Archive for October 2010
Today we spent the day on the road, on the way to Arizona to visit my in-laws. It was supposed to be for a week, then to Colorado for my niece’s Halloween wedding, and then drive home. BUT, as with this business, things change!
Almost everything was packed to leave yesterday afternoon–just last minute stuff left, really. We met with his manager, then with some friends. While at the friend’s house, his manager called…he now has a callback Monday afternoon. So as I am trying to figure out how we’re going to do this (I can call the landlord and see if she’ll let me stay a few more days; or leave and come back), either way, we WILL be back for this callback. It’s what’s also called a producer’s session. There will be others that have been called back as well, probably about ten, but when the casting director brings your child in for a producer’s session, it means that they are confident he or she can do the job. Now it’s up to the producers to find the exact fit for their puzzle from the callbacks. Knowing what it is the director and/or producers need or want won’t ever happen, so it’s best to not ever try and second guess them.
So after deciding that we’ll spend the weekend in Arizona and drive back for the callback, and having accommodations for Monday night confirmed, his agent calls and asks if he can be at another audition on the same day. This one in Santa Monica, an hour prior to his callback in Burbank. For those of you not from the Los Angeles area, this, on the map is only a 30 minute drive. But in the afternoon, with the traffic, will take an hour and a half if you’re lucky. Fortunately everyone was quite helpful in adjusting times for us so that I can get Cody to both.
In the last week while getting ready to leave Los Angeles, I have spoken to other parents, and it’s so interesting listening to their stories as well. Learning how they handle and deal with the roller coaster ride. One thing is that we’re all here because we want to be (or rather, our kids want to be). But those of us who travel back and forth (where-ever the permanent home is), it’s kind of humorous to hear that every time you get ready to leave town, things will suddenly get busy! That’s not to say it hasn’t been busy for us, as Cody has been getting auditions, and even callbacks.
One piece of advice that Cody’s acting coaches in Florida said multiple times; Darla and Ann Marie both continually said you can’t live your life hoping for that next booking, you have to go to the audition, go to the callback, train, but get on with your life. You’ll go nuts otherwise. But it’s still a rollercoaster. I get motion sickness on roller coasters. I’d rather deal with this kind, though. It’s a lot more fun to me.
Cody has heard many times from casting directors and coaches, auditioning IS your job, so you need to love what you do. If the casting directors don’t see that your having fun in the audition, why would they want to work with you on a set? Fortunately he loves all aspects of this. Except for missing home, his dad, and the dog.
So what happens if he books the callback? I could make plans now, figure it all out, so that we’re ready, but really, that’s kind of silly. I speak from experience. Even though I don’t necessarily let Cody know, once in a while, I will (for WHATEVER reason) see that THIS audition/callback would be PERFECT, timing, filming, place, etc, and then I start making plans and figuring out what needs to be adjusted. Only to find out it’s not going further. After the third time I realized this was a futile effort (even though I continually hear Ann Marie & Darla saying “get on with your life”!) Sometimes THAT is easier said than done, especially if the ONLY reason you are in Los Angeles is because your child wants to act.
Some of the parents I have met have jobs that allow them the flexibility to telecommute (don’t you just LOVE technology!), others just flat make the move as a family; some families split time between two homes, but either way they manage one way or another. You have to figure out what will work for you. I don’t know how full-time stay-at-home parents do it, though. I have a LOT of respect for them. This is the second time in my son’s 12 years that I’ve done the full-time stay-at-home bit. The first time I went stir-crazy after four months…I’ve made it seven this time, but I have other projects I am working on this time, too, that allow me the flexibility I need to accomplish this.
So are you ready for the roller coaster ride? My son has booked quite a bit just since being in Los Angeles, and it is a different world for boys than it is for girls. I can’t speak for those with girls that go through this. I only know what this is like as the mom of a boy. And I am finding out talking with various parents the true difference. The ones that understand both sides the best are those that have both a boy and girl in acting.
So what’s next? We’ll see what happens after Monday, if we need to re-adjust or not. Either way, I’m having fun, and so is Cody, so I guess that’s all that matters!
Valerie
I actually wrote this while in the Angeles National Forest on October 13th; no internet or cell phone access, which is nice once in a while!
Preparing for the next scene
Today is Day 2 of a 3 day film shoot, and we’re in the Angeles National Forest shooting scenes. It’s a refreshing change from the traffic of Los Angeles! The “roar” we hear up here is the wind, not the traffic. And it smells a whole lot better!
