Celebrity Group TV
Complaint 278749 Details

I didn't lose any money thank the lord. My step mother had read many complains on this place, and then realized it was a scam. Too make a long story short, I am going to copy and paste what everyone else said, which was exactly my experience with my seven year old little sister.


This was written by a woman on Ripoff Report

"This outfit advertized on the radio about a wonderful opportunity for children to "audition" for acting jobs. With their roster of tv stars from Disney, they led parents to believe that their children were actually vying for a Disney spot. *I* assumed (naughty me) that they were looking for extras for a film to be shot in the Spokane area! I don't believe *now* that Disney has anything to do with this... I would hope not anyway.

We arrived at the designated spot, cleverly held at the INB performing arts center in Spokane with our daughter in tow. I was very surprised that we were all (lots of hopeful parents and theirexcited children) made to sit and listen to pep talks about perseverance, how hard it is to break in to acting, how actors are never "discovered" any more blah blah BLAH!Then what were we doing there? This didn't sound like an "audition" at all. A red flag went up on our way in because the signs all said "Celebrity Actors Camp." Actors CAMP??? I should have walked out then... Pep talks about how (Inappropriate Content Removed) we all were (paraphrasing) for believing the radio ads were another red flag.

When said pep talks were done (kind of reminded me of those "free vacation" offers at the pizza parlors back in the day. You know the ones where they promised you a prize if you sat through their sales pitch to get you to buy timeshares or campground memberships..) we finally got lined upto get the brochurefeaturing the PRICE of this wonderful opportunity, and another pep talk about "supporting our childrens dreams!" Remember Celebrity Actors Camp wasn't advertizing for TRAINING,acting school, symposiums on acting, or anything else that cost thousands of dollars, they were advertizing "auditions." The "auditions" were to determine ability to pay as far as I could tell. "Auditions" (Inappropriate Content Removed)

I still can't figure out where Phil Lewis of Mr. Moseby on Suite Life on Deck fame fitted in to the scheme of things. They must have paid him a fortune to come here in personand try totalk hopeful parents into shelling out thousands of dollars for this "opportunity." Doesn't he make enough money on the TV show?

Because our daughter doesn't recognize scams, we went through with the "audition." Of coursePhil Lewisjust loved her! (uh huh) They wanted her back so long as we could pay them between $1,750 and $5,500 dollars (in cash, no checks;another red flag) for it. They were absolutely rude and nasty when we told them we couldn't pay. (We weren't there to look into PAYING for any services, remember it was an audition to see if they would pay my daughter to appear in a Disney production! We were TRICKED into attending.) The "Z" lady wrote a big X through the paperwork with a flourish while my devastated daughter observed. Nasty! So much for loving children. They kept the head shot for their garbage can no doubt. They have not answered my e-mail to them as yet. Big surprise right?

At the very least this company, if it is one, is using deceptive advertizing tactics to get people in there and then usinggullible children to coerce the parents into paying. Since there is NOTHING on this company good, bad or indifferent is must be a fly-by-night outfit. Their ads say nothing about what their true purpose is... This is not an "audition" by any stretch of meaning. It's a ploy to sell you something. They should be up front about what it is that they are after.

If I was lookingto spend $5,500 dollars on acting class, we would already have found a local place to do just that. And the $5,500 is the STARTING POINT. Then there is the "invitation only Summer Camp" which is at least $3,000 more! It was like pulling teeth to find this out. THEN there was a "Pilot Camp" also by invitaion only, which God knows how much it is. They even have a special hotel where you can stay while you are playing around with this; starting at $99 per night! I assume "invitation only" means that your bank account is fat enough to cover it, not that your child is any good at acting. Pictures are included and makeup, but not PRINTS or hair! Or you can pay $600 for a couple of snapsand some makeup if you don't buy the $5,500 course.

In researching this company, I came across another company called THE pronounced Tay. The whole scam is disturbingly familiar to this one including one person who appears as a benefactor in both THE and Celebrity Actors Camp. His name is David Delouise from Wizards of Waverly Place. His father was actor Dom Delouise. Doesn't he have enough money without having to prey on childrens hopes and dreams either? Do these people really NEED the thousands of dollars they are bilking parents out of?

Anyway since then some reputable people have assured me that this is indeed a scam. Hollywood doesn't operate the way that these scammers would have you believe... You can get better acting classes in your area for much less money. There are real talent agents near wherever you are. AGENTS not scammers, as in affliliations with SAG and AFTRA! Which I never heard a single word about in the whole spiel at "Celebrity Actors Camp."

Final thought about the scam called Celebrity Actors Camp... Any time somebody wants "cash up front, no checks" as these people informed me, you can pretty well believe that they are going to take your money and it will be much harder to get it back when the subterfuge is discovered.

