Archive for 'On The Set'

LEGAL ISSUES: New York Department Of Labor Plans BIG Changes Affecting Child Actors in NY

LEGAL ISSUES: New York Department Of Labor Plans BIG Changes Affecting Child Actors in NY

Posted on 10. Dec, 2010 by .

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Thanks to the very knowledgeable Anne Henry and Paula Dorn over at BizParentz.org, we’ve learned the Department of Labor in New York is planning to implement new Rules governing child entertainment work permits and the daily work of child performers.  You will now be required to submit a total of 12 documents to the Department of Labor in order to get a work permit, including 2 required physicals per year.  Other major changes would include work hour restrictions even for non-union work and (the one that really freaks me out!) no parent access to their kids in the school room.

According to BizParentz website, these new rules were developed without the participation of any actual showbiz parents - that means you – the Hollywood Moms and Dads.   None of the entities involved,  including the Department of Labor,  have notified parents or working kids of this situation.  There is a 45 day deadline when the Rules can go into effect with no vote at all, and the 45 days is up on Christmas Day, December, 25, 2010.  The NY Department of Labor is holding a hearing on December 27, 2010.

So, what can you do? Anne Henry and Paula Dorn suggest the taking the following steps:

  • Read up on the issues at Child Performers Coalition, http://childperformerscoalition.org/  Be sure to review the “Briefs” section on each subject–it will help you find which issues are most important to your family.
  • Sign the Petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/childperformerscoalition/  You can do this even if you are not in NYC!
  • Write to the Department of Labor NOW and ask them to table the Rules. It appears that the DOL could implement these new Rules without the public hearing, so please make your opinions known before that time. Short and sweet is best, and make sure to portray the knowlegable, caring parent that you are. Remember–many of these Rules were designed to protect our children from their own parents. We need to show them that we have it under control.
  • The DOL contact is Jeffrey Shapiro: email: jeffrey.shapiro@labor.ny.gov
  • Attend the Public Hearing: 10:00 a.m., December 27, 2010 at 75 Varick Street, 7th Floor, NYC, New York
  • Share this information with every child performer, agent, manager, and producer you know.

For more information please visit BizParentz.org, ChildPerformersCoalition.org, and http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/childperformerscoalition/


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From the Momager Trenches Texas: Keep it to yourselves people…

From the Momager Trenches Texas: Keep it to yourselves people…

Posted on 09. Apr, 2010 by .

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Have you ever taken your talented, fabulous child to an audition and heard this in the waiting room: “My Johnny  just booked a major role for a feature film – the director said that he is the most talented child actor he has seen in ages,” or “Oh we’re not too worried about this job; we know the casting director personally.”

Who are these people and why must they shout their stories to other parents sitting across the audition waiting room?  If this is you and I seriously doubt that it is, please just…STOP IT!

We don’t care what your darling actor has booked, which roles they have played, what their residuals are or whether the Casting Director is your child’s godparent!  Okay maybe I care a little about that. But if you are trying to psych me out, don’t bother. It is not working!

As I said before, I’m sure none of you reading this has ever been that parent because we are all up on our “parents of child actors” etiquette and know that such behavior is unacceptable. Right? I thought so.

Now we have to put our heads together and come up with a tactful way of getting the message across to the offending parent(s) during those uncomfortable moments while we are sitting together in the waiting room. Ideas anyone?

Here are a few things I’ve tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to shut that parent up:

  • while spouting off their child’s impressive resume, I look over, shake my head at them and then glance back down into my book, blackberry or my very interesting, twiddling thumbs.
  • go into a huge coughing fit while staring them directly in the eye.
  • get up and move to another area in the waiting room.  Of course, I can still hear the conversation but I try to look as disgusted as possible with hopes that they get my drift.

Don’t get me wrong, once the kids are out of the waiting area and into the audition room having polite, quiet conversation of almost any nature is completely fine. But if you feel the need to share your child’s resume line by line then take it outside because honestly the rest of us just don’t care!

I’m going to ask each and of you for a favor.  If by chance we are sitting together in an audition waiting room and I start going on about “my awesome kid,” please help me and everyone else out and tell me to put a sock in it!

Cari Surch is the momager of young actress www.KennedySurch.com You can follow her adventures on twitter http://www.twitter.com/cariscalling

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Service Review: Ready, Go…Set! Audition Coaching, Transportation & On-Set Chaperones

Service Review: Ready, Go…Set! Audition Coaching, Transportation & On-Set Chaperones

Posted on 25. Mar, 2010 by .

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I drive a lot. And by a lot, I mean all the freaking time.  At the risk of sounding like a mathematical word problem, my daughter’s school is located about 15 miles away to the west. So with 2 round trips per day to and from school, I drive a minimum of at least 60 miles every day. But it’s always much more driving than that with auditions, acting class, privates, cheer, golf, parties, sleepovers, the dog park, etc. which all seem to take place about 15 miles to the east.  My alter ego is that of a yellow cab driver. I always tell people, and it’s true, that I wouldn’t be able to take the journey of the Hollywood Mom if I had more than one child because of the demands it entails.  Several parents I know have kids who would love to be in the business but aren’t simply because of the constant driving it requires and the craziness it is to juggle the schedules of multiple children.

