Kid Filmmakers Hosts Summer Camp in Rhode Island Movie Studio
"Kay Studios is the only full-service motion picture company in Rhode Island ," says Kid Filmmaker’s founder and Executive Director Eleyne Austen Sharp. "Producing films in a real movie studio with a giant green screen will be a unique and exciting experience this summer."
Summer Shoot (Monday, July 27, 2009 thru Friday, July 31, 2009) is a working movie production unit. Held from 9 AM-4 PM at Kay Studios, 66 Valley Street in East Providence , Summer Shoot offers an intensive full-day curriculum for beginning and returning filmmakers, i.e. hands-on instruction in acting, animation, directing, editing, lighting, sound, makeup, screenwriting, set design and videography. Each crew (divided by age) will produce a documentary about peace or ecology, a Kid Filmmakers commercial, a silent film and drama, comedy or musical. Selected projects will appear on the Kid Filmmakers YouTube channel.
"Summer Shoot provides nearly 1800 minutes of professional filmmaking instruction in just 5 days," says Sharp. "The camp introduces young filmmakers to the Hollywood moviemaking experience, from planning and budgeting to getting the 'green light' from the studio, casting and producing the movie." Additionally, Summer Shoot offers daily movie screenings, production meetings and special guest speakers.
Space is available for 25 registrants, ages 10-15 years. Early Bird Registration is $325 per participant ($295 for returnees and Kid Filmmakers Club members) until March 1, 2009. After the Early Bird deadline, general registration is $365 per participant ($335 for returnees and Kid Filmmakers Club members). Registration includes a DVD copy of film projects and certificate of completion.
Now celebrating its eighth year, Kid Filmmakers is a traveling filmmaking academy for children, available year-round to schools and organizations for after school, weekend and summer programs. Faculty members are experienced film industry professionals with credits from MGM Pictures, Paramount , Warner Brothers, Dreamworks, Discovery Channel, NBC, PBS, ESPN, TNN, Turner Broadcasting, AOL/Time Warner and more.
For details, call (401) 294-4922 or write to: Eleyne Austen Sharp, Executive Director, Kid Filmmakers, P.O. Box 12 , Newport , RI 02840-0001 or visit the website at:
On Set Studio Teachers
The studio teacher, in addition to teaching, shall also have the responsibility for caring and attending to the health, safety and morals of minors under sixteen (16) years of age for whom they have been provided by the employer, while such minors are engaged or employed in any activity pertaining to the entertainment industry and subject to these regulations. In the discharge of these responsibilities, the studio teacher shall take cognizance of such factors as working conditions, physical surroundings, signs of the minor’s mental and physical fatigue, and the demands placed upon the minor in relation to the minor’s age, agility, strength and stamina.
The studio teacher may refuse to allow the engagement of a minor on a set or location and may remove the minor therefrom, if in the judgment of the studio teacher, conditions are such as to present a danger to the health, safety or morals of the minor. Any such action by the studio teacher may be immediately appealed to the Labor Commissioner who may affirm or countermand such action.
The payment or salary of the studio teacher shall be paid by the employer.
Beginners Resume For Child Actors
So here is a sample of what you should put down on your child's resume when they are starting out:
(NEVER list your home address or the school they attend if you are a minor for safety reasons)
Savannah Starlet
(your email address here)
(your phone number here)
Date of Birth: 06/15/1998
Height: 4'11"
Weight: 92 lbs
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Green
Acting & Modeling Objectives:
Films
TV Shows
Commercials
Commercial Print
Experience:
Class Skits-
Anne Frank-Mrs. & Mr. Van Dann.
Training:
High School Drama Club
Special Skills, Talents & Hobbies:
Singing, Dancing, Drawing, Ballet, Soccer, Ice Skating, Basketball, Swimming, and Cheerleading. Like to hang out with friends, and volunteer for things to help people and animals.
That's it! You see, if a casting director really REALLY likes their photo and look, they will call them in. Regardless of experience, or if you are in the Screen Actors Guild or AFTRA.
California Coogan Law Information
In 1919, five year-old Jackie Coogan (1914-1984) got his big break, landing a role opposite Legendary actor/director Charlie Chaplin in “A Days Pleasure”. Two years later, Chaplin hired Coogan again for “The Kid”. The film was a huge success and Jackie Coogan became the world’s first major child superstar. With fame came fortune, and for decades Jackie Coogan held the record of being the youngest millionaire in history. He earned an estimated $4 million as a child star. Unfortunately for Jackie, in the 1920’s there were no restrictions on how children in film were to be treated. In addition to improper treatment on set, (one director reportedly threatened to shoot Jackie’s dog to get him to cry), in 1938 Jackie was forced to sue his mother and step-father for what was left of his earnings. The court decided that Jackie had no right to his income due to his age at the time he earned it. The public uproar over this situation caused California to pass “The Coogan Act” in 1938.
The Coogan Law preserves a portion of a child performer’s earnings until that child reaches adulthood. The act has been revised a few times since 1938, most recently on January 1st, 2004.
What is a Coogan Account?
A “Coogan Trust Account” is a blocked trust account that is established at a qualified financial institution in California that is insured at all times by either the FDIC, SIPC or NCUSIF.
Under California law, whenever a minor renders artistic services, employers are required to deposit 15% of gross earnings directly into the minor’s “Coogan (blocked trust) Account”. The monies placed in trust cannot be touched by anyone until the minor turns 18 or becomes legally emancipated. Parents or Legal Guardians are required to establish a Coogan Trust Account within seven business days after a minor’s employment contract is signed, and to provide the minor’s employer with a copy of a trustee’s statement (evidencing proof of the account) within ten (10) business days after the start of employment. credit union, brokerage firm, or company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. To view a partial list of qualified financial institutions. For more information on Californias’ Coogan Law.
Coogan Account Update
On January 1st, 2004, the California Coogan law was amended. The following changes are now in effect:
Actors Fund of America
If a parent, guardian or trustee fails to provide the minor’s employer with a trustee’s statement within 180 days after the start of employment, the employer shall forward the set-aside funds to the Actors Fund of America (a non-profit organization that provides services to performers in the entertainment industry). The Actors Fund shall become the trustee of such funds until the parent/guardian produces the trustee statement, the minor turns 18, or the minor becomes legally
emancipated.
Entertainment Work Permits void without Coogan
California entertainment work permits are now void 10 business days after the date of issuance unless a copy of the trustee’s statement evidencing the establishment of a “Coogan Trust Account”, for the benefit of the minor, is attached.
Child Work Permit Information
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
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
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 | Redding | San Jose |
El Centro | Sacramento | Santa Ana |
Eureka | Salinas | Santa Barbara |
Fresno | San Bernardino | Santa Rosa |
Long Beach | San Diego | Stockton |
Los Angeles | San Francisco | Van Nuys |
Oakland | San Francisco--Headquarters |
Coogan Account Resources
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.