Success Stories: JUN'14 Anna Faktorovich hired as Screenwriter | THREE GUYS NAMED MIKE

I was not hired for the job - it's a fraudulent posting. The employer sent several threatening and crazed emails after I accepted, but asked for payment up-front because of previous fraudulence claims. I just don't know how to select to un-accept the job. But, either way - thanks for your excitement!

I am so naive,I didn't know this could happen on this site

So sorry Anna!

I've been freelancing for a decade now - sadly this sort of thing happens a lot more often than honest contractual deals. Of course, on the other end of the process - as an employer - I know it's hard to find honest help too. It's a brutal world out there. I just try to figure out what I'm dealing with as early as possible. In this case, I thought accepting the job and insisting on money up-front would bring out the worst in somebody likely to be committing fraud (based on earlier comments) and it did. So, I count this as a happy conclusion.

I hope Shannon Stegall will read this thread... I'm not sure who she is - but I'd assume that Stage 32 reads comments on their Success Stories thread.

Hang in there, Anna.

Thanks for explaining the process. I just emailed Shannon. Earlier today, I received 2 other suspicious replies to my job applications - in one the guy wanted me to find funding for his shady movie (I applied to be a script writer/ animator), and in another somebody said that the script writing job would be in Oman - very strange as in theory a script writer can work remotely, and there's hardly a logical reason for a script writer to move to Oman to do something they can do from their home office. As I mentioned, this happens pretty much every day when you freelance. It's not a good idea Gigi to think about it as "hanging in there." Somebody that prefers to work independently in a highly competitive profession should figure out that it's a brutal game on day one - which for me was back in 1996... 2 decades ago I guess... so it's really old news, and by this point - if I was "hanging" - it would be a very uncomfortable place to be. I think I've been more like reclining or sitting in my home office chair. Still, I appreciate your kind words. I hope somebody at Stage 32 will find a way to kick out those who are perpetrating fraud and other crimes - it would be a better place for the rest of us.

Congrats Anna!

This is the kind of thing that gets me unexcited about networking... But I think your upfront question about money is probably a great probe that will expose the frauds pretty early. I also think phone calls are always a good sign. If someone won't call you back within a day of hiring you, something isn't right. When you talk to a person, especially about something as complicated as film and writing, it's pretty easy to spot a faker.