Child Actor LA Guidelines For Child Actors

The entertainment industry is littered with child actors whose careers came to heartbreaking and sometimes tragic endings. From Gary Coleman to Danny Bonaduce, there are lots of horror stories of child actors who were not prepared for the ups and downs of show-business. Before you get your child involved in acting, here are a few Child Actor LA guidelines you should first consider:

1) Does your child really want to be an actor? Make sure the dream of being an actor is their dream and not a dream of yours being lived vicariously through them. If you are merely forcing them to live your dream for you, it can do serious damage to the child. The stress and demands of acting will take a toll if a young actor doesn’t enjoy what they do; if they are simply doing it because you are forcing them to do it.

2) Beware of scams. There are many, many acting scams out there. Unscrupulous people prey on others who don’t really understand the industry by charging huge sums of money for photos and selling unnecessary products. Learn about the Child Actor LA scam prevention tips and the industry before you involve your child so that you (and your child) are not victimized by scammers.

3) Find a reputable agent. A talent agency helps actors find acting work in the area. But sometimes talent agencies can be scammers, requiring you to pay money upfront before they provide your child with representation. Before signing on with an agency or paying any money, ask the talent agency for references so you can see if others have had a good experience with the agency. You may be surprised what you find out.

4) Forget the money. There is much money to be made for child actors. But, you have to make sure that you don’t focus on the money. Your focus, as a parent, must always be on your child. Focusing on money may cloud your ability to do what is in the best interest of the child. Forget the money and concentrate on the well-being of your child.

5) Have fun. Acting should always be a fun experience for any actor, but especially, for a child actor. The minute it stops being a fun and rewarding experience is the minute you should halt your child’s involvement in the entertainment industry.

Scam Prevention by Child Actor LA Institute

Child Actor LA Acting Institute with exclusive placement with top Hollywood agents, who come in weekly to conduct workshops within our educational facility. Children currently working as series regular on General hospital, Modern family, Cristela, Fresh Off The Boat, Nickelodeon and top national TV commercials and print + movies. Personal growth, location in Irvine, and soon in Culver City!

If you have been wondering if your child would qualify for the film, TV industry, just know that a visit to us at Child Actor LA would allow you to find out if your child has what it takes. Our children come mostly from the word of mouth after all these years.

 

We also maintain a presence at local events and at times, we will spot a child whom we feel has potential and is within a good age group, at a local place. Agents years ago, and I mean top Hollywood agents, may have approached you about your child at let’s say, the Beverly Hills Mall, and brought you for an audition. Then they would give you a list of schools to visit in order for your child to get training. It has been a long time since agents don’t scout in such way, and will consider kids with training only. They hardly open up package inquiries through the mail. The agents who visit us weekly come in to conduct educational workshops themselves, and emulate the auditioning process. By coming in to train our children, they get to meet our amazing families and our children, who are Shakespearian trained and trained in modern, improve.

 

Be wary of schools whose entire business is based upon stopping you at local places. We may at times spot your child at a mall or the beach, actually, but some fly by night institutes or long term scams, and there are such too, may bring anyone and everyone indiscriminately, as long as the parents are willing to pay for classes, or pay for a pretense pay per play seminar with supposedly “agents” going in. We work mostly from the word of mouth, once again.

 

Also local schools have their kids in little plays and they advertise potential opportunities for the children’s talent, which don’t exist. It is easy to spot, as you would see kids on their company sites perhaps in costumes, or just in class at their school, but never on anything which ever aired anywhere. Their cuteness may not make up for the lack of achievements. You may read about one of their kids having obtained a role somewhere, but check out the show/commercial. Then ask the school to produce the child’s file and see if it all connects. Hmm… I’m just the Face book lady, but I’ve heard it all.

 

Classical training mixed with modern improv’ goes a long way towards the children’s success!

 

Some scam prevention advice.

 

Child Actor LA scam prevention advice is here for you. Found on a site on which a local stage oriented place which claims they have agents going in, advertise. Ironically, they don’t have agents’ visits apparently, and are trying to spin that. But some of what I read made sense.

 

“““You answer a casting notice, get approached in a mall, or even get a phone call after filling something out online. The sales person pretending to be in the industry and posing as a casting director, agent or some other title tells you your child is “perfect” and would like you to audition for some part.”””

