There are specialized agencies for Background Acting for Kids in Television shows and Movies. Some of the larger casting companies also have special children divisions.
Because there are a lot of Rules and regulations regarding the use of Children or Minors on the set of television shows and Movies / Films, there are specialized agencies and branches of larger casting firms that deal specifically with the needs of Child Actors and their parents.
The California Child Actor’s Bill (also known as Coogan Act or Coogan Bill) is a law applicable to child performers, designed to safeguard a portion of their earnings for when they enter adulthood. It also strictly regulates the time allowed on set for children and enforces their schooling during shoots coinciding with regular school days. To learn more about these rules in California: Click Here
What you will need to get your child started as a Background actor:
- A valid Coogan account: (Learn more)
California Parents in CA are required to open a “Coogan” Account and must be opened with a CA bank. A Coogan Account is a special blocked trust fund account found at a bank, credit union or brokerage firm.
New YorkParents in NY are required to open up an UTMA or UGMA compliant trust account. This account is similar to the “Coogan,” but does not differ regarding rules of withdrawal. The account may be opened with any bank, in any state, as long as it meets UTMA or UGMA requirements.
Louisiana and New Mexico
Parents in LA are required to open a Blocked Trust Account with any bank, in any state.
Parents in New Mexico are required to open a blocked trust account only if their child earns more than $1000 per each employment contract.
Please visit the Labor Department’s website in each state for more detailed information. - A valid work permit: Please visit the Labor Department’s website in each state for more detailed information.
- Social Security card
- A cell phone (It is a must but not a requirement to have a cell phone for this job.)
Here are a few of the larger Kid’s Background Acting Agencies in the Los Angeles area. We do not recommend any one over the other as the needs, talent and success of each actor is unique:
- Central Casting:
Central Casting the leading background actors casting company in the United States! Central Casting has been providing the entertainment industry with background talent for more than 80 years, offering a full range of background services for every type of production from offices in Los Angeles and New York. - Kid’s Management:
Kid’s Management is a Division of Talent Management Partners who also owns Extra’s Management. They are located in Burbank, CA directly across from Central Casting. - Hollywood OS for Kids
Hollywood OS has a special division for children in background acting. They have special Kids rates for children seeking Background Extra work as actors in Film and Television. - Studio Kid’s Management:
Studio Kid’s Management is a Kids Background Acting Management Service company in operation for more than ten years. They mange child background actors for television and film.
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