Is AMTC a Scam?

I was wondering, I just went on the website and it says that it is now Actors Models and Talent for Christ. Is this what it always was? And is it only for christians.

I just want to say thank you for posting such accurate and helpful information. It is great to hear about the experience from someone who actually participated in what AMTC offers. I found your information extremely helpful and honest. Thanks!!

Interesting. I am a powder coater and am always interested in this kind of info. Adauga Anunt Gratuit Bucuresti

If you want to know the truth about AMTC, it is not a “scam” in the sense of what the word means. They do produce an event that is attended by industry professionals, as they promise. I think “rip-off” is a better word. They charge an insane amount of money just to attend, not including travel, hotel and food. There are many other talent conventions similiar to this that can be attended for much less. And while some of the agents are good and legit, there are some who attend who really can’t do anything to help you or your child in your career. I think they’re there more for a vacation.

In regards to getting a callback, it is true that most everyone will get one when you audition. Unless you are just downright horrible or they don’t think you can afford to go, they will issue a callback. AMTC makes their money off the registration fees, so they need a certain number to pay the bills and make their money. And obviously the more registrations they get, the more money they make. And while someone getting a callback may not be a bad actor, they also may not realistically be strong enough to actually make it in the industry. So, if knowing in your heart that a person really has no chance of doing anything and you still give them a callback, wouldn’t that be somewhat scam-like?

And my biggest concern about AMTC is the use of religion. This was added a few years ago and really is more of a marketing ploy than anything else. The people who run this are far from anything Christ-like. This front they put on is fake.

So please consider these things before attending. There are many cheaper alternatives out there or if you’re ready to move to LA/New York, then sumbit yourself for representation to these agencies directly.

😯

If you don’t mind me asking (everyone), for those who have been to AMTC, how DID you raise the money to go? Or do they have a link on the site as to how to get scholarships, raise money and attend AMTC?

😕 So, help me understand Karen, because it is generally a very expensive since you find yourself paying for a lot of things while you’re there and not just before you attend, that’s what makes using God’s name wrong? Or what do you think they should be doing so that it IS right for them to use God’s name? I’m just asking

and also, DJ, let’s not forget….since you can’t afford this, when we put you on our payment plan, God will make a way for you to make these payments even if you have to have a fund raiser.

Nothing makes it right to use His name. So, just give your sales pitch and don’t bring His name into it, not unless you’re selling bibles.

I just finished reading your blog article and all of the replies and I must say it gave me a lot to think about. I was actually on my way to a 10am audtion in New Jersey when something told me to do some more research before I go. I had actually found out about AMTC through to young women in an acting group that I am part of. I liked the headshots that one of them got from her involvement and was interested in the training. However, your blog gave me sooooooo much more information along with the intelligent replies that were submitted. I have ultimately decided NOT to go to the audition this morning but there were several factors that played into this for me personally:
1- I have had exrtensive theatrical training as I attended and graduated from a performing arts HS, ran a theater club in college, and have done a couple of shows on and off.
2- I already have extensive connections in the entertainment industry that I can lean on a little when I am ready.
3- I live in NYC where I have access to many many many opportunites for exposure that will cost little to nothing.

Don’t get me wrong….I LOVE what AMTC has to offer. If you are not in a major city such as Los Angeles ( where I am orig from) Chicago, NY, or Atlanta where production work is done on a regualr basis, then this is an opportunity to get your foot in the door. However, if you are in the above mentioned cities, pick up a copy of Backstage and start taking classes. When you sign up with a reputable acting class or coach, they often hold showcases or will have information about reputable showcases. Also, start networking with other actors and creating projects with them. Much of what we are seeing today entertainement wise are brain childs of artist who were struggling and created their own opportunities. If there is a college or university in your area, start submitting to their film department and get on to some student film projects. They always need actors and you never know. Spike Lee and John Singleton continuously use the actors he started out with in college who have now made name for themselves through his films. If you need headshots, also approach the photograqphy department or any photgraphy student anywhere. They need to practice and you can get some good shots that you can use. Sign up with Central Casting to become a background actor. In NYC they do new signups on Thursdays. You can network with other background actors and get a lot of information to help you move forward. Sign up for open mics and go to shows! You have to know what’s out there! Read plays! Many projects are based on plays and classic books. It’s important to be educated about the industry before jumping in. And know your character type. If people often tell you that you look like a certain actor or actress or that you remind them of a certain type of character then that is your character type. Research the actors that people peg you for and see what type of roles they get and work they do. THOSE CAN BE YOUR JOBS! Also look at where they have trained see if you can follow suit. Ok that’s all I wanted to say….thank you for this very informative blog :o)