 

What they are spinning:

 

*A casting director will not approach you at a place of gathering. They communicate with agents and the agents send your child to an audition. As you found out reading above, agents will not scout you either, and want kids who are already trained. It’s okay for someone to approach you, but they have to announce that they are a tuition based institute. NOT misrepresent themselves! *

 

“““Excited you go to the audition with your kid in tow. Once there you realize that there are 100’s of others there and that it is not a “real” audition. There is no part to fill, script to memorize or production company there. It is a sales meeting and you are in the audience. Someone goes up and reads a pitch to all the excited kids and parents. They tell you your kids were chosen to be a part of the showbiz industry. Sometimes, they pull you and your child into a room and make your child read a couple lines for them. They do this to make the entire experience seem more legit. The reading is meaningless because there is no real part you are reading for.”””

 

What they are spinning:

 

* A seminar/cattle call: (100 kids!). Everybody is beautiful and talented out of the 100 kids invited, 100 kids get “accepted”. They usually operate out of a seminar room, rented at a hotel. They often bring assistant agents from small agencies, who get paid to be there, and have no decision making power. They ask you to pay $7K or $8K for the chance to meet agents. Your child “performs” in front of them. They never received any training and hence, are not actors, but it’s okay because the “agents” are not real either like I just indicated. You should not have to pay to meet agents. A reading of lines which is not for the purpose of evaluating your child to become part of a legitimate institute is meaningless, because your child would never get picked up randomly to audition for a job without agent’s representation!

 

That is not an evaluation that is a fake audition, and the people you are dealing with may have misrepresented themselves as managers, or casting directors. They are just people who misrepresent a “pay per play” type of situation, and will announce to you a cost to move on to meeting actual Hollywood agents. Needless to say that the top 5 to top 35 agents who come to us to conduct workshops and meet already highly trained kids in such way, do not participate in the scam events described above!

 

NOTE: Child Actor LA scam prevention tips also include, never pay to audition. Real casting directors would never stop you and offer you a job. They work with agents. Then agents would not offer you representation, if you pay for:

 

“““Expensive, inferior classes, worthless acting workshops and poor quality portfolios.”””

 

*Simply because the law does not allow agents, nor casting directors to offer any services. They can only work on percentage basis. Do not believe anyone who approaches you to offer you jobs for your child. Legitimate schools may approach you at places of gathering where they maintain a booth space for instance, or as they are shopping for themselves, and consider your child to become part of their institute. But then your child has to go through an evaluation process. ANYBODY who offers you A JOB and not an opportunity to visit an institute is misrepresenting themselves, and certainly their title. They are not agents! Besides, acting demands skills like everything else. No one will just “hire” you or your child!*

 

Thank you for reading!
Warmly,
Mary

Actors on Acting – Casting & Auditions

When attending an audition it is of the utmost importance to be prepared. Most decisions to eliminate you from consideration are made during the first 30 seconds of an audition. When you walk into the room it’s very important to stay in your own space. Don’t start comparing yourself to others. Women tend to do that. Don’t you do it! Concentrate on being yourself and try not to be too critical.

 

Also read: Memory Techniques for Actors from Child Actor LA

 

If this is your first audition, don’t make it known, nothing turns off a casting director more than saying that is your first audition and that you’re nervous. Just do your job and leave. Your job is done! You have tried out for a part, now it’s time to wait and see if you get a call back.

 

Different directors are looking for different things so learn to be flexible. Some directors expect you to come with good old fashioned missionary zeal – oozing with enthusiasm, courage and thoroughly convinced that you’re the right person for the part.

 

Don’t be late, that shows them a lot about your professional ability. Most directors have a major problem with that. Keep in mind that they have a limited amount of time and don’t have time to waste. Be prepared, be professional and be on time.

 

Never show up to an audition without talking to your agent about what is required for the part. What is the age range, what’s the gender, are there any sides or scripts available. The time and place for the audition. Dress for the character, it shows you have studied the part.

 

Never book an audition knowing that you will not be able to be there. Be aware of conflicts and be honest about them. Share that information up front with the casting director. Never compromise your ethic or moral values. Know in advance if there are going to be any callbacks and when the project shoots. No sense auditioning for a part when you know that you’re not going to be around when the shooting starts.

