What to Know About Accompanying Your Minor on Set
Whether you've worked as a Background Actor yourself or you and your minor are completely new to Central Casting, there's a lot to know about accompanying your minor on set. To help you both have a successful workday, here's what you need to know when your minor books a job.
Accompanied minors
The first thing to consider before responding to an availability inquiry is that minors must be accompanied to set by a parent or guardian who is not also working on the production. The guardian will accompany the minor everywhere they go, from check-in, to wardrobe, to Holding. Even during filming, the guardian will be somewhere behind the scenes, but always within eyesight of the child. Some productions have an age requirement for guardians. Check with the Casting Director who booked your minor to see if your production has any guardian age requirements.
Getting your minor camera ready
Everything you need to know about your minor's workday will be included in their details, which you will receive as a details message from our casting platform. Keep in mind, our Casting Directors get this information as it comes in from multiple departments within production. You will often receive your minor's details later in the evening before their work date. Don't forget to respond to this message so Central Casting knows you received their details.
Your minor will usually be instructed to arrive camera ready, meaning dressed in the required wardrobe with their hair styled. If production is providing wardrobe, please bring or have your child dressed in any basic pieces as instructed in their details. Don't forget to bring any makeup or hair products you'll need to keep your minor camera ready throughout the workday.
What to bring
If working in Los Angeles or New York, always bring a tangible photocopy of your minor's work permit to set. You will need to show this every time your child works. For minors in Georgia and Louisiana, Central Casting will secure a work permit for your child; follow instructions from Casting Directors on what they may need from you to complete this process.
Some states require minors to attend school on set. Depending on your call time, your child may attend their own school first, then will report to set only for work. If your minor is required to attend school on set, they will need to bring enough homework to keep them busy throughout the day. They will work with a studio teacher separate from the parent/guardian and be provided documentation to show their school.
School hours can vary by the minor's age and whether their normal school is on break or in session. Your child may attend school first thing when they arrive or at various times throughout their workday. Check with your state's labor office for more school on set requirements.
You can bring entertainment for your minor while you're in Holding, though headphones must be used for anything with sound to not disturb production and fellow Background Actors.
Working on set
During filming, your minor will be given direction by the Second Assistant Director, a Second Second Assistant Director, or a production assistant. Being on set is fun, but it's also a work environment. There are strict laws around how long children can work; production is trying to get their scenes filmed while managing the limitations on their minor Background Actors and any principal minors in the scene. Please ensure your minor is focused and professional during the workday.
To learn more about how to help your minor be a successful Background Actor, read our guides Ensure Your Minor is Eligible to Be Booked by Central Casting and How to Find Your Child Background Work With Central Casting.
