CTA Celebrity Talent Academy

[discokandi10]

Hi

Has anyone had any dealings with CTA (Celebrity Talent Academy)? A friends 11 year old daughter has just been accepted into their tuition programme but had to pay a £500 non refundable deposit on the day the total fees are well over £1000 for 20 weeks tuition. I’m really hoping this isn’t some sort of elaborate scam but anything with upfront fees and promises of a TV career makes me really wary. I’ve had a quick look online and there is talk of some sort of association with John Robert Powers which doesn’t seem to bode well either. Any info good or bad would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks DK

[pg]

Ouch! I think she could challenge the non-refundable deposit. This just doesn't sound reasonable and if there's enough fuss and threat of bad publicity they might change their minds and make the refund. A "cooling off" period is reasonable - may be worth consulting CAB and seeing what they say. Of course she may not want a refund! She might be quite happy with it all. I don't think I would be...

Will The Celebrity Talent Academy help me get a job?
Yes and no. Just telling someone you went to Celebrity Talent Academy won’t get you a job. But if you apply the skills you will learn to auditions and then use these skills as a foundation to build upon, the answer is a resounding YES.


Sorry, but I think this is very misleading (well, apart from "Just telling someone you went to Celebrity Talent Academy won’t get you a job", I wholeheartedly agree with that one!) and I think most people working in the profession would agree with me.

Why are there no details of the fees on the website? All the NCDT schools clearly state their fees. This is a major sin/warning sign in my book!

Why does a three hour "workshop" cost £100?

It probably isn't a scam in the sense of taking money and running. However, from comments on internet forums it does look as though there are promises of great opportunities and I think the whole style of it would make me run a mile. I think any "academy" with the work "celebrity" in the title would make me run a mile!

Plus, the company was only incorporated in April this year yet they claim a long list of "successful" students - including counting auditioning for Skins as a success. If auditioning for something is a measure of success then I'm a REALLY successful actress I'm afraid the more digging I do the worse the smell gets...
The first one hundred registered get a free signed photo - hang on, does that mean that they were expecting ONE HUNDRED people in the workshop?? I think I'd better stop now. This isn't good for my blood pressure!

[titania]

I am certain that deposits that are non refundable are not meant to be punative. So at best 10% is a mximum amount. If she paid what appears to be 50% than she would be entitled to her money back and if they refuse, a claim through the smalls claim court, which is cheap and very easy to do should result in there being able to get at least some of the fees back.

It certainly seems very fishy to me as PG has already pointed out so please urge them to look elsewhere for classes.

[jindalsu]

Hi All,

I am parent , whose daughter attended her first session at the CTA. today. Let me tell you my experience .. I am not an employee of CTA , an agent or in anyway related to the indutry , just a parent who wants to do what he can to help his daughter forfill her potential.

Before Xmas we attended an audition after my daughter heard about the Disney associations on Capital. We went along and she did a quick audition and was called back as being successful at her audition. I read the net and saw all sorts of negative comments about CTA. costs . scam etc etc , and I went through a very robust process of making my own mind .. You can email me if you want to know more ..

I met with the management team there and decided to sign her up. This week she had an audition for a part in a major soap and her tutor is a former star of a soap, all being well a major star will be running a tutoring workshop in a couple of weeks. My daughters confidence has rocketed in just 24 hours being in this environment, not that she lacks confidence , it just got stronger.

Yes I paid a lot of money with no refundbale deposit and all that, but I see this as an extension to her development as a person.. She maybe become an international film, movie star from this , she may not, but I have every confidence that CTA will do their best to develop her and I can't ask for more than that..

[elra]

Hi, im emailing you about the celebrity talent accademy. I am really worried about my sister as she has just paid to be a member. It might not be a scam where they run away but could be trained people working just to earn the money. You say your daughter got auditions... does it seem legit and has she met any real actors from well known programs ect.. please contact me soon. thank and much appriciated. Also we are paying in dollars overseas where most scams are done.. this is really stressful as we've paid..

[petemal74]

Hi there, I have just returned from another day with CTA as my dughter has been called to come back. I`m very dissapointed. The adv on Capital FM is misleading.However it does attract a lot of people. CTA they claim 30 years of bussines on USA ground but actually searching the web there is nothing about them. Ther is just their website and nothing else may be exept few press releases. I have not decided to proceed for the following reasons:
-50% deposit it was very high and cost of the courses as well.
-They failed to answer my questions about their 30 years of bussines in America.
-I have asked to see one of the classes working and then decide what to do. They refused. Every school in my view would be very happy to do so for a talented student.
-I have studied their website and the informations I found were not convicing-affiliations and refferances especially. It basicly is looking like made up ones. No headed paper, no signatures, just pdf file which you can write yourself. I went on one of the affiliates website and i could not find the CTA as their cooperatives.
-They failed to give us detailed curriculum of the course.
-Not very good and uncertain reviews on the website. Some people link them with some sort of scam in the USA but with diffrent name.

Overall it was too much to put even few hundred pounds to just find out it was not worth it.


I hope future applicants will find it usefull.

Regards

Petemal74

[xebonykissesx]

It seems we have some very different views of CTA, obviously the experiences vary.