I tried out and did not get a callback, so the answer is not everybody gets a callback. I sing karaoke on a daily basis, and many people (not just the karaoke scene) have told me I should do something with my singing. So it’s not like I’m somebody who thinks they can sing. I knew there were technical aspects to my singing that needed work, and this is what they called me on. They were very straightforward and many people found out right away if they were not going to be accepted. They were on the fence about me. They are very into the fact that acting and singing go hand in hand. I was told to work with a vocal coach and get some acting under my belt. I felt it was very beneficial to me because I learned things that I didn’t completely know before about my singing, and in having connections to the industry they know what is expected. I plan on auditioning again in a year from now.

Prior to going I did some research online. I sent messages to 2 people that were in the shine event and whose videos are on youtube. Both were very helpful, the 1 actually won the contest at the shine. The girl who won is Gabbie Rae and it was because of her performance at the shine event that she was signed to an agent. She appeared on a video at the audition, it turns out that she has recently signed a major record deal and is working with the disney channel.

Wow! Thanks so much for all the helpful comments! My daughter and I both received a callback, and were going to register this coming weekend. The money was a huge issue for us! We just don’t have an extra 700 dollars every month! After reading, we’re gonna start here (the Dallas area) where we are first……… love this idea! It will save us lots of money, and you still get the experience to see if you’ve got what it takes. This came right at the time, just when I needed it, and was priceless information! Thank you so much!

Hello Everyone, My Son Elijah and I Tammie Mother. We just got a callback just an hour ago. The Producer called with great news saying they were so excited of the great news Mother and Son team got official callbacks. That god had a purpose, for us. We did a fantastic job at the audition. Well the audience were there. I got a big applause that was a true blessing. and I wrote a song called. Holy Spirit Within Me., MY SON elijah is actor model and Elijah was praised how terrific he was. We were thanking God for this true calling. We just spoke to the Producer congratulating us can’t wait to work with us God is calling us in this feild. Then he ask come to the registration today and get things done to start with AMTC. I asked about the registration he told me did you pray on this like I asked you to. I told him yes we gave it to God on this decsion on everything. He gave us our gifts we want to glorify in him. Well He told us please call this number and talk to Beth. So I am asking what is the registration the 500.00 of both of us to pay. If you can’t pay that what happens? Producer is waiting for us to call ASAP to welcome us in the AMTC family. Blessings Tammie.

I went with my adult niece to the auditions here in MN last Saturday, April 13th. They PRETEND to be Christian-based. They advertised that their services are aimed towards people of ALL ages and so my niece, who’s 50, signed up, after hearing about this on KTIS, our local Christian radio. She has a BA in music and also has performed major roles in many plays, as well as writes her own Christian music. They PROMISE to either phone with results of acceptance or send a denial email. They didn’t do either. They LIE. Would Christ LIE? No! Therefore, they are NOT Christian-based; they are a SCAM to get kids into this, as the only people they obviously allow to attend their convention are kids up to, perhaps 30. They show this lengthy video of mainly children and young people performing on stage and NOT one single ADULT is included in their video, although they stated they cater to people of ALL ages: I believe they advertised child to 83, which pretty much states everyone who breathes. They obviously WANT MONEY, is their bottom line. They even had us pray and sing one Christmas song and another old Christian standard, making the people in attendance buy into this Christian-based lie they shared. They pray for the Devil to be cast out and all lies that are being spread about them won’t be compelling. The sad thing is they aren’t LIES being told, but truths. Jesus WAS TRUTH and since they did nothing but LIE to get people to buy into their farce, I feel anybody interested in attending should STAND CLEAR. DO NOT BUY THEIR LIES and deceitful tactics!! They WANT your money: PERIOD!!! I believe they showed THREE people who they supposedly helped into show business: one guy who went on to Grey’s Anatomy and another young boy who went on to be a main role in the Lion King on Broadway. Yet another young girl sings very well, but must never have gotten all that famous, as we never heard of her. They also displayed a photo of a young model, dressed very well and then showed photos of her, after they’d redressed her, giving her the “Gothic Look.” And they stated that whatever the person has learned at other agencies is worthless to them, and how they must forget all they’ve learn, as they know the “correct way,” with this: “Our way or the highway mentality.” DON’T WASTE your money, folks; they are a HUGE scam and truly not Christian-based. They expect the young candidate to pay $500 up- front and then come up with $3995, or close to that figure if they are “selected” for a call-back. It’s a JOKE and Christ would not be happy one bit that they are using such distasteful tactics in His name!

