GUIDELINES FOR KIDS AND PARENTS ON SET
1. Please make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep before a work day. If they get sick, it affects their performance and possibly the production schedule. If they are exhausted, they will have dark circles under their eyes and not be able to concentrate. No sun tans, bloodshot eyes from swimming, or scrapes and bruises from activities during your free time. If your child has a late call time, do not fill the morning with activities that will tire them out. It is still a work day and all of your child’s energy and attention should be conserved for when they are being filmed.
2. Always be early. If your call time is 9 a.m., please plan on arriving 15-30 minutes early, to allow for breakfast, getting lost, checking in with the correct person. When you first get to set, introduce yourself to the 2nd AD (Assistant Director) or look for someone with a walkie talkie who can announce your arrival on the radio so that the person you need to check in with can find you.
3. Make sure your child eats breakfast every day. An early meal will give them energy and improve their attention span and ability to follow directions. The work days are long and the main meal may not be until late in the afternoon, which is later than most kids are used to eating lunch. Meal time is not play time. Please make sure that your child eats the lunch provided and does not fill up on sweets/junk food at the craft services table. Do not allow them to eat junk food all day. Do not allow them to eat candy that will color their tongue and teeth (it looks horrible on camera).
4. Assume that your child will be whisked off to wardrobe as soon as you arrive. This may not happen, but if it does, be ready to go. This means, have your wardrobe and paperwork with you at all times. Do not leave anything in the car. When you meet the Wardrobe Supervisor (or assistant), take note of their name, in case you need something while you are on set. For instance, if you find that your clothes or shoes are uncomfortable or need to be adjusted, ask someone on set to call for Wardrobe. Do NOT ask the director or someone outside of the wardrobe dept., because they will be annoyed and unable to help.
5. Please make sure that you keep your child’s work permit current. If you ever show up on set without a permit or an expired permit, they will send you home. Period. Don’t forget your Coogan account information and your child’s ID (passport, birth certificate, report card, etc..for the I-9). Know how many deductions you want to take on the W-4.
6. When the Sound Operator (or assistant) puts a microphone pack on you, ask them their name. This would be the person that you would find when you need to go to the bathroom (and turn off your mic), at lunch, or wrap at the end of the day. Do NOT ask wardrobe or some random person on set to take the microphone off for you, do NOT do it yourself, and be aware that when you are wearing the microphone, everything you say is being heard by someone else.
7. Please wash hair every night and brush hair, teeth and wash face before coming to set every morning. No makeup or hair products, if production is providing hair/makeup. When you meet the hair and makeup department, ask them their names. If you are on set and would like some gloss on your lips or some powder, do NOT ask the hair stylist – kindly ask someone with a walkie talkie to let makeup know that you need something. Conversely, if you need help with your hair on set, ask for someone in hair and do not bother the wardrobe supervisor or someone who can’t help you.
8. No toys from home allowed on set. iphones, ipods, ipads and computers are fine, when not working on set, but all sounds and ringers must be turned off. Bring headphones and make sure to have all of your personal electronics clearly labeled with your name. Make sure your child does not bring a cell phone on to set while working.
9. When an AD or PA (production assistant) comes to get you to take you to set, please be ready to go at that instant. Do not make them wait for you or decide at that moment that you need to use the bathroom. There are people waiting on set to start shooting and they do not want to be waiting for you.
10. Please monitor your child on set. As your child becomes more relaxed and comfortable on set, please remind them that they must always be respectful and courteous to everyone. The crew is there to do a job and not to hang out with the kids or parents. When your child is on a break, that is a good time to get them a snack, use the restroom, and let them relax until they are needed again (unless they have to do school work with the teacher).
11. Do not bring other children, relatives or friends to set. It is one parent/guardian for one child, unless you have gotten permission from production for an additional guest. If you need to sign over guardianship to someone else, ask the Studio Teacher for a guardianship form.
12. Don’t ever leave your child unattended on set. Always let the AD (Assistant Director) or Studio Teacher know if your child needs to leave the set or use the bathroom. Never leave set or location without telling someone with a walkie talkie.
13. Let the Studio Teacher and 2nd AD know if your child has special needs, like food allergies, medications that need to be taken at designated times, or special educational needs/requirements.
14. Be prepared to stay 8 ½ or 9 ½ hours (depending on child’s age) from the time you start. That means, making arrangements for other children at home and clearing your schedule so that you don’t have anywhere to be.
15. Always bring 3 hours of school work for your child (unless it is a weekend or summer). That means books to read, assignments from school, a laptop, worksheets, and practice books that you can buy, in case they don’t have enough homework. Don’t assume that there will be a wireless connection available, so bring hot spot or your own device to get online.
16. Please prepare all of these items, plus any wardrobe that you’ve been requested to bring, and your child’s school work, the NIGHT BEFORE. If you do it in the morning, when you are tired and rushed, you are sure to forget something.
17. Never leave set without turning in your voucher, contract or time card to an AD or before returning wardrobe to your trailer or the wardrobe supervisor. You may also have to sign out on a SAG-AFTRA time sheet.
18. Do not post pictures on Facebook, Twitter or any social media sites without getting permission from the people in the photo (if they are celebrities) or the production company. Do not post photos