Review of Agency 888

4 years ago

Beware!

Beware!

like most agencies the idea is to get you on the books and get you work. Unless you're this company's star performer then you will not get much from them.
I was talked up to sign with 888 in Brisbane and do a shoot with one of their highly recommended photographers. It was overpriced and out of the hundred photos we took on that day I could only use 4 of them. I had met with the director of 888 multiple times in the early stages but it was usually when I was spending money on a workshop or photoshoot. Over time the communication between 888 and myself went quite. When I returned again to "check in" like the company reccomends we do every few months the director himself didn't even recognize me and treated me as a brand new client. I played with this to see how far it would go and sure enough he gave me the same speech he gives everyone to get you on the books and sell you this dream. When I called him out on this he was speechless and started promising me work immediately telling me that I am "so much more marketable now" (referring to my new haircut from dreadlocks to a fade) before that I was supposed to be "marketable" with the look I had. No one in the company gave any advice to "improve" my look if that were an issue. Before i left the office, they wanted updated headshots and were over the moon when I gave them "professional" photos that cost me nothing from an ex employer of theirs who left due to issues they had with the company as well.

After this meeting I had with the director I recieved just one extras job on a film that didn't pay. I was with 888 for a whole year and it took me having to call them out for them to give ONE job that went no where. Then my contract ended with them and that was the last I heard of 888.

I'm sharing this as this was my experience with the company and for others who read this to be aware of scammers and being sold this dream as not everything that shines is gold.

You don't need to pay hundreds of dollars for headshots and profile photos.
Same thing goes for the workshops that are offered. This is how the company makes its money. Over price everything in the Hope's they find schmucks who will pay it. However as I said before... this was my experience with them. Just a fair warning to anyone looking for representation from a an agency.