AMTC is now a 501c3 non-profit corporation (ministry).

I just ran across this blog. I am up early thinking about my child and her first Launch session with AMTC this coming weekend. She was one that auditioned and was called back. We haven’t paid the whole fee as of yet and she is coming up on her first Launch session. She went to the audition, because she is interested in modeling. They told her that she had a better chance at SHINE if she did modeling, singing and acting. She has a beautiful voice, a beautiful face and has a lot to offer, but she absolutely does not want to act. What are the avenues for just getting into modeling? If a child is telling you that they don’t feel ready for a weekend Launch session, because they don’t want to act and they don’t feel they have had enough time to practice to the perfection needed for the songs that are required of them…… what would be your advice? Her Dad and I took her to the AMTC audition because she wanted too. We are being supportive, not trying to push her in this direction. I hate for her to give up an opportunity that we are able to provide for her, but I don’t want her to be stressed out about it either.
Thanks for your input!

i was in modeling school ever since i was 5 years old in FLINT MI (of all places). then I went to AMTC 2003 in Kansas City Mo. (before it went churchy) as a teen model i was 15 or 16. i met Millie Lewis’ daughter, i had to apologize for an incident that occurred during the convention lol. but anyways. i did extremely well. i still have the plaques on my walls. i took 1st place in “cold reading” 2nd in “swimsuit”, 3rd in “monologue” finalist in “over all actor”, and was an honorable mention in ALL other categories. i had call backs from agencies from Japan, Miami, LA, London, even in Stockholm. i was also featured in “boy crazy” magazine from that event. I signed with WILHELMINA in NYC on the spot. and spent the next 3 years on and off (mostly on, dropped out of school as i was never in MI) living in NYC as a full time actor/ model……i can go on and on about how many parts that i was “second choice” or “back up” for, and it sucked being only 5′ 9″ and the minimum for runway male is 6′. i was going to 5-8 auditions a day 7 days a week. everything from top shelf movies, to being in the background in a commercial or music video. i was living the life. AND NEVER GOT A SINGLE ROLE. AMTC does look good on a resume and EXCELLENT in all the training classes and knowledge you can gain from the experts in the industry. but you can be fantastic on the stage at AMTC and get boo-ed off the camera for the rest of your career in the actual dog-eat-dog that is modeling/acting. so i quit, went back to school and graduated top of my class with a college preparatory degree. Im now a parent, and i would NEVER put my child into that world. im not going to say that “oh im scarred cause i was a child actor” but i did miss out very critical moments in my social development, as i was trying to build a career before i could tell what side of the bed smelled the worst lol. that aside. if your a parent and you happen to have a cute kid, dont spend the thousands of dollars just for the chance for your kid to smile at the right people. put it into their education, cause it is true what they say, one day your hot, the next day your not. i hope that this story helps.

Facts:

AMTC is [now] a [501(c)(3)] nonprofit ministry dedicated to making good bolder in film, fashion, music and theater. Through a unique faith-based educational program, AMTC teaches performers how to become positive role models in the entertainment industry, then introduces them to top media executives through its international talent conference. AMTC follows The Great Commission of Jesus Christ by preparing actors, models, singers, dancers and comedians to ‘go into the world’ of arts and entertainment with love and excellence– as reflections of Christ and His truth.

Here are just a very few people who have succeeded with the help of AMTC:

Chris Young – country singer
tWitch – dancer
Austen Williams – Mrs America 2014
Ben Davies – Courageous
TC Stallings – Courageous
Abbie Cobb – actress in numerous movies/tv
Tim Urban – American Idol
Dustin Tavella – Rose Bowl theme song
Sonia Dara, CariDee – models
Corey Sligh – model/actor
Maggie Jones – We Bought a Zoo
Julian Silva – Les Miserables

The list is long. I’ll stop there.
The amtcworld.com website is comprehensive. You can collect information there and easily verify.

My opinion:
I believe it to be unlikely that someone who has simply auditioned and did not elect to go through and experience the entire program to speak about its benefits or opportunities.

I found a callback from AMTC for someone close to me to be the chance of a lifetime and entirely worth the ‘leap of faith’ it took several years ago to sign up.

Demi Craven – she’ll come up quickly in google
Her public facebook page is
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Demi-Craven/161162343936959
I’m sure she’d be grateful if you gave her page a ‘like’ and followed her adventures.

I am also friends with Mrs America 2014, Austen Williams, whose platform is an end to trafficking/slavery. She has a public page as well.

I am also acquainted with, have met, or have met family members of many of the folks I listed above and others if you would like me to keep listing them.

