I recently responded to a craigslist post which mentioned a company looking for ideas for a cooking show. I hadn’t mentioned it on the blog because even I can’t imagine there is much of an audience looking forward to reading every pointless little detail of every email I send.
I got a reply back from “Taste This Production, Inc.” about the email that I had sent, asking for me to call and discuss the possibility of making a TV show. So, I called, and then was told that the producer would send me an information packet to review. Since they hadn’t yet asked for money, I figured it might not be a scam.
I recieved the information packet. Apparently, they were not only vaguely interested in making something, but ready to proceed with making a pilot. Of course, they hadn’t seen a photo of me, hadn’t seen a demo tape, hadn’t seen a recipe, hadn’t seen my cooking, or anything else. Reading a little further in the information packet, and I found the clincher — they were really interested in making the pilot, but I would have to pay $5000 of the costs. ::sigh:: I had actually managed to convince myself they might be completely legit. Oh well. So, no cooking show for me any time soon. May have to try and talk to an aspiring director at CFS and try to actually shoot a pilot of a cooking show. You know, for not five thousand dollars.
How funny, the same thing happen to me. And as soon as I saw $5,000. I thought SCAM, but I wanted to dig deeper so I asked him if he wanted to meet me first. Brady said “No, it’s really not neccesary”. He said by the looks of it you will be a good candidate. He also told me that after doing the pilot, the production company will send it to there distribution company to try and sell my pilot to a national television. And he said that IF a tv company likes it they will buy it from you and ask you to do around 28 shows, in which they will in return pay you $500 per show.
Well I decided to talk to my producer friend who works for a local TV station and she said “DON’T DO IT”. I can’t believe how many scam artess there are out there. Oh well, it was in my dreams that a production company wanted me to host there show. You really have to be careful. I’m just glad I wasn’t stupid enough to fall for it.
Could you please tell me when Taste This Production quoted you $5000? They quoted me $8000!! And that was back in March. If you can let me know soon, I’d appreciate it, because I’ve already given them a down payment.
And the plot thickens…they quoted me at $7,000..WTF! Hmmmm…Someone feel free to contact me about this, I haven’t given them a dime and I’d love to talk to some people who have.
This company now has ads in Craigslist for cooking show hosts with a response to marc@tastethisproductions.com. Seems like they just took outthe domain name tastethisproductions on 6/30/07. Maybe this was so that a search on tastethisproductions on Google would come up clean, as opposed to tastethisproduction, now tainted. So maybe I better type in in many times for the benefit of those searching out about the company: tastethisproductions tastethisproductions tastethisproductions
I have done a pilot with another company and it cost way more than 5-8,000 and it went no where.Do they handle distribution as well? Can someone give me some information on how I can contact these people. Thier number is not listed
Thanks
Karen
I also conacted them being interested and stopped when I heard the $7k cost and also needed to go to NYC. There shouldn’t be any up front money for a pilot if they are seriously interested. I am currently working on my own cooking show project.
I’m shocked to see that you really think $7,000 is allot for a cooking show pilot. The company I work for now charges at least $25,000. My company is EG production out of NYC if anyone is interested…… but you will not get anything for $7,000. Anyway give me a buzz!
Lisa
212-358-3880
I have actually used thier service about 4 months ago. I have experienced very good things so far. Its amazing to see people trashing what they have not experienced. I’m glad I didn’t let this post force my descion not to do this.
we shall wait and see…..
J
1/14/2008
An email between Theresa at tasteproductions and myself….
Please email her and tell her your thoughts obviously she thinks all of you are fakes:)
and thanks to this website I am not paying 8600:)
From: theresa@tastethisproduction.com
Sent: Mon 1/14/08 10:05 AM
To: Danielle Kerley (daniellekerley282@msn.com)
These are all fake. Those are from people that were not selected. I’m sorry you are passing up a wonderful opportunity.
TV is obviously not for you.
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: Taste This Production
From: Danielle Kerley
Date: Mon, January 14, 2008 12:42 pm
To:
http://www.forkforge.org/forkblog/?p=28
Have a nice day:)
——————————————————————————–
Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:10:54 -0700
From: theresa@tastethisproduction.com
Subject: RE: Taste This Production
To: daniellekerley282@msn.com
Hi Danielle,
After speaking to Bryan the best we can do for you is offer that you pay 65% up front and the rest will be paid once you start getting paid. We can’t pay for your flight or hotel stay.
Please call me.
Thank you,
Theresa
516-515-9688
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: Taste This Production
From: Danielle Kerley
Date: Fri, January 11, 2008 8:38 pm
To:
Well my thought got sent before finishing:) Anway hope you had a nice weekend any questions or thoughts please let me know…
It’s been a pleasure so far:)
Danielle
——————————————————————————–
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:25:55 -0700
From: theresa@tastethisproduction.com
Subject: RE: Taste This Production
To: daniellekerley282@msn.com
Hi Danielle,
It was nice talking with you as well. I have attached a copy of our production budget. We usually film the pilot in our kitchen studio located in NY. We can film in San Fran but you must have an island kitchen and the cost would go up slightly for travel purposes.
Thank you,
Theresa
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: Taste This Production
From: Danielle Kerley
Date: Thu, January 10, 2008 5:42 pm
To:
Hey there,
Thanks for a nice chat today, really appreciated. By the way I was wondering if I can get a line- item expense on the production costs. Also where would the production need to be shot I was thinkin I can actually do it here in San Francisco…
Let me know..
thanks kindly
Danielle
——————————————————————————–
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 15:22:25 -0700
From: theresa@tastethisproduction.com
Subject: Taste This Production
To: daniellekerley282@msn.com
Hello Danielle,
Good talking to you today. I look forward to our conversation tomorrow at 2:00pm EST. In the meantime our proposal is attached and the website is below. You will need a password to get into the site; all of that information is also below. Please also visit the president of our company Joseph Ciminera’s website at http://www.tastethistv.com
check it out really well, asked for reference and same person is on there corporation papers so his interest is there business.contact me if you want info. wanted money up front. been in the film industry before.
It is amazing what’s going on. I went to the web site. It seems a compay that can make your pilot if you don’t have any idea of what you want. Basicaly it will be like doing a casting or camera test for a cooking show. I’m producing a cooking show myself for a friend of mine. $ 7,000.00 is no even close if you think about sets, food, crew editing, graphics. The can shoot your pilot and then what? With the same look of who knows how many in the same kitchen, good luck with that! For them is a money making bussines, good for them, for you be very careful and clear of what you realy want to acomplish.
You guys are all idiots. you know absolutely nothing about tv production. do you actually think that a company will PAY to have YOU make your own idea, TAKE ALL THE RISK just for the hell of it? NO. it is perfectly legit for them to ask for a portion of the costs. specially if they deliver their final product. I have just finished filming with Tastethisproductions and i am in love with the final work. if youre going to bitch, dont do it. and shove that crap back up your butt.