It’s quite interesting being on a set, and if you’ve been on any set with your child, you already know that. If you haven’t, don’t worry, you’ll learn as you go. One thing I have found in any project my son has worked on, there are always people around that will help you, and educate you as you learn about the entire process—and if you want to deal with it or not. Let’s face it, this may be something your kid REALLY wants to do, but you as the parent have to be willing to make some sacrifices to make it happen. It truly is a FAMILY decision.
In California, or with a California production company, it is a requirement that a child have a valid work permit prior to working on any project in the entertainment industry (even if it’s a non-paying job). The website at www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/DLSE-CL.htm will help you to get what you need.
A work permit is good for six months, and when you get it renewed, it renews from the date you get the new one—it does not start when the previous one finishes.
Also in California, it is a requirement for a child in the entertainment industry to get a Coogan Account. By law, 15% of proceeds made from any paying project must go into a Coogan Blocked Trust account. Blocked means that nobody can withdraw the funds, and only the child can do so once he/she turns 18.
Various other states around the nation are opening production companies for filming because they are getting tax incentives to do so. For all intents and purposes “Hollywood” is growing. As of now, other states don’t have the strict mandatory requirements that California does, but they still have good guidelines to follow. Some of these states are requiring work permits for each specific job the child does (versus getting one for six months). If you’re in a different state, just do a search on work permits for minors in your state
In California, there is the requirement to have a set teacher on set when there is a minor filming. Even if it is a weekend or summer break or the child is not otherwise in school. These set teachers are also there for the welfare of the child. They ensure that laws are not broken, and that based on the age of the child, they are not on the set longer than the law allows. The amount of time a child is allowed on set differs according to their age. You can find more specific information on hours in this pamphlet.
The day in Angeles National Forest was a good one. It was an hour drive to get to the location. Much of the forest is still burned from the forest fires, but it was beautiful where we were filming. There were emotional scenes, weapons (fake, of course) were used, but a great short in many ways. As emotional as watching one of these films can be, and even in the process of filming, it is also such a fun and fantastic experience!
Huge pine cones in Angeles National Forest!
As I write this now, we are on the last day of filming, back inside the house. More emotional scenes, but everyone is enjoying themselves. I think one of the best things of being on a film set is that I rarely meet someone that does not want to be there. These people are doing what they love, they have fun, and are professional.
Until my next post…adios!
Feel free to comment or ask questions!
Valerie
Headshots. You’ve heard the word, you know they are necessary, but you’re not sure what exactly they get used for. Are they expensive? What are agents looking for?
Well, as you are getting in to this world, there are a few things to keep in mind. All agents are different, and what they think will work will be different. If you don’t have an agent yet for your child, don’t sweat “what if I get headshots taken now, get an agent, and then they want something different?”
I will tell you the MAIN secret that any agent, manager and casting director is looking for. That the headshot look like the person it is portraying. If you have an 8-year old girl, don’t dress her in formal outfits and make-up (even lipstick) for her headshots if that is not what she will show up at an audition wearing. Glamour shots are NOT headshots.
When I was first learning about headshots, it made my head spin. Theatrical headshots, commercial headshots, how many should I have, who should take the pictures, how many copies do I need, what will we do with them? Also, what you would buy for wallets, and family and friends, is not necessarily what will work for a headshot.
Models have “comp cards” and I won’t be covering those here. They are completely different from headshots for an actor.
Theatrical headshot
For starters, this is a “theatrical” headshot. It means that it is a headshot where you are close-mouthed–dramatic-type and NOT smiling. At first it threw me off because I thought it meant “for theater” (hence, theatrical) and that is not the case at all. When going in for an audition for a serious part, whether film or television (versus comedy, or commercials), this is the type of headshot the casting director will require.
Commercial headshot
This is a commercial headshot. It is used for commercial auditions, and for the upbeat, comedy-type shows and films. A commercial headshot shows a warm natural smile (WITH TEETH). There are times when my son doesn’t know which he should bring in, so he just brings one of each in to the casting director and lets them pick which they prefer. This is his career, and he has to learn and remember, so he is the one that makes sure each headshot he turns in has his resume attached to the back of it.
And you’ll notice, these are not full-body pictures. Those are required for model’s comp cards, not actors. The most they want to see from an actor’s headshot is about stomach level on up, and that you can see the face and eyes. And of course, it bears repeating, that it looks like your child!
