Rules Child Actors Have To Follow On Set

Since the silent film era, kids have been featured in Hollywood movies, and when television became prominent in the 1950s, family-oriented series like “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best” provided significant opportunities for young actors too. In the subsequent decades, child actors were a common sight on TV shows such as “The Brady Bunch” and in movies including “Stand By Me” and “The Goonies.

Lydia Jewett, depicted in the image provided, made an appearance in all 20 episodes of “WITS Academy” at the age of eight, and played Sara Hill on “Good Girls” at eleven. Similarly, Millie Bobby Brown was 11 when she landed the role of Eleven in “Stranger Things”. However, by the time Season 5 premieres later this year, she and her co-stars will have reached adulthood.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been eagerly waiting for the return of our beloved “Stranger Things” crew since season 4, which debuted back in 2016. It’s mind-blowing to realize that most of the main cast has grown up and turned 18 during this hiatus, thanks in part to delays caused by COVID-19 and strikes. This transition to adulthood, according to the law, has made it smoother for creators Matt and Ross Duffer to bring us back to Hawkins, Indiana.

You see, behind the scenes, there are numerous legal guidelines that production companies must abide by when employing child actors. The Screen Actors Guild, in particular, has a dedicated section in their basic agreement focused on safeguarding underage performers. Here’s a glimpse into some of the rules that these young talents and the productions they work with must adhere to.

State laws are important

In contrast to federal child labor regulations in the U.S., protections for child actors and entertainers are primarily determined at the state level. These regulations differ between states and countries, necessitating continuous updates by movie and TV productions that employ minors. Given the concentration of the entertainment industry in Southern California, it’s no wonder that California has some of the most extensive and well-established laws protecting child performers. New York, with its popularity as a filming location, also follows similar regulations for underage actors.

1) In Illinois, any child actor below the age of 14 requires written consent from their school superintendent to work. On the other hand, Kentucky does not provide any labor protections for child actors under its state laws. As for Kansas, an infant can be covered by entertainment-specific labor laws only if they are less than a month old, and a doctor must confirm that the newborn is at least 15 days old and in good health to participate in a movie or TV show production.

Texas legislation sets a maximum duration of 7 years for contracts involving minors, while Michigan requires state Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity approval before minor actors aged 15 days to 17 can perform. Montana has no restrictions on child performances, making it something like the Wild West for young talent. Rhode Island classifies entertainers as independent contractors instead of employees, leaving the regulation of the industry to local and county authorities. In case of conflicts between federal and state laws, the more stringent regulations are applied.

Child actors must often get a work permit

Generally, many performers who land roles in TV shows or films face a heap of paperwork prior to rehearsing their lines. This is especially true when the performers are minors. In such cases, they and their guardians may need to secure a work permit first. Obtaining this permit often necessitates acquiring workers compensation insurance as well. State laws can vary significantly in this regard; while federal law doesn’t mandate work permits for minors, around half of the states do require them for actors under 14, 16, or 18 years old.

In Hawaii, minors under 14 can work with written permission from their parents instead of needing a permit, while California demands an approval from the actor’s school district aside from the required permit. In New York, the work permit is referred to as an employment certificate and requires written parental consent, a medical report, and school district approval before any work can commence for child actors.

Dealing with contracts when it comes to child actors can be quite intricate. In the United States, contracts signed by minors (under 18 years old) aren’t final until they turn 18. Once they reach adulthood, they can choose to affirm or cancel these contracts. However, California law allows a producer or studio to request that the minor’s right to cancel the contract be suspended. If a judge deems the contract fair, they may take away the minor’s ability to easily void the contract without facing consequences.

The Coogan Act requires money to be put into a trust

As a passionate admirer, I can’t help but shed light on the heartbreaking tales of young talents like Jackie Coogan, who sadly experienced financial exploitation by family members. This talented actor was fortunately discovered by none other than Charlie Chaplin and graced the screen alongside The Little Tramp in “The Kid” in 1921.

Coogan’s impressive acting career spanned over six decades, with notable roles on iconic shows like “The Brady Bunch,” “The Partridge Family,” and even a starring part as Uncle Fester on “The Addams Family.” The child actors who shared the silver screen with Coogan during these remarkable productions owe him an immense debt of gratitude — and not just for the opportunities they were given, but for much more.

