The On Location Education Blog
Day In The Life: Set Teacher
Introducing our new blog series, Day In The Life, where we follow a member of the OLE community through a day of educating young artists.
What it Takes to be an On-set Teacher
What it Takes to be an On-Set Teacher
For the teacher with a creative soul who is searching for a different environment in which to enrich his or her skill, educating child actors in an on-set teaching situation is a viable, unique alternative.
"You really get to teach," said on-set teacher Sally Rusk in an interview with OLE. "You get to work with students one-on-one or in small groups so you learn your students’ strength, weaknesses and learning styles so you can get some great interactions going."
A Different Role: What it Takes to be a Studio Teacher
A Different Role: What it Takes to be a Studio Teacher
In a previous article, we discussed the role of an on-set teacher. For most of the country, on-set teachers are responsible for educating young performers while on location. But if you are in California, the role is referred to as a studio teacher, and goes well beyond the scope of an on-set teacher.
The studio teacher is more like a combined teacher and social worker, and the certification requires adherence to specific child labor laws that come into play on the set. A studio teacher must be present where there are minors in any entertainment arena, including film, TV, photography, recording, modeling, or even a rodeo or circus — anywhere where a child actor or entertainer of any sort is present and working.
On-Set Teaching: Do You Have What It Takes?
Teachers know that look – the one that comes across a student’s face the moment a lesson clicks. Now, imagine having the opportunity to work closely with just a handful of students or even a single student. You would be able to customize your lesson plans to focus on how each individual learns best, which means more of those “aha!” moments. That’s one of the perks of being an “On-Set Teacher” (or “Studio Teacher,” as they are known in California).
Studio Teachers: Unsung Heroes of Stage and Screen
“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” ~Albert Einstein
Conventional wisdom tells us that all teachers have the potential to change the lives of students for the better, not only by dispensing information, but perhaps more importantly by being positive role models and helping to shape the adult that the student will one day become. And in spite of non-traditional settings, hectic schedules, and often high-profile students, studio teachers and on-set tutors possess that same potential to have a lasting influence on their charges.