One of Los Angeles’ most prominent casting workshop firms, The Actor’s Key, is shutting down and is declaring bankruptcy after being hit with labor charges by the City Attorney’s office.
In a letter posted on their website, The Actor’s Key Family wrote, “As many of you are aware, we have been charged with violating the Krekorian Talent Act. As a result of these circumstances, we have found that there is no realistic alternative to closing the business, and commencing bankruptcy proceedings under Chapter 7.”
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles city attorney announced cases against five casting firms and 25 individuals allegedly involved in violating the Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act, which forbids casting workshops from charging aspiring actors for auditions in violation of state law.
“I want to underscore what the rules are,” City Attorney Mike Feuer had said at a press conference last week. “It’s unlawful to charge any performer for an audition, even if that supposed activity is disguised as a workshop.”
Actors’ Ally, The Actors Link, The Actor’s Key, Your Studio Productions and The Casting Network were named as the alleged violators.
SAG-AFTRA had released a statement supporting the prosecution, stating, “These workshops prey on the hopes and dreams of people that want to work in this industry. No one is more committed to addressing this problem than this office and Mike Feuer. Our members and our future members are the people who are victims of these scams. It’s essential to take action. These people’s dreams were taken advantage of. These are not people of means. These are people barely getting by. So just to be considered for a job, it’s a real abuse.”
See The Actor’s Key full letter below.
To our valued teachers and students,
It is with a heavy heart that we write this letter. We created The Actor’s Key as a way for actors to gain an education in performing and the business of acting. Throughout the past almost-decade, we have had so many of you touch our lives, and we hope that our effect on your lives has been a positive one.
Unfortunately, as many of you are aware, we have been charged with violating the Krekorian Talent Act.
As a result of these circumstances, we have found that there is no realistic alternative to closing the business, and commencing bankruptcy proceedings under Chapter 7. The Actor’s Key, LLC has begun taking steps in that direction. The commencement of a bankruptcy case will result in the appointment of a trustee to manage the case, liquidate assets of the company, and make distributions to creditors, if there are funds available to do so. Although we are hopeful that those of you with credits and/or claims for refund will get at least a small dividend from the bankruptcy case, it is too early to tell whether that will be the case. The Chapter 7 Trustee will determine if and to what extent there will be any payments to creditors.
We thank-you for all the years you have spent with us. We hope you will continue to open doors to success, using the keys you learned from us over the years.
The Actor’s Key Family