The On Location Education Blog
When Child Actors Go Good There’s a Strong Support System Behind Them
It’s not uncommon to see a salacious story about a child actor – past or present – featured on gossip TV or in the tabloids. However, these stories that make us cringe aren’t the only outcome for young performers. There are the others who remain grounded as they grow up in front of a camera or on a stage. There is one common thread that runs through these success stories: a strong, healthy, balanced support system.
Keeping Their Eyes on the Finish Line: Combating Spring Fever
With the end of the school year in sight, students (and teachers) are feeling the effects of that perennial occurrence of distraction otherwise known as spring fever. The bad news is you can’t stop it. The good news, however, is that you can learn to work with it. If you have students, try a few of these tips to combat spring fever and reach your instructional goals.
A Post-Pilot Season Survival Guide: No Part. Now What?
Whether your child is a veteran in the entertainment industry or she’s just dipping her toe in the water for the first time, you’ve heard of that bustling time of year known as “Pilot Season.” In a span of time that traditionally runs from January to April, there’s a flurry of casting, production, and screening activity as networks make decisions about which programs will hit their airwaves in the fall.
Homework on the Run: 3 Must-haves for Your Portable Study Station
You pick up your child from school a little earlier than usual. He’s got an audition for a national commercial and you need the extra time to make sure you’re not late. It’s a tight schedule today! There’s the commute, the waiting room, the audition itself, the commute home and, if you can pull it off, there’s karate class later tonight.
“Baby, You Ought to Be In Pictures”: 5 Steps to Avoiding a Scam
“Excuse me, can I talk with you for a moment? Your child is beautiful and has real start potential! She’s just what we’re looking for,” says the woman standing at the kiosk in the center of the mall. There are photos of smiling faces all around and signage that tells you this woman should know a thing or two about what makes a star. You might think: She’s a talent scout, after all. And of course, she’s right. My child is positively adorable with those sparkling eyes and generous, toothy grin.
Industry Voices: Staying Safe Online
An interview with BizParentz Co-Founders Paula Dorn and Anne Henry: Part 2
BizParentz Foundation, a non-profit organization, supports young performers and their parents by providing education, advocacy and charitable support. Created by stage moms Paula Dorn and Anne Henry, BizParentz aims to share information on topics associated with children in the entertainment industry so that families can make an informed decision best suited to their individual needs and experience.
Industry Voices: Safety, Smart Choices & Stage Names
An interview with BizParentz Co-Founders Paula Dorn and Anne Henry: Part I
How it all began: In 2001, Paula Dorn met Anne Henry. Their sons, both 10 years old and established young performers in the LA area, were working in a live show at Disneyland. Around that same time, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was sponsoring legislation that updated the “Coogan Law,” which requires trust accounts for young performers.
5 Habits to Spruce Up Your Study Skills
Demonstrating productive and effective study habits is a key component of a successful academic foundation. The challenge is that we are often taught what to study, but not how to study. Whether in a traditional school setting or on location, you can help your student boost his or her academic performance with these five tips.
Assuring the Well-Being of Your Child Performer
Recently, two industry powerhouses, Sally Gaglini and Alan Simon, had the opportunity to engage in a Twitter discussion on the topic, “Assuring the Well-Being of Your Child Performer.”
Alan Simon is the founder and President of Location Education, co-chairperson of the SAG-AFTRA Performer’s Committee (New York Branch), and a member of the Young Performer’s Committee of the Actors’ Equity Association. Sally Gaglini is the author of Young Performers at Work: Child Star Survival Guide and a legal advisor with twenty-five years’ experience working with young performers.
Four Can’t-Miss, On-Set Boredom Busters for Young Performers
People who work in the film and television industry know that there can be a lot of waiting around during production. This can be particularly challenging for a young actor. The good news, however, is that with a little planning, on-set downtime can be productive and enjoyable. Here are four ways young performers can combat boredom between takes.
Dos & Don’ts of Parenting an Auditioning Child
This is it. You’ve been running lines with your child to prepare for this audition. Your young performer is now headed into the casting room, nervous, excited, and ready. All you can do now is wait until your son or daughter emerges from the casting room. But then what?
Industry Voices: An Interview with On-Set Teacher Sally Rusk
It used to be said that school was about the three “Rs”: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Today’s students delve deeper into a wider range of subjects, of course, with additional studies in the areas of history, science, technology, and more. But when your classroom is on a set and your schoolwork happens between takes, your teacher’s responsibility goes even further than that.