
Unistar Talent
Is this your business?
Sherra Lsg
UNISTAR TALENT IS A SCAM!
MY GOAL: To save at least one unsuspecting person their hard earned money, because I obviously wasted mine. LONG READ, BUT IN A NUTSHELL: ELENA HUMPHRIES AND HER COMPANY UNISTAR TALENT (WHICH ENTAILS STEVE HUMPHRIES AND LISA STANLEY) WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY, AND YOU’LL BE LUCKY IF YOU HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN AFTER THAT. IF YOU DO FINALLY GET A HOLD OF HER (possibly by email), BE PREPARED FOR HER TO TALK IN CIRCLES OR GIVE YOU SOME INVALID EXCUSE FOR WHY SHE HASN’T DONE ANYTHING FOR YOU AND WHY YOU HAVEN’T PHYSICALLY RECEIVED YOUR PHOTOS AND COMP CARDS THAT YOU PAID FOR. IN MY OPINION, SHE AND HER COMPANY ARE EXTREMELY FRAUDULENT!!!! I signed with Elena Humphries, last January 2011, after seeing a Craigslist ad she posted looking for talent, because she was launching her so called talent agency (Unistar Talent) and needed clients, or victims. Prior to signing, I’ve done research on the web that said if a talent agency ever asks you for money upfront and/or advertises for clientele on the web, that it is most likely a fraud like One Source Talent, Explore Talent, John Casa Blanca and Barbizon Modeling School and so on. However, I took the chance to go in and meet with her to see what she had to say, after I submitted a few photos that she claimed she liked. She told me I was photogenic and I asked her extensive questions to try to determine if she was legit or not because since this was a very new company there wasn’t any information on the web or BBB so it was hard for me decipher. She also claimed that she was a former international model, but I couldn’t really find any supporting information on that as well. Based on her responses it seemed that she could very well be legit, but I knew that I wouldn’t really be able to tell until I signed with her and worked with her company. Only time would tell. Well folks, time has truly spoken. She is extremely unprofessional. Once she takes your $1,100 or any sum of money for the so called photo shoot (or $700 like Hickster says) be prepared for a serious drop in communication from her and if you are lucky enough to reach her she’ll give you nonsensical excuses. She rarely responded to my emails after months and weeks of trying to contact her. I also received no response to phone calls or voicemails, so I could get updates. The photos I paid $1,100 for were very subpar, and I have taken photos by cheaper photographers that came out much better. Moreover, I’ve never even seen or received my printed comp cards or portfolio book she claimed that my money was designated for. This leads me to strongly believe that she has misappropriated or pocketed my funds. Additionally, within the past year not only has she done consistently well at acquiring an F rating with the BBB (she currently has a C+), but she’s also honed her skills at switching offices constantly. She has been in 4 different offices in the past year. What legit business do you know switches offices so often, and I was only informed of one move. I found out about her third move by driving down to her office building because she was not responding to my communication attempts and the woman at the front desk informed me that they had moved. I wasn’t surprised. My advice is please don’t waste your money. My experience with her company and unprofessionalism has been horrid. When you look for a talent agency, look for legit ones and focus on companies that already have a history with the BBB or at least ratings on the internet, so you can determine whether it’s worth signing or a fraud. If the company post online for clients or ask for money upfront, run the other away. Legit and established agencies like Kim Dawson would never post online for clients, because they know how to get them. Elena simply wanted my money, and hasn’t delivered anything since. I haven’t been on at least one audition to see if I can book a job, and she has provided me with no legit information to prove that she has been working on submitting me for castings. I mean you can’t even really get in contact with her, most likely because she’s busy moving offices ever chance she gets, hanging up on you when you call her cell phone because she claims there’s static and she can’t hear you, flying back and forth between her home country and the U.S. and setting up fake photo shoots so she can take your money…..basically everything but actually doing work for her clients and maintaining a good reputation. I am extremely disgusted by her behavior and lack of business ethics. The good reviews she posted on the site and others as a rebuttal to hickster, I believe are all manufactured by her or her associates to try to create a positive image, so she can continue to take people’s money.
Loss:
$1100
2 comments
Jessica Z Uxg
Unistar Treated Me Great!
I had never modeled before but was always told by my friends that I had the look. I contact Elena at Unistar Talent and we met. I didn't have any professional pictures. She told me that she thought I had potential but wanted me to have some good quality pics done so she could make a final determination. I have a friend that is a professional photographer and she took several pics of me. I met with Elena again showed her my pics and she offered to sign me. I was hesitant since this was a new agency. In August I signed and am very please thus far. We did a private on-location photo shoot and my pictures came out great and my comp cards are even better. I've already been on several casting, but no work as of yet :) - I would like to thank Elena for her help in getting me into the business.
4 comments
Anonymous
I Have No Problem with UniStar
I've seen some of the negative reviews that have been posted by "Hickster" and the same postings under other names across the internet. Obviously this person has a vendetta against the agency as this has been a organized effort to defame the agency. While things haven't gone as smoothly as I expected all in all I am satisfied with the agency and their efforts. I modeled in St. Louis where I grew up and I joined Unistar back in March after moving to Dallas. I didn't get my photo shoot until June, partly my fault because of scheduling. Then I finally got my comp cards in September. So far I've been on a number of castings and got my first job in October for a local magazine layout. This is tough business and very competitive. Every model is different and has a different look and it's up to a casting agent to pick you - it's one in a 1000 chance. My agency in St. Louis would submit my e-card and would only get call backs on about 5% of submissions. My first year in St. Louis I got no work, because I did not have experience. So I am very thankful of what Unistar has been able to get me so far.
3 comments
gemill B
Unistar Talent Agency
Unistar Agency appears to be very similar to One Source Talent who simply charges a comp card fee and never delivers the comp card nor any bookings or follow up. I have been so-called signed for almost a year with no bookings, no photos, and too many unanswered emails! Please be careful. I would work only with Core Talent, Horne, Dawson, and some of the other more established firms in lieu of these smaller unverifiable firms. I can verify that as a client, I am completely dissatisfied and have seen no results despite their claims that I am highly marketable. http://www.unistartalent.com Elena Humphries Steve Humpries Lisa Stanley
Loss:
$700
35 comments
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Unistar Talent
Yeah, me too! I paid 450.00 and haven't seen anything.
I didn't expect too much, I guess, but I also didn't expect to see so many others with the same problem. What should we do?
File complaints with the BBB, Attorney General and Federal Trade Commission. Try to file a police report against them for theft.
And file a civil lawsuit against them for a refund of your stolen money plus you court fees and expenses. I'm sure many of the others who have been scammed too would love to join in on a lawsuit with you!