At The 98%, we are often contacted by all manner of professional and aspiring creatives who have encountered individuals misrepresenting their role within the entertainment industry. In many cases, these situations involve exaggerated credentials, false promises of access, or misleading claims of influence.

This article is published in the public interest following contact from multiple individuals who independently raised concerns about representations they say were made by a man working under the name Jake Parker, some of whom report financial loss relating to those representations. Other names reportedly used include Jake Dowd-Parker, Wyatt Dowd, and Wyatt Dowd-Parker.

Several individuals have come forward reporting that Jake Parker presented himself as having professional standing within the film and television industry. According to those accounts, this positioning was used to imply access to work opportunities for people seeking entry into TV and film - including actors, crew members, background actors, and individuals working outside the industry who hoped to transition into it.

What follows is a summary of accounts provided to The 98%. Mr Parker was offered an opportunity to respond prior to publication, and his response is addressed throughout the article where relevant.

Use and distribution of confidential production documents

A significant area of concern relating to how Mr Parker is said to have presented his industry standing is the circulation of confidential production materials.

Multiple individuals have provided call sheets, unit lists, and testimony which appear to indicate that Mr Parker has distributed confidential production documents from previous productions via messaging platforms. These documents contain personal data belonging to cast and crew from across the global film and television industry, including names, phone numbers, and other identifiable information.

In one confirmed instance, Mr Parker worked on a production in a non-creative capacity. The 98% has reviewed screenshots of messages, copies of call sheets and unit lists and witness accounts which indicate Mr Parker redistributed full crew lists he had obtained and encouraged recipients to use the document for personal outreach in pursuit of job opportunities.

Several productions contacted in relation to this matter have expressed concern upon being made aware of the redistribution, with some stating they are escalating the issue internally to production companies and streaming platforms. The unauthorised sharing of call sheets and unit lists raises serious data protection and confidentiality concerns.

The 98% has also been provided with materials and screenshots which appear to relate to messaging groups used in connection with industry networking and opportunity sharing. Individuals who shared this information described being added to WhatsApp groups in which production-related documents were circulated alongside discussion of potential work opportunities and industry advice.

The materials reviewed by The 98% include what appear to be production documents, including call sheets and unit lists containing personal data relating to cast and crew. Those who raised concerns about these groups have questioned whether their sharing in this context may have created a misleading impression of professional access or appropriate conduct.

Mr Parker has acknowledged that he should not have shared or circulated the call sheets and unit lists. He describes doing so as a mistake, states that he regrets the decision, and says that he accepts full responsibility for his actions.

A pattern of misrepresentation

Those who contacted The 98% report being told that Mr Parker had worked on major productions, including high-profile studio films and television series, although some of these claims have subsequently raised questions. In some instances, his name appears in publicly available IMDb listings associated with productions, but does not appear in the available official credits.

For example, questions have been raised regarding claimed work on major studio films, including Lilo & Stitch, where he reportedly said he had worked in Hawaii as a 2nd AD (second assistant director), and Deadpool & Wolverine, where he reportedly claimed to have worked closely with the film’s stars. Mr Parker's name does not appear in publicly available credits we reviewed.

Jake Parker did not directly address the alleged IMDb listings and the claimed work on these particular projects.

Alleged false affiliations

People even report being sent contracts purporting to be from Amazon Studios and Warner Bros., relating to prospective work and projects.

According to those affected, the documents were used separately to lend legitimacy to Mr Parker’s representations. In one instance a father and son were told by Mr Parker that they had been cast in the new Harry Potter TV show.

“My 14 year old son and I were made to believe that Jake had got us background roles in the new Harry Potter series. I was told I'd be playing a character called Professor Griffin, and that my son would be a student in Ravenclaw house. Over a period of several months, Jake sent us messages, production deals, NDA's, emails from a "producer" and details of the roles we were supposedly due to play, which led us to believe the opportunity was genuine. We shared the news with our son's school. My son spent a lot of time watching videos about how to be a good supporting artist, he was so excited for the opportunity. Jake even spoke to him on the phone and told him he will be in Hogwarts in October. Eventually I started having concerns and reached out to Warner Brothers directly who confirmed with me that Jake had worked for one day on the production as a marshall, not as a 2nd Assistant Director involved in the casting of background actors as he had told me. The impact on our family, particularly our son, has been devastating."

Warner Bros. confirmed with this father that the documents he received, which were attributed to Warner Bros., were not genuine and had not been issued by the company. While Mr Parker did work on the production in a limited, non-creative capacity (reportedly as a marshal - a role understood to involve duties such as managing parking and directing vehicles), Warner Bros. stated that he had no authority to issue contracts, make casting representations, or act in the capacity he was claiming, including his assertions that he was working as a first assistant director for background actors. Someone from Warner Bros. HR told the father that they would investigate the matter internally and would seek to find a way to rectify the situation for his son. He did not have any further communication with Mr Parker.

