The On Location Education Blog
3 Time Management Tips for Child Actors
3 Time Management Tips for Child Actors
A young actor or actress has a lot on their plate. From filming to auditions to acting lessons and more, throwing schoolwork into the mix may seem nearly insurmountable. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Juggling so many obligations is taxing on any actor, but for child actors who still have to make time for their schooling, it may seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Combining work with studying without proper time management skills can harm an actor’s career and their education. This stress is completely unnecessary and can be conquered with some reflection and careful planning.
Common Audition Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
4 Common Audition Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Regardless of your experience level, auditions can be nerve-wracking. Everyone makes mistakes, but knowing what to expect and what is expected of you are the keys to making a stellar first impression. Newer actors may struggle with anxiety as they prepare for their first audition and need to be reminded of how to keep their cool and rely on their skills.
How to Be an Extra
How to Be an Extra
Extras, or background actors as they are also called, are a vital part of film and television, despite often being limited to the sidelines of a scene. The truth is, a lack of extras can completely ruin a scene, since they help to give sets a “real world” feeling. Extras are needed to make places feel populated, busy, and generally normal. Most television shows heavily feature public, densely populated areas—hospitals, schools, restaurants, cafes. Not having extras to fill in those spaces would severely alienate the viewer from believing the story and setting.
From Child Actor to Stand-up Comedian
From Child Actor to Stand-Up Comedian
Is your young performer interested in stand-up comedy? If they have a great sense of humor or a knack for making their co-stars laugh frequently on set, then they may have what it takes to thrive as a comedian.
While it may seem like kids exist on a different wavelength than the rest of the world, their sometimes-wacky viewpoints can bring a new light to many common topics, and that is a tremendous asset in stand-up comedy. A child’s humor is suitable for all or a wide variety of audiences, as everyone was a child once and can relate to the experiences from which a child comedian may draw.
Introducing Your Child to Voice Acting
Introducing Your Child to Voice Acting
Acting is a broad category, full of many different avenues to pursue. If your child has acting aspirations, chances are they may not be clear on all the options open to them. One of these possible areas of focus, with its own ups and downs, is voice acting. Though it may seem that voice acting is a simpler alternative to theater or film, it requires character, focus, hard work, and skills, just like any other form of acting.
Creating the Perfect Child Actor Resume
Creating the Perfect Child Actor Resume
When trying to book any sort of job for your child, making sure they have a well-organized, comprehensive resume will dramatically increase their chances of getting hired. While not having a resume at all is a problem, having a poorly-crafted one can be just as detrimental.
Words of Wisdom from Two Successful Young Actors
Words of Wisdom from Two Successful Young Actors
Aspiring child and teen actors have an expansive array of role models to observe in television and film. And while it’s helpful to study the techniques of successful performers, young actors can also learn a lot about the craft and the industry by following the advice of those who blazed a trail before them. Here are some words of wisdom from two actors who started their careers from a young age.
What Makes A Great Momager
What Makes a Great Momager
Before we delve into what makes a great momager, let’s define the term: As the name implies, it is a combination of “mom” and “manager,” and refers to a mother who manages her child’s or children’s show business careers.
Manager vs. Agent
What’s the Difference Between A Manager and an Agent?
For young performers trying to break into the entertainment industry, representation is key. To succeed, parents must seek out the right agent or manager to help land auditions, generate opportunities, and manage their children’s careers.
Headshots
The Headshot: The Actor's Foot in the Door
For young actors entering the entertainment field, their headshots are one of the most critical components of their marketing toolkits. It is their introduction to agents and casting directors, and the right headshot can mean the difference between being selected to audition for a major role or being passed by in favor of someone else.
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.