At age 21, Jackie (Coogan) lost his father, right around the time his fame in Hollywood began to wane. As his income decreased, he discovered that his parents had squandered much of his earnings. In response, he filed lawsuits against his mother and manager to reclaim some of his money. A few years later, in 1939, California legislators enacted the Coogan Act to shield future child actors from experiencing a similar financial predicament.

To ensure financial security for child actors, a carefully controlled trust must be created where 15% of their earnings are saved. This rule was reinforced in California through the Coogan Act in 2000, and similar regulations can now be found in New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Nevada. While many child actors from the past might have struggled to maintain success as adults due to untrustworthy guardians, current children at least benefit from this legal protection against exploitation.

Hours are restricted for child actors

According to federal law, minors cannot work for more than three hours a day or 18 hours per week during school sessions. During school vacations, they can work up to eight hours a day or 40 hours per week. Additionally, federal law restricts children under 16 from working between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., with a flexible schedule up to 9 p.m. during summer months. They are also limited to three hours of work each school day and 23 hours each school week.

In California, an actor’s workday extends beyond actual performances, including time spent on set, as well as hair, makeup, and costume preparation. When you factor in mandated breaks for recreation and education, table reads, rehearsals, and actual performances, the day often reaches its limit quickly. A crucial rule that both child actors (in the union) and adult cast and crew members must adhere to is this: they must wait a minimum of 12 hours after their workday ends before returning to the set. This regulation is implemented to ensure actors get adequate rest, and it’s essential for maintaining safety on set by allowing the crew sufficient rest time to prevent accidents.

It’s no surprise that infants don’t work as long as their 17-year-old peers. In fact, they can only work in bursts of up to 20 minutes at a time, which makes it challenging for first and second assistant directors to manage multiple babies during a single scene. These production staff members often have additional responsibilities too, such as ensuring on-set education for child actors.

Child actors must go to school

Even if a child becomes famous as a Hollywood star at a young age, they still need to attend school regularly. In addition to limits on work hours during the academic year, film and TV producers must ensure that their younger cast members receive proper education on set. In California, actors aged 6 to 15 are typically required to attend school full-time. Some 14- and 15-year-olds may work full-time while attending school, but only during the academic year. Exceptions can be made for child actors who have private tutors or those who moved from another state with fewer than 10 days left in the school year.

On-set educators are often hired by studios to ensure both productivity and legal compliance. When a child actor has an on-set tutor, their daily instruction time is limited to just three hours, which is significantly shorter than a regular school day. This allows them to work for extended periods compared to those still attending school. A child actor with a tutor can work up to nine hours a day, whereas one in school can only manage three, even including time spent on hair, makeup, and costumes. The Screen Actors Guild mandates that studios must provide an educator if a child actor is working for more than three consecutive days, though they may take into account any school-related days off. In special cases, Alaska exempts the studio teacher requirement.

All work and no play doesn’t fly for child actors

Child performers are skilled and committed individuals, yet they remain young and require a balanced lifestyle. Apart from their work and academic commitments, child actors’ days should legally incorporate playtime. Unfortunately, Judy Garland didn’t have this luxury while making “The Wizard of Oz,” as she worked for 72 consecutive hours during filming. This lack of downtime took a toll on her, resulting in exhaustion upon completion of the movie.

Currently, the required playtime for child actors depends on the filming location and their age. For instance, in California, actors below two years old are given two hours of their four-hour workday for leisure activities. Actors aged 2 to 6 get three hours of fun time along with a three-hour workday. From ages 6 to 9, they can work up to eight hours a day, spending four hours on set, three hours in school, and one hour for recreation. Child actors between 9 and 16 years old are granted an additional hour per day for work, and once they reach 16, they can work up to ten hours a day, with six hours of work, three hours of school, and one hour for recreation. During their off-school periods, these extra two hours can be converted into work hours. Their free time is utilized for reading, playing video games, doing homework, or observing other scenes being filmed to gain insight into the production process.

It’s OK to become friends with adult actors

Actors who work together as children often develop strong relationships with the adults in their cast. For instance, Sofia Vergara and Rico Rodriguez, who played each other’s on-screen family in “Modern Family,” have maintained a close bond. In fact, Rodriguez made a heartwarming visit to Vergara when she was a judge on “America’s Got Talent” a few years ago. More recently, the cast reunited in 2023, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson shared that they were able to uphold an amusing tradition. For 11 seasons, they always took a group photo for “Modern Family,” with one exception – Ty Burrell was never included. Since Burrell couldn’t attend the reunion this time, his image was represented in their cast photo instead.

