THE TRUTH BEHIND EASY BACKGROUND CHECK (AKA EZBC)
AND RIP-OFF REPORTS & THEIR LIES ABOUT PULSE MGMT , STACEY EASTMAN, 5TH ELEMENT ARTISTS AND SHAYNA EASTMAN

There are many legitimate companies who offer unbiased opinions and factual information on individuals and businesses through the use of the Internet. These resources, sponsored by reputable companies, can offer great background information. However, numerous individuals are being taken advantage of by extortionists like Easy Background Check (A.K.A. “EZBC”) and Rip-Off Reports who are not endorsed by any legitimate company, individual, legal or governmental agency.

Use of the Internet for unethical and illegal behavior has prompted government officials, including President George W. Bush (whether you like him or not) to enact laws in an attempt to protect upstanding people and companies from defamation and slander via the Internet. The target of these laws are fictitious companies like EZBC and Rip-Off Reports who hide their identity, create false accusations and misleading stories for the sole purpose of extortion.

• "Whoever...utilizes any device or software that can be used to originate telecommunications or other types of communications that are transmitted, in whole or in part, by the Internet... without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person...who receives the communications...shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.”

Signed by the President of the United States- George W. Bush, Jan. 10 2006

IGNORANCE WAS NEVER BLISS

Do any ounce of research on either of these extortion sites and you will find numerous reports from newscasters, legal agencies, governmental agencies, businesses, and individuals not to mention the FBI who are hunting for the authors of these two sites:

Click here to see many facts about Rip Off Reports and EZBC:
http://www.bad-business-rip-off.com/ed-today.html

• EZBC and Rip-Off Reports hide their identity.
• EZBC and Rip-Off Reports list no contact information.
• EZBC and Rip-Off Reports are not supported by any legitimate companies or individuals.
• EZBC and Rip-Off Reports disclosure statements say they are not responsible for the content of their website and that they have not verified any of the information to be true or accurate.
• EZBC and Rip-Off Reports have switched URL's several times to avoid litigation.
• EZBC and Rip-Off Reports create false accusations from “anonymous” individuals.
• EZBC and Rip-Off Reports offer to remove negative postings if they are paid.

Contrary to the philosophy of EZBC, we believe each person has the ability to make their own conclusions that support their path in life when given the undistorted truth. The courts and websites are filled with legitimate claims against EZBC. Take the time to truly research the backgrounds of everyone involved with EZBC or Rip off Reports. Let the truth speak for itself concerning Pulse Management, 5th Element Artists, Stacey Eastman and Shayna Eastman.

WHO IS PULSE MANAGEMENT AND 5th ELEMENT ARTISTS?

Pulse Management Inc. is incorporated in the State of Oregon and owned by Stacey Eastman. For eighteen years we have been rocking the fashion world check www.pulsemanagement.com click on the about section to read more!

Shayna stepped back from working as a model and actress and began their family. After relocating to Oregon, Shayna opened 5th Element Artists, Inc., which is incorporated in the State of Oregon. She had once shot as a model and today is managing some of the best-known photographers, stylists and make-up artists from NYC and L.A. and has been rocking the fashion industry for over 9 years. Check www.fifthelementartists.com

We moved to Oregon for several simple reasons. It’s about having an active lifestyle, and more importantly, having an amazing marriage with four wonderful children. We both have large families and live close to them now. The low corporate taxes are great as well!

WHY OREGON?

Stacey Eastman has lived in every major market around the world throughout the building of his career working with all top agencies and clients. He’s paid his dues. He’s completed his tours of duty as we say. His career is deeply respected and supported throughout the globe. Technology has drastically changed the world of business by allowing local companies to become global entities with a click of a button. This has blessed us greatly to be able to provide more for our talent and clients without the restrictions of living in the major cities.

Besides phones and email, we continue these long-standing relationships with clients and talent by flying into markets such as New York and Paris on a continuous basis. Our management strategy brilliantly utilizes agencies giving us virtual offices in every major market across the globe. It is a win-win for all involved…the talent, the clients, the agencies, and us.

It doesn’t matter where we live but rather what we do. It does matter where our talent lives as that directly affects their ability to get work, as they have to physically be at the interview or job. The talent has to get established where we have already built empires. They have to go where we have already been.

WHY A POSTAL SERVICE (EZBC’s the UPS Story)?