@Dawn

The chances of being discovered through AMTC is slim-to-none.
Their only success story who made it big in Hollywood is Megan Fox.

Everyone else you mentioned are people I’ve never heard of.

My daughter attended Shine winter of 2014 and received 14 callbacks.

Fourteen! Including one from Duane, the senior scout from Trump modeling in New York, who told us the flash interviews are murder for him to sit through. He also said he only callsback 8 at each Shine. There were about 1,000 contestants with us. My daughter was 15 then, just turned 16. She is truly beautiful and over 5’8″. After AMTC now what 2 months or so? ZERO return phone calls. After all the attention (not many get 14 or more callbacks) she has had no agents or agencies contact her since AMTC. Do you think your kid will get 14 callbacks? Save your money. Millie and her employees are wonderful and I like them to a person, but ….Fat Chance. (pardon the pun) LOL. No sour grapes, just care about others spending money, since another friend we met at AMTC also had a daughter who feels the same way. Great experience, yes, and we may even have done it again, but unless you have the disposable resources, you shoudn’t.

I think the bottom line is AMTC is not a scam. Just the Lotto. Truly, very nearly the same odds, but with a few thousand dollars to play. Best of luck getting even a couple of callbacks. And if you do, I believe they are “mercy” callbacks. Flash Interviews?…. forget it. Absolutely NOT. As to the original “auditions” –everybody gets in.

I can’t help but question the true motives of AMTC. I attended an audition. I was captivated by the prayer and praise and worship. I was even more captivated by the presentation that promoted Jesus in such a way, that gave Him the glory He truly deserves. I auditioned and was so excited at the proposition of working for my King doing something that I love. I indeed received a call back, but my husband and I became real skeptical when we realized how much this program was going cost vs the products received. I have learned how to place my complete trust in God and the leading of the Holy Spirit and how to discern what is of God and was is not. I prayed and sought God earnestly about this opportunity. And like with everything that life brings our way, I was instructed to compare this situation to what the Word of God says. Is the concept of the “Shine” convention an awesome one…absolutely! The motive of the program founders is what troubled me. If it was truly believed by the company owners that having more Christians in media is what they are called to do, then they are going about it all wrong! The heart of God is always one of charity, ‘…It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). So asking God’s people to sow so much money into something that has the potential to yield such little return, is totally against the way our Father asks us live! I can’t believe that He would back a company that solicits funds in this manner. Although I agree totally that Jesus needs more place in media, I don’t believe this company is the one that He is going to use to do that!!!! I urge you to seek God yourself on this matter and read 1 John 4:1… Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,.. Sincerely— A most humble servant of the Most High!!

@Mandy
AMTC’s vision(goal) is clearly stated on their website and does not involve training/creating ‘A-listers’. (Several A-listers come to mind who really need to hear the gospel.) The people that I listed are making a significant positive impact for Christ with their gifts. If even one soul is won (or a soul is not lost) due to their efforts, that is success.

@Crystal
Based on your post, your heart is clearly in the right place. Your individual decision not to go forward with AMTC may have been right for you. However, please consider carefully your judgment of a ministry with whom you have spent time only long enough to audition.
The value of going through AMTC is inestimable. A ‘for profit’ company providing the same training/opportunity would have to (& does) charge a great deal more.
I refer you to my posts above (on 18 Feb) where I list folks who I have a connection with and/or know personally who went through the entire experience, beyond audition. (I tried to post links, but this blog does not allow that)

Thanks for the insights. I recently attended a try out in colorado, and was impressed for the most part with t he message of AMTC, why they do what they do etc. I agreed 100% that christians with talent probably should use it for Christ. Interestingly, I have been pretty accomplished vocally for a good many years, and was pleased to see an opportunity to do something besides sing in the shower. The tryout went well and the young actor who listened to me said it was great. OK!, but strangely no call back. OK I am too old, and not good enough for the road show! I am cool with that, but I was not sure why I didn’t get an email to say NO. I didn’t hear anything, although an email expressing ones failure to impress anyone was promised. I will continue to do my thing with Jesus, and ask Him some day if He thinks I am not good enough too, or it was just the AMTC judge who was not impressed. I do not think AMTC is a money sucking gig, or they would call everyone back to sell the big show for big bucks. I do wonder if the criterion they use is purely GOD, or if there is a very carnal element. Who knows? Anyway I am disappointed I think, but I am at peace either way, just not sure why you would beg folks to come out, and then just disregard them entirely and rather rudely suggest that they are unacceptable. I would rather the real agents and scouts etc. make that decision. just my .02. Shalom