Many of the questions I answer on this site also show up in the [“Ask a Filmmaker” section](http://indie.imdb.com/Indie/Ask/) of [IMDb](http://imdb.com). 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](http://johnaugust.com/archives/2004/the-get-a-mentor-program).
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.