The On Location Education Blog
How to Be an Extra
How to Be an Extra
Extras, or background actors as they are also called, are a vital part of film and television, despite often being limited to the sidelines of a scene. The truth is, a lack of extras can completely ruin a scene, since they help to give sets a “real world” feeling. Extras are needed to make places feel populated, busy, and generally normal. Most television shows heavily feature public, densely populated areas—hospitals, schools, restaurants, cafes. Not having extras to fill in those spaces would severely alienate the viewer from believing the story and setting.
From Child Actor to Stand-up Comedian
From Child Actor to Stand-Up Comedian
Is your young performer interested in stand-up comedy? If they have a great sense of humor or a knack for making their co-stars laugh frequently on set, then they may have what it takes to thrive as a comedian.
While it may seem like kids exist on a different wavelength than the rest of the world, their sometimes-wacky viewpoints can bring a new light to many common topics, and that is a tremendous asset in stand-up comedy. A child’s humor is suitable for all or a wide variety of audiences, as everyone was a child once and can relate to the experiences from which a child comedian may draw.
Introducing Your Child to Voice Acting
Introducing Your Child to Voice Acting
Acting is a broad category, full of many different avenues to pursue. If your child has acting aspirations, chances are they may not be clear on all the options open to them. One of these possible areas of focus, with its own ups and downs, is voice acting. Though it may seem that voice acting is a simpler alternative to theater or film, it requires character, focus, hard work, and skills, just like any other form of acting.
Creating the Perfect Child Actor Resume
Creating the Perfect Child Actor Resume
When trying to book any sort of job for your child, making sure they have a well-organized, comprehensive resume will dramatically increase their chances of getting hired. While not having a resume at all is a problem, having a poorly-crafted one can be just as detrimental.
Words of Wisdom from Two Successful Young Actors
Words of Wisdom from Two Successful Young Actors
Aspiring child and teen actors have an expansive array of role models to observe in television and film. And while it’s helpful to study the techniques of successful performers, young actors can also learn a lot about the craft and the industry by following the advice of those who blazed a trail before them. Here are some words of wisdom from two actors who started their careers from a young age.
What Makes A Great Momager
What Makes a Great Momager
Before we delve into what makes a great momager, let’s define the term: As the name implies, it is a combination of “mom” and “manager,” and refers to a mother who manages her child’s or children’s show business careers.
Manager vs. Agent
What’s the Difference Between A Manager and an Agent?
For young performers trying to break into the entertainment industry, representation is key. To succeed, parents must seek out the right agent or manager to help land auditions, generate opportunities, and manage their children’s careers.
Headshots
The Headshot: The Actor's Foot in the Door
For young actors entering the entertainment field, their headshots are one of the most critical components of their marketing toolkits. It is their introduction to agents and casting directors, and the right headshot can mean the difference between being selected to audition for a major role or being passed by in favor of someone else.
Industry Voices: Part 2 of Our Interview with Denise Simon
When you think about the team of people who support a young actor’s career, a broad group of professionals come to mind: Directors, coaches, casting directors and agents all fill important functions in the success of a child performer. But let’s not forget about the critical role that parents play in supporting, protecting, encouraging, and overseeing their children’s acting careers.
Industry Voices: Part 1 of Our Interview with Denise Simon
Denise Simon knows a thing or two about the entertainment industry. She’s been an actress, teacher, director, casting director and personal talent manager. A frequent contributor to industry publications, she’s most recently added book author to her list of roles.
When Child Actors Go Good There’s a Strong Support System Behind Them
It’s not uncommon to see a salacious story about a child actor – past or present – featured on gossip TV or in the tabloids. However, these stories that make us cringe aren’t the only outcome for young performers. There are the others who remain grounded as they grow up in front of a camera or on a stage. There is one common thread that runs through these success stories: a strong, healthy, balanced support system.
Dos & Don’ts of Parenting an Auditioning Child
This is it. You’ve been running lines with your child to prepare for this audition. Your young performer is now headed into the casting room, nervous, excited, and ready. All you can do now is wait until your son or daughter emerges from the casting room. But then what?