Children and Acting in Hollywood
It happened again. Another parent communicating with me that they don’t want their kid going into theater only to end up like the seemingly endless parade of child actors in rehab.
The thought that being an actor is a slippery slope to the ninth circle of hell is amusing, and frustrating. I’ve been in this business for 25 years or so, and I know far more well adjusted kid actors that I do maladjusted ones. In fact, I don’t know any maladjusted ones. I’m sure they are out there, but no greater proportions than child athletes or child musicians. Of course, this is just speculation.
But in reality, no one can push your kid down a path of self-destruction if you are there with them. Drugs and alcohol exits as problems in public schools and more extensively in private schools, I’m told. The problem seems to come when parents themselves get seduced by the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, and look the other way because they think the wild path will be good for their career. Which can be a problem with managing your child’s career. My advice is to seek very well established, reputable management for your child; a firm who has a reputation at stake as well as a financial interest in your child will want to protect your child. If you cannot get into such an agency or management company right now, or your child isn’t ready for them yet… then wait. There is no rush. It’s like the career train is leaving now, and you have to be on it, which is not true. A career is a life’s work, not a job, or an explosion of temporary fame. A career is something you develop over time. And by the way there is more than one train leaving the station.
It’s easy for parents feel that they have to play along with the fast crowd, because this is the one opportunity and it can’t be missed. Personally, if someone said to me ‘We’re taking your underage kid to Vegas” I’d say no. And if it was really important to his career, I’d say you’re taking me or his mom as well. And the first person to put a drink or a drug in his hand would be very a sorry fired-person indeed. You see where I’m going here?
Yes, we are asking children to join the workforce. Being in the workforce has is pressures and demands. But, for the most part, this is a very fun workplace. It really is. And it can give your child such wonderful life opportunities that you just can’t get anywhere else. The movie business and theater business can develop in your child a strong sense of self, the ability to command the attention of a crowd, powerful interview skills, a superlative work ethic, and a sense of self expression that is not usually found in what people refer to as ‘the real world’. In this business actors seem to work more if they are healthy, put together, well-read, educated, and happy with a happy stable family life. Shocker, no? You read about the train wrecks because they are good press.
I find if you forbid your child to pursue it, they will anyway, when you are not around to help them.
Remember, fame is not a destination; it is a tool.
Value cuteness and ‘talent’ less; value passion, training, and discipline more.
And remember, if you are there with them, it’ll probably be okay.
Chuck
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