A few weeks ago as I was schlepping (*happily*) to yet another audition, I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I could clone myself?  One of me could be going to this audition with Jo and the other one of me could be doing everything else it takes to keep our household and businesses together.  That’s when I learned about Ready…Go…Set! a unique service which provides the ultimate in audition preparation, coaching, transportation to and from and chaperoning of young actors on set.  That’s right Hollywood Moms, you no longer have an excuse not to get it all done.

Ready…Go…Set! (RGS) is the brainchild of acting coaches Katie Von Till, Joanna Brooks, and Lisa N. Lennox, who collectively have national commercials, TV programs, broadcast news, films, video games, Broadway tours and regional theatre productions to their credit.  The coaches each have degrees in Theatre with extensive training in acting, improv and directing.  Some of their client’s recent bookings include “The Wizards of Waverly Place,” and the series finale of  “ER.” Clients have been called back to producer/director sessions for TV shows and movies including: FRED (the motion picture), “Eastwick,” “Oldyweds,” “Roommates,” “The United States of Tara,” “Good Luck Charlie,” “Mackenzie Blue,” “The Good Wife,” “Make It or Break It,” “Parenthood,” and more.

Some of the services RGS provides:

  • RGS can pick up your child from school or home and drive him/her to an audition.
  • Busy schedule preventing you from getting your child to appointments?  RGS can coach your child at their place or yours or via SKYPE.
  • RGS will coach your child on his/her audition material so that he/she has a strong “take” and approach to the scene and to the character.
  • RGS will prepare your child so he/she knows what to do upon entering the room and meeting the producers and casting directors. As working actors, as well as coaches, they understand the process and know how important it is to feel comfortable throughout the audition.
  • RGS’ goal is to assist your child with the choices he/she makes about the audition material so that he/she feels confident about his/her talent, comfortable in the audition and hopefully books the job!
  • When your child has booked the job, RGS can serve as temporary guardians for the day, as on-set chaperones, when you can’t get off work to be with him/her as the law requires.  The coaches stay as long as your child is needed on set and then drive your child home at the end of the work day.

So how much will this god send of a service set you back?  One hour of coaching runs $65/hour with $50 for each additional hour.  All other service time including driving is $25.00 per hour, with a $5 discount after 3 hours. Please inquire for weekly or monthly discounted rates for on-going coaching.  Extra fees may apply for overnight shoots and driving distances exceeding 20 miles.

From Left: Lisa, Joanna and Katie

As RGS is not a partnership, each coach is hired on an individual basis. Find individual contact information and complimentary parent endorsements & testimonials on www.ReadyGoSet.net

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From the Momager Trenches Los Angeles: Gunfire, Car Chases and Kids, OH MY. A day on the set of RENO 911

From the Momager Trenches Los Angeles: Gunfire, Car Chases and Kids, OH MY. A day on the set of RENO 911

Posted on 10. Dec, 2008 by .

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Yesterday, Jordan worked  on an episode of Comedy Centrals’, “RENO 911!” As a background job, we’d normally pass; however, I Love RENO 911! I’m not proud of this.  It’s a guilty pleasure and I admit it.  My “rational mom reasoning” for submitting my daughter Jordan for this was threefold: (1) the scene only involved a few kids and the lead actor so it would be a “featured” extra role; 2) it’s a television show and my newbie kid had never worked television and 3) it was a short day of shooting, close to home.

I was warned beforehand that the actor’s language might be a little salty. No big deal, I said. Nothing my kid hasn’t heard me scream while sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on the 101.

Now, here are the things I didn’t know when I submitted her for the job: (1)There would be a deafening tire blowout on (2) a moving vehicle from (3) a gunshot blast.  Now for the biggy: my child would be (4) closely chasing the moving vehicle as the gun was (5) drawn, (6) fired and the (7) tire explodes.

But you know what? It was fine. Seriously. The crew was professional, the first AD thoroughly rehearsed with the kids prior to filming, an efficient prop crew provided children and parents both with protective ear plugs for the ear-popping blow-out , no one was injured, the scene was hilarious (can’t give the details yet!) and most importantly, as noted by my fellow momagers and popagers, the caterer was Fabulous.

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I’m ready for my close-up Mr. Phillips

I’m ready for my close-up Mr. Phillips

Posted on 08. Dec, 2008 by .

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Jordan’s second favorite part of any shooting day is the time she spends in the hair and make-up trailer being pampered and styled.  Her favorite activity, need I say it, is being on camera.

The hair and make-up team on the Todd Phillip’s Warner Brothers comedy, ”The Hangover,” were fantastic to work with and very patient apparently, as my mother (who was Jordan’s set guardian for the week) snapped photos of them “on the job.”  Can’t say I’d be as laid back if someone were documenting my work day for prosperity.

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