Personally, and with no experience of it to share, i would say to think very carefully about signing up to it, at the end of the day, i think there are more well known and 'academy' type schools that obviously don't have the risk of you paying so much money, clearly to possibly recieve so very little back besides a confidence. Anyway thats my thoughts for what their worth.

[pg]

I met with the management team there and decided to sign her up. This week she had an audition for a part in a major soap
.

It may be useful to remind people that it isn't necessary to pay lots of money to get auditions. If you get on to the books of a reputable agent you will be submitted for parts and called in for audition if you are considered suitable. You will be called in because they are wanting to cast someone for a particular role. Sometimes casting directors also hold "general" auditions. Most CDs struggle to find time for this so it's not a regular occurence. You don't have to pay money to be seen for "general" auditions.

On the website they also have a page marked "auditions" where you can fill in your details. It states:
AUDITION THIS WEEKEND:
ACTORS FOR TELEVISION,FILM AND COMMERCIALS
Audition today for your chance to be on a show like Hannah Montana, The Suite life of Zack and Cody and iCarly! We are pre-screening for Hollywood's top Agents and Casting Directors and managers.

"Pre-screening"? What does that mean? Does it mean anything remotely useful to anyone "auditioning"?! I could offer "pre-screening" for Hollywood and for feature films and TV. It wouldn't mean you were any nearer getting a job!

I would also be wary about regarding someone's celebrity as being an indication of their ability to teach.

It's the "celebrity" slant of the whole thing that makes me so dubious. (That and the fact that the fees don't appear on the website - not a good sign). You don't attain celebrity or success or even just plain old work by osmosis. I remember listening to someone in disbelief when I was at an audition bemoaning the fact that an agent wouldn't take any notice of their CV "even though they had been in the same class" as someone successful. I doubt that an agent or casting director or director will be impressed by someone being taught by someone who was a star in a soap opera. Of course the soap opera star might turn out to be a great teacher, but so might someone who appeared as an extra once - or indeed someone who has never appeared on TV at all. Rubbing shoulders with famous faces (now that doesn't sound physically sensible... ) is one thing. Getting good education and training is another.

I know a few "famous" people. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean I get more work as result

I am also wary about the stong emphasis on American connections. This is not likely to be a good route to work for anyone studying at CTA in this country. Unless you have the right to work in the USA (which most of us don't, and are unlikely to be able to obtain) what's the point in being seen by "Hollywood" folk? I know several UK actors who have spent years ( literally) and a lot of money trying to get the right to work as an actor in the States - it can be a complicated and expensive business.

Here's a quotation from the homepage: Our philosophy is simple: to provide an extraordinary education and create Stars.
That's the bit that puts me off - right there. That "Stars" bit. If that's the bit that attracts you, well then, yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice.

[prouddadtou]

I am a proud dad that has enrolled his daughter into the TV and Film Program. I think that you all are mis-informed. We were a bit skeptical as all good parents must be. I took a good luck at all that was offered and quite frankly liked the staff. Last night she had her first Celebrity Workshop at Tileyard with Ray Quinn and it was in her words FAB! The parents and kids we encountered all had a very positive view of the teaching and staff. We are happy to have done this and are looking forward to her development. No complaints here all gold stars!

[pg]

How exactly are we "mis-informed"?

I'm glad your daughter had a good time and if you have the money available then of course you are free to spend it however you like to enable your children to enjoy themselves!

Would you be able to let us know how much it all costs? Unfortunately it isn't possible to find this out from the website. I find this one of the most worrying aspects of the whole organisation.

I stand by all the caveats expressed in previous posts and will continue to add a note of caution to anyone considering spending large sums of money because they feel this will help children to "get ahead" in the industry in some way.

When researching "opportunities" it will always be worthwhile getting advice and opinions from people in the profession, or with children in the profession, who have no vested interest in the opportunity being advertised.

[elena]

Please accept my apology in advance as I am not intending to offend anyone who posts on this thread but that strikes me on here is the pattern of new members above posted ONLY about this particular subject (ONE post) and nowhere else... Prove me othervise!

[pg]

I've just read this claim on the CTA website:

Our faculty is widely recognized as the best professional acting training faculty in London

Oh... so not RADA, Guildhall or LAMDA then?

Widely recognised by whom, exactly?

If this kind of ludicrous claim from a company registered less than a year ago does not make you cynical and suspicious then I don't know what will.

[marlowes.agency]

Hello

I am an Agent in London and i have been invited to attend a casting session with CTA later this month as we are looking to increase our child actors on our books.
I would like any further information about them if anyone has any please.
Warm regards, Miles @ Marlowes

[pg]

No more information, but it would be great if you could ask plenty of questions and report back to us! Perhaps you could ask if you could sit in on the initial session, where people are invited to put down deposits and let us know your thoughts about the company's approach to training and recruitment of students? Perhaps you can find out how much it costs to attend and why the company doesn't publish this rather important fact on its website?

I would be very interested to hear about your experience!

[tikka]

Please accept my apology in advance as I am not intending to offend anyone who posts on this thread but that strikes me on here is the pattern of new members above posted ONLY about this particular subject (ONE post) and nowhere else... Prove me othervise!

Yes, well spotted. I think you have a point here. Funnily enough I was thinking the same thing about another post that's recently gone on this page.

Perhaps I just have a suspicious mind. No offence meant to anyone.