The best way to become a child actor with no experience is to actually go out and get some experience. You will always hear stories of how some children got lucky; however the odds of your child being hired as an actor with no experience is low. The solution is to have your child join a local acting school and immediately learn skills and improve. From here, the sky is the limit.
Acting is one of the few professions without an age limit. Several child actors have made a fortune and created a name that follows them into their adulthood. In case you want to expose your child to the world, we have something for you. In this article, we will discuss how you can get your kids into the acting scene with no prior experience. I hope that you will find this acting for kids guide helpful.
I think there was something in me at a young age that was not worried about success, but was worried about becoming a better actor.
Paul Dano
How to become a child actor with no experience
There are a few things that you need to have in mind before you help your kid joins the acting field. Luck plays a significant role in life, and your little friend can land a role without having any prior experience. Before this, there are a few tools that your child will need. Let’s take a look!
- Headshots
Your child must have a few headshots for identification. Headshots are a visual representation of actors that help producers and other crew members to identify these professionals quickly. Make sure that the photo is clear enough and brings out the little details of the kid’s face. The headshot should also detail the roles that the child can play. You do not have to invest in the most expensive photographers to come up with a fantastic headshot. In the beginning, a child doesn’t even need a professional photographer for the headshots.
However, the services of a photographer will still help elevate the child in the acting field. It is your role as a parent to identify a photographer who specializes in child headshots. The photographer should also be ready to listen to your views before going for the shoot. Make sure that you know the number of shots to be taken, the price of the whole shoot and the number of images that you will get at the price. You should also find out whether the photographer will incorporate lighting equipment and the type of clothing that the child needs.
It is also necessary that your photographer retouches the photos to correct the flaws. The child will also need an on-camera look. Your role as a parent, therefore, is to ensure that your child’s dressing and makeup is age-appropriate. Also, make sure that the headshots accurately capture the age of the child. The kid will probably miss out on some roles when the age is misrepresented. Have in mind that kid’s headshots must be updated frequently. Therefore, do not blow up thousands on the first few headshots.
Do not also use too much makeup on your kid. Kids have pretty fantastic skin that can look good on cameras easily. Also, check for the dressing. You can resort to vibrant colours, but you shouldn’t over highlight your child’s facial features. - Looking for a platform
There are several platforms that kids can use for marketing themselves. A good example is Backstage, which has been around for sixty years. The site helps actors of all ages find work and casting roles quickly. A child actor with no experience will be exposed to over 30,000 roles yearly. You don’t have to be worried about your kid’s safety since this site has a thorough screening process. The are several platforms that you can find online. However, make sure that they meet the following criteria:
The website should allow you to create a personalized talent profile for your kid where you can highlight the different skills, audio clips and some of the videos. Your kid should become a part of the site’s database, which exposes him or her to the world. Most directors and producers search these databases when looking for actors for different roles. Your kid can be lucky and land a character without having any experience in the acting field. You should also be able to choose who sees your kid’s profile to protect your young one.
Actors should have a chance to apply for several opportunities and get casting notices sent directly to them. The site should provide a customized search to ease getting the specific roles that you think your kid can ace. The personalized search will help you find roles based on the child’s age, location and product type. How easy can that be?
The site should have an easy to use messaging system where you can get and keep in touch with the different directors and film producers. You can even arrange auditions and seek clarification from professionals.
You should receive excellent customer support from experienced actors and even industry professionals. Actors should not go through the rigorous acting process alone. Building a child profile will fall squarely on you, but this does not mean that you cannot get help if you need.
The site should have thousands of monologues to help your kid train and prepare for auditions. There should be a detailed database monologue that allows actors to access useful auditioning materials. All your kid has to do is perform a personalized search detailing the age, genre and gender. The site of choice will then provide several options that you kid can pick and start working on his or her auditioning skills.
Actors should have a detailed list of agents, managers and industry professionals that they can reach and use. There should be an online call sheet which gives actors the contact information of managers and agents who will help a child actor go through the rigorous processes required for staying afloat in the field. I am pretty sure that there are other platforms that you can try in your country of origin. All in all, make sure that you settle on the best. - Auditioning
You must also furnish your child with a range of auditioning material that will help him or her the moment a role comes calling. A good idea would be having a variety of monologues that cut across different types of projects and auditions.
Actors Takeaway:
Acting for Kids
It is possible to become a child actor with no experience. However, make sure that you prepare yourself well and get an excellent platform that can market you far and wide.
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