The press coverage of the accusations made against Bill Cosby and several other \u201csex in the news\u201d stories, have resulted in our receiving some inquiries about certain people in the industry\u00a0who just don’t get\u00a0the attention\u00a0they\u00a0deserve\u00a0–\u00a0sexual predators. Regardless of gender,\u00a0the sexual predators we refer to\u00a0engage in\u00a0activities ranging from harassment, intimidation,\u00a0assault and worse.\u00a0\u00a0The unauthorized creation and\/or distribution of sexually compromising photos is frequently a component of such disgusting behavior.<\/p>\n
There is a potential liability of agents who send models (or actors) on auditions, go-sees, or casting calls, to an individual – whether photographer or client – who is known to the agent as\u00a0being a sexual predator.<\/p>\n
There are also a lot of models that try or do get work on social media and model websites. Such sites\u00a0generally don\u2019t provide any of the\u00a0protections that a model agency or agent frequently does\u00a0provide. But then, some disreputable agencies and agents are just wolves playing\u00a0a role in the\u00a0predator’s process, so to speak. Rather than protect their in house charges, they can be just as lethal as those outside predators by being negligently or intentionally complicit. Fortunately there are many reputable agencies that do take their legal responsibilities as “agent” seriously.\u00a0 These better agencies\u00a0have the experience and knowledge to\u00a0separate\u00a0the legitimate\u00a0photographers from the bottom feeders.<\/p>\n
Predators in this industry rely heavily on the desperation exhibited by some models to “get seen” by any means necessary. Models should never <\/strong>throw either logic or caution\u00a0to the wind. Unfortunately some female models often discount their negative gut feelings a\/k\/a “woman’s intuition” or\u00a0the term we\u00a0prefer, the\u00a0“ick factor”\u00a0about someone because of their desire to obtain a modeling assignment.\u00a0 And guys, since this is not just a single gender issue, should utilize their gut feeling. If something feels wrong then there probably is something wrong.\u00a0 A model agent\u00a0intent on personally measuring your inseam and lingering while doing so,\u00a0may\u00a0be grooming you not for future assignments but rather for assignations.<\/p>\n Here are some very real life,\u00a0horrible scenarios:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.\u00a0 Young, wannabe but never will be<\/em> model, signs on with sleazy model agent who supplies low end wannabe photographers and is compensated in some manner for the “service”.\u00a0 Few if any “real” photo sessions take place;<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 Legitimate young model with some credits is sent by otherwise respectable model agency to well known photographer\/actor\/casting agent on a “fake” go see. The predator is typically someone who is responsible for a significant amount of annual billing at the model agency. Typically, the predator has specifically selected the model he\/she wants the agency to send;<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 Model goes on a shoot, which has been falsely<\/em> represented to be a legitimate shoot or test, for let\u2019s say Elle, Vogue or some other high profile and utterly reputable publication. Photographer makes additional false representations to the model orally regarding the job. The photographer also uses a model release, which is intentionally vague or does not conform with the model’s (or model agent’s) understanding of the job. Sometimes the predator understandably dupes the model while on other occasions model agencies have knowingly sent models to photographers who are known to be “sleazy” or worse.<\/p>\n 4. Same as above, but Model gets booked on Models Be Us website (made up name) and does not have an agent or an agency to protect them. Offensive images created without consent. Model ends up signing a release for images that they are told is just for the photographer\u2019s \u201cpersonal\u201d use, but ends up in a real ad or worse, a sleazy website.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0 Model goes to audition and at some point it is made clear that sexual services will be required in order to do the photo shoot and ultimately for the model to be paid;<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0 Model agent suggests or demands sexual favors from a wanna be model as a condition to\u00a0represent the model.
\nPlease note, that many model agencies and agents are very responsible and protective of their models. The #5 scenario above, which still happens in 2015,\u00a0was also something Jack heard about in the industry in the\u00a0late \u201870s. As the story went, several big time account execs at a big time ad agency had a shoot in the Caribbean during a cold NY winter. At the casting, they were clear about what they expected from who ever they booked for this weeklong shoot on a tropical island.\u00a0The powerful and well-known model\u00a0agency\u00a0owner, had those\u00a0slobs fired from the ad agency and on the street by lunchtime.<\/p>\n