How to Get Your Child on TV and Movies
Want to get your child on TV shows and in movies? Central Casting casts babies from 15 days old to teenagers 17 years old to work in movies, TV shows, commercials, and many other productions. Here's everything you need to know about onboarding your child and getting on set.
What type of minor roles does Central Casting book?
We cast minors as Background Actors and doubles. A Background Actor is someone who performs in a show in a nonspeaking role, usually in the background of scenes. They're students in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, birthday party guests in Will Trent, and park goers in FBI.
A double is a person who appears on screen when an actor's face does not need to be shown. There are strict rules for how long children can work, so many productions will use a double to take a principal child actor's place when their face does not need to be on camera. This allows the crew to keep filming while the principal actor is fulfilling their school or other requirements.
How can my child become a Background Actor?
The first step is to sign them up with Central Casting. Talent Onboarding is free, easy, and completely online! During this process, you will create your minor's casting profile by filling out the online application, uploading photos, and e-signing forms. Uploading a current headshot and full body shot is a big part of the onboarding process. Our Casting Directors use these photos when casting their shows; it's important that the pictures you upload fit within Central Casting's photo guidelines. After submitting your minor's photos, a member of our Talent Onboarding staff will review them before you can proceed to the next step.
You will receive a message at the email address associated with your minor's online profile once their photos are approved. After receiving this message, you can begin the Form I-9 process by clicking the "onboarding hub" link in their profile. The Form I-9 option will appear after you have completed forms and their photos have been approved.
To learn more and to begin the onboarding process, visit our Kids Sign Up page.
Required documentation
To onboard with Central Casting, your minor must have the required Form I-9 documentation .
Per federal law, minors are required to either present one original unexpired List A document or an original unexpired List B and List C document combination. If presenting a List B document to an employer that participates in E-Verify (Central Casting), the employer can only see/use a List B document that includes a non-detachable photo of the minor.
Minor work permit
While minors do not need a work permit to onboard with Central Casting, they will need a valid permit from your state in order to work on our productions. Permits are handled differently in each state and may need to be renewed. Read through our article Ensure Your Minor is Eligible to Be Booked by Central Casting to learn more about the process in your location.
Keeping your minor's profile updated
As your child grows, don't forget to update the information in their online profile. Keeping your minor's sizes updated as they change is especially important since Casting Directors frequently use sizes when looking for minor doubles and when production provides wardrobe. You can change their sizes and other details by logging in to their profile, opening the "appearance" section, and updating any incorrect information.
We also recommend uploading new photos of your minor anytime their look changes. If your minor has unique and distinct looks or wardrobe, like a Halloween costume or uniforms, you can upload these along with current looks in the "photographs" section of their online profile.
Now that you know how to get your child on TV and movies, read our article What to Do When Your Minor Books a Job to learn everything you need to know about being on set.
