John Casablancas Modeling & Career Center

I started here in 2009, the year I recently came from my country. I did not know any English when I first came either. I couldn’t understand anything in class, but they were so nice to me, and always made sure I understood everything. Even Francis learned a few words in my language so when I couldn’t understand something, he would speak in my language. I expected to feel uncomfortable when I first came here, but I was surprised to know I wasn’t, at all. They could of just told me something random, and leave me stranded. It wasn’t their job to explain everything to me word by word, but they still did it for me anyway. If your English isn’t quite perfect, and you’re coming from outside of America, and you have a passion for modeling or acting, I would highly recommend John Casablancas. They will easily find work for you, however you will also need to look for work yourself. If you show them you really want to do this, they will help you. I went back to my country after a few years. When I came back, I went and told them I was looking for a job. They helped me with ease to find a job. They had great customer service. They helped me so much, by setting up so much time, even though their schedules were busy. If I could rate them any higher than 5 stars, I would. However, after I met them, two days later, with Francis’s help, I submitted an application for Miss Northern California, and I won. I don’t know how to thank these guys more. With Francis and Delina’s help, they truly make your dreams come true. They are seriously like a family.

My 13-​yr-​old daughter has been taking classes at John Casablancas in San Jose for several months, and I’m continually impressed with the professionalism and positive attitude of all the instructors and staff. Dalena is an inspiring and ever-​positive leader who sets the tone for the whole office. Francis is an excellent photographer and brings out the best in his models. We had no experience with agencies before JC, so we did a lot of research before committing, and we’re so pleased we made this decisions. My daughter is much more confident in her acting and modeling, and recently got a big part in a local production. She is learning a lot and looks forward to her classes every week. I don’t mind driving the hour each way because I can see how much she is benefitting. No matter what the future brings, my daughter is learning valuable skills that will help her in her future.

John Casablancas Modeling & Career Center has been a very good investment for my granddaughter. She has been with JC for about a year now and has grown in confidence and is prepared for auditions.
This place not only teaches the kids the talent they need to step out in the Modeling and acting world. They are always there for them to get advice from and over look contracts so you don’t get scammed by other a Agencies.
The first time Francis did a photo shoot for her head shots, he was real good with explaining how to position herself to get the look she wanted. His love for photography shows in his work.
Francis and Dalena are there for everyone that is apart of the San Jose JC Agencies You can’t ask for a better Contract then at JCs. It gets you started in the right direction in this industry. They want you to succeed. They take pride in there talents. They don’t just Sign you they teach you. The rest is up to you

I will say this again. DO NOT ENROLL YOUR CHILD AT THIS PLACE. They act as if they do not accept everybody but they do. If you have money BELIEVE ME they will take your kid. My daughter sat in classes that only had 2 kids in them at times taught by teachers who barely knew anything. My daughter knew more then the teachers and I was stunned when I saw her notes from the classes, plagiarism at its finest, the teachers are just stealing stuff off the internet and teach it themselves. I pulled my daughter out and will not pay them a dime. ON my own I got my daughter paid shoots, and she has been published 6 times! She is also currently Miss National Jr Teen USA! We did that alone… This place is a scam. They just want your money. Please please please be careful.

When my son and daughter first started, my wife and I did not truly imagine a career in modeling or acting for them. We simply wanted them to build some confidence and learn to be able to present in public. We observed them gradually learning how to smile less awkwardly, how to walk a runway with their chins up, and how to read lines without sounding robotic.
Fast forward 2 years, and we are surprised that they love what they are doing, especially acting. They regularly book jobs now, with a fair mix of non-​paid and paid roles. Among paid roles, they have been fortunate to have landed commercials with some big names including Intel Corporation (twice!) and the National Basketball Association.
The owners Francis and Dalena are honest and upfront from the beginning. Yes, this school provides you with the education, tools, and agency that are the precursors to success in the modeling/​acting world. No, success is NOT guaranteed — just like earning an electrical engineering degree doesn’t mean you’re going to get hired by Google. Your success will depend very much on how hard you are willing to work, and how resilient you are to rejection. My children were turned down at numerous auditions before they finally started getting cast, and since then their batting average has improved dramatically. You have to be willing to fail first in order to succeed, and to be willing to keep on trying — don’t give up!
In the end, what really matters here is that our children are having a great time and are doing something that they are proud of. They understand that you don’t win every audition, and are able to take rejection graciously. They know that their success is a result of their own hard work and perseverance. They are stronger and better human beings because of this experience.
We are very happy with the education and the support we receive from John Casablancas, and plan to continue for years to come.

