I haven't posted in a while - I live in LA and this is a true story. I had a "chance" to be in the movie Godfather 3. I was living in San Diego, California (89-90) at the time working in retail sales (Nordstroms) when on the job, I was approached by an older man (40's?) who said he was a Hollywood agent, let's call him Al.

After helping him/chatting for 5 minutes he told me I would be "perfect" for the role as Don Corleone's (Michael's son) grandson because "I look like Al Pacino". I don't really look Italian but OK. I'm 6' 1 with dark hair and dark eyes and have an olive complexion due to being part Lebanese but I don't look anything like Al Pacino but OK. He told me I would also have to be able to sing like an opera singer. I told Al thank you but I couldn't sing like an opera singer and I wasn't an actor and not sure I could do it. He said that's OK I can get you voice lessons and the movie producers wanted someone "unknown" for the role.

I brushed it off and didn't think anything of it but he persisted. I was only about 23 at the time and really excited that this guy thought I could be an actor in what I thought was an awesome movie/opportunity to become an actor. I had watched the previous Godfather movies and my mind swirled. Al gave me his card and told me to call him in a week and he would have a casting call for me arranged. He also asked if I had an agent and I stupidly said no. I called him a week later and he said I had to come to his office and apply to the screen actor's guild, and that he would pay for it, before I auditioned. He also arranged for me to go to a vocal teacher for a free lesson near where I lived, which I did about two days later. It was kinda strange but the vocal teacher said I could do it with some additional work so I made a follow up lesson schedule. The woman said it was paid for already when the lesson was over when I asked how much additional lessons were (I was willing to invest in the opportunity to become an actor). I was like holy crap this is unreal. I called my parents and told them what was happening and they couldn't believe it - nor could I. Here I am 23 years old in San Diego thinking I would be in a movie. I played in a band so had some entertainment experience but this was something completely beyond my experience.

I went to the producers office a week later and we went over the SAG contract and we discussed my lesson and how I made follow up plans, talked about my entertainment resume, and he said great, let's get to work. He then got on his phone (land-line) and was talking to someone about my background and that I was perfect for the role because I was an unknown and had the "look" etc. He was saying yes and uh-huh and other things. My mind was racing because of the adoration/compliments and I couldn't believe this was real. Would you?

He hung and up said I needed a facial shot before he "submitted" me and made arrangements in the office for my photographs, which he had onsite. I went through that process, having to change in a tuxedo and casual clothes while I was groomed by an attractive older woman and getting photographed in various poses. The photographer was clearly a gay Italian man kept telling me I was "beautiful". It was weird but OK whatever. He was never inappropriate and only touched my face and shoulders and my arms and wrists a few times to move me into poses. I also could play the piano and he took picture of me playing the piano so it was all good. This was really happening!

After the pictures I went back Al's office and he said he would submit my pictures and resume after they came back. He told me his rate 10% (the max) and that I would have to take the standard SAG rate of $450 a day when on site plus a $100 per diem (this was 1990). He said the number of days would be about 60-70 because I had to be onsite for all of the shoot. I was looking at about $30K for two months of work. I would have to quit my job by who gives a crap right?

At this point I thought I was going to be an actor and started telling people at work about it and most thought I was lying but a few said "good luck with that" or something to that effect. I went back to Al's office a week later and he called me into his office and his admin closed the door behind me. He told me my call was on Nov 11 (about two weeks out). i remember the date specifically because it was veterans day. I thanked him profusely and he pulled out the documents and told me to sign, which I did without reading. As I was thumbing through the doc he moved around from behind his desk and was behind me and put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. I immediately froze. What happened next I won't describe here because of embarrassment. I was not raped, and didn't do anything, but suffice it to say it ended badly. I was basically told to do this if I wanted the role. It was really gross. I am still haunted by it, and the guy is still an agent today - he is on the web.

This is how these guys operate. They are all predators. Every actor in Hollywood has this story. Is it worth the price of fame? In my case, no.

In then end an Italian and trained opera singer got the role, Frank D'Ambrosia. I still can't watch any GF movies. BTW he is still an unknown! I guessed he did what I wouldn't lol.



[Post edited by Da Ali G at 10/31/2017 2:07PM]