Hundreds of people turned out for a talent search that made a stop in Ottawa this weekend, yet some say the agency hosting the event is not what it appears to be.
The John Robert Powers Acting and Modeling School staged auditions at a "secret location" - the Travel Lodge Hotel on Carling Avenue - this weekend, but when CTV News showed up to ask questions about the agency's methods, CTV was thrown out.
"We're not going to argue about this. It seems to me that the families are here because the kids want to be on TV. My policy as a company, working with children, is that I don't want to have cameras filming everything that's going on," said Barry MacDonald of the John Robert Powers school.
Lifelong dream
Days ago, a radio ad encouraged people to bring their acting skills to the agency's audition.
Even though it has been a lifelong dream of for 14-year-old Jessica Webb to appear on the Disney Channel alongside her favourite teenage stars, her 11-year-old sister Emily knew that something didn't sound right.
"I thought this is my big chance to be in the spotlight and I want to be with Zac Efron and be all excited and stuff," Jessica said, referring to a young Disney star.
Jessica begged her mom to let her sign up, but Emily had questions and asked her mother Nancy to do a little research on the company.
Online complaints
A simple online search of the John Robert Powers franchise revealed many complaints from people across Canada.
People have complained that all children are accpeted at such "auditions." Parents then have to pay for expensive acting lessons and few jobs actually coming through.
"There was a lot of webpages saying about how people thought that they got ripped off. We read one where there were a lot of promises made and promises broken," said Ms. Webb.
"I was like, oh that really sucks! I was really disappointed," Jessica said.
The girls decided to steer clear of the company.
The hundreds of children who did attend this weekend were told top Los Angeles casting directors would be in attendance. Those auditioning went through an interview process and were asked to perform a jingle.
These families were told by company executives they will find out Sunday whether their children have made it at which point they will have to dole out thousands for lessons.
The international franchise has agencies all over the world and has offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Their website claims to now be auditioning for "teen magazines, major motion pictures and commercials."
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Natalie Johnson
