Our friend Jessica Pettyjohn over at headshots101.com wrote a little piece for us. If you’re a parent who’s interested in having your child embark upon the adventure of acting, she gives you some tips for doing just that. Enjoy.
HOW DO I GET MY KID STARTED IN ACTING?
As a mother to a successful young actress, I get this one ALLLLLLLLLL THE TIME.
First let me express this….. This MUST BE SOMETHING THE KID WANTS!!! This is a business and a job. If they are not interested in doing this it is a waste of money and energy. And you do not want to be “that” parent.
But if this is something your child is interested in and something they want to do there are a few basic things you need.
#1) A work permit. These are free. Online in California you can print it from http://www.film.ca.gov/ProductionTools_WorkPermits.htm
Fill out this form and you can mail it in. Or take it to the Van Nuys office and walk out with the permit. You will need to renew these every 6 months. A school seal needs to be stamped on this document, so you must have your child’s school stamp it. If school is not in session and you need it right away, then have a current copy of their report card.
#2) You also need an account opened for them called a Coogan Account. Otherwise known as a court blocked savings account. This is needed before you ever walk on set because production MUST PAY 15% TO THIS FIRST BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GETS PAID (meaning agents, taxes etc). This money becomes available to your child when they are 18. You can’t withdraw from it but you can add to it if you choose. Most banks open these accounts with a required $150 deposit. There are a few that charge less. But you can research out different banks and rates and what they require for opening. But you must have one of these set up before arriving to set.
#3) You will need headshots. If they are just getting started and under the age of 5, you can just use good shots from your camera until your agent asks you to get professional ones. It will cost you about $150 to $350 to do the shots and another $100 to get uploaded to the sites that your agent uses to promote your child.
#4) Search for agents that represent minors and send them emails and shots of your child and any resume they may have. Keep it short, simple and to the point. Don’t monologue about your child. Just simply say your child is an actor or actress and you are looking for a good agent and hear they rep children and would like to set up an audition.
#5) Prepare your kid for the manners and social graces. When they audition, they go in the room without you. If they are bouncing off walls and don’t listen, they aren’t ready. You can search around for different seminars or acting classes that will teach your child the basics of auditioning and performing.
#6) When you take them to auditions make sure they are well fed and well rested and bring snacks that are healthy and won’t stick to their teeth. Don’t doll them up in their sunday best. Keep their clothing clean and simple and devoid of comics cartoons and obnoxious logos. Jeans and a clean T-shirt or button down or sweater. Hair brushed, face clean and no make-up. Even your little princess should not be walking in with Toddlers & Tiaras make up.
#7) Don’t hound your child for details after the audition. Let them originate to you. As a parent you are curious. But as a child this needs to be fun for them. Not a chore or pressured. I tell my kid that the auditions are important in that they need to prep for it. Memorize the lines and work on the skill of making it natural. And don’t worry about if they book it or get a call back or who’s starring in it. That adds pressure they don’t need. The skill of communicating is what is needed. The rest is whatever the casting director decides. And when you are just starting out, the auditions are usually easier commercial auditions and get harder as they progress into TV and film and so forth. There are weeks when my kid has about 30 pages of dialogue for 4 different rolls that are all different types of characters and levels of projects. HELP THEM RUN LINES BUT DO NOT ADD PRESSURE! Get them a coach if they need it or if you need it. But keep it fun. They are kids.