The 98‪%‬ Alexa Morden and Katie Elin-Salt

Just when you thought this business couldn't get any tougher, Deadline exposes another scandal that has rocked the industry and sent shockwaves through the creatvies involved in the audition process. Agents sending fake self tape requests to actors?! If this is something you'd never even contemplated before, you wouldn't be the only one. But sadly these are not just isolated incidents... 
Including comments from The CDA and Equity's General Secretary, testimonies from actors who have been affected, and more, join me on a deep dive into the recently exposed scandal of agents sending fake self tape requests to clients. The what's, how's, why's...
This isn't just about fake auditions, it's about deceit, emotional manipulation, selfish gain and moral corruption in an industry with such a powerful hierarchy, that this behaviour has been able to thrive for years.
[Like the Bodhi Scandal episode, this one is more of a broadcast style vibe - would love to know what you think about this kind of style for The 98%! Share your thoughts online @the98percentpod]
Read:
IAM / Luc Chaudhary / Helen Kelly
'UK Self-Tape Scandal Deepens: International Artists Management Admits Sending Client Misrepresented Audition Invite'
https://deadline.com/2024/03/international-artists-management-iam-sent-client-misleading-audition-invites-1235842868/comment-page-2/#comments
'“Was My Tape Fake?”: The Question Panicked British Actors Are Asking Casting Directors About Audition Invites — And Why It Matters'
https://deadline.com/2024/03/uk-fake-self-tape-scandal-explained-1235859627/comment-page-2/#comments
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If you appreciate the work being done by, and for, The 98% please consider donating to our ko-fi, every little helps and goes back into doing what we do here!
https://ko-fi.com/the98percent 

"Archie Purnell" JAMIE FISHER (also using the name 'Richard'), rogue talent agent, is back with a new name, new studio name ('Wigan TV & Film Acting School'), but the same old tricks.
To get ahead of accusations he is spreading rumours and false claims.
Knowing all I know, I cannot sit back and let more people be scammed.
"Drawing from documented sources and firsthand accounts of those impacted, I am making this public statement, as a vital disclosure for anyone who may come into contact with, now or in the future, Jamie Fisher aka Jamie Thomas Fisher aka AP James aka Archie Purnell."
This statement has also been released as a video on social media. You can find the full video on instagram @the98percentpod, with links posted on twitter at the same handle.
You can find the full transcription of this statement here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W5wJ8qq_lcpkM4eqTfzaYzlRtGJB7tyh4betF5XWfnE/edit?usp=sharing
Listen to S5E32 of The 98% to hear more information and background to this scandal.
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If you appreciate the work being done by, and for, The 98% please consider donating to our ko-fi, every little helps and goes back into doing what we do here!
 

This episode is 1 hour 4 mins long. If your podcast app is only playing the first 45 mins, there is a technical issue that is currently being looked at! Please check back here for the full episode coming asap!
Last year The 98% was contacted by Jake Kanter, a journalist for Deadline, after the podcast featured stories of those who experienced abuse and misconduct at UK drama schools. Thus began a relationship that has resulted in multiple exsposé articles unearthing misconduct in the industry after people who had reports to make had nowhere left to go, apart from The 98%, to share what had happened to them. So why did Alexa, and many others, feel like a journalist was the only option in having their voice heard? How does writing an exposé work? What are some behind-the-scenes looks at the uncovering of these recent topics? And why does the idea that those who report are making falsehoods not hold up in these cases? Listen to find out...
Contact Jake:
Email jkanter@deadline.com
Twitter: jake_kanter
Looking for a fun, flexible paythebills job that pays weekly and can work around your #actorslife? Check our krulive.com and join their team! We are so appreciative of Kru sponsporing and supporting The 98%
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Help support The 98%, every penny goes into the finances of podcasting and helps us stay on the air for free for all to enjoy!
Ko-Fi https://ko-fi.com/the98percent 

Mental health has always been a throughline for episodes of The 98% and so the podcast is proud to host Adam Bambrough in this episode, founder and CEO of Wellbeing in the Arts.
After leaving the acting profession due to struggles with his own mental wellbeing, Adam planned to write a book revealing the scope of actors and creatives with mental health struggles. He soon realized that there was no stand alone mental health support in the entertainment industry, so no wonder mental health struggles were affecting so many creatives. And so..he made one himself. Wellbeing in the Arts works towards their vision of an industry in which every individual, organisation and production has access to mental health and wellbeing support and where awareness and understanding of mental health issues is vastly improved, along with the root causes of poor mental health in the workplace being addressed.
Adam shares his journey as an actor, leaving the professions, neurodivergence, and more. This is an honest, transparent and much needed conversation about creatives and how this industry can exacerbate struggles, and what needs to be done to help.

