Four months after SAG-AFTRA warned casting websites that it was illegal to collect fees from actors who want to submit themselves for commercial casting, a California-based public interestfirm has filed a class action lawsuit against Casting Networks for its controversial pay-to-play model.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of actors Nicole Kreuzer, Marco Martinez and Brandy Waller, alleges CN is in violation of California Labor Code 450 by charging actors for the chance to audition for a role.
The company’s “bait and switch” tiered subscription-based service violates the state’s unfair business practice and false advertising laws, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
California Labor Code 450 says “no employer, or agent or officer thereof, or other person, may compel or coerce any employee, or applicant for employment, to patronize his or her employer, or any other person, in the purchase of any thing of value.” A similar law exists in New York.
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