The Hollywood dream has always burned bright for writers…and scammers and dodgy operators have always been eager to take advantage. The method may change–from the coverage grifts and pay-to-play snail mail catalogs that were a staple of the pre-internet days, to the impersonation and fake film company scams of today–but the aim is the same: to trick writers into spending money for nothing.
Last July, I began getting reports of solicitations from a company called Motionflick Studios.
Everything about this email said “bogus”, from the solicitation itself (solicitation, as regular readers of this blog know, is one of the first signs of fraud these days), to the implausibly large option fee, to the absurd notion that an established Hollywood figure like Paul Dano would be personally creating pitch decks.
Other signs of bogosity: Motionflick appeared to be brand new, with a web domain registered on June 25, 2023, just days before the solicitation was sent. Although it claimed to be the successor of a real film company, June Pictures, that went bust in 2018, there was no independent evidence (such as reporting in Variety) to corroborate this. Its website heavily implied association with films and TV shows there was no proof it had anything to do with. (The website no longer exists, though you can get a glimpse courtesy of the Wayback Machine.) As for the Producer’s Film Pitch event…apart from Motionflick’s own press release via a fake New York Times site, it did not appear to exist, in any month or any city anywhere in the USA.
So what’s the payoff? See the second paragraph of the solicitation, which urges the author to “submit a polished screenplay of your book”. Most authors don’t just have a screenplay lying around, which of course is the point: it’s a referral scam.
And indeed, it wasn’t long before I heard from an author who took the bait. They were passed to an outfit called Swift Start Media, which quoted a fee of $7,000 to create a screenplay. Swift Start Media is registered in Delaware as an LLC; its filing date, June 6, 2023, precedes the registration of Motionflick’s web domain by just 19 days. (Motionflick, by contrast, never had a business registration–a common situation with referral scams, where the company doing the solicitations is just a conduit for the business that collects the cash.)
Many scammers stick with the same approach, or mix and match and cut and paste from a menu of solicitation templates. Motionflick apparently felt the need to evolve. Here’s the next iteration, featuring a different event, the Hollywood Pitch Festival, and a different producer, Scott Danzig:
Note the addition of fulsome praise, designed to make the author feel chosen. The request for material has also escalated: this time, it’s not just a screenplay, but a storyboard that’s required “in order for Mr. Danzig to work his magic”. Note also the addition of time pressure: submission is due in less than a month.
Also different: unlike the Producer’s Film Pitch event, the Hollywood Pitch Festival is real. It’s sponsored by Fade In Magazine–which was not at all pleased by Motionflick’s co-option of its brand, and served Motionflick with a cease-and-desist.
Of course, you can’t keep recruiting for events that have already happened, so whether because of the C&D or just the passage of time, Motionflick baited its hook with a new event, Story Expo, while continuing to misuse Scott Danzig’s name:
And in October, another pitch switch. It’s now the Les Arcs Film Festival, happening in December in France. Scott Danzig has fallen by the wayside; the new celebrity is producer and director Martin Brest, who the writer is expected to believe will personally commit to “crafting a compelling presentation for your book” and advocate for it in person at the festival. Mr. Brest, by the way, hasn’t been active in the entertainment industry since 2003.
Note also an interesting addition, presumably to allay any writerly jitters: a (false) assurance in the final paragraph that “[t]his initiative incurs no expenses.”
On to 2024. New year, new carrot: the Berlin Film Festival. Martin Brest is still pitch deck creator-for-hire.
All the solicitations include strategic egoboo in the form of generic flattery, but this time Motionflick has really gone over the top: the writer’s work is “standout”, a “visual masterpiece”, “compelling”, “richly-textured”, “stunning”, and “will undoubtedly leave audiences enthralled”. Who doesn’t want that? This solicitation also showcases scammers’ odd occasional habit of appropriating famous people’s names as aliases for their sales reps (not always alive ones, either: I’ve seen solicitations from James Dean, Anne Rice, and Leonard Cohen).
At this point, I’d been getting reports of Motionflick emails on a monthly basis. But after the January solicitation, I heard nothing more. At some point (I can’t remember exactly when), the Motionflick website vanished. This is not unusual: such scams often have very short shelf lives, whether because they generate too many public complaints or the people/companies whose names they appropriate take preventive action (more on that below).
Then, in April, a reboot.
They’ve changed their name to Snow Day Film, and downgraded from Martin Brest to his son, Isaac (maybe they finally read Mr. Brest’s Wikipedia entry). And it’s a new event, the Wales International Film Festival (which, not for nothing, is being held online this year, so when Mr. Isaac Brest arrives in Swansea, he’s going to have to find something else to do).
