Child Work Permit Information

A minor desiring to be employed in the entertainment industry must obtain an Entertainment Work Permit. The application for permit can be obtained at any of the Division's District offices. The minor must provide the information called for on the application, to-wit: his/her name, age, birth date, address, sex, height, weight and color of hair and eyes. In addition, such minor must obtain verification in writing from the appropriate school district of the minor's school record and attendance, and must satisfactorily meet the requirements of that school district with respect to age, school record, attendance and health. Such verification of school record and attendance and proof that the school district's requirements with respect to age, school record, attendance and health have been met must be filed with the Division, concurrently with the filing of the application. Such verification and proof may be in any form as provided by the school district if reasonably demonstrative of the information required to be furnished by this subsection. The Division may require in appropriate cases a physical examination of the minor to ensure that the minor's physical condition permits the minor to perform the work or activity called for by the Permit to Employ Minor and Entertainment Work Permit.

Upon the filing by a minor with the Division of a completed Application for Entertainment Work Permit satisfying the requirements of this Section, the Division shall issue an Entertainment Work Permit to such minor. Such permit shall permit the minor to work only under the conditions prescribed by these regulations and in conformity with all provisions of law governing the working hours, health, safety, morals and other conditions of employment of minors. The permit shall be for a period not to exceed six (6) months, and application for renewal must be made in the same manner and under the same conditions as the original permit.

Typically, after an employer agrees to hire a minor, the minor obtains from his or her school a Department of Education form entitled "Statement of Intent to Employ Minor and Request for Work Permit". The form must be completed by the minor and the employer and signed by the minor's parent or guardian and the employer. After returning the completed and signed form to the school, school officials may issue the permit to employ and work.

Permits issued during the school year expire five days after the opening of the next succeeding school year and must be renewed.

Click Here for Statement of Intent to Employ Minor and Request for Work Permit.

Click Here for Child Work Permit Application.

Click Here for I-9 Form.

In general:

• Most states require a letter from your child’s school indicating that the child is in good academic standing before they will issue a permit.
• You must also have a copy of your child’s birth certificate available.
• Always check with your local school and your State’s Department of Labor regarding employment in your area.

For more information about your state’s laws in relation to the employment of minors visit the following websites:

Alabama: http://www.alalabor.state.al.us/CD/Movie%20Release.pdf
http://www.alalabor.state.al.us/PDFs/Work_Permit_Application.pdf

Alaska: http://labor.state.ak.us/lss/childlaw.htm
http://labor.state.ak.us/lss/lssforms.htm

Arizona: http://www.azcommerce.com/Film/Child+Labor+Laws+(Arizona+Youth+Labor+Law).htm

Arkansas: http://www.arkansas.gov/labor/divisions/labor_standards_p1.html

Colorado: http://www.coworkforce.com/emp/know_your_rights.asp

Connecticut: http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/wgwkstnd/faqs-minors.htm

Delaware: http://www.delawareworks.com/industrialaffairs/services/LaborLawEnforcementInfo.shtml

Florida: http://www.state.fl.us/dbpr/reg/childlabor/index.shtml

Georgia: http://www.dol.state.ga.us/em/child_labor.htm

Hawaii: http://www.hawaiifilmoffice.com/film-permitting/filming-regulations/child-labor-law

Idaho:
http://cl.idaho.gov/Portal/ICL/aliasjobservice/tabID4980/DesktopDefault.aspx
http://www3.state.id.us/idstat/TOC/44013KTOC.html

Illinois: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/056/05600250sections.html

Indiana: http://www.in.gov/labor/childlabor/

Kentucky:
http://www.oet.ky.gov/des/pubs/jobser/childlabor.pdf
http://www.labor.ky.gov/ows/employmentstandards/childlaborlaw/

Maine: http://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/wagehour.html

Maryland: http://dllr.state.md.us/labor/empm.html

Massachusetts: http://www.ago.state.ma.us/sp.cfm?pageid=1119

Michigan: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Work_Permit_FACT_SHEET_July_2006_169123_7.pdf

Minnesota: http://www.doli.state.mn.us/childlbr.html

Mississippi: http://www.mdes.ms.gov/wps/portal#null

Missouri:
http://dolir.missouri.gov/ls/brochures/11-AI.pdf
http://www.dolir.mo.gov/ls/childlabor/