Now, what about costs? How much should headshots cost? Of course costs vary according to who your photographer is. From Los Angeles to Northwest Florida, I have seen them cost as little as $150 for 2 “looks” (outfits). And that was in Los Angeles. Beware of photographers that tell you they can “guarantee” you a booking or part because of their pictures. I have not experienced myself, but have heard of scams out there that will “promise” you will be in a movie or on TV, or a “big star” if you use them to get your headshots taken with them, or this person that they know. It is ALWAYS your choice who to use.
When you are looking for a photographer, ask to see previous work they have done. Also, ensure they will sign over rights to you of any of the pictures they take. No matter where you take them to get reproduced, you will most likely need to provide proof that you have authorization to get so many copies made.
How often do you need to get new headshots taken? If your child is very young to where they are changing from month to month, I wouldn’t worry about spending $150 every few months to a professional photographer, unless you can get one that will do a deal for you. Taking regular pictures/snapshots with your own camera should suffice. As a child gets older, though, it will depend on how fast they change. If you have headshots from where your child is 6, and they are now 10, it’s likely they have changed, and “look 6” in the headshot, but they don’t in person. Then it’s time to get new ones.
The time frame between getting new headshots for my son has been about 18 months.
SO exactly WHEN do you need headshots? If you don’t have an agent, they will want to see a headshot to determine whether or not they have anyone like you’re kid on their books.
Also, every single audition your child goes on, he or she MUST have a headshot to give to the casting director. Sometimes you will show up and they say they don’t need it, but more often than not, they will need one. You’re better to be prepared than not.
If you decide you want to mail headshots out to casting directors, you will need copies for these as well. This is NOT a requirement. It all depends on what marketing strategy you choose for getting your child’s face out there.
So where can you get all these headshots reproduced? In Los Angeles there are many places where you can get multiple copies for a good price. Outside Los Angeles, though, if you are only going on a few auditions a month, there is no need to buy in bulk. You can print them at home, order on-line, get them at the local drugstore, Wal-mart, Sam’s, or Costco.
I hope this helps you to understand the big deal about headshots. It was SO confusing to me at first, especially considering I don’t come from an entertainment industry background.
Feel free to comment or ask questions!
Have a wonderful day!
Valerie
Maybe the better question is “How do I know if this is just a phase (or not) that my kid is going through? What is involved?
Well, the ultimate answer…you don’t. Think of it this way, how do you know it’s a good idea to get your son or daughter in to football, piano, guitar, soccer, tae kwon do, or any other activity? You start by getting them lessons, or trying out for the football or soccer team.
When he was in 3rd grade, my son brought home a flyer from school advertising the Oz local children’s community theater. He said he wanted to be in the play “Oliver” that fall.
Cody's first production, Oliver!
In first grade, he had played football for a season. He wanted to quit before the season was over (it’s too hard to play football when you’re busy flirting with the cheerleaders!) So imagine my hesitation that he would quit this before it was done. He wasn’t allowed to quit the football season in the middle, and I made sure he realized he would have to have the same commitment with this new activity.
I’d always thought he would be great in theater or acting because he was melodramatic over even the smallest things by the time he was 2! But I didn’t want to push him, either.
The good thing about how Darla does her productions, she allows for a six week “training” class, teaching the kids (in their eyes it’s playing) about performing on stage.
After six weeks she does a showcase, where parents can come and watch the kids “showcase” what they’ve done in the last six weeks. At this point, they make the decision to commit fully to be a part of this production she puts on, but she also lets kids and parents alike know what this means. Doing a play is a commitment. You can’t just show up when you feel like it. You are a part of the team, and everyone is needed to make sure everything runs smoothly. It can be time intensive, too.
When it got to “production week” (rehearsals every night prior to opening night), my son informed me that he wanted to be an actor. He was definitely more committed to doing this that football!
Ann Marie has also been a big help. She’s an acting coach and talent agent in our little area of Northwest Florida. She also teaches classes in blocks; more for models and film/tv actors than theater.
If you live anywhere else, it’s just a matter of doing some research to find out what your town offers.
Before my son told me he wanted to be an actor, I thought him doing that first play (Oliver!) was a great idea for so many reasons. This teaches him about teamwork, and how important it is to be a part of something bigger than him. It teaches him how to give it his all, in front of a crowd, and how much goes on behind the scenes to put on a successful play.
I didn’t know at first if it was a good idea to get him in to this, but getting the feedback from Darla (at first–he did five plays with her…then we met Ann Marie) was VERY helpful.
Things that I noticed before Oliver! was finished. My son’s grades started improving. He didn’t argue with me on getting his schoolwork done. His self-confidence increased, too. He always spoke so quietly (except when he was outside with his friends!) but once he was taught how to “speak up and project!” he wasn’t so quiet (although we still deal with this on occasion).
