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Soes He/She
Want It?
Before you begin launching your child into the spotlight, you
should sit down and discuss your thoughts about a possible acting
career. Be specific and make sure that they understand exactly what
is required and what might be the sacrafices.
A child acting or modeling career should be something you and
your child decide to do together. This endeavor requires both parent
and child to be voluntary participants. After all, it is there life
and you should consider their feelings and do not let your own
dreams become something to press on them.
Is
He/She is Ready?
Here are a couple of suggestions for testing the water.
1. Before making your decision (and long after you've
committed to it, too), watch programs that focus on children your
child's age. You'll find lots of child actors in television
commercials too; in fact, in the beginning, your child will go out
on more interviews for commercials than for any other medium. (TV
series, feature films and movies of the week usually come after
your child has done a few commercials.)
2. When watching children, make comments to your child.
For example, while viewing a pudding commercial featuring a five
year-old boy, you might say, "Wasn't he cute? I'll bet you
could do that." If your child offers an affirmative response,
ask him to say a couple of lines about chocolate pudding; the
lines do not have to be the same as those in the commercial. Let
him make up something on his own. He may surprise you. If he can
easily mimic what he hears, he's ready.
If your child willingly performs for your upon request, they'll
may willingly do it for others who really count.
The Temperament
Once your child is going out on calls, keep in mind that they are
a child and children can be moody. Professional casting people will
understand this and accept it to a reasonable level.
Threatening a child or pushing too hard will not work.
There will be other calls, other projects, and there's no need to
burn bridges with casting directors over an attitude caused by a
missed nap. Keep in mind, however, there are dozens more kids just
like yours lining up right outside the door, ready and willing to
stand up and be counted. All the casting people have to do with a
child who won't perform is say, "Next."
For more information, read the excellent book:
"Your Kid Ought to be In Pictures" by Kelly Ford Kidwell
and Ruth Devorin |