We do not need the overhead of an office in our hometown that talent or clients can come and visit. Majority of the business is done via the net and phones as previously explained. Anyone needing an office to go to can meet us at any one of our partners across the world for a meeting. As we travel constantly to these offices for meetings with talent and clients, we were having trouble with delivery and acceptance of our packages. We needed a mail service that could handle all the daily masses. The locations we chose for mail services were located near our primary Directors in each city and our attorneys.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

To the male wanna-be model that claimed he was looking for our office and discovered it to be a postal spot… Had he been represented or approached for representation, or did any research, he would have known that we didn’t have an office located at an address clearly labeled “mail” on all of our information. Had he wanted an in office meeting, he would have been met by any one of our partners in an office in L.A. NYC, MIAMI, or CHICAGO. No one ever said it was easy being a Zoolander!

Very few in the industry have gone through the process to apply for and maintain an excellent record with the Better Business Bureau. It is not the normal protocol for this line of work.We have been a member of the BBB since 1992, with current membership in Oregon, there have been NO complaints recorded in any state.

Ironically, EZBC quotes the BBB as a reference for advice. On their Rip-Off Reports site they call the BBB a scam amongst hundreds of other legitimate companies.

NO COURT ACTIONS

Pulse Management, 5th Element Artists, Stacey Eastman nor Shayna Eastman has ever been charged with any illegal activity or taken to any U.S. court for illegal activity by any governmental agency, business, nor individual ever!.

EZBC cites several “complaints” against Pulse Management, 5th Element Artists, Stacey Eastman and Shayna Eastman. What EZBC fails to tell you is that they initiated the complaints or were the source of false information for complaints submitted to legal and governmental agencies in several states such as: Business Licensing in the City of Oceanside, California; the Texas Department of Labor; Arizona Department of Commerce; and Portland Police Department San Diego Police Department amongst others. By EZBC’s own admittance and as listed on the records detailed, every single “complaint” was dismissed without action because there was no validity to the allegations.

THE EXTORTION BEGINS

In 2002, Pulse Management, Stacey Eastman, Shayna Eastman and their independent contractors began receiving on-line threats of defamation and slander from unidentified email accounts. Responses were censored, taken out of context, then posted to their website. The author of the website refused our requests to allow our full responses to be shown or removed.

Our attorneys researched the website and found they were called Easy Background Check, had changed their website several times avoiding litigation suits and being shut down by the courts for extortion, and had hidden their contact information: no phone number, no address, and no names listed. The very “disclaimer” on their site stated they “were not responsible for the information posted on their site.”

Over the next few years, EZBC changed its domain name (again) and became more aggressive with malicious distortion of facts. Via e-mail, they offered to “clean up” our image and remove the false negative postings for a “fee”, which we refused. Shortly thereafter, we received a letter from another company stating they could clear up our reputation with the BBB and EZBC for a fee. Our rep with the BBB was in perfect standing, so that just left EZBC, Rip-Off Reports and other aliases.

The extortion continues….

NEWS: “ACE REPOTER” RICK DEBRUHL & THE PHOTOMILL ACCUSATIONS

Numerous lawsuits would have resulted if there were any validity to DeBruhl’s sensationalized accusations. DeBruhl did absolutely no research on the topic. DeBruhl did not attempt to contact Stacey Eastman nor Pulse Management until ten minutes before he was airing the story because he had everything he wanted…. invalidated gossip. He aired his piece without interviewing anyone from Pulse Management.

After seeing the episode, Stacey Eastman contacted DeBruhl, who in a recorded statement, immediately said he had “no interest in revisiting the story” and hung up. That very night, he ran a second story, again without any interviews or supporting evidence. DeBruhl quoted a local talent manager who said there shouldn’t be a high price for photography but she can teach you all about the industry for $50 a person. This is a service that Stacey Eastman does at no cost for hundreds of individuals each month throughout the entire western United States. (Come on Rick who is running a scam?)

When contacted by our attorneys, DeBruhl hid behind his Freedom of Speech citing that the law only requires him to have two “valid” sources of information. His were Easy Background Check and one mother of an unsuccessful model who also gained her information from EZBC. The Arizona mother mislead DeBruhl and EZBC by saying she was told to buy a “photoshoot for $2,000.00.” This was a distortion of the truth, as you will see.