 

Do your networking after the audition – never before. Remember that you’re in a business that’s 95% rejection, so don’t take it personally. You may not get the part, but you may make an impression for a later project. That’s how the system works.

 

Audition Tips: When you show up for an audition have your head shots and business card handy. Before you sign in…ask if there are any changes to the script. Don’t sit down. Stand in a quiet place – by standing you keep your energy up and geared for the part. Take the time to look over the script one more time and note any new changes, then sign in.

 

Once called, they will probably ask you to state your name and the agency that represents you. A video camera will document the audition as the director cues you to begin. Keep in mind that your audition began the moment you stepped in the room. You only have one chance to make a good impression, so give it your best shot.

 

After you do your reading, you will be excused by the director, informed of any call back, if any, and you’re done. That’s it. Go for it!

 

Also read: Actors on Networking – Child Actor LA

How Do They Choose the Best Actors? Awarding the Oscars

If you are a fan of the movies, you may be wondering about the process that’s involved in selecting the best actors that are awarded Oscars by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Indeed, the manner in which the best actors and actresses are chosen for Oscars is a rather complicated process on some level. With that said, the nomination and election process for movies, actors, actresses and the like within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been in place for years. The process seems to work well although some recent complaints have been voiced in regard to the advertising campaigns that now surround the awards process following the announcement of nominees.

• The first step in selection the best actors in movies as part of ultimate awarding of the Academy Awards or Oscars is the nomination process. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is made up of men and women who are professionals in fields related to the making and production of movies. A slate of nominators is appointed by the Academy to come up with the names of the actors and actresses who will be put before the enrolled members of the Academy as nominees for Academy Awards. The actors and actresses are nominated for their work in movies that were produced and that were presented in theaters during the preceding year. Needless to say, a nomination for an Academy Award is one of the highest honors that a person who works in the movies can receive at any time in their lives.

• Following the nomination process, voting by select members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences occurs. The voting process employed by the Academy when it comes to rewards for movies is rather interesting and unique. For example, all of the actors who are enrolled members of the Academy vote on the slates of best actors and best supporting actors who have been nominated for Oscars for their roles in movies. Likewise, directors vote on the directors prize, screenwriters on the screenwriters prize and so forth. All members of the Academy are able to vote on those movies nominated for best picture.

• Prior to the actual voting process, a very active promotional campaign takes part on behalf of the nominated actors from various movies. In recent years, significant advertising campaigns have been mounted in support of the different actors, actresses and other professionals involved in movies. Ads are taken out in the trade publications. Banquets are held promoting different movies. Thousands and thousands of dollars are spent promoting the nominated movies, the actors, the actresses and the nominees in a variety of other categories. Indeed, the campaigning for Oscars has become one of the most competitive ventures in all of Hollywood — even more competitive than the scrapping and clawing for roles in movies.

• Once the voting deadline passes in regard to selecting the best actors in movies for the year, the ballots are tabulated by an independent accounting firm. As each vote is cast for the movies and professionals under consideration, the ballots are sent to an accounting firm that holds them in a secure location. The accounting firm tabulates the votes relating to the various movies in secret. For years, the accounting firm that handled these magical movie awards was the venerable agency of Price-Waterhouse. Not even the men and women who serve as officers of the Academy know who the winners are in advance of the award ceremony itself.

• On the night of the televised awards, the winners from the various movies in the best actor, best actress and other categories are announced. Essentially no one knows who the various winners are prior to the announcement of the various awards during the award show presentations for the various movies, performances and the like.

In conclusion, and as an interesting aside, the Academy Award statuette was not always known as “Oscar.” In fact, it was screen legend Bette Davis who dubbed the Academy Award statuette “Oscar.” During an Academy Awards ceremony some years back Bette Davis remarked that the statuette looked exactly like her husband … who was named “Oscar.” Oscar stuck.

If you are looking for acting classes for your children then consider Child Actor LA Acting Lessons.

Child Actor LA is a better option for young aspirant actors. After interacting with the child actor the institute gives small critiques/ comments on the audition. On the basis of those comments, Child Actor LA organizes classes and summer camps for the participants.

Also read: Ghost Whisperer – Jennifer Love Hewitt Started As a Child Actor