Kids Casting: How to Get Your Child Started in Background Acting

Have you ever watched a camp scene in Nobody Wants This, spotted children in a park on Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage or saw a baby in High Potential and wondered how the kids casting process worked? Central Casting casts babies from 15 days old to teenagers 17 years old to work as background actors in movies, TV shows and many other productions. If you wanted to get your child on set, getting started is easier than you might think.

Here’s a practical guide to everything you need to know from signing up, building a strong profile, and helping your child get booked.

What background actor roles are available for kids?

Background actors help make movies and TV shows feel real. They perform in a nonspeaking role as students, party guests, soccer players, siblings and more. For children who are curious about performing or just like movies, background work can be a fun and valuable introduction to what it's actually like on a professional film or TV set. It offers a firsthand look at the production process, providing experience that's difficult to learn anywhere else.

Babies are also in demand for background work, with Central Casting hiring infants as young as 15 days old for a wide range of productions. Because strict labor laws limit the number of hours babies can work on set each day, twins and triplets are frequently sought after to allow productions to continue filming while ensuring each baby gets the required rest breaks.

Minor doubles are also often needed on set. Doubles are performers who appear on screen in place of an actor, though their faces are rarely (if ever) seen. In the case of minors, doubles play an important role in keeping productions on schedule. Along with regulations around how long minors can work, minor principal actors often have other obligations, like school, that take them away from set throughout the day. By using a minor double, productions can continue filming scenes that don't require the child actor's face to be on camera.

How to sign your child up as a background actor

Want to sign your minor up for kids casting opportunities? Central Casting's sign up process is free, easy and completely online!

The information you provide to complete your minor’s application is the same information that casting directors and production companies will see when determining the types of roles your minor can portray.

3 key areas of your minor’s online casting profile:

• Sizes. Your minor’s sizes are used when production provides wardrobe and when casting minor doubles. It’s crucial to provide your minor’s accurate sizes and to update their profile as they change.
• Special skills. Does your child play a sport or are they skilled in a musical instrument? Adding your minor’s special skills helps casting directors and production companies find them when booking roles with skill requirements. Please be honest when adding these to your minor's profile. If your minor is booked based on this information, they will be expected to convincingly portray that skill on camera.
• Photos. Current photos are an integral part of the casting process. The photos you include during the application process should reflect your minor’s current appearance, be well-lit and clear, not include other people or touch ups, and be taken against a solid white background.

Minor work permit

While minors do not need a work permit to sign up with Central Casting, they will need a valid permit from your state in order to work on productions. Permits are handled differently in each state and may need to be renewed. Visit your state’s Department of Labor website to learn more about permit requirements in your location.

How to find kids casting opportunities with Central Casting

Once your minor is signed up and eligible to work, they can be considered for background and double roles.

The two main ways to get booked are by responding to casting messages or by checking what kids casting opportunities are available on the Open Roles page. Either way, the casting process typically follows these steps:

• Availability inquiry. If a casting director or production company thinks your child fits the requirements for a role, you’ll receive an email and text asking whether they’re available on a specific date. This message is not an offer or guarantee of work, it’s simply asking if your minor is interested and available on that day.
• Booking offer. If the casting director or production company determines your minor is right for the role, they’ll send a booking offer message. You must accept this offer for your minor to be considered as booked.
• Booking details. Before the shoot, you’ll receive a detailed message with everything you need to know about the workday, including where to go, when to arrive, how your child should have their hair and makeup done, and what wardrobe to bring or wear. Read this message fully and carefully. Showing up camera ready and on time goes a long way toward making a good impression on set.

How to help your minor succeed as a background actor

When your minor is booked on a production, they will be given instruction on set by a 2nd assistant director, a 2nd 2nd assistant director or a production assistant. They will tell your child when to move, where to go, and what their action is for each scene. The most important rule for any background actor, young or experienced: never look directly at the camera.

Ensuring your minor is prepared, pays attention and follows directions on set will set them up for success as a background actor or double. You can help by reminding them that while being on set is fun, it’s also a work environment. Being on time, respectful of the cast and crew and ready to work when “action” is called goes a long way in making a good impression.

Ready to Get Your Child on Set?

Central Casting books hundreds of background actors every day in movies, TV shows and other productions. Signing up is free, and getting started takes just a few minutes. Visit the Get Cast page today to create your minor’s profile and take the first step toward seeing them on screen.