Montana: http://erd.dli.mt.gov/laborstandard/wagehrchild.asp

Nevada: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-609.html

New Hampshire: http://www.labor.state.nh.us/youth_employment.asp

North Carolina: http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/rules1933/rules1933.html

Oklahoma: http://www.ok.gov/~okdol/wh/ChildLabor/CHILDLABORSTATUTES.HTM

Oregon: http://www.boli.state.or.us/BOLI/WHD/CLU/index.shtml

Pennsylvania: http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/CWP/view.asp?a=185&Q=58124

Rhode Island: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/ls/childlabor.htm

South Carolina: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/Labor/wages/index.asp?file=childlabor.htm

South Dakota: http://www.state.sd.us/dol/dlm/dlm-home.htm

Tennessee: http://www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/childlab.html

Texas: http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/lablaw/cllsum.html

Utah: http://www.laborcommission.utah.gov/Utah_Antidiscrimination___Labo/Employment_
Standards/Employment_of_Minors/employment_of_minors.html

Vermont: http://www.labor.vermont.gov/

Virginia:
http://www.dli.state.va.us/infocenter/publications/laborlaws/guideforteens_web.pdf
http://www.dli.state.va.us/whatwedo/labor_law/childlabor_faq.html

Washington State: http://www.lni.wa.gov/WorkplaceRights/TeenWorkers/default.asp

Wisconsin: http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/er/labor_standards_bureau/child_labor_laws.htm

Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

All of the Disney Channel television shows are under the jurisdiction of the performers union AFTRA - "American Federation of Television and Radio Artists". Your child can still work on an AFTRA show as an actor or extra, however they will be required to join AFTRA after 30 days from the date of first employment on an AFTRA show.

Joining AFTRA increases your child's chances of getting auditions, and could help them get into SAG - "Screen Actors Guild". That is how I got into SAG. After being a member of AFTRA for one year, and if you get a speaking part (even one word) on an AFTRA show, you become eligible to join SAG. It is one way to get into SAG.

You can just walk in to any AFTRA office and buy your membership.

The details are on this website:

http://www.aftra.org

AFTRA - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) is a national labor union representing over 70,000 performers. This was my first union. The first union that a person joins becomes your "Parent Union". Unlike the other performers' unions, anyone can walk in off the street and join AFTRA. This union is newcomers' and inexperienced actors best bet to become eligible to join the other unions. You still must obtain a speaking or "principal" role within AFTRA's jurisdiction at some point in order to join SAG or the other unions, but at least you can "buy" the membership without prior experience. AFTRA has jurisdiction over Soaps, many Sitcoms, news/sports/weather broadcasts, radio, sound recordings, talk shows, variety shows, documentaries, game shows, and various multimedia broadcasts. Once you obtain a principal role (speaking, stunts, dancing or singing), then you are "eligible" to join the other unions. But only after you have been a paid-up member of AFTRA for one year.

New members must complete an application and pay a one-time initiation fee and dues for the current dues period. The initiation fee is $1,300 and, as of September 1, 2008, minimum dues are $63.90.

SAG - Screen Actors Guild

Screen Actors Guild is the nation's largest labor union representing working actors. Established in 1933, SAG has a rich history in the American labor movement, from standing up to studios to break long-term engagement contracts in the 1940s to fighting for artists' rights amid the digital revolution sweeping the entertainment industry in the 21st century. With 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents nearly 120,000 working actors in film, television, industrials, commercials, video games, music videos and other new media. The Guild exists to enhance actors' working conditions, compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists' rights. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SAG is a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO. The Screen Actors Guild is associated with the Associated Actors and Artists of America (AAAA), which is the primary association of performer's unions in the United States. The AAAA is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. SAG claims exclusive jurisdiction over motion picture performances, and shares jurisdiction of radio, television, Internet, and other new media with its sister union AFTRA.

How To Join SAG

A performer becomes eligible for Screen Actors Guild membership under one of the following two conditions: proof of SAG employment or employment under an affiliated performers’ union.

