Expert: Peter Messaline - 12/27/2007

Question
Hi Peter.
My name is Mary Hope. I'm 14 and a little scared. I found a website called instantcast.com. I got an email from Tyler Briggs. He kept talking about how he could get me a part in a movie with Jennifer Garner and Lauren Graham. That I found kind of cool, but then someone else emailed me named Sandra Thomas. She said that she saw my name in Tyler's office. That I also found flattering. Then I got like 4 more emails without a name on them. They kept asking about my history and my credit card, or rather my parents' credit cards. I talked to my cousin who is a personal assistant to a well-established actor out in LA. She knows a lot of people and told me she didn't know a Tyler Briggs. I just wanted another opinion. Are Tyler Briggs and Sandra Thomas scammers?

Also, I saw that you gave advice to high schoolers. I was wondering if you would answer me this. Is there any demand for 14-year-old 5'2 brunettes out there at the moment?

Sincerely,
Mary Hope

Answer
I congratulate you on your instincts.

I will bet you dollars to doughnuts that Mr Briggs is running a scam.
No-one can say they will get you a part, only scammers talk about the stars in the cast, this Lauren Graham must be desperate if she emails someone because she saw their name, and no casting or agency people would deal with a minor directly or ask for a credit card number over the Inet.

Close the book on this deal and be glad you got off so light. If you can set your email program to refuse mail from certain addresses, block these people.

If you look at the casting for TV and film, you'll notice that there aren't many parts for young teens and also that most are played by older actors who look young.
The reasons are simple: older actors have more experience, and more track record to recommend them. Younger actors must be treated more carefully by law, and are distracted by school and adolescence.

The only way to start an acting career is to get training, get experience, move to a film city, get an agent.
-- And then get really lucky!

It's a long haul, and I wish you all the luck in the world.