @underarmour.com). If a company is reaching out via a personal email service, it’s often a sign that something is off.

2. Direct Outreach to Talent

Additionally, established brands usually work through casting agencies rather than contacting models or actors directly. In this case, a reputable company like Under Armour would enlist the help of professional casting directors to scout talent. This ensures a level of professionalism and scrutiny that a direct email simply cannot provide. If you receive a casting call directly from a brand, especially one of this caliber, it’s worth taking a closer look.

3. The Offer Sounded Too Good to Be True

The email promised high pay and immediate placement in a major campaign. While it’s natural to be excited about lucrative offers, if something seems too good to be true, it often is. Legitimate casting calls will provide clear details about the project, compensation, and the audition process, often with more professional language and structure and are usually done through legitimate platforms and/ or casting agencies.

Protect Yourself

So, what can you do to protect yourself from falling prey to these scams?

  • Verify the Source: Always check the email address and research the sender. If it doesn’t match the company’s official domain, proceed with caution.
  • Research the Opportunity: Look up the casting call or reach out to established casting agencies to see if the opportunity is legitimate.
  • Trust Your Instincts: If you feel uneasy about an offer, don’t hesitate to ask for more information or seek advice from industry professionals.
  • Consult Industry Resources: Websites like Latitude Talent often list great casting calls. Use other resources to cross-check any opportunities.

Be Careful:

By keeping an eye out for these red flags, you can navigate the industry more safely and focus on what really matters: honing your craft and pursuing your dreams.

Alejandro from Latitude Miami

Latitude Talent is a great place to begin. Here are some key points:

  1. Professionalism: We dedicate our focus to our clients and are here to help aspiring models and actors.
  2. Casting Calls: Find casting calls our an interactive platform to connect with agencies, opportunities and more.
  3. Workshops and Training: Our online workshops touch base on a variety of topics in the entertainment field.

Meet Kim from Latitude

“Kimberly’s success story is intertwined with her collaboration with Latitude Talent. She credits Latitude for helping her secure two major lead roles in films titled “Fakin it” and “This Road,” along with two featured roles in the television show “Evil Lives Here.” Latitude has been instrumental in providing Kimberly with numerous background roles in popular productions like “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” “Billions,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “City on A Hill,” and participation in a PFT photo-shoot, among others.”

Read the full article here: https://ventsmagazine.com/2024/01/17/latitude-talent-success-story-from-model-kimberly-horton/

Read more Latitude Talent Reviews and Success Stories here: https://www.latitudetalent.com/reviews and https://www.latitudetalent.com/about-us

5 Things No One Knows About Modeling

If your goal is to become a model, deciphering through the information you find online is hard. Here are five things real models don’t know but should.

Become a Model

Modeling and acting careers have always been the dream of many however, often times people have to be realistic in their goals and settle for a solid 9-5 job. That doesn’t mean that becoming a model is out of your league, it just means that you have to face the reality is going to be a bit harder. There are so many things about the modeling industry that are incorrectly posted online so in the blog, we’re going to take a look at the five realities of the modeling industry that no one talks about.

1. It’s like any other profession (sort of)

Just like if you wanted to start as a career as a nurse, you would first have to enter that profession by learning. That means going to college and then graduating with that degree. The next step is finding a job. The entertainment business is no different. It takes time, energy, and an investment into your career. Start by learning about the industry whether thats with online modeling schools, youtube videos, or talking to other models about their experiences.

Finding a job as a model is a bit harder, however. Will touch base on that in the next steps.

2. Agencies work with experienced models

Many times the first step for an aspiring model is to apply to modeling agencies. While there are many top modeling agencies located throughout the United States especially in New York City, they don’t like to work with models that are undeveloped. Why would they?

Thousands of models apply to these agencies daily and many of them are not serious about modeling. While their goal and aspiration might be to become a famous face that you see in magazines, applying and putting in the work is very few models want to do. Agencies cannot waste their time, money or resources on an aspiring model who has no history of reliability or bookings. Often times agencies will require a model to go through a development phase where the model learns about the business and then does various test shoots. That’s only if you get excepted to top agency. Applying to modeling agencies is typically best when you have some experience. That’s not to say that you can’t get signed as a model without experience, it happens all the time, just a very few.

3. It’s not a free

Just like getting into any career, models should always be expected to cover their own development when starting as a model. Whether that includes head shots, comp cards or web services those are standard in the modeling industry. DO YOUR RESEARCH and NEVER pay deposits over the phone to people who won’t meet you in person. The modeling business is a lot different than it was in the 1990’s and model scouting has changed dramatically.

If you want to become a model for real, you need to have an established presence online with great pictures. Investing a few hundred (not thousands) for great quality clear images without editing or make up is all that you need.

4. It’s really fun

The modeling industry is not only lucrative for some opportunities, it is extremely fun. Networking, and meeting with models on site or open castings calls is a great way to advance your career in the modeling business.

5. Any one can model

The modeling industry is dramatically different than it once was. In the last 5 years, there has been a massive increase in diverse and alternative models. This has paved the way for talent of all backgrounds, a chance to get started in the business.

Once you figure out, if you’re serious about getting started, the next step is working with a talent platform like Latitude Talent, get started here.