WIBU to let 4 week old baby take part in a film?

[wwydaboutthis1]

My 4 week old has been offered the role in a film that's due out in 2018. It's obviously a relatively small role, but will need to be on set for 4 days. The money would be put into a bank account for her (quite a nice amount for her to get started with when she's an adult) obviously not loads. Her and another baby girl will split the role.

I feel like I've been well informed and I suppose I'm okay with going ahead, but there's a couple of things I am worried about - filming will be outside at night, they have said something about them doing affects so it's actually inside in the day, but there will a couple of scenes that will have to be outside, baby will be in just a nappy at this point but said that's why they will use the affects whenever they can to make sure the top safety for the children involved. It just worries me. I'm also worried that baby will need to be fed via a bottle, no one has said anything about letting me use my breast milk and she's breastfeeding, that's my fault for not asking though. They're a known company that's obviously not 'dodgy' but I don't know if she's just too little for all of it.

WIBU to let her do it?

[baconandeggies]

YANBU - ask all the questions you need - prods are generally super careful though and she'll be in sight at all times.

[AnnieAnoniMouse]

They seem thoughtful & aware of the babies needs, so I doubt they're going to raise any objections to you BF.

A lovely thing for your daughter to look back on.

[These threads normally end up with the OP being total it's disgraceful and they shouldn't be pimping their kids out. Put your hard hat on 😂]

[MakeItStopNeville]

Ask all the questions you need and then let her do it. What a cool way of remembering her as a tiny baby! Presuming it's not a horror movie and she gets sacrificed to the devil, obviously! 😄

[Excited101]

Do it! My limited to experiences have been amazing and I'd recommend it to anyone.

[scrivette]

If you are happy with it then I say go ahead, I expect she will enjoying telling people she was the baby in so and so film when she is older.

(It will be easier to do now rather than in a few months time and she wants to be on the move)

[sycamore54321]

Honestly, I wouldn't. I often look at small babies on screen and wonder what their parents were thinking, particularly if the scene or film is something potentially upsetting. I remember one scene in Breaking Bad where the two parents were having a blazing row and one unceremoniously dumped the very young baby into a play pen thing and the baby was really upset. That wasn't necessary. I am by no means PFB about many things but I don't think a very young infant needs to be put out to work.

In this particular case, I would definitely be concerned about a four week old outdoors at night with no clothes on. Would you want to do that yourself in chilly winter weather? A four week old is barely past newborn stage where they have trouble regulating their own temperature. Exposing her to an extreme drop in temperature for no real benefit is hard to justify. I admire you planning to keep the money for her but chances are even a very generous sum now will be worth very little in real terms in 18 years time.

[MimiSunshine]

I'm sure it'll be fine. They'll take every precaution with your baby.

BUT don't forget they don't get LET you do anything. You're her mother, you can (and should) step in at any point you feel you need to.

She's breast fed- shouldn't be a problem as regardless of how the baby is fed she will still get hungry and need a feed on her own schedule.
If she was solely bottle fed, you'd still be there to do it, you wouldn't be dropping her off and shouting see you in 4 days.

So you keep an eye on her and give the producer / director as much notice as you can that she's getting hungry and going to need a feed in 10/15 mins etc

Filming outside - I doubt they'll want the baby outside in just her nappy but if at any point you see something you dont like, don't be afraid to walk on set and remove her.

They'll be annoyed - so what
They'll have to re-do the scene - so what

It can be intimidating but no one trumps you as parent regardless of their role in the production of the film

[OuchLegoHurts]

Really? People are ok with a FOUR WEEK old being outside at night with only a nappy on? In Ireland it's -6 at night at the moment. If you think that's worth any amount of money...

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

You need to ask more questions. You seem a little unclear about what's inside/outside/nappy on/clothes on. That said, the rules around working with children are incredibly specific and any production company worth its salt will stick to them.

[nocoolnamesleft]

I don't like the idea of a 4 week old baby outside, in just a nappy, in the middle of winter, at night. Temperature control is still a bit immature at that stage...

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

The rules on filming with kids and babies are very strict, they will not be putting a 4 week old baby outside at nighttime in minus temps.

They may make it look like they are but in real life it won't be and if anybody actually did try of course you would stop them.

[GwendolynMary]

They should have a nurse on set, who will help you with your baby while filming. You will need to be there anyway, so BFing should be fine. They have 2+ babies on set, so if one is asleep the other can be in shot. Or if one is cracking the shits, the other might be calmer.

[MrsBlennerhassett]

The OP has not specified if this is actually going to take place during the winter? id assume they wouldnt have a baby outside half naked in this weather.
I think it sounds like fun opportunity. I was in an advert as a 1 year old and remember it very fondly and telling all my friends about it when i was older and them all being very impressed lol!

[edwinbear]

DS took part in original pilot of The Secret Life of 4 Year Olds and the follow up Nativity Reunion last year. The regulations regarding children (and these were children not babies) are insanely strict and taken very, very seriously by the production team (in my experience). I'd suggest asking all the questions you need to, which I'm sure will reassure you and then doing it! We had the most fantastic experience and I'd do it again in a heart beat.

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

edwinbear I loved last years series-I always think it'll be lovely for the children to look back on when they're older.

[edwinbear]

We had such a blast filming it! Interestingly all but one of the original line up came back for the reunion, as it had been such a great experience first time round.

[mathanxiety]

They will most likely have outdoor heaters to keep everyone on set warm outdoors. The house next door to mine had an advert filmed in it and they had outdoor heaters for the crew, plus a trailer parked in the street outside for crew and actors to use/keep warm in, and an endless buffet that all the neighbours were invited to enjoy too.. Maybe you'll find similar on the set for the outdoor scenes?

[OlennasWimple]

Are you able to tell us how much she would be paid? I've always wondered....

[EveOnline2016]

Not in a million years.

Social media when she or he is older will out him or her.

[CrazyCavalierLady]

YANBU do it!

[elodie2000]

That sounds very odd.
Most TV/film productions use reborn dolls for this kind of thing - www.reborn-dolls.org.uk. They sell mechanical ones too but they are very expensive. Sounds like maybe this production is cutting costs and doing it on the cheap.
I wouldn't go near a job like this OP.

[wwydaboutthis1]

Thanks everyone!

elodie - on the cheap? She's getting quite a lot for it... Also, the production company is well known and has completed films in the past, this is also a 'number 2' film ( obviously not going to go into too much detail) and how are they going to use a reborn doll when there will be frequent close ups of her?

[wwydaboutthis1]

Olennas - she'll get the average day salary which is pretty easy to google. Then an amount at the end.

[wwydaboutthis1]

To be honest, I'm not doing it for the money it's just an added bonus for her to have when she is older. I just thought it would be a cool experience, I never assumed she would get the part.

[ShelaghTurner]

Totally standard stuff. They are required by law to be super careful with babies, even more so with tiny ones. And they can do a max of 20 mins (I think) at a time.

Laughing at the idea that real babies aren't used anymore and have been replaced by reborns. Yes some scenes will use them but of course they still use real babies!