Other numbers associated with this are (909) 427-9547 (Celebrity Actors Camp web site) which comes up as belonging to a person, Melodee Griffin with an address in Long Beach. The number of the nasty woman we spoke to at the phony "audition" is (310) 651-4401 which comes up as an unknown Beverly Hills number. No way do I think that this woman lives in Beverly Hills, with her cheap clothes and bad makeup, but what the hay, you can get a cell phone with any prefix you want on it! Maybe she does live there, I just have a hard time believing it!

Just my opinion folks. Since I did NOT pay these people, and have NOT been through the program, I hope that it is all true, that they are helping these kids achieve their dreams. It just doesn't look like it from my point of view, it looks like a scam."

This is another one from Ripoff Report from a lady named Xena;

Today I took my daughter to this AUDITION and while it seems to be a legit summer camp it still seems to be a sort of scam... It does seem that I will be getting a phone call tomorrow because.. and not to seem rude but my kid was the best dressed and had her own monologue memorized.. While other children were misbehaving and looked sloppy...

We most likely looked the part of someone who could pay their fee to take this acting camp... My husband who heard the radio ad (I missed it) signed her up and got her excited while not asking me first or trying to research it.. (He said the ad stated that only the first 200 callers would be signed up) He then decided he wanted to go through with it and booked hotel reservations... He told me that it was an audition for a part with Disney...

Nothing about an acting camp that he was aware of... Its about 1 hour from my house so I though if anything else she would get to see the SPECIAL GUEST star and have some fun while in Orlando... While my daughter has taken acting classes in the past I understand that they do have to audition for a non-entry level acting class typically.. (same goes for ballet and other classes that were available)

I expected this because I thought there is no way they will take any random child no matter how much raw talent they have to become hired without any acting type of classes... And I also figured that it would most likely cost something... But how much? Well level four is 5900... But do I need level four?When we arrived at the "2nd stage" of the audition process we were interviewed in a very loud crowded Ballroom so hearing everything said perfectly was near impossible.. Not to mention the fast talk of the interviewer to go along with it..

Well I am sure you can imagine.. But what I gathered is that they really wanted people to take at least the level three or four which ranges from 4-6k give to take a 100 bucks... We then took our pamphlet and went ahead and let our child have her audition that she practiced all week which was conducted alone with Mr. Moseby from "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and "The Suite Life on Deck" Phill Lewis.. So that alone was worth at least the hotel cost because she received one on one time...

She had a lot of fun this weekend.. However this seems more like a scam because they lure you in with FALSE RADIO ADS... (Do they really need to lie?) and then while I was waiting to be interviewed I went on my iPhone going onto the website looking for prices... When we went through almost the entire process THEN we finally got the price... Why isn't the information on the website?

Why is the CAC calendar blank if there is classes in July? Overall the entire informational process was very vague... (what is there to hide?) I still don't know if they want her to travel to LA or not for the classes... Is the airfare or head shots included in all the prices? The pamphlet is also vague... All levels say they will meet with a Casting Director and have an Agent Showcase... But I found a post of someone saying they took the classes and didn't get that... That only the level fours got those things... Is there a lie in there somewhere also? This person on yahoo answers states:


Hilary up there, is actually cassie lynne corsaro(find her on facebook), she works for adrian r'mante celebrity actors camp, she is the coordinating director, sheorganizes the funs days and stuff like that so she has to says what she says or else she'll get fired, but she wouldnt want that cause adrian pays big. but i would say go with the level 4 package. thats the closest you'll get to get an agent. I went to the weekend camps, and the summer camp and I didnt even get an agent..oh btw dont go to the summer camp, its not worth the $3500 which doesnt include housing, food, or the tickets for fundays. they dont even serve lunch during camp, you have to bring it yourself or get your parents to drop it off for you, its unorganized, the studio is tiny and filthy, the end showcase is held at the tinyiest theater i've ever seen and theres no stage, there was a perfect stage for the showcase at the same location but they said they couldnt afford it. wtf? anyway its "the elephant theatre company. Back to before, the weekend camps, dont get you agents, they just come here for show and just to check it out, nobody from my weekend camp got an agent or even get considered by one, and they're all really talented.the weekend camp is basically leading up to the audition for adrian for his summer camp.not everyone got to audition for some agents, for our camp, adrian brought in other CD and agents for just the level 4s.
Source(s):
myself if you want to know more, i can talk to you personally. please trust me, i want you to know the truth, i thinks it fair, even though nobody told me.


So unless I buy the level four package my kid doesn't really get seen by anyone? Isn't that what parents are paying for? so its 6k plus at least 100 bucks a week for a furnished place with everything included... but that's 2100 dollars... So for the entire experience its 8k? Not counting food or gas...

Wow.. really? And that still doesn't mean the cost of a flight and car rental is included.. Last time I checked the car rental rates per week is about 250.. And I have heard recently you can get a flight for under 400... for at least 2 people to go that's double! So far if flights are not included that's 9,550... Still not counting gas or food... If we didn't fly it would be around 300 to drive gas one way... You're still talking 8600....