Otherwise, it’s the same solicitation. And see the URL at the very bottom? It’s the Motionflick press release from July 2023, claiming to be the successor to June Pictures, with Snow Day Film’s name slotted in.
So why did Motionflick change its spots? Turns out, karma is a bitch.
As for Swift Start Media, it’s alive and well, as befits the part of the scam that actually collects the cash. It’s got a slick website that names multiple high-profile clients. Like most scams, though, it withers under scrutiny: its vague assurances of expertise are unverifiable, its “portfolio” is bogus (including this ludicrous claim), and its address is that of the company formation service that created its LLC.
It has also switched the testimonial from Motionflick that was on the site as late as January 2024 to one from Snow Day.
For a comprehensive look at how the movie business really works, including why you don’t need third party-created screenplays, storyboards, or any of the other crap that scams like Motionflick/Snow Day/Swift Start want to sell you, see this guest post from industry expert Jeanne Veilette Bowerman: How a Book Really Becomes a Movie.
I am a first time author and scared. I am with a publisher that now wants me to pay for a trailer. I have already spent $7,000 and they want me to pay 1,500 more for some kind of trailer. I paid 1,500 for an interview with Colin Crawford, who I never knew and he is a reporter and plays a reporter on “Blue Bloods” and other shows. What am I doing wrong. This publisher is in Los Angeles and I am in Hilton Head, SC, but born and raised in Savannah, GA.
Reputable publishers don’t charge fees or sell services, and reputable self-publishing service providers don’t pressure authors to buy paid interviews or overpriced book trailers. It sounds to me as if you’ve unfortunately gotten involved with a predatory business (if not an outright scam). What’s the name of the company?
You also end up with places like Hollywood Book Review (along with Pacific Book Review) promising authors that if you have them review your book, they’ll get it in front of movie producers. Both are just vanity review services targeting inexperienced authors with glowing reviews so they’ll come back again and again.
I’m looking through the publishing companies on this list, and I came across some pretty bad reviews for a few of them. But there are some companies I’ve never heard of, and I couldn’t find any reviews online, which makes me wonder how they ended up on this list. Do you have any proof or links explaining why these companies are labeled as scams? I’m getting ready to publish my book and just doing some research. Honestly, I’m not sure if this website is a trustworthy source since there’s no evidence for some of the companies listed. Thanks!
I meant this list by the way: https://writerbeware.blog/scam-archive/
Please read the preamble to the list (the Read This First) section. It should answer your questions.
If you have a particular company in mind, I can let you know what kinds of complaints/reports I’ve received about it. You can email me or respond here. beware@sfwa.org
Yes, I read everything.
There’s some discrepancy with the statement in the preamble, “All of the listings are supported by multiple reports and complaints from writers, research, and documentation in Writer Beware’s possession.” It appears that not all companies listed have reviews or feedback from individuals who have interacted with them. For example, I couldn’t find any information about “A-Plus Task Masters” online.
Also, as far as I’m concerned, unless you have solid proof that all of these companies are scams, you might risk being accused of providing misinformation. Could you add some hyperlinks to reviews claiming people have been scammed for each company? That way, we’d have solid references. As authors, we really want to find trustworthy partners for launching and promoting our books. Thanks!
I’m not sure what discrepancy you’re referring to? Online complaints only exist in a tiny minority of cases. Most complaints and reports, along with documentation, have been provided directly to Writer Beware. We have a very large archive of such complaints and documentation, built over the past 25 years. For more information about us and what we do, see our About page (link in the top menu), especially the section on What’s Questionable.
A-Plus Task Masters’ website is here. As you can see, it’s an unfinished free Wix site (for example, see the Portfolio page) with a domain registration that’s only just over two months old (which makes it kind of hard to figure how the A-Plus folks could have accomplished all the career-changing things alleged by the three testimonials on the site). A-Plus solicitations come from an Ava Mendez, whose emails are identical to those sent out in large numbers by a scammer impersonating reputable literary agent Kathleen Anderson.
Thank you for sharing the link to their website.
I browsed through it, and it appears that they are not a publishing company. Their services include Book Development Consultation, Content Creation Sessions, and SEO Strategy Consultation, all of which list prices.
I couldn’t locate your post about Ava Mendez. Could you please direct me to it?
Regarding domain registration, doesn’t it expire after a certain period and require renewal? Don’t you think some of these companies may have recently renewed their domain registrations?
I get at least one of these emails weekly, and in the past three months, a phone call from agencies like this, often two or three of them in a week. I file them in a folder called “They Wanna Make Me Famous.”
I am writing to report a suspected scam attempt involving a person claiming to be “Ben Brandt” from International Media AG, related to a book-to-film adaptation offer.
