Exclusive: “Quite a can of worms,” observed a British casting director of a scandal that, until February, was unknown to his profession. The 30-year industry veteran was talking about the practice of agents sending clients fake invitations to record self-tape auditions.
Deadline first exposed the issue in an investigation on Bodhi Talent, a boutique agency based in Manchester. Founder Archie Purnell was accused of copying legitimate self-tape invites and pasting them in emails to clients who had not been called to audition. One actor rumbled the ruse when an audition landed in her inbox 30 minutes after the deadline for submissions had passed.
Twisting open the Bodhi-shaped Russian doll revealed similar concerns about a larger agency: International Artists Management (Iam). The London-based company claims to have 400 clients on its books and is run by Luc Chaudhary, a reported millionaire once engaged to Silent Witness star Emilia Fox.
Iam went further...
Deadline first exposed the issue in an investigation on Bodhi Talent, a boutique agency based in Manchester. Founder Archie Purnell was accused of copying legitimate self-tape invites and pasting them in emails to clients who had not been called to audition. One actor rumbled the ruse when an audition landed in her inbox 30 minutes after the deadline for submissions had passed.
Twisting open the Bodhi-shaped Russian doll revealed similar concerns about a larger agency: International Artists Management (Iam). The London-based company claims to have 400 clients on its books and is run by Luc Chaudhary, a reported millionaire once engaged to Silent Witness star Emilia Fox.
Iam went further...
- 3/15/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Bodhi Talent, the UK talent agency accused of sending clients fake auditions and paying actors late, has filed for closure.
The company, which boasted clients including soap stars Emma Rigby (Hollyoaks) and Nicola Stapleton (EastEnders), has applied to the UK’s Companies House to be dissolved.
It follows a Deadline exposé on Bodhi earlier this month, in which former clients alleged that they were sent illegitimate invites to record self-tape auditions. Others said the firm broke UK agency regulations by withholding payments.
Bodhi founder Archie Purnell denied wrongdoing, but did not respond to any specific allegations and has not replied to any Deadline communication since February 7.
Bodhi may not be able to proceed with its planned closure if an objection is raised to the strike-off by people owed money by the agency. Creditors have two months to object and must provide documentary evidence to support their claim.
As revealed this week,...
The company, which boasted clients including soap stars Emma Rigby (Hollyoaks) and Nicola Stapleton (EastEnders), has applied to the UK’s Companies House to be dissolved.
It follows a Deadline exposé on Bodhi earlier this month, in which former clients alleged that they were sent illegitimate invites to record self-tape auditions. Others said the firm broke UK agency regulations by withholding payments.
Bodhi founder Archie Purnell denied wrongdoing, but did not respond to any specific allegations and has not replied to any Deadline communication since February 7.
Bodhi may not be able to proceed with its planned closure if an objection is raised to the strike-off by people owed money by the agency. Creditors have two months to object and must provide documentary evidence to support their claim.
As revealed this week,...
- 2/22/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: An actress who featured in the final season of The Crown and a series regular in Jack Whitehall’s Bad Education have said they are owed thousands in unpaid fees by scandal-hit agency Bodhi Talent.
Thea Beyleveld and Jack Bence were both loyal Bodhi clients but said they discovered that the agency had withheld money from them following the publication of a Deadline exposé on the company. Beyleveld also alleged that Bodhi “skimmed” money from her paycheck.
Beyleveld and Bence are among around eight Bodhi clients in contact with acting union Equity as they attempt to secure their money. Equity believes the cases are actionable and the union will go through civil courts to fight for cash. It is unlawful for UK agents to pay actors later than 10 days.
Bodhi founder Archie Purnell has not responded to requests for comment. He has previously denied paying actors late, telling Deadline...
Thea Beyleveld and Jack Bence were both loyal Bodhi clients but said they discovered that the agency had withheld money from them following the publication of a Deadline exposé on the company. Beyleveld also alleged that Bodhi “skimmed” money from her paycheck.
Beyleveld and Bence are among around eight Bodhi clients in contact with acting union Equity as they attempt to secure their money. Equity believes the cases are actionable and the union will go through civil courts to fight for cash. It is unlawful for UK agents to pay actors later than 10 days.
Bodhi founder Archie Purnell has not responded to requests for comment. He has previously denied paying actors late, telling Deadline...