If you're loaded and have money to burn.. and really want your child to have a summer acting class with celebrities for about 10k go for it... But really I am expecting that phone call tomorrow... Because we look like we could afford it... Imagine if I had two or more kids going? 20k acting classes for the summer? I am a house wife.. So I don't work... So I have time to do this.. But what if I didn't? I lose work too? That can cost thousands more...

I have no idea what these people are thinking... maybe 1% of parents have enough to do it.. What if a family is scrapping to get the money together... Giving up college funds and savings for important things... For a lovely summer with some celebrities? I looked all over the internet searching for scam alerts.. Only really finding a couple.. And some talk about stuff that happened back before 2009...

And also the most discouraging thing I find is the same success stories being used to dispute negative posts like the one I am about to post... All stories on their website... All being disputed by the same people over and over... Here is a hint while reading someone nice being said.. Does it have the same name at the end of the posts over and over? <random name> Fontana... Fontana is a town in California.. I've been there... And its not a very nice place... Its average at best... AUTHOR: AnnieB - Miami I saw over and over... Someone from Spokane, WA...


Cassie Corsaro
Co-Ordinating Director
Celebrity Actors Camp
[email protected]


Cassie seems to be a real tool... She consistently calls anyone saying negative things EVIL... How is being cautious being evil? I would say if anything you are the EVIL one.. And all celebrities associated with this scam.... Whats wrong with you lady? Cassie I know your going to read this because you (Inappropriate Content Removed) every negative thing said...

It also appears you have things removed from websites as well and then spamming in its place all the success stories you have.. Which is about a dozen at best... You would think after doing this for at least 3 years you could have more than a dozen success stories? This means to me that not even 1% of children get discovered through your talent school... (about the same rate of CHANCE would be) Does that seem worth 10k to anyone? Also Cassie.. and Anyone else reading this... NO REAL COMPANY USES YAHOO MAIL FOR A BUSINESS E-MAIL ACCOUNT...

Anyone trying to sell you something online at all.. If they are using a free e-mail provider they are a scam... Also on the official web site under contact info all there is, is a phone number... Anyone can make that website.. Including my husband who is a web designer/developer... That doesn't make it legit.. and what do I see? NO ADDRESS OF THE COMPANY TO SEND SNAIL MAIL TO... and yet another yahoo mail account.... WHAT? Yes!! Just another yahoo mail account...

You are ripping people off making 300k in 3 weeks and you can't even get a real e-mail account? Look yourself everyone!!! The e-mail is [email protected] .... If anyone has bought this summer camp and they don't feel like they got their monies worth you really need to report it to the Better Business Bureau...

Something has to be done to inform the general public of this... It should be stopped or at least changed how business is being conducted.. I find it very unprofessional... And who wants to pay 10k for 3 weeks with people who are so unprofessional? If you want your child to have fun at a summer acting camp there are camps that are under 3k and that INCLUDES food, room and board... And many have celebrities that also show up...

Also if you feel you must use this one.. I would go for the one under 2k and plan on spending money to fly/car rental or drive there... Plus food and gas... that cuts it at least in 1/2 to about 5k... Don't blow savings on this!!! As I stated before do you really think your child is going to be the >1% who gets discovered?

Why can't that happen with another acting summer school where you also get to meet celebrities and agents? DON'T SPEND COLLEGE FUNDS ON THIS!! Save the money for college!! These people are just preying on children and families dreams to become stars... If you do want to spend some money on this.. Don't expect anything more than your child to meet celebrities and have a memorable summer... And the celebrities who are allowing themselves to be associated with CAC you should really reconsider..

Your going to destroy your reputation like Adrian R'Mante... Is that what you want? And if you are knowingly enabling these horrible things to be happening to these families is that what you would have wanted? And for the families who have already blown college funds and life savings on this and haven't made your money back.. It is time to speak now.. If you don't you are just as bad as the people who are scamming if not worse because you know whats happening and you're doing nothing to stop it... You're being a BYSTANDER...

I choose to lead through example!!! As should all the GOOD people in this world!!! Don't be another victim!!! Research everything!!! Also if they wont take checks, money orders or credit cards to hide a paper trail.. This is also a good indicator it is a scam... I am starting to wonder if this is a legit business at all!!! Everyone I would like to advise you to remember.. In the end it wont matter how much money you have or your status...

Your GOOD actions and the LOVE you put out is all that will matter when you die... I hope you know that Cassie... It seems you have sold your soul... You and everyone else who knows this is happening and you do NOTHING to help stop it!!! Including you celebrities who are enabling this to continue.... Do the right thing!!! "

Anyways, I also learned they have changed names many of times. HMMM..I wonder why. For now, they are praying on children & teens between the ages 6 - 19. Do not believe them.