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| Ex-Chetham's school of music teacher reinvented himself in Hollywood | Ex-Chetham's school of music teacher reinvented himself in Hollywood |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| While his name gathered dust on a British police file, and the girls he allegedly violated at Chetham's school of music grew into adulthood, burying their stories, Chris Ling moved to Los Angeles, set up a talent agency and reinvented himself as a Hollywood svengali. | While his name gathered dust on a British police file, and the girls he allegedly violated at Chetham's school of music grew into adulthood, burying their stories, Chris Ling moved to Los Angeles, set up a talent agency and reinvented himself as a Hollywood svengali. |
| The former violin teacher impressed colleagues in the US film and music industry with his English accent and a no-nonsense, didactic style they dubbed the "Chris Ling school" of talent management. | The former violin teacher impressed colleagues in the US film and music industry with his English accent and a no-nonsense, didactic style they dubbed the "Chris Ling school" of talent management. |
| "He's very well respected. When he says something you know he'll follow through. He's upfront, he doesn't like bullshit and in this industry that's rare," said Melanie Marquez, a publicist who has collaborated with Ling, 55.Ling's agency, CHL Artists Inc, thrived enough for him to drive a black Jaguar, live in a three storey $2.5m home on the hills of Sherman Oaks, a plush neighbourhood overlooking the San Fernando valley, and rent an office in Hollywood. | "He's very well respected. When he says something you know he'll follow through. He's upfront, he doesn't like bullshit and in this industry that's rare," said Melanie Marquez, a publicist who has collaborated with Ling, 55.Ling's agency, CHL Artists Inc, thrived enough for him to drive a black Jaguar, live in a three storey $2.5m home on the hills of Sherman Oaks, a plush neighbourhood overlooking the San Fernando valley, and rent an office in Hollywood. |
| The agency described itself on its website as the "pre-eminent symphonic management company on the west coast of the United States". | The agency described itself on its website as the "pre-eminent symphonic management company on the west coast of the United States". |
| Founded in 1992, the year after Ling moved to the US, it originally focused on conductors and soloists, then expanded. "CHL also thrives in the arena of its motion pictures and television representation, representing selected actors and casting directors," the website claims. | Founded in 1992, the year after Ling moved to the US, it originally focused on conductors and soloists, then expanded. "CHL also thrives in the arena of its motion pictures and television representation, representing selected actors and casting directors," the website claims. |
| The agency's roster includes conductors Emil de Cou and Bohuslav Rattay, concert pianists Michelle Kim and Jeffrey Chappell and young actors such as Cali Fredrichs and Mackenzie Mason. Not an A-list, not prolific, a respectable niche. | The agency's roster includes conductors Emil de Cou and Bohuslav Rattay, concert pianists Michelle Kim and Jeffrey Chappell and young actors such as Cali Fredrichs and Mackenzie Mason. Not an A-list, not prolific, a respectable niche. |
| "He's picky about the talent he represents and he always wants to know the truth. I have nothing but respect for that man," said Marquez, whose agency, M4PR, works with Ling in representing Mason. | "He's picky about the talent he represents and he always wants to know the truth. I have nothing but respect for that man," said Marquez, whose agency, M4PR, works with Ling in representing Mason. |
| Ling has in the past defended the use of glamorous photographs to promote his clients. Ian Pace, a London-based musicologist and blogger, posted excerpts from a 1999 Omaha World Herald article which described Ling's strategy of promoting classical musicians' glamour and sex appeal as if they were pop stars. "We've simply put photos out there which are new, which are good," the paper quoted him. "And I hope it will attract a younger audience." | Ling has in the past defended the use of glamorous photographs to promote his clients. Ian Pace, a London-based musicologist and blogger, posted excerpts from a 1999 Omaha World Herald article which described Ling's strategy of promoting classical musicians' glamour and sex appeal as if they were pop stars. "We've simply put photos out there which are new, which are good," the paper quoted him. "And I hope it will attract a younger audience." |
| Actors and publicists termed his direct manner – a contrast to Hollywood fluff – the "Chris Ling school" of management, she said. "He's a very jovial guy when you get to know him." Marquez expressed surprise and scepticism when told of the allegations against her colleague. | Actors and publicists termed his direct manner – a contrast to Hollywood fluff – the "Chris Ling school" of management, she said. "He's a very jovial guy when you get to know him." Marquez expressed surprise and scepticism when told of the allegations against her colleague. |
| Once, she said, he had talked a director into cutting a topless scene from a script because it was not appropriate for his female star. "You get actresses who say yes (to partial nudity) because they want the job but he asks them whether it's the sort of thing they'd like to see on the screen 15 years from now." | Once, she said, he had talked a director into cutting a topless scene from a script because it was not appropriate for his female star. "You get actresses who say yes (to partial nudity) because they want the job but he asks them whether it's the sort of thing they'd like to see on the screen 15 years from now." |
| The Guardian interrupted Ling's Californian idyll with a report on Monday detailing allegations from 10 women who described abusive and predatory behaviour by Ling when he taught them violin at Chetham's in the 1980s. | The Guardian interrupted Ling's Californian idyll with a report on Monday detailing allegations from 10 women who described abusive and predatory behaviour by Ling when he taught them violin at Chetham's in the 1980s. |
| Greater Manchester police investigated complaints against Ling in 1990 but the inquiry was shelved for unclear reasons. No charges were brought. Ling left Chetham's, and the UK, soon after. | Greater Manchester police investigated complaints against Ling in 1990 but the inquiry was shelved for unclear reasons. No charges were brought. Ling left Chetham's, and the UK, soon after. |
| Ling declined last week to respond to the Guardian's allegations. A male voice answered the phone at his office on Monday but thereafter declined to speak. Ling's wife, Pip Clarke, a former Chetham pupil who is now a concert violinist, declined to comment when a reporter asked her for comment. | Ling declined last week to respond to the Guardian's allegations. A male voice answered the phone at his office on Monday but thereafter declined to speak. Ling's wife, Pip Clarke, a former Chetham pupil who is now a concert violinist, declined to comment when a reporter asked her for comment. |
| Entertainment industry figures who work with CHL expressed dismay when asked to comment on the allegations. "I'm very sorry to hear this. It comes as such as a shock," said Teresa Cheung, a conductor signed up by the agency last year. Based in New York, she had dealt with Ling only via phone and email. "He's very professional. He's all about the business, nothing out of the ordinary." | Entertainment industry figures who work with CHL expressed dismay when asked to comment on the allegations. "I'm very sorry to hear this. It comes as such as a shock," said Teresa Cheung, a conductor signed up by the agency last year. Based in New York, she had dealt with Ling only via phone and email. "He's very professional. He's all about the business, nothing out of the ordinary." |
| Angela Strange, an agent who used to represent one of Ling's female actors said she had not met Ling and had not heard any complaint about him. There is no evidence that Ling has behaved inappropriately since moving to the US. The four female actors listed on CHL's roster did not immediately respond to interview requests. | Angela Strange, an agent who used to represent one of Ling's female actors said she had not met Ling and had not heard any complaint about him. There is no evidence that Ling has behaved inappropriately since moving to the US. The four female actors listed on CHL's roster did not immediately respond to interview requests. |
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