Some performers like to enter the world of acting at a young age. For those with such interests, there are a good number of opportunities available. That being the case, it is important for the parents or guardians of these child actors to be aware of the laws and rules that may govern the city, state, region, or country in which they are working. These protections are in place to safeguard the interests of the minors in question.
Not every project will offer to comply with their local guidance, and nonunion and very low-budget projects might not be subject to every rule. However, by staying aware of these rules, you'll have a better idea of what is typically expected on a professional production, which will allow you to better judge the value and safety of productions of every level. And you can utilize these resources to give you an idea of additional assurances you may want to ask productions for.
Additionally, in some cases you, as the parent or guardian, may also be subject to rules regarding acquiring work permits for your children, making sure their education and well-being is taken care of even when they have to miss school for a production, and making sure that any money they earn is properly handled.
Resources to be Aware of:
Some of the more common rules that may apply to child performers are as follows:
- The child needing to be accompanied on-set by their parent or guardian for the duration of the work.
- The child needing a child-performer license or work-permit.
- The amount of hours a child can work being in correlation with their age.
- The child needing to have a trust-account set up to be paid through.
The following sections provide related information and resources for specific countries:
United States
Review the Department of Labor's child entertainment laws per state.
SAG-AFTRA also provides some helpful information regarding work permits for young performers.
And even if you're working on a nonunion production, SAG-AFTRA information is good to reference as the union is more often than not up-to-date on current rules and law. Fort instance, this SAG-AFTGRA resource provides useful information on work hours allowed, education, parental supervision, safety, etc.
You might also need to become familiar with the Coogan Law (trust-fund accounts for child performers, which are mandatory in some states for a variety of paid roles).
And check out Wrapbook's guide for what producer's need to know about child actor laws.
United Kingdom
Please click here for info about child employment rules in the UK.
Of note: In the UK, "performance licences" are typically required for every child under school leaving age that is being paid to take part in films, plays, TV shows, commercials, concerts, sports, public performances, modeling work, and other related employment. It may be advisable in some cases to apply for a child performance licence even for volunteer performances. A variety of rules and restrictions for working with child performers apply in the United Kingdom and other locations.
Licenses may need to be applied for on a per-actor basis from the local council. Obtaining a license can sometimes take a number of weeks, with rules and processing times varying per locality, so applying early is highly recommended.
Australia
Child performers are governed by state child employment laws; requirements differ by state and territory. Sometimes a permit may be required, perhaps especially for productions in NSW or VIC. You can take a look at your state government website or click here for a list of child employment-related websites per region.