Responsible Producing
August 2009
Creating an Adequate Educational Environment
While it may be tough to consider education the top priority on set when there are so many other things to take in to consideration, education simply cannot be neglected. To make things a bit easier, we've provided some suggestions and tips for creating an environment conducive to learning.
Whether your working in the studio or in an outdoor environment, you'll need to provide children with adequate schooling facilities. The facility should be dedicated entirely to education. It should be free of distractions, a comfortable temperature, and contain the appropriate amount of seating, lighting and surface space to conduct work.
COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR TEACHER
A quick meeting with your hired Studio Teacher at the beginning of the shoot day is the most effective way to ensure education is taken care of appropriately and efficiently. Filling in the teacher will minimize hold-ups that could delay production.
"If you inform your studio teacher about things like the shooting schedule or the basic details of the scenes involving the kids," explained studio teacher and CIF Board of Advisor member Marie Rogers, "they will be better equipped and prepared when it comes time to shoot."
Marie explained that sometimes teachers are uninformed about the scenes and if it ends up that the scene isn't kosher, they have no time to give the production crew a heads-up, thus causing delays.
Also, discuss your plan for accomplishing the required three hours of education during the work day. Will school time occur all at once, or in twenty minute intervals throughout the day? There are boundaries that limit the hours that children are allowed to sit for school depending on their grade level. Make sure you know them to avoid surprises.
LITTLE ACTORS, LITTLE EARS
Remember you and your crew are around children. Avoid profanity, use positive, reassuring language and compliment children when they've done a good job. Children feed off of positive feedback and reinforcement. When you praise a child, you will likely find they respond better when it's crunch time.
LUNCH TIME
Marie suggested allowing the kids to eat first if at all possible. "They (kids) often take more time to finish their food than adults," she said. "If they get their meal first, there could be bonus time to finish up education while the rest of the crew is eating."
DO THE RIGHT THING
Child actors are working actors, but in the end they are still our children, our future. The children you hire are invested in the success of your project, let's return the favor by investing extra effort toward their on set education and their future success.
February 2009
The Morality Clause
Many companies in the public eye are now using Morality Clauses in their contracts as a way of protecting their image. For example, last summer Random House announced that any writer whose audience includes minors will be asked to sign a contract in which a Morality Clause is included. This means that if they are found behaving in a way that damages their reputation as a person suitable to work with or be associated with children, they could lose their advance and/or their book deal.
Random House isn't the only one concerned with the morality of its major players. Michael Phelps, Chris Brown, Kate Moss and many other celebrities have lost major sponsorships because of their less than stellar behavior. Major brands are keeping an eye out to ensure that the brand's reputation is not damaged due to bad behavior on the part of those who endorse their products.
Is this concern for morality a mere selfish act to protect image, or are brands generally concerned with what our children are viewing? Realistically speaking, it likely comes back to money. A bad image equals a loss in sales and high-rolling players simply won't stand for that, but this push towards a strong moral compass amongst those in the limelight should not be ignored by industry professionals, parents or young stars.
Parents and Talent
For anyone aspiring to make a name for themselves, behavior should be monitored and even scrutinized. Parents should be increasingly aware of their child's behavior, dress and the way in which they share information with the public. There is a fine line, of course, between allowing your child some freedom and privacy, and helping your child become aware of how important their reputation truly is.
Barbara Cameron said it well when she explained, "Be the parent first. Don't let society or the industry train up your child."
Social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook should be monitored and open discussions should be had with the young talent. Should a teens privacy be respected? Of course, but remind your teen that while you may respect their privacy, others on the web may not. We are in an age where all types of information is readily accessible and we simply must not turn a blind eye to this reality.
Industry Professionals
Industry professionals such as managers and agents should inform their clients of the reality associated with images in the public domain. Your clients reputation ultimately affects your reputation and your business. As adults, we can understand the concept of how one bad image on a social networking site could surface and potentially harm a job interview or opportunity. Your clients should be aware that the situation is very similar for them.
April 2008
Working with Children in an Adult Environment
Everyone has heard the expression “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child.” This ancient African proverb teaches eternal truth. No man, woman, or family is an island, but in Hollywood, community isn't always what it is supposed to be. In Hollywood, there are islands everywhere . . .some of which seem impossible to reach. In addition to employing multiple strong, creative personalities, our business employs many different departments (Production, Sound, Electric, Transportation, etc.) performing all kinds of individual and sometimes dangerous tasks. The pressure to “perform” any of these jobs can be intense. Add to that equation . . . Children . . . and what we get can be pure chaos.
We'd all like to think we live (and work) in a place where people care about others -- where people pitch in to help out when things get rough -- where it's safe to let the kids play around. Unfortunately, a film set just isn’t that place. It is dangerous, hazardous and full of people who put their needs and desires before others, often sacrificing the well-being of children.
The truth is we all need to take a pro-active position when it comes to our contact with children. Whether you are a Producer, Director, Actor, Grip, Gaffer, no matter . . . occasionally we all need to be reminded that our behavior serves as an example to the children we work with. That our actions, whether we are parents or not, help to shape the futures of the children who interact with us.
We have all heard the horror stories that are sometimes associated with the employment of minors. The question is, what can YOU do to make the working child’s experience the very best that it can be?
In this section, we will discuss important issues that affect child welfare on set. We’ll explore some tough topics, leaving you with some solid ideas on how we can improve children’s working conditions and together, as a community, raise happy, healthy, independent, loving and supportive adults.
Everyone’s job is easier when you are part of a network of family, friends and co-workers who care . . . a community.
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The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) requires Interviews (auditions) and fittings for children to be held outside of school hours and no later than 9:00 PM.
- Codified Basic Agreement
- Section 50, (F) (7)
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