What to Do When Your Minor Books a Job

Your child has booked a job as a Background Actor or photo double. What happens now? Requirements for minors working on a production are different than those for adults, so even if you've worked as a Background Actor yourself, you may not know what to expect when it's your child's turn to show up to set. Here are some important things to remember when your minor books a job with Central Casting.

Getting your minor's booking details

All the information you need for your minor's workday will be included in their booking details, which will come as a details message from our casting platform and may include an additional resource like a Details Blog. Casting Directors get these details as they come in from multiple departments within production; you will often receive your minor's details later in the evening the night before their work date. Please respond to your minor's details message as soon as possible to confirm that you received it.

Accompanied minors

Your minor needs to be accompanied to set by a parent or guardian who is not working on the production. The guardian will accompany the minor everywhere they go, from check-in, to wardrobe, to Holding. Even during filming, the guardian will be somewhere behind the scenes, but always within eyesight of the child. Some productions have an age requirement for guardians; check with the Casting Director who booked your minor to see if your production requires a guardian over the age of 21.

How to prepare

Your minor will usually be asked to arrive camera ready, meaning dressed in the required wardrobe with their hair styled, and any applicable makeup applied. If production is providing wardrobe, please bring or have your child dressed in any basic pieces as instructed in their details.

It's incredibly important for your minor and their guardian to show up to set on time. Production schedules constantly evolve and it's likely your minor's call time will change. Their booking details will include how to check for call time changes. By getting to work on time, you're setting your child up for a successful day as a Background Actor.

When your minor is not filming, you both will be taken to Holding. You can bring entertainment for your minor, just please ensure to bring headphones to not disturb production or other Background Actors.

If you work in California or New York, you will need to bring a tangible copy of your child's work permit with you to set.

School on set

Some states require minors to attend school on set. Depending on their call time, your child may attend their own school first, then will report to set only for work.

If your child is required to attend school on set, they will need to bring enough homework to keep them busy throughout the day. They will work with a studio teacher separate from the parent/guardian and be provided documentation to show their school.

School hours may vary by the age of the child and whether their normal school is on break or in session. Check with your state's labor office for more school on set requirements.

Check with your state's labor office for more school on set requirements.

Filming

Being on set is fun! Your child will get a front row seat to see how movies, TV shows, and other productions are made. While it may seem like more play than work to them, please remind your minor that being a Background Actor is a job and help them to remain professional and focused while on set.

To learn more about finding your minor background work, read our guides How To Find Your Child Background Work with Central Casting and Why You Should Update Your Child's Sizes.