ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

2 months, 1 week ago - Ivan Francis Clements

Lelu, a twenty-two year old fledgling writer/director has completed her final draft of 'CRAMP IN MY KIPPERS', a short comedy she wants to shoot. She's buzzing, creative and a go-getter.

Her story is about a fifteen-year-old chemist prodigy who discovers a new curative quality derived from kippers. She battles big-pharma as they try to undermine her discovery that threatens them.

Lelu has a clear vision for her film. But she has no money so she's set the whole film in a front room and an office.

Lelu needs to find an exceptional actress for the role. As she is broke, she decides to post on all the social media groups she can get her hands on to find her star.

Her ad simply reads:
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Casting Call

"When she discovers a new, cheap to produce, fish oil drug, can Alice survive the brutal battle with big-pharma. This is Davina vs Goliath!'

Lead actress required for student short film. Good emotional depth a must.

Age: 13-15

Gender: Female

Race: Any

Please DM me for details.
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Within a few hours, Lelu starts getting responses. But not from actors, from moderators and admins of the social media sites.

'Lelu hi
Please can you add what safeguarding measures you have in place'

'What's the pay?'

Lelu does some research and updates her ad
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Casting Call

"When she discovers a new, cheap to produce, fish oil drug, can Alice survive the brutal battle with big-pharma. This is Davina vs Goliath!'

Lead actress required for student short film. Good emotional depth a must.

This is a student shoot so whilst I cannot offer a fee, I can cover food, travel and insurance.

Parents to accompany the child on set at all times.

Age: 13-15

Gender: Female

Race: Any

Please DM me for details.
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Lelu gets more feedback from admins:

'You do know you need licensed chaperones right? And what about all the cast and crew? Have the all been DBS checked? They all have to be as they are on set with kids.'

'What about licensing? You know you need that right?'

Feeling a little overwhelmed, Lelu continues her research and updates her ad again.

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Casting Call

A note on Child Safeguarding for my film and then you can read about the role below that:

Having been challenged on the issue of children working on set (quite rightly) with regard to licensing, and a DBS claim that "Everyone and I mean absolutely everyone who comes in contact with the child must have a current DBS less than 18 months old. This includes adult cast and crew."

So, I've done some research. I checked with the local council licensing officer who told me that as it's unpaid, a student film and on a Sunday, they could issue an exemption rather than a license.
I also googled re claim regarding DBS checks for cast and crew and if it was a legal requirement and found this:
"While not a strict legal requirement for all actors and cast members, a basic DBS check is often recommended or requested when working with children on film or television productions.”
I ran this by the officer and her response was:
"That’s what I thought to be the case. As long as the adults without a DBS aren’t chaperoning the child, then I think It will be fine."
I then went to PACT for further clarification. Their response:
"This all depends on the circumstance but it is not a legal requirement for all cast and crew to have DBSs.
You must make sure that the parent chaperones the child at all stages and the child is never alone with anyone else. If there is a sensitive scene, you may want to consider DBSing any adult actor but as I said, it slightly depends on circumstance."

I will be adhering to the law and child safeguarding is paramount.

"When she discovers a new, cheap to produce, fish oil drug, can Alice survive the brutal battle with big-pharma. This is Davina vs Goliath!'

Lead actress required for student short film. Good emotional depth a must.

This is a student shoot so whilst I cannot offer a fee, I can cover food, travel and insurance.

Parents to accompany the child on set at all times.

Age: 13-15

Gender: Female

Race: Any

Please DM me for details.
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Headline in The Daily Filmmaker

PROMISING STUDENT FILMMAKER, LELU, TAKES OWN LIFE AFTER HEARING THOUSANDS OF ASPIRING ACTRESSES DIE OF BOREDOM TRYING TO FIND ANY ROLES WHERE NO BUBBLE WRAP IS REQUIRED.

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Over regulation is killing creativity.