1. Proof of Employment

a. Principal Performer Employment - Performers may join SAG upon proof of employment. Employment must be in a principal or speaking role in a SAG film, videotape, television program or commercial. Proof of such employment may be in the form of a signed contract, or original pay stubs. The document proving employment must provide the following information:
— applicant’s name
— applicant’s Social Security number
— name of the production or name of the commercial (product name)
— the salary paid (in dollar amount)
— the specific date(s) worked.

b. Background Actors may join SAG upon proof of employment as a SAG–covered background player at full SAG rates and conditions for a MINIMUM of three work days subsequent to March 25, 1990. Employment must be by a company signed to a SAG Agreement under which the Producer is required to cover background actors. Proof of employment must be in the form of original paystubs or a payroll printout faxed from the payroll house. Such documents must provide the same information (name, Social Security number, etc.) as listed above.

2. Employment Under an Affiliated Performers' Union

Performers may join SAG if the applicant is a paid-up member of an affiliated performers' union (ACTRA, AEA, AFTRA, AGMA or AGVA) for a period of one year and has worked and been paid for at least once as a principal performer in that union’s jurisdiction.

To join SAG, a performer must pay an initiation fee of $2,277, plus the first semi-annual basic dues payment of $58. Thus, the total fee to join is $2,335.

Division of Labor Standards Enforcement District Offices For Obtaining Child Work Permit

Bakersfield 5555 California Avenue, Suite 200 Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 395-2710 (661) 859-2462	Redding 2115 Civic Center Drive, Room 17 Redding, CA 96001 (530) 225-2655 (530) 229-0565	San Jose 100 Paseo de San Antonio, Room 120 San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 277-1266 (408) 277-3711
El Centro 1550 W. Main St. El Centro, CA 92243 (760) 353-0607 (760) 353-2544	Sacramento 2031 Howe Avenue, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 263-1811 (916) 263-5378	Santa Ana 605 West Santa Ana Blvd., Bldg. 28 Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 558-4910 (714) 558-4574
Eureka 619 Second Street, Room 109 Eureka, CA 95501 (707) 445-6613 (707) 441-4604	Salinas 1870 N. Main St., Suite 150 Salinas, CA 93906 (831) 443-3041 (831) 443-3029	Santa Barbara 411 E. Canon Perdido, Room 3 Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 568-1222 (805) 965-721
Fresno 770 E. Shaw Avenue, Room 315 Fresno, CA 93710 (559) 244-5340 (559) 248-8398	San Bernardino 464 W. Fourth Street, Room 348 San Bernardino, CA 92401 (909) 383-4334 (909) 889-8120	Santa Rosa 50 "D" Street, Suite 360 Santa Rosa, CA 95404 (707) 576-2362 (707) 576-2459
Long Beach 300 Oceangate, Suite 302 Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 590-5048 (562) 491-0160	San Diego 7575 Metropolitan Dr., Rm. 210 San Diego, CA 92108 (619) 220-5451 (619) 682-7221	Stockton 31 E. Channel Street, Room 317 Stockton, CA 95202 (209) 948-7771 (209) 941-1906
Los Angeles 320 W. Fourth Street, Suite 450 Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 620-6330 (213) 576-6227	San Francisco 455 Golden Gate Ave., 10th Floor San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 703-5300 (415) 703-5444	Van Nuys 6150 Van Nuys Blvd., Room 206 Van Nuys, CA 91401 (818) 901-5315 (818) 908-4556
Oakland 1515 Clay Street, Suite 801 Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 622-3273 (510) 622-2660	San Francisco--Headquarters 455 Golden Gate Avenue, 9th Floor San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 703-4810

Coogan Account Resources

AFTRA/SAG CREDIT UNION (for union members)
With three area branches to serve union members, the AFTRA/SAG Credit Union offers low cost and "actor friendly" services. This is a wonderful place to establish your child's credit. Just mention "The Coogan Law."
(818) 562-3400, Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (PT)
Toll-free outside Los Angeles
(800) 826-6946
Overseas
(818) 562-3400
AFTRA-SAG Federal Credit Union

WELLS FARGO BANK
These folks have been "with it" when it comes to the New Coogan rules from the beginning. Wells Fargo has branches all over the place, but you will find a particular welcome at the Toluca Lake Branch. Just mention "The Coogan Law."
Emlyn Gamboa
Wells Fargo Toluca Lake, California
New Accounts
323-634-1600 or
323-634-1603
Wells Fargo Online

WELLS FARGO BANK
Teresa Chandler
Vice President, Branch Manager
1300 4th Street
(4th and Arizona)
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Tel: 310-393-0443