I have been a close talent of JC since 2010. There is absolutely nothing I can say truthfully that could be negative about this company. Having a chronic medical condition caused me to have huge self esteem issues. I never found myself attractive or too confident. I just walked in knowing I loved acting. They have completely transformed me. I love modeling, acting, and doing make up (which they have two class sessions for to learn). I feel beautiful and confident more every day because of them. The amount of photoshoots you get to build your portfolio is incredible, more than any «school» I ever looked into. I’ve gotten jobs with them as well! I get asked if I’m available for various auditions and also find work on my own. An agency isn’t around to give you jobs, they are there to support you and protect you from scam artists. They will help you find work if they see your motivation and confidence to find projects. There’s always a loss before a gain. Never give up.

Your so right!!! Francis stop covering it up you took basically 4 grand from my mom who is a single mother and who works extremely hard. we live pay check to pay check so that kind of money doesn’t come fast. I went through your B*LLSH*T «classes» taught by half as* teachers who didn’t know what the hell they were doing and probably learned it off YouTube because once I got MYSELF MY OWN GIGS all that bs «you taught me» wasn’t even needed I learned more from my first gig then I ever did in you «agency» «» !!! If anyone is interested in John Casablanca don’t I can teach you the crap they sell You 2 hours and more because I’ve actually been out there. But anyways back to Francis and for those who don’t know his wife dalena hoang, I believe is how u spell it, the director have castings every weekend AND MEAN EVERY WEEKEND when I first auditioned I sat for about 2 hours listening to dalena go on about the history which has nothing to do with them anymore but then I was pulled to a room and told I made it And someone will be in touch and they did contact me to talk about there payment ! ! Great I get that John Casablanca created that agency then he died and some no name Chuck owns the name. Please Francis enlighten me with your experience if your trying to create models you’d first have to be around some ;););) I really do not know what makes u a photographer just because you have a camera??? YOUR IMAGES LOOK CRAPPY and who has to pay there agency for a portfolio get real if you want people to present you YOU PAY THEM THEY DONT PAY U!!! models are there to get gigs and give u a percentage not give you a percentage and a monthly fee that’s fucking greedy plus u have more then a hundred kids teens adults and babies in your agency your getting 4 grand from each of them plus 2 more once they «finish the advanced stage»!!! I don’t know if people will b able to view this or if I’m just sending to you I don’t know how to work Unilocal yet but you did a good thing pulling your daughter out I went through their bogus curriculum and it got me no where at the end of ypur classes you have to sign up on sf casting which you pay for as well there agency is a website anyone can use if I could do no stars I Turkey would

As a teenager growing up, I was shy and was never really personal but that changed when I went to audition for John Casablancas. JC helped me grow out of my shell and become the outgoing person that I am. It was never about acting for me but I ended up working in the industry and making it my career. I will forever be in the debt of John Casablancas for introducing me to the world of acting and the film industry. This is a magnificent place to be, even if acting or modeling is not the stuff for you. I would recommend this place over any other. The people running the facility are the most professional and wonderful people you will ever meet. They are always positive and put you in a good mood. A+. Oh and I forgot about the amount of knowledge the instructors feed you as they have a plethora of information ready for you in their classrooms. ;)