Let’s put the pieces together: EZBC headquarters in Mesa, Arizona, the company from Arizona who wants to “clear up” our rep for a fee, an Arizona mother, and a reporter from….Arizona. Has the sun warped their minds?

THE TRUTH ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY & 5th ELEMENT ARTISTS INC.

EZBC states that Eastman requires a $2,000.00 photo shoot then offers a fabricated document trying to show Eastman selling a photo shoot for $750.00. First of all, Eastman has never sold any photography to anyone. Secondly, EZBC said it was $2,000.00 not $750.00, so which is it?

Stacey Eastman has never and would never recommend a “photo shoot” for $2,000.00. He does recommend particular artists and companies to potential talent to get photography and materials, as does every agency and manager in the industry. EVERY company in this entire industry has an in house photography director whose job it is to select the best artist team, and subsequent photos that would best promote a talent to their best abilities in their particular market. The top companies are using the same artists who shoot the actual ads to shoot “test” books for new models. The only requirement that models must meet for Stacey Eastman is that they can show their materials and photographs have been produced by a reputable company with current fashion publications.

He does require the same items that every agency or manager throughout the industry needs to promote an individual, and the total cost of those items can go up to $2,000.00: photographer, makeup artist, stylist, development, rights to the film, enlargements, a book, 500 composite cards, etc. Costs vary depending on the caliber of work, experience of the artists, and quality of materials. The same price differences as if one were shopping for shoes at a discount chain versus at a designer store. You can find a good deal but not the same quality.

On the flip side, if you have connections with someone who can get you quality at reasonable rates, by all means go for it. However when comparison shopping understand that many photographers nickel and dime a model and will only quote you rates for himself which can be $150.00 per roll, they own the negatives, and you pay $30.00 - $50.00 per print. Make sure to ask what about all other costs?

5th Element Artists, Inc. is only one option for talent. Those who don’t want to do it themselves and who want a product that is guaranteed to exceed industry standards by combining reputable companies with amazing artists use 5th Element Artists. These are artists working daily in the industry and not trying to get started. Furthermore, the artist team usually is traveling to the talent and not the talent going to LA or NY to shoot.

There is no hidden agenda as EZBC likes to portray. Shayna’s name is clearly listed on all paperwork and business registrations, both have the same last name, and Stacey clearly states it’s his wife’s company when recommending 5th element artists Inc. EZBC’s accusation that it is unethical for Stacey to recommend her company simply because they are married is asinine. Numerous managers and agencies in the entertainment industry utilize these same artists for their photography. People meet others in the same line of work every day. As long as no moral, ethical, or illegal lines are crossed, they successfully continue their business relationship along with their personal relationship as Stacey and Shayna have done.

Eastman also recommends several independent artists not affiliated with 5th Element Artists, Inc. as well. He also gives them the option to research it on their own to get it done. It is entirely up to the talent and it is not a requirement for talent to go through Shayna Eastman or 5th Element Artists, Inc. There is not one person who was not given several options.

BUSINESS GUARANTEES

The entertainment industry is filled with horror stories of hopefuls being taken advantage of. Even once you get photography and materials, no agent or manager can guarantee you jobs within the entertainment industry. The stronger your talent, the better your materials, the more opportunity you have. Your photos are logically the first, and many times the only impression a client will have of you.

The talent earns 80-90% of the money from work. The manager or agent only earns 10-20%. As agents and managers do not make any money until the talent books work, rarely will they “advance” the costs of photo shoots and materials. When they do, it usually requires the talent to be living in the major city of promotion and it is always paid back to the company….always.

For example, the “itzmeagain” model cited on EZBC…We showed some interest after initially seeing her in person and declined her after she submitted photos taken by her Mother who shoots high school portraits and landscape for a living. The photos were nowhere near the quality required to compete at an international level and her mother’s own blog proves that.

AND THE FLAMES GO HIGHER…

We have not engaged in EZBC’s and Rip-Off Reports’ daily assault against us all these years. Doing so flames their paparazzi bombs. They will further twist and distort things beyond any reasonable comprehension and fill the holes in their stories with more lies. They capture their victims by providing minimal truth on companies who are legitimate, then twist and contort the truth.

We are honored to be on any list with the likes of Donald Trump, Elite, One Management, Why Not Models, Next Management and all the other best agencies. And, EZBC, since you asked…we sleep wonderfully at night knowing we have loyal clients, great talent, an amazing family and many friends that are at the very top of their perspective industries.