Here are the details of the incident:
Initial Contact: I received an unsolicited email from an individual named “Ben Brandt,” purportedly representing International Media AG. The email address used was info@internationalmediaag.com.
Website Reference: The email included a link to the website https://internationalmediaag.com/. The content of the email was convincing, presenting a professional tone and appearance, and proposed a book-to-film adaptation deal.
Phone Call: Shortly after receiving the email, I received a phone call from a person with a noticeable accent. The caller identified themselves as Ben Brandt and referenced the email I had received. They proceeded to discuss the supposed adaptation project and asked for further personal details.
Request for Payment: The caller requested that I send a check to “Writers Gate LLC” located in Sarasota, Florida, as part of a supposed fee to secure their services for the adaptation project.
Red Flags:
The caller had a heavy accent, which seemed inconsistent with the professional tone of the email.
There was an urgent insistence on sending the check immediately to Writer Gate LLC.
The details provided during the call had several inconsistencies compared to the information in the email.
Reputable firms typically do not request upfront payments in this manner for legitimate adaptation deals.
Given the above details, I believe this to be a coordinated scam attempt to gather personal and financial information and solicit fraudulent payments under the guise of a legitimate business inquiry.
For your reference, I have attached a copy of the email and provided the phone number used by the caller: 845 477 5327 and 209 800 1031.
Please advise on the appropriate steps to take to ensure that this matter is properly investigated and to prevent further fraudulent activities.
Thank you for your attention to this matter
HI, Jeff,
I’ve gotten several reports of solicitations from “Ben Brandt”–two the same as the one you posted, impersonating Intermedia Films, and a couple more impersonating Amazon Prime Video and using the email address @filmstudiohead.com. Some of the authors who received these solicitations also report being referred to Writers Gate LLC (aka the scammer behind the impersonation). You’re correct that there should never be required fees or purchases associated with rights acquisition; additionally, film companies don’t contact authors out of the blue to make offers.
I’m often struck by how simultaneously elaborate and sloppy many of these scams are. They’ve created an elaborate fake website for Intermedia (with a web domain just 34 days old)–yet they either don’t seem to have noticed, or are assuming that recipients won’t check, that both of the supposedly corroborating links in the second email clearly indicate that Intermedia is not in business any longer, and stopped making movies after 2009.
https://epicstudio-us.com/ this is also the company that they routed me to do a cinematic trailer
To address these concerns, I recommend conducting thorough research on International Media AG, Ben Brandt, and Vincent Sebastian. Look for reviews, news articles, and any signs of previous fraudulent activities associated with them. Verify the company’s legitimacy by contacting them directly using verified contact information from a reliable source, and avoid using contact details provided in the initial suspicious email. Seek advice from industry professionals or legal advisors who can provide insight into whether the request for a cinematic trailer is standard practice or a potential scam.
If substantial evidence suggests that this is a scam, report the activity to relevant authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States or equivalent bodies in your country. Until you can confirm the legitimacy of the company and individuals involved, refrain from sharing any personal or sensitive information.
Additionally, information about potential scammers associated with Writer Gate LLC can be found:
https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=ForwardList&searchNameOrder=WRITERGATE%20L240000218000&aggregateId=flal-l24000021800-8cffb013-b5ef-4f61-a669-f1c05646a393&searchTerm=WRITE%20HOLDINGS%2C%20INC.&listNameOrder=WRITERESULTS%20P990000524090.
We know this since it was routed to payment. This reinforces the importance of verifying any unusual or unsolicited business requests thoroughly.
This is a really eye-opening title. It’s disheartening to hear about scams targeting passionate authors who dream of seeing their work adapted into films. I’d love to know more about the specific tactics used by these fraudulent companies and any red flags that authors should look out for. It’s crucial to stay informed and cautious in this industry. Looking forward to reading the full post for more details.
I just got a similar email from a company called Mitchelle withRick Sanchez
Copyright Coordinator. any take on them?
It’s always a good idea to check my Overseas Scams List. Mitchelle is on it.
Hey, I got contacted by this guy too. I’m looking into the company, but honestly, I haven’t seen anyone else mentioning it except for you, Victoria. I’m curious why it’s on your list. What makes you think Mitchelle is a scam? Do you have any proof? You’re the only one bringing this up!
I never list a company unless I have documentation. Complaints about The Mitchelle include deceptive solicitations, charging fees for “publishing negotiations” with a traditional publisher that turned out to be false, and similar fees and claims about movie deals that turned out to be false. The Mitchelle website includes multiple caution signs: claims of expertise that can’t be verified because there’s no information about staff, an array of junk marketing services (services that are cheap to provide, sold at a large markup, and not very effective for book promotion), and non-working social media links. Its business address isn’t an office, but a small single-family residence.
