Many of the questions I answer on this site also show up in the “Ask a Filmmaker” section of IMDb. Heather Campbell, who edits that section, forwarded me an email concerning programs where you pay money to be matched with a mentor in the film industry, an issue I had written about here.
Here is one guy’s experience. I don’t know if this was the same “Get a Mentor” program I wrote about, but it sounds similar:
A couple of weeks ago someone wrote you about mentoring programs. I happen to have some experience with the one they’re referring to. I own a very successful film and video production company in Connecticut now for over 15 years.
A couple of years ago this company called and asked us if we would let one of their students hang around a couple of hours a week and let him assist us. It would not cost us a cent and if we would do this for them they would send us a check for $1000.
Well low and behold we never got the check for a thousand dollars and the poor kid had paid them like 2 or 3 grand. Needless to say I would of hired the kid as an intern anyway and he could of saved the money he gave to these people.
— John Michaels
Connecticut
Once again, caveat mentor.