Kids Talent Onboarding/Registration
Central Casting registers babies from 15 days old to teenagers 17 years old to work on movies, TV shows, and other productions.
Make a reservation
Gather your minor’s required documentation, then make a reservation to bring your minor to a Talent Onboarding session.
Visit our office
Bring your minor’s required documentation to your reserved Talent Onboarding session at our New York office. We cannot onboard your child without these documents and you will be turned away if you do not bring them to your reserved session.
At Talent Onboarding you will complete paperwork, an orientation, and your minor will take a photo for our casting platform.
Required Documentation
The Department of Homeland Security has issued an updated form I-9 that went into effect on January 22, 2017. This version requires minors (individuals 17 or under) to meet the same requirements as adults regarding the documents they can present for form I-9. Per the Department of Homeland Security, a list C document alone is no longer valid. Adults and minors are both required to either present one original unexpired List A document, or, an original unexpired List B and List C document combination. If presenting a List B document to an E-Verify employer (Central Casting), the employer can only see List B documents that include a photo. Per Federal Law, Central Casting is not permitted to register anyone, minor or adult, who does not have the required documentation.
The non-photo ID options in List B do not apply to minors pursuing employment with E-Verify companies (Central Casting).
5 Penn Plaza (10th Floor)
New York, NY 10001
By reservation only
(see step 1)
Talent Onboarding FAQs
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What are Background Actors?
Interested in how to become a child actor with no experience? Background acting is a great way to get your child on set experience. Background Actors are nonspeaking roles usually in the background of scenes. They help movies and TV shows feel more authentic.
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What is a double?
Doubles are people who look enough like a principal actor that they can replace them when the actor’s face does not appear on camera. Since there are strict laws regarding how long a minor can work, productions often employ minor doubles so they can continue filming when the principal minor is no longer available.
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When do reservations become available?
New sessions open up in New York exactly 3 days in advance. If all dates show “unavailable,” then sessions are either currently filled or not yet open. Check back often, as spots can open up any time due to cancellations.
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I did not receive a confirmation email for my minor’s reservation. What happened?
If you successfully made a reservation, but did not receive an email, check your junk and other non-inbox folders. You can also search your email for notifications@calendly.com to locate your reservation confirmation. Remember, you must have entered your name, email, and clicked “schedule event” to make a reservation.
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I need to cancel or change my reservation. How do I do that?
Please review the email that was sent you from notifications@calendly.com to cancel or change your reservation.
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What if my minor doesn’t have the required documentation?
Those without required i-9 documentation (unexpired originals only, no photocopies) will be turned away.
You must also bring identification showing date of birth for the Age Verification form.
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Do I have to attend Talent Onboarding with my minor?
Yes, all minors ages 17 and under must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. Homeland Security permits only the parent or legal guardian to fill out the I-9 form.
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Does my minor need a work permit?
Your child does not need a work permit to register with Central Casting, but in order to be considered for work, each minor will need a child performer permit issued by the state of New York in their profile.
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What if my child is a member of SAG-AFTRA?
Please bring your minor’s current SAG-AFTRA card/receipt issued by SAG-AFTRA with you to Talent Onboarding.
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Can I bring my dog?
Pets and guests cannot be accommodated.
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How long is Talent Onboarding?
Talent Onboarding is approximately 20-30 minutes. Please arrive no earlier than 10 minutes prior to your reservation. You will not be admitted if you arrive more than 10 minutes late to your scheduled session.
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Once my minor is registered, how do I find them work?
Please visit our Kids Talent page for all relevant information.
Central Casting is a participant in the E-Verify program. We will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s I-9 form to confirm employment authorization. Note: If the government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you with written instructions and an opportunity to contact the SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment.
Ensure Your Minor is Active
Minor’s child performer permits are valid for 12 months. You can apply for a child performer permit on the NY Department of Labor website.
If you need to receive your permit by a certain date, the DOL says to allow 15 days for processing.
Email your child’s new permit to: regccny@centralcasting.com
We will update your minor’s profile within 2 business days.
For more about anti-harassment training, please visit our Required Training page.
First claim your child’s profile, then log in to update their information. Be sure to update their look and sizes as they change and upload current photos.
Forms and Policies
Forms and policies are for informational purposes only.
DO NOT print to bring to Talent Onboarding.