The Mitchelle also does business as PigeonsHub, which has the same “business address” and offers similar publishing and marketing services.
If that’s the case, could you share any documentation regarding the complaints you have about this company? I couldn’t find anything online. He mentioned they’re the publishing arm of PigeonsHub. Based on my research, PigeonsHub primarily offers online marketing and advertising services, such as YouTube advertising and search engine optimization. I don’t believe their services are focused solely on books.
In my opinion, it’s better that they have a physical address, unlike some companies that list vague locations or just P.O. boxes.
See my previous comment for a description of the complaints I’ve received.
Thanks, Victoria, for confirming this. I was recently contacted by “The Mitchelle,” which, as you mentioned, is also tied to PigeonsHub. The contract they sent me wasn’t even under Mitchelle — it was under PigeonsHub — and I discovered another name they’re using: Scriptor House LLC.
Scriptor House is registered to 8230 Wilbarn St., Paramount, CA, which I verified is a small single-family residence, not a legitimate business office. That same residential address appears across their various names. The phone number they use doesn’t sound professional either — it’s an automated generic voicemail with no company greeting or extensions, which raises more red flags.
The contract itself demands upfront fees, offers no guaranteed results, and gives them the right to take a 10% commission on any supposed sales. All of this lines up exactly with what you’ve warned about — multiple aliases, deceptive solicitations, and fee-based marketing that goes nowhere.
I’m posting this here to add to the documentation so others can see these same warning signs before they fall for it.
Update: I took the plunge and paid for the service he offered. He set me up with a video call meeting with a producer, and I got to pitch my story idea! I feel like this is a much better way to see if there are actually producers interested in adapting my story into a movie. It’s way more reasonable than those other companies that just sell you a screenplay and hope for the best. Screenplays aren’t cheap, you know! Now I’m just waiting for feedback on my pitch, which should take about 4-6 weeks. Plus, if I don’t hear back, I get my money back as a guarantee, which is a nice safety net. Wish me luck!
ml banner, if you are a real person and not a flack for the scammer discussed in my post, I’m sorry to say that you will soon be very disappointed. The supposed producer was an imposter, and scammers don’t honor money-back guarantees.
Victoria,
I don’t get why you’re spreading negativity and trying to cloud my judgment with your pessimistic thoughts. I thought you were here to help authors like us. Why do you even entertain the idea that I’m not a real person? Unless I’m some kind of robot programmed to type and respond to posts like these, I am very much real.
I can confirm that the producer I spoke to is legitimate. I did my own research before making any commitments. I checked his photo, and it’s the same person I had a video call with. I also looked into his background and past projects—everything checks out.
Unlike other companies that have approached me, this is the only one that allowed me to meet with a producer via video call instead of just over the phone. The fake producers I spoke to on the phone clearly had accents, so it’s obvious they weren’t American. This gives me confidence that I’m dealing with a real person—an American—not someone from India, China, the Philippines, or wherever you claimed them to be.
BEWARE: I just got an email from Jessica Adams , purporting to be from “Hollywood Talent Agency” (not TOO generic a name, huh? The lack of creativity among scammers is appalling…). The following is the email body (note that the domain is Gmail and NOT “…@HollywoodTalent Agency.com”, or “…HTA.com” or something similar.
Dear John,
I hope you are doing wonderfully. I’m Jessica Adams from Hollywood Talent Agency, where we are passionate about translating engaging narratives from book to film. Your work has caught our attention, and we believe it has great potential for adaptation into an evocative and successful movie.
We would be honored to discuss how we could collaborate to bring your story to life in a new medium. Please let me know if you are interested in discussing this further and what times might be good for you.
Hoping to hear from you soon!
–
Jessica Adams
Producer’s Representative
Hollywood Talent Agency
Confidentiality Notice: We take confidentiality seriously in all our professional interactions. Any information shared and discussed regarding your book will be treated with the highest level of privacy and discretion.
I’ve seen a bunch of solicitations from similar generic names, doubtless intended to foil websearches–Hollywood Talent Agency, LA Talent Agency, Los Angeles Talent Agency, Los Angeles Media Group, LA Film & TV Network. A lot of them are from Gmail addresses. I suspect the same scammer is behind all of them, but I’m not sure which scammer it is.