Mr Parker’s response to The 98% refers to “matters related to Warner Bros.” where he states that he has accepted accountability, that the matter was dealt with privately with Warner Bros. last year, and that he has accepted the consequences that followed.

Concerns have also been raised regarding social media posts made by Mr Parker which include behind-the-scenes imagery. Individuals who contacted The 98% identified posts featuring BTS photographs alongside references to Mr Parker’s involvement in productions. Reverse-image searches conducted by The 98% indicated that some of these images had previously been published elsewhere by unrelated third parties. Those raising concerns questioned whether the posts could create a misleading impression of professional involvement.

Mr Parker did not address the specific Instagram images or the reverse-image-search findings in his response but states he has “made significant efforts” to remove himself from being present online.

Allegations concerning finances and crowdfunding

One individual who spoke to The 98% described receiving a document from Mr Parker purporting to be an Amazon Studios contract. They described how they were led to believe that Mr Parker was attaching Amazon to a deeply personal documentary project they were developing, which Mr Parker signed on to as a ‘producer’.

“Jake told me he would be a producer on my documentary and that he was signing on to help get it funded. He set up a GoFundMe for the project, but listed himself as the beneficiary. When I started questioning this, he told me he would take the GoFundMe down. It was still live months later, and I had to open a fraud case with GoFundMe.”

The same individual reported being told that Mr Parker had access to high-profile industry figures - including claims that he knew Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman personally after working with them on Deadpool vs Wolverine - and that they would assist with funding or lend their support. This person was also told that Mr Parker was holding meetings with Amazon Studios, who would fully fund the project. The individual has since stated that they no longer believe these claims to be true.

“At the time, it seemed legitimate because he appeared to have worked on films connected to these people. Now I don’t believe any of it.”

Mr Parker expressed regret for the hurt caused in this matter and acknowledged that trust was broken. He stated that he is “truly sorry” to this individual and that he had “no malicious intent”. He did not, however, specifically address the allegations concerning money or the circumstances in which funds were provided.

According to this individual, they sent Mr Parker money on multiple occasions to support what they believed were legitimate production-related costs.

They were not the only person to report sending Mr Parker money.

Multiple individuals have independently contacted The 98% describing requests for financial assistance from Mr Parker, which they say were accompanied by accounts of personal financial difficulties.

Those individuals report providing money towards expenses including accommodation, food, clothing and family-related costs. Some have also alleged that Mr Parker referred to the death of his grandmother on separate occasions when requesting financial assistance. The 98% has not independently verified the circumstances relating to Mr Parker’s family.

The 98% has reviewed messages in which Mr Parker acknowledges requesting financial assistance and separately discusses opportunities connected with named film and television productions. Other individuals allege that prospective work opportunities or rewards, including tickets to film premieres, were discussed in connection with requests to borrow money.

Several sources report that money they understood to be loans remains outstanding. These accounts are attributed to the individuals concerned; The 98% has not independently established the circumstances of every payment or any associated repayment agreement.

Mr Parker was invited to respond to these allegations. His response did not specifically address the financial matters described above.

Why this article is being published

This article is not intended to adjudicate guilt, encourage confrontation or invite members of the public to contact Mr Parker. He has expressed that he has taken responsibility for his actions. This post has been published to warn and inform, and to highlight the importance of due diligence when assessing professional opportunities.

The experiences described demonstrate how easily professional opportunities, industry affiliations and production-related claims can appear credible, particularly to people who are eager to enter or progress within the entertainment industry. The use of convincing-looking documents, online profiles, production imagery or references to recognisable companies and individuals can create an impression of legitimacy that should not be accepted without independent verification.

The 98% encourages readers, when connecting with someone claiming industry power or access, to verify claimed credits and affiliations, exercise particular caution where money, confidential documents, or personal data is involved, and trust their instincts.

Mr Parker was provided with a detailed summary of the matters raised in this article and invited to respond. In his response, Mr Parker stated that he is scared about the prospect of publication because of what he describes as “harassment and bullying” experienced last year, which he says significantly affected his mental and physical health. He stated: “I have lost friends, work opportunities and the trust of people around me.” He says he has now stepped away from online platforms and his career path and is focusing on his health.

Ultimately, this article is about something broader than one individual: the need for professional oversight, the importance of due diligence and the belief in informed decision-making in an industry where people can be particularly vulnerable to claims of access and opportunity.

Because this individual has used different names in different contexts, we are including photographs to help readers identify the person being referred to throughout this article.

*Photos taken from Jake Parker’s Instagram*

If you believe you have been affected by similar behaviour in this industry, you are not alone. Support and reporting options are available. Please see the signposted support on this website under ‘help’.

Awareness Notice: Professional Concerns Regarding Jake Parker