Just like with football, soccer, piano, guitar, drum or tae kwon do lessons; you try it for a while, and see how they do. They’re your kids, they will let you know if they want to continue or not. If not, don’t push it.
It has been interesting being out here in Los Angeles in that casting directors to point out to parents, “make sure it’s your kid that wants to do this and not you.” In this world, when a kid comes in for an audition, and they don’t want to be there, they are not having fun or would rather be at their best friend’s birthday party, then you are wasting your time, and everyone else’s time. The casting director won’t give someone a callback (a chance to work on the TV show or film) who doesn’t want to be there–because there are so many others that DO want to be there. So why waste your time?
On the other hand, if you’ve got a child that keeps bugging you, and the feedback you get from the teacher(s) you get is positive and you start wondering what’s next? You take it one step at a time. You do research, you ask questions, and follow up. And keep asking them if they are serious…
My son’s ultimate goal is to be in a movie with Zac Efron and Jim Carrey, directed by Ron Howard. This is an awesome goal, and everyone should have goals. Keep in mind, though, that being an actor of any sort takes time, and a lot of work. Yes, Lana Turner was discovered while sitting at a soda fountain eating ice cream, but the majority of “overnight successes” that you see have been at their chosen profession for years. It’s the same with singers, actors, performers of any kind. As an example, if you go to http://www.imdb.com and search on your favorite actor’s name, you’ll see a history of the projects they’ve worked on (whether they are projects you have heard of or not.)
My son is just starting in this business and his page on imdb is http://www.imdb.me/codysullivan. While he’s worked on five total projects since March, currently only one is on imdb.
But if you look at Ron Howard’s page at
http://pro.imdb.com/name/nm0000165/
you see his long history (granted, we all know he started in this business at age 4, but it shows how much goes on this page).
If you have a favorite actor, or one you see a lot, http://www.imdb.com is a great place to go look to see what that actor has done, and how many projects he or she has worked on before they “made it big.” This is not meant to discourage you or your child, but to make you realize that “overnight sensations” are rare.
Bottom line? It is a commitment at any level. If you don’t know how serious your child is, take in to consideration all your factors. Everyone has work considerations, as well as family considerations. It’s a family decision at any level, and the support needs to be there. Just like with soccer, football, tae kwon do, piano, or any other activity.
If you have comments or questions, feel free to join in the discussions!
Valerie
Hi all!
I decided to start this blog for a variety of reasons.
There are many child actors out there, and of course their parents. This is mainly a resource for those parents who are contemplating getting their child in the business, but have NO idea where to start looking.
I will be honest, I am by no means, the “expert” mom in this situation. My son is now 12 years old. Four years ago, as his first play, Oliver!, went in to production week, he announced to me on the way home from dress rehearsal “Mom, I want to be an actor.” I, being the normal mom, figured he was going through a phase and that he’d change his mind sooner or later. Five plays and 2 1/2 years later, I realized he was serious. Not once had he wavered from this decision. I learned he has a passion for this, a focus and determination to do his best.
Gradually, through getting with the right people, he went from theater to auditioning for films, commercials and TV. We live in Northwest Florida; where it’s a four hour drive to get to New Orleans, LA, six hour drive to Atlanta, GA, two and a half hours to Tallahassee, FL. Truly, “in the boonies” in many respects. My son was getting auditions in all those places, and I would spend all day on the road to get him to an audition.
Finally we made the leap. Leaving my husband and the dog behind, my son and I filled up the SUV, and headed to Los Angeles for six months. We arrived in LA on April 1st, and six months has come and gone…we are still here. But this is not the path for everyone. I often tell my son that most parents who bust their butts just to make ends meet and can’t afford to pick up and head across the country for 6 months or more with their kids that “might” want to be in show business. That’s ok. There are MANY other options, and while Hollywood is the entertainment capital of the world, many other states are beginning to receive filming incentives, so the entertainment world is expanding.
I want to make this a resource for those parents that are not sure what to do next, what steps to take, if they “should” do this? And help you as the parent to figure out what kind of journey you want to take with your child actor. I am not an expert, but I do believe that at this point in my journey, this avenue can provide resources to point you in the right directions.
Most (if not all) parents are concerned about scams and how to avoid them. I want to make this an interactive channel–I will provide information I know, have and learn, and am more than happy for your posts and comments.
Meanwhile, feel free to ask questions, add your comments and give your input!
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