- 2/19/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: UK agency Bodhi Talent has been accused of exploiting the acting dreams of children by charging their parents potentially unlawful representation fees worth hundreds of pounds.
A Deadline investigation revealed last week how Manchester-based Bodhi had been accused of sending clients fake invitations for self-tape auditions and breaking regulations by withholding paychecks from actors.
The company, which has repped soap stars including Emma Rigby, has since faced a reckoning. Several clients quit the agency and others went public with claims that they are owed money, including actor Luke Anthony Jr, who alleged in an emotional Twitter/X video that he was not paid for a job last year.
Now Deadline can reveal that a group of parents are on the warpath after claiming they have been “scammed” by Bodhi’s sister agency, Luna Kids Casting, which was set up to represent children and claims to have worked with the...
A Deadline investigation revealed last week how Manchester-based Bodhi had been accused of sending clients fake invitations for self-tape auditions and breaking regulations by withholding paychecks from actors.
The company, which has repped soap stars including Emma Rigby, has since faced a reckoning. Several clients quit the agency and others went public with claims that they are owed money, including actor Luke Anthony Jr, who alleged in an emotional Twitter/X video that he was not paid for a job last year.
Now Deadline can reveal that a group of parents are on the warpath after claiming they have been “scammed” by Bodhi’s sister agency, Luna Kids Casting, which was set up to represent children and claims to have worked with the...
- 2/14/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Bodhi Talent clients have abandoned the Manchester-based talent agency after founder Archie Purnell was accused of being a “rogue trader” in a Deadline investigation.
Several actors posted on Twitter (now X) about their decision to quit Bodhi following allegations that Purnell was sending clients fake self-tape audition invites and breaking regulations by paying actors late.
Purnell sent an email to clients on Thursday saying he was “heartbroken” at the claims, which he said were “false” and created by an individual who had previously attempted to “jeopardise my character.” He did not identify this individual in the email, which was co-signed by his business partner Ricky Cortis.
“To say I am heartbroken is an understatement, but as always, the truth will out. There is always two sides to every story,” Purnell wrote. “My legal time [sic] is currently dealing with it all and legal action is now being taken against all parties involved.
Several actors posted on Twitter (now X) about their decision to quit Bodhi following allegations that Purnell was sending clients fake self-tape audition invites and breaking regulations by paying actors late.
Purnell sent an email to clients on Thursday saying he was “heartbroken” at the claims, which he said were “false” and created by an individual who had previously attempted to “jeopardise my character.” He did not identify this individual in the email, which was co-signed by his business partner Ricky Cortis.
“To say I am heartbroken is an understatement, but as always, the truth will out. There is always two sides to every story,” Purnell wrote. “My legal time [sic] is currently dealing with it all and legal action is now being taken against all parties involved.
- 2/9/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: A British talent agent, who has worked with soap stars including Emma Rigby and Helen Flanagan, has been accused of professional misconduct by six former clients.
Archie Purnell, founder of Manchester-based Bodhi Talent, has supplied actors to major productions for Netflix, the BBC, and ITV, but is facing claims he misled clients in a bid to bolster his standing in the industry.
Deadline has uncovered a series of allegations about the agent, including that he has sent actors illegitimate briefs for self-tape auditions, broke regulations on payment deadlines, and failed to observe industry best practice in contracts. Bodhi is currently at risk of being struck off the UK Companies House register for filing its accounts late.
UK agents are regulated by the state-backed Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, but complaints against entertainment agencies are rare because actors worry that it could damage their careers. Most major agencies, such as UTA-owned Curtis Brown,...
Archie Purnell, founder of Manchester-based Bodhi Talent, has supplied actors to major productions for Netflix, the BBC, and ITV, but is facing claims he misled clients in a bid to bolster his standing in the industry.
Deadline has uncovered a series of allegations about the agent, including that he has sent actors illegitimate briefs for self-tape auditions, broke regulations on payment deadlines, and failed to observe industry best practice in contracts. Bodhi is currently at risk of being struck off the UK Companies House register for filing its accounts late.
UK agents are regulated by the state-backed Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, but complaints against entertainment agencies are rare because actors worry that it could damage their careers. Most major agencies, such as UTA-owned Curtis Brown,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
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