ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

13 years, 3 months ago - Yen Rickeard

it can be surprisingly hard to get child actors. Getting to know the Youth Theatre companies is a great start. You could offer to talk to them about film making and what is expected from the actor.
The best chaperone is usually a parent, unless they want to interfere all the time. If you can meet the parent at the same time as auditioning the actor this will help you be sure there will be a good working relationship.
The shooting script will have to scheduled around the child so they are not too tired for school, or overstressed. A half day works best with younger children.
You need to have thought through whether the role might be daunting or emotionally difficult for a child, and find ways of making sure that they are looked after in this respect. I don't know whether this applies to your film, but if there are difficult scenes you can sometimes shoot the child seperately, in a context which is easy for them, but will cut into the main shots later.

13 years, 3 months ago - Bill Hayes

I worked on a Kaisher Chief's video a couple of years back and they needed about 20 kids for the film. We got them from the North london Performing Arts centre in Muswell Hill. They took care of everything and it was great.

Sorry, don't have a name anymore but here they are:-

http://www.nlpac.co.uk/Contact-Us.html

good luck

13 years, 3 months ago - Adam Watkins

Hi David,

Yen's response is good and covers good basic advice - but I think it's important
that you're aware that this good 'best practice' only goes so far.
There are very strict regulations dictating the hours that a minor can work. Just
saying that 'the shooting script will have to be scheduled around the child so
they are not too tired for school, or overstressed' isn't enough I'm afraid.

You will need to contact the Local Education Authority. Interestingly this is not
actually for the area you are going to be filming in, but should be the LEA for the area where the child is resident. Once you contact them they should give you full details of what you'll need, but as an example (from Lambeth from 2007 when I made initial enquiries) you will need to apply for a licence (this needs a doctors letter (doctor for the child), school letter, 2 passport photos, copy of birth certificate, a load of information from you as the production company, details of who the chaperone is (Yen is right - parents are ideal as chaperones - the advantage being they don't need to have separate CRB licences where a hired in chaperone would) details on locations, planned shooting hours etc. etc.)

It's also worth noting that these strict rules and information needed apply as
much during school holidays as school time. It's certainly easier to get
agreement if you're shooting in a holiday (they're ratio for time they're allowed to work depending on age etc. is much better than in term time), but they do still have stipulations.

It's a lot of stuff - and you should get this process started asap.

Also - once it's ironed out they will need to know exactly where/when you're
shooting as they reserve the right to make a visit to the set. They didn't
exercise this right in our case (probably as we were shooting in the holidays with the parents present as chaperones).

I completely understand that you want to keep things as simple and cheap as
possible, but unfortunately this in an area you can't really scrimp on. The good
news is it doesn't have to cost anything. If I remember rightly we didn't need to
pay to apply of the child licence.

The simple advice is - contact the local LEA, get full advice from them on what
the requirements are etc.


N.B. This is all over and above the standard CRB checks that you'll need
depending on who's working with the child. You MIGHT not need this if the
parent is present at absolutely all times (auditions, rehearsals, all parts of
shooting), but it's best to. Belt and braces. In fact the LEA may well need that
anyway.

Sorry - don't want to throw a fly in the ointment! It just isn't as simple as it might first seem. Do your research and contact the LEA and you'll be fine.

13 years, 3 months ago - Ryan Murphy

Hi
As a mother of a child actor, just to say, the forms aren't as scary as you think. Most mum's with kids who perform regularly will have all the paperwork sorted out already.A doctors note last 6 months, so it's just a question of photocopying what we already have. Most application forms can be downloaded online just put a search in for the nearest town to where the child lives and "performance licence." A mum can do this just as easily so if necessary they can do them from their end. Some of the questions are wordy but once you've done one it just gets easier.(Again a parent that has done them before could help you with this). You'd be surprised how long a child can be on set for as long as there are regular short breaks it's probably more than what you think. I'm glad this discussion is taking place on here, have spoken to countless producers who have never heard of licences. Son has lost countless jobs and suffered great dissapointment a few times now after being given a role then have it retracted because I've asked for a licence.(They've decided to take a chance without)Poor kid.
Signed by
Not an interfering parent, just a helpful one.

13 years, 3 months ago - SONJA NASH

firstly all under sixteens need to be chaperoned at all times. The cheapest way to do this is to have them come along with their Mum or Dad.
Ideally get them to work for expenses only. This is achievable with a lot of actors and kids too. If you go to a big child acting agency however you will find that they do not really like the idea.

That said, I happen to know Stagecoach are brilliant at this as we have used them (Stagecoach Chester) on a production before.

If they work for less than three days in one week and are not being paid more than expenses - you will not need to license them and also they will not need to be tutored. (If it is for more than three days, tutoring is required for three hours per day at production expense).

If they haven't worked before (or within the last six months of your shoot dates) and you need them possibly for only four days maximum, there is a good chance the local council will give them an exemption from license. This has also happened for me : )

The hours vary considerably depending on the age of the children. If you are shooting during day time hours, you can only have children for a total of nine hours maximum between the hours of 7am and 7pm and they are only allowed to film for 4.5 hours in total during that nine hours.
They must break for fifteen minutes after every forty five minutes, plus have a one hour lunch break- however you will find that most parent / chaperones are happy for the kid to continue as long as the kid is happy, rather than get the shot set up just right and have to wait fifteen minutes before shooting just because it's what is said on the tin! People are flexible and in productions they have to be. Chaperones are there to ensure that the child is not being exploited.
They are only doing their jobs of course and are very much needed in the industry to protect children, but parent / chaperones are able to see and watch what is happening with their 'own' children and in your case it would be a better option for you.

If you have to take the kids out of school, you will need school permission and also a GP certificate to say that the kids are okay to film.
If you email me directly I can send you over a medical certificate for kids in entertainment. Then the parent just gets the GP to stamp it. Usually there's a nominal charge for this (GP's have to make money out of it) but no more than £20 - and some will waive the fee.

How long is your schedule? Ideally try and shoot at weekends to avoid the school situation and you will also find that parents will be more flexible t weekends too.
Break a leg :)