On the show, Mitchell Pritchett, played by Ferguson, and his partner Cameron Tucker (portrayed by Eric Stonestreet), had two children, one of whom was their daughter Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons). In 2017, Ferguson discussed working with Anderson-Emmons in an interview with The Huffington Post. He shared, “It’s a joy to see her grow and understand the TV industry. She never fails to make me laugh.

In 2002, Kristen Stewart made her film debut in “Panic Room” at the tender age of 10. Jodie Foster starred as her mother in the movie, and years later in 2016, when honoring a friend on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Stewart reminisced about their experience together. The Daily Mail reported that Stewart said, “Jodie Foster was my favorite actress before I had the chance to play her daughter. Out of all the role models I could have had at such a formative age, there’s nothing self-centered about her. She has always been supportive towards me.

Child actors can act in movies with mature content

At times, child actors feature in movies that are not suitable for them to watch at a cinema due to their age. For instance, Jodie Foster was only 14 when she played the role of a 12-year-old prostitute named Iris in the intense 1976 drama “Taxi Driver.” Both Foster and Robert De Niro received Oscar nominations for their acting skills, while the film garnered another nod for Best Picture. Chloe Grace Moretz was 13 when she appeared in the 2010 superhero comedy “Kick-Ass,” a movie with plenty of adult language and violence to secure an R rating. In this film, Moretz showcased both mature language and violent acts, even committing over a dozen murders. Despite her return as Mandy Macready/Hit Girl in the 2013 sequel “Kick-Ass 2,” she was still only 16 years old and therefore unable to watch the R-rated film at the cinema.

In her debut film at age twelve, Natalie Portman portrayed a trainee assassin opposite Jean Reno’s title character in “Leon: The Professional.” This movie featured a romantic storyline between them, and originally included a scene where she was to appear in a shower. However, this scene was eliminated following the intervention of her parents. In 2023, Portman expressed some discomfort about the film when speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, stating that it has “some awkward aspects, at the very least.” It’s worth noting that child actors (defined as those under eighteen) are not allowed to participate in sexually explicit productions. While there are penalties for producers who violate these laws, the repercussions typically target the production team rather than the performers.

Parents must often be on set with their actor children

In certain regions, it’s mandatory for child actors below a specific age to have a parent or legal guardian present throughout their time on set. For instance, Alabama and its Film Office enforce this rule for child actors under 16, also ensuring that the production does not harm the child in any way – physically, emotionally, educationally, or morally. Similar regulations are applied in Indiana, where child entertainers are also prohibited from working in cabarets or nightclubs.

In California, child actors aren’t necessarily under parental supervision, but it seems Angelina Jolie would have been grateful for Vivienne Jolie-Pitt joining her in the 2014 Disney film “Maleficent”. Parent-child duos like the Smiths, who worked together on “The Pursuit of Happiness” and “After Earth”, and Tina Fey’s daughter Alice on “30 Rock”, are not uncommon. For instance, Will and Jaden Smith collaborated when Jaden was 8 and 15, and Alice was a regular visitor on set before being cast as a young Liz Lemon in a 2012 episode. Similarly, Melanie Griffith and Dakota Johnson teamed up in “Crazy in Alabama” when Johnson was only 10, while Miley Cyrus starred alongside her father Billy Ray at the age of 14 in “Hannah Montana”. Bridget Fonda started acting at five years old, working with her father Peter in “Easy Rider”.

Child actors are union members

In addition to the regulations set by federal or state laws, child actors also belong to the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). This union isn’t just for adult actors; it also includes broadcast journalists, dancers, disc jockeys, voiceover artists, stunt performers, and some writers. As full members of SAG-AFTRA, child actors have the same rights as adults, such as running for union office, voting in elections, and serving on committees.

If underage performers find themselves working beyond their allocated hours, missing educational opportunities, or being asked to perform potentially hazardous tasks, they are advised to seek guidance from their on-set union representative. SAG-AFTRA acknowledges that the union acts as a partner with the parents of child actors and urges parents to foster a robust connection with their child’s union representative. Actors, whether adults or minors, can become eligible for SAG-AFTRA membership once they secure a leading role or feature in three union productions. They then have 30 days to join the union, starting their membership and payment of dues. As members of the union, child actors are prohibited from participating in non-union projects.

2025-03-08 20:42