CN: This episode contains discussion around mental illness
This brilliant organization has helped Alexa herself have access to 6 weeks of counselling for an incredibly accessible price considering the promptness and high quality of the service. Find out more about this much needed org here https://www.wellbeinginthearts.org.uk
Need support with your mental health? 
Email: support@wellbeinginthearts.org.uk
Call: 0330 123 5574
Text: +44 7496 896 436
For general enrquries or to chat to Adam about his services email admin@wellbeinginthearts.org.uk
Follow them online @Wellbeinthearts
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency please call emergency services 999 or Samartians 116 123
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The 98% is excited to have this episode sponsored by Kru Live! Find out how you can get paid to have fun with flexible, exiciting work perfect for actors here https://krulive.com 
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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series.
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If you've benefitted from and enjoyed the podcast and want to give a little back, we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent 

After a lifetime dedicated to the "I can do nothing but act" frame of mind, everything changed aged 39 for guest Lee Mengo. Thinking about his future and his prospects, Lee realized that acting wasn’t giving him what he needed in life. Financially, mentally, spiritually, egotistically...but coming to terms with that was a long hard road. When he finally made the decision to step away, start his journey of sobriety, and found a job that he loved teaching young actors…his 20 years of hard work came back around and he ended up booking bucket list acting jobs!
As a teacher, Lee practices the values of kindness and positivity. He shares with his students the importance of finding validation and authenticity within themselves and how actor training has no room for hostility or high pressure. This episode is a must listen for an injection of inspiration, positivity, hope, and a reminder to live a person centered #actorslife.
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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series.
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If you've benefitted from, and enjoyed, the podcast and want to give a little back; we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent 
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Want to connect with other actors around the world, be coached, see castings, read in for self tapes or earn money reading for others? You can do all this and more at https://www.weaudition.com with 25% off your monthly subscription with the discount code 9825!

After a group of actors reported their concerns about their former agent regarding fake self tapes, withheld pay, skimming money, lying about cancer, and more, to no avail...they came to Alexa at The 98% for advice on next steps. With seemingly nowhere else to turn, Alexa passed the information on to Deadline journalist Jake Kanter, encouraging him to help expose these dodgy dealings...For the sake of these actors, the others on the agencies book, and the inudstry as a whole. Thankfully, he did. 
And thus began #BodhiGate. Hundreds of emails, texts, screenshots, messages, sent and recieved...police reports, zoom meetings, seven google docs and a 30 page-and-counting armchair investigation into what Alexa describes as a "con of the highest tier." Not all can be revealed...yet. But this episode exists as a comprehensive collation of what is detailed in the articles, next steps for those affected, and insight into what is hopefully a catalyst for real industry change.

Thank you to Layla, Jake, and others, who have been instrumental in these important developments.
(Apologies for slight congestion..am overcoming the flu!)
Email the98percentpod@gmail.com or DM @the98percentpod
Report to:
Equity
mkenny@equity.org.uk
Spotlight
feedback@spotlight.com
Donate to The 98%'s Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/the98percent/goal?g=116
Journalists can get a bad rap..but it can make all the difference when a good one is on your side. Jake was there to tell this story when no one else would help, get in touch with him by email jkanter@deadline.com or find him on twitter @Jake_Kanter
Read Jake's full Deadline articles here:
https://deadline.com/2024/02/bodhi-talent-archie-purnell-professional-misconduct-allegations-1235816154/comment-page-2/#comments
https://deadline.com/2024/02/bodhi-talent-luna-kids-casting-accused-of-scam-fees-1235825274/
https://deadline.com/2024/02/the-crown-bad-education-actors-owed-money-bodhi-talent-1235830720/
If you'd like to hear more about The 98%'s crusade for a safer industry, listen to the 5 part mini series from last year - with special mention to S5E3 with pioneer and trail blazer, Helen Raw:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1l4G9d77EJmYNXDsWWX5MF?si=633583fe532a4eda