'The Means of Getting Someone in the Door': An Inside Look at Scientology's Lavish Production Facilities and Actor Recruitment Strategy

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When the Scientology Network launched, leader David Miscavige promised it would show viewers what Scientology was. “We’re not here to preach to you, to convince you or to convert you. No. We simply want to show you,” he said. But that wasn’t the case

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At the beginning, it was all Scientologists who would appear in these films — there were acting courses given at the base, dictated by Hubbard, who fancied himself a skilled filmmaker and on-camera personality. Other, non-Sea Org Scientologists who had industry careers outside the church also took part.

Many of Scientology's longtime internal film stars had left the church by 2010, meaning the many projects they appeared in had to be scrapped, say sources. And often, these films were among Scientology's most important, including introduction videos that every inductee to the church would watch. Valerie Haney, a former Scientology casting director, says she intentionally was secretive about the films she posted on LA Casting,and similar websites:"I never put Celebrity Centre on any of the addresses; I just said it's this address, didn't say it was Scientology. It was a very tailored way of doing it," she says.

Vocal former Scientologist Mike Rinder describes the recruiters' thought process:"'This person is in our building. Do you know how hard it is to get someone in our building? We've got to make the most of this and get this person signed up for something.' And there was a pattern of how you go about doing that — it's take them for a tour, show them a film or a video, give them an introductory lecture, have them do a test.

A spokesperson for Central Casting wouldn't specifically discuss the church's attempts to recruit actors from its line but broadly confirmed that it had dealt with solicitors at its Flower Street office and informed those auditioning that the solicitors were not affiliated with the company. Pouw responds:"We have tools and technology on communication and human behavior to assist in one's life. Artists who have achieved success through application of Scientology in their lives have hosted seminars at Celebrity Centre to help others similarly succeed," and adds that anyone who attends a seminar at a Church of Scientology"does so because they are curious about how Scientology can help them.

 

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