It sounds like a dream gig. If you make the cut, you could earn $125 an hour being featured in The Most Beautiful Girl in the World, a reality TV series shot on yachts and in luxury mansions and co-executive-produced by Steven Spielberg.
"Where do I sign up?" you ask. By replying to a Craigslist ad - but you'll be doing so at your own risk.
The ad headlined "Most Beautiful Girl TV Show Wants You" invites "glamour models, bikini models, luxury models, pinup models, print models and runway models" to audition and forward a resumé and portfolio or pictures.
The winner gets a $250,000 contract, and a $1-million contract goes to the winner of an "annual competition."
Some sleuthing brought us to a website, where Spielberg is credited, alongside David Samson, as co-executive producer of the show. Samson says it will air worldwide, with a Sept. 15 première in "major cities in U.S.A. and Canada."
Men's Health and Robb Report are listed as sponsors on the site, which features borderline softcore imagery and logos for companies such as Disney, Universal and Marvel. (A spokesman for Men's Health denied the world's largest men's lifestyle magazine is involved with the project.)
A gallery of eye-catching shots of scantily clad women posing beside sports cars and exotic beaches is accompanied by text claiming the show will be filmed "at sets like these all over the world."
Does this sound too good to be true?
A spokesperson for Spielberg in Los Angeles denied the Hollywood icon is involved: "It's not true, and he is aware of it."
Online material says contestants would be required to complete a portfolio that would include a video demo, photos, custom artwork and "special footage at select sites." This would involve "advanced art and digital video and graphics that may convert you into a virtual girl," it says, although it doesn't include specifics such as the names of broadcasters ostensibly airing the show.
Reached in Beverly Hills, Samson dismissed claims Spielberg wasn't involved.
"We have a lot of anti-disclosure agreements," he said, adding shooting begins in Vancouver later this month and he plans to hire 500 employees this year.
The casting call is likely alluring enough to attract many wannabes seeking their 15 minutes of fame.
"Some people want to be stars so bad, they'll take a chance, and it's a terrible chance to take," said Victoria film commissioner Kathleen Gilbert, who, after hearing production-community concerns, posted a warning and tip sheet on Craigslist Sept. 10 titled Be Smart About Casting Calls: Avoid Scams.
She advises performers to exercise caution when auditioning, and to verify production credentials.
"The most important thing to remember is no legitimate producer will ever hold auditions in a hotel room," said Gilbert.
Although she wasn't implying that was the case here, she said young women have been asked to do so here in the past.
Still, the Craigslist ad made her "very suspicious" - especially when the producers failed to respond to two emails inviting them to register with the commission and B.C. Film Commission.
"That's a red flag," she said, noting most producers readily use the commission's services.
Questionable ads offering performers employment, including those placed by people purporting to be legitimate talent agents, abound on the Internet. They don't necessarily contravene B.C.'s Employment Standards Act, however, said Richmondbased ESA officer Jim Ross, who more often hears "from existing talent agents complaining about other agents."
Talent agencies are licensed under the act and must display their licence number on any contracts with clients, he said.
Victoria talent agent Barbara Coultish, who founded Coultish Management in 1987, said licensed talent agencies don't have to list on sites like Craigslist.
"I emailed our models when I heard about this," said Coultish, who sits on the board of the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission.
She said she tells young models not to fall for online offers.
Coultish was prompted to lobby for more stringent agency-licensing regulations in the 1990s by the appearance of "casting agents" who claimed to have ties to movie producers and charged prospective clients exorbitant fees.
"Never put any money down," Coultish warns.
"We don't say, 'Give us $200 and we'll take your picture.' Agencies can ask for $25 for a picture they take, but that's it. The only way we get our 15 per cent is if we get them work."
Production companies generally cast background performers themselves, often drawing upon local agencies' talent pool, but occasionally taking out ads when big numbers are required, as with the sci-fi series Impact.
The good news is that tougher licensing in B.C. seems to be working.
Casting complaints have dropped in recent years, said Aldyne Kerrigan, operations manager for BBB Vancouver Island.
If you have doubts about a casting call, call the film commission at 250-386-3976.
On the web: facebook.com/VISFilm Commission
