Just for Moms - Education Page
Showbiz 101 for Kids
Break into the entertainment business
Laurel Moore Pupa
Have you ever seen a child in a movie or TV commercial and thought, "My kid can do that!"? Has your child expressed an interest in modeling or acting? Don't let the tabloid tales of child stars ending up in rehab or Disney darlings turning into party girls scare you away from what could be a fun and rewarding experience for your child.
Working in the entertainment business can open the door to many opportunities for kids. It can teach them communication skills and money management principles. There is also the potential to make enough money to pay for college. With its scenic locations for shoots, established talent agencies and proximity to Los Angeles, San Diego is a great place for local families to break into the entertainment business.
Is Show Business Right for Your Child?
It takes a certain type of child (and parent) to be successful in the entertainment field. Kids must be outgoing, well behaved and able to take direction and rejection. If your child has separation anxiety or is shy around strangers, don't try to push him into this business.
According to Terry Berland and Deborah Ouellette, authors of Breaking Into Commercials, the most successful child actors are smart, have charisma, and converse well during interviews. Berland and Oulette warn, "Never beg, bribe or bully a child to get him to perform. Having to resort to such tactics indicates that the child is not interested in doing this."
Stage parents should be organized (an appointment book or PDA helps) and have a flexible schedule. Agents typically give short notice when scheduling auditions. If you have a job, other children or commitments that prevent you from making the audition, it could result in the agent dropping your child as a client.
You'll also need to have a good relationship with your child's school. Although most commercial auditions are scheduled after 3:00 p.m., there will be times when you will need to take your child out of school early. Agents are not able to juggle audition times around your schedule. It's a good idea to talk to your child's teacher about your plans ahead of time so you can enlist her support and cooperation.
Getting Started
Once you have determined that you and your child are cut out for this business, there are some tools of the trade you will need to begin.
A cell phone or pager. The agent needs to be able to reach you to schedule an audition on the first call. Sometimes, agents are told they can send a certain number of kids for an audition. If they can't reach you, they will move down the list.
A computer. Many agents prefer to communicate with clients via email. Production companies email scripts, directions and "call sheets" (listings of contact information for everyone involved in the shoot). You will want to be able to access agent and casting Websites and map services. Prepare a professional-looking resume for your child and update it regularly.
A GPS navigation system or current Thomas Brothers Guide of the San Diego area is essential to find your way to auditions or seek alternate routes if traffic is a problem. You might also receive a Thomas Guide page number for the location of an audition or shoot. Consider purchasing an Orange County/Los Angeles version.
Entertainment Work Permits allow minors to miss school as an excused absence when they book a job (but not when they attend auditions). Homeschooled children also need this document. There is no fee to obtain a work permit. To get an application, call (619) 220-5451, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) to the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement at 7575 Metropolitan Drive, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92108, or download the form from their Website www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/dlse.html.
Take the completed application form to your child's school for authorization. Your child must have passing grades in all classes to qualify. Remember to provide an SASE with your application. Permits need to be renewed every six months.
Getting Paid
Before your child can collect his first paycheck, you will need to open a Coogan account for him. California law requires this blocked trust account for the purpose of preserving a portion of the child's earnings; the money cannot be touched by anyone until the child turns 18.
If your child gets booked for a job, you will need to provide the employer with a copy of the trustee statement and deposit information. The employer will deposit 15 percent of the child's gross earnings directly into the Coogan account.
Go to www.childreninfilm.com for a list of banks that offer Coogan accounts. For more information, call the SAG hotline at 323-549-6639 to hear a recorded message.
The Talent Agent
To understand the role of the talent agent, it helps to have an overview of how the casting process works. Let's say a company (the "client") wants to promote its product or service. It hires an advertising agency. The ad agency develops a campaign that includes print advertising (newspapers, magazines) and commercials (TV and possibly radio). Next, the ad agency hires a photography studio to produce the print ads or a production company to produce the commercials. These businesses, in turn, contact a casting director to find the appropriate "talent," which could be your child.
The casting director provides multiple agents with the "breakdowns," the descriptions and requirements for talent (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.). The agents look through their rosters and submit candidates to the casting director (in most cases, by e-mailing photos of the talent). The casting director selects the ones that have the look he wants, and notifies the agents. That's when your child's agent calls you with an appointment time for the audition. The agent is your representative in this chain of command.
Read the accompanying article "Finding an Agent" in the February issue of San Diego Family Magazine for more information about this process.
Laurel Moore Pupa is a local stage mom to 15-year-old Danielle and 8-year-old Nick.
