Guess what? You have a chance to be a movie extra!

I was going to blog about something else, but this came up and it was just priceless. I had to share it with you guys!

Like I mentioned in an earlier entry, I was stupid enough to sign up for a bunch of those surveys and things, hoping to get something for nothing. The plan backfired, and my poor inbox has been suffering ever since with junk spam e-mails. This may be like a public service announcement for you all.

So I was deleting, blocking, and unsubscribing from these crap e-mails just now, when I stumbled upon a "Casting Department" e-mail. I've already heard of these before. My Dad tried it once and backed out when he heard about this fee he would have to pay. Suddenly the venture didn't look all that appetizing, as it was probably a scam. I saw this e-mail, remembered this, and clicked on the e-mail. I figured I'd see how easy it is to find the small print--the print which tells a person, this ain't such a great deal afterall.

I went to the website, which is full of bright colors, flattering big "Hollywood" typefaces, and a gloating banner that lists all the supposed networks that are looking for extras. Somewhere it claims, "As an extra, you can earn hundreds of dollars by just hanging around movie sets!". Ha! I almost laughed out loud, or I would have if I weren't in the public library. I know for a fact that extras get paid squat, if they get paid at all that is. I looked all over this pretty page, looking for the bottom line. What do they want out of the average person who receives their e-mails?

I finally found it, in a place I hardly dare to venture: The Terms and Conditions link. It's that tiny little link in 5 pt font that's really hard to see and not something you'd usually be interested in clicking in...so I clicked on it.

Finally I found out the punchline: Yes, there's a fee. A Membership Fee. A Continuance Fee. A statement that declares the company the power to RAISE or LOWER your fee whenever they damn well please. Hmmmm, fishy, no? Even if this is a legit company, it sounds like a dirty scheme to me.

And then I X'd out of the Terms and Conditions and tried to leave the page...when a chat window popped up! An "agent" was contacting me, and I've enclosed this lovely message for you all to read. Since the agent, as I later discovered, was a real person and not an automated computer message, I will be kind and change the name from Tori to Tori. Hey, it's just a first name. If it were more I actually would change it, but anyway I'm getting away with myself.

If you get the chance to read it, notice how Tori keeps promoting the package, never mentions the loophole where the company can raise the price at will, and doesn't repeat the previously stated quote of "hundreds of dollars for each extra". I tested the agent a bit, but I didn't want to be too cruel

Tori Says: Hey Wait! We hate to see you go! Remember we are the absolute best resource on the internet for talent and casting agents alike! Keep in mind it is only a 1.95 to start!....thats is a small price to pay especially since the rewards can be so large! CLICK HERE to sign up!

Tori Says: You too :)

Comments, ratings, and casting calls welcome! Well...maybe not the casting calls.