BANCO POPULAR NORTH AMERICA
Frances Marie Maizland
Santa Clarita Branch Manager
27931 Kelly Johnson Parkway
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Tel: 661-775-3966
Fax: 661-775-2763

FULL RANGE BROKERAGE SERVICES
Many of our most sophisticated families are opting for the higher returns and personal service of major investment firms. Broadly based mutual funds are allowed under The New Coogan Law. Professional Financial Advisors come with the packages offered by these firms and it is the wise family that recognizes each component of the investment picture, not just for their working children, but the entire family. Remember that an investment firm usually has cooperative arrangements with banks and savings and loan institutions and there is no limit to the number of Coogan Accounts a child might own or how their money may be invested. There can be No Withdrawals in a Coogan Account, but the transfer of funds is allowed.

PAINEWEBBER
Dan Ayers
Financial Advisor
Redlands, CA
Tel: 800-458-7384
Tel: 909-335-2134
Fax: 909-793-8049

WADDELL & REED
Daralee Barbera, CFP, CMFC,
Division Manager &
Mario Vinci, CFP,
Financial Advisor
Tel: (714) 437-7510
Fax: (714) 437-7515
Waddell & Reed Financial Services

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL FINANCIAL NETWORK
Mr. Jack B. Weinstock, CLTC
Financial Representative
110 S. Juanita Ave. Unit 4
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Tel: 310-543-9156
CA Lic. #0C82715
This company has consistently been recognized as one of the top management asset companies in the world, and we welcome their interest in the world of Coogan.

Actors Photo and Resume Information

*** IMPORTANT NOTE ***

Unsolicited phone calls and personal visits to casting directors are prohibited in the entertainment industry. Not only does it display a huge level of non-professionalism, it is extremely inconsiderate of casting directors time. They receive hundreds, and even thousands of photos and resumes every week. They certainly can not accommodate being inundated with phone calls from actors, and aspiring actors, and their parents.

_______________________________________________________________

Here is a sample of a professional actors resume and photo. The photo should not be a school photo, glamor shot, or a snapshot taken by a non-professional photographer (with the exception of infants where snapshots are acceptable). The photo should be 8" X 10" in size, the resume should be cut to the exact same size and stapled back to back on the photo. When you flip the photo over, the resume should be viewable on the other side. Do NOT paper clip the resume, but staple it on all four corners. The actors name and any union affiliations should be printed on the bottom of the photo, either on the border or on the corner of the photo itself. That way if by some chance the photo does become detached from the resume, the casting director can match them up again. The photo should be color and professionally taken. Just remember that the photo is an actors calling card. It should represent the "real" you, the way you look in everyday life. If your hair is long in the photo, then your hair should be long when you walk in the casting office. If your skin is fair, then you should not come to the casting office with a dark tan. Always keep your photos up-to-date according to your look.

Your child should have two good color headshots (not "retouched", unless only to clean up a loose hair, etc), one "serious" and one "smiling". But it doesn't hurt to have 3-4 "looks". Try to portray the best possible image of their "brand". In other words, the type of personality and look that they would best portray. Sometimes it is best to ask several other people who know them, like teachers, friends, classmates, etc. Sometimes parents do not see their kids as portraying the "type" that they really should be. Here are some of the primary "types" for young actors:

Young Females:

awkward/gawky
artist
brain
bully
girl-next-door
ingénue/innocent muse
jock
princess
trendsetter

Young Males:

bad boy
boy-next-door
brain
bully
jock
nerdy kid/future genius
paste-eater/super uncool
quirky/trendy
smart-ass


Also, there is no such thing as an "application" to fill out for acting jobs. Just the 8X10 photo and resume. Include a very brief cover letter with your submission, stating that your child is interested in auditioning for any acting roles that they may be good for, or that you are seeking representation for your child by an agent.

The photo can be taken either horizontal or vertical.

Sample Headshots:





Actress Cheyenne Logan




This is child actor Marcus Calderon, and he landed a national Disneyland commercial with this photo.


Sample Resume:






One last note about your photos:

If you can't afford to pay a professional photographer to take your photos right now, you can try something else. If there is a school nearby that has a photography department, go there and see if you can do "testing". Testing is when you exchange your time posing for a photography student in exchange for them taking some theatrical headshots and giving you some prints.