I received something similar as well, where someone pretending to be from Amazon, named Mr. Will Sanchez, reached out to me. We had a conversation, and he eventually directed me to Epic Studio, claiming I needed a cinematic trailer. After doing some research, I found your blog, which raised even more red flags. I decided to file a chargeback with my credit card company, and in the receipt, I noticed the name Writer Gate LLC. This led me to conclude that all of these companies—Writer Gate LLC, Epic Studio, and others—are likely connected and part of the same scam.
Thanks for your comment, Sharon (I’ve replied to your other comment as well). Would you please forward me all the emails and other materials–including the Writer Gate receipt–for my files? I’d like to document all these connections, and add them to my scam list. My email is bewarwe@sfwa.org
I just received the same email but from a Barbra at the Hollywood talent agency.
Dear Nikita,
I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to reach out to see if you would be open to or considering pitching your book to production companies for a potential film adaptation. With the growing demand for book-to-film projects, this could be a great opportunity to bring your story to a wider audience.
To make this possible, we have submission specialist partners who can assist you in submitting your work to the right production companies. They work closely with industry professionals and can help navigate the submission process effectively.
Additionally, as part of this process, you will have the opportunity to speak with an award winning film adviser and studio manager via Zoom. This session will help prepare your work before submission and provide valuable insights into the adaptation process, ensuring you are well-equipped for the next steps.
Please let me know if this is something you’d be interested in exploring, and I’d be happy to facilitate the connection. Looking forward to your thoughts.
–
Barbara Walters
Producer’s Representative
Hollywood Talent Agency
Confidentiality Notice: This email and attachment contain information that is personal and sensitive (FOUO). Unauthorized use or disclosure without authorized consent or as permitted by law is prohibited. Safe, secure, and confidential handling of information in this email and attachment must be observed in accordance with the Privacy Act, 5 USC 552(a) and its various regulations and provisions. If you have received this correspondence in error, please notify the sender at once and destroy any copies you have made
I’ve seen several examples of this scam solicitation. Other appropriated celebrity names (not always living) include Leonard Cohen, Candice Bergen, and Bob Dylan.
I’m being solicited by a company called Amber Tales Media & Marketing which is undoubtedly a similar scam. I’ve bantered around with them a bit to try to figure out their angle. This explains it! I’ll be ghosting them now. Thank you! ~ Blue Tapp
Is there a reason why these scammers can’t be hunted down and arrested? Surely theft and impersonation on a large scale are crimes.
Part of the problem is that they’re based overseas, so it’s difficult and expensive for US, Canada, etc. law enforcement to pursue them. There’s also the challenge of untangling the multiple names they use to figure out which one(s) is actually receiving money, and tracing them back to the real business in the home country, which is usually under a completely different name. Also, many victims lose just a few thousand dollars, and although the scams operate nationwide and in multiple countries, reports tend to be local–all of which makes the scam seem much smaller than it actually is.
I always encourage scam victims to report, though. There are suggests for where to do that on the Legal Recourse page of the Writer Beware website.
There are a number out there, apparently. One, called Green Dot Films, got me despite my ongoing reservations expressed over several weeks. The company seemed barely legit, but my ego overcame my qualms. I actually had a very nice set of film materials developed by their partner company, Better Bound Productions. But they collected a lot of money for that, plus the promised pitch deck, as well as faked communications from a Netflix executive saying they were “very interested.” Pretty sophisticated. But the Netflix proposal died, and nothing more ever developed. Then Better Bound tried twice to ding my Amex card for major hits for no services whatsoever – fraud that was flagged by Amex and never charged to me.
I’m so sorry for your experience with Greendot. I’ve written about another writer’s very similar experience with Greendot here: https://writerbeware.blog/2023/09/15/anatomy-of-a-fake-film-company-scam-the-greendot-films-better-bound-house/.
Victoria,
Keep up your great support of self-published authors including me who have been victimized by a never-ending stream of scams. I also want to report that the Xlibris/Author Solutions den of thieves based in Cebu City, Philippines has SOLD my personal information to any scammer who is willing to purchase an author email/phone list from them. Writer Beware, you can add this warning to your STUPENDOUS website.
I’ve long suspected that Author Solutions sells its customer information. I also suspect that Author Solutions call center employees–who often go on to work for scams–steal the information and sell it as well. Sorry you’re being targeted by fraudsters.
“Mr. Brest, by the way, hasn’t been active in the entertainment industry since 2003.”
He took the failure of Gigli pretty hard.
But it would have been brilliant (in a bad way) if the scammers had used this in their email to say that Brest has been inactive for 2003 but now he’s planning his big comeback and he needs YOUR script, if you…
And using a celebrity like Paul Dano is pretty good too. He’s been in enough movies that he might be recognizable but he’s not so famous that he’s going to be headlining the gossip sites and TMZ so that a mark might know what he’s really up to on any given day.