To ask about child filming

[sawseesaw]

Anyone have any experience of child filming.
DD (9) is taking part in a couple of months.
I'm wondering if she should be paid something.
It's 8 hours filming over a few days. It's improvised, so no preparation is needed.
I wouldn't expect her to get lots, but maybe something like I'd give her a bit of pocket money for lots of extra chores. The company filming is making the programme for a major network.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Filming a child for what?

Why should she have to do extra chores for money she has already earned? You’re doubly exploiting her then, not only does she have to be filmed doing god know a what for 8 hours, she then has to do load of chores to get access to money she never wanted/asked for in the first place.

Sounds like the kind of question you would have asked the film company before signing your daughter up in the first place

What does your contract with the production company say?

It’s not my field, but I do know that there are very strict rules about children working on film and TV sets, including short, prescribed working hours, chaperoning and tutoring, so this should all be set down in the contract you’ve signed. Why have you agreed to the child taking part without sorting fundamentals like payment?

You should probably take advice from someone who knows about this specific area of work - perhaps a theatrical agent would be able to help? Or Equity? I would try someone who has great knowledge of working in the field, not rely on us random reckoners on MN!

My friend's son (about 7/8?) was an extra in a film and got paid. Filming was half a day on a Saturday.

Didn't you sign a contract or something ?

I meant she should be something.

I was making the comparison with when I give her extra money for chores, not saying she'd have to do extra chores.
Apologies if that wasn't clear.

Firstly, does she want to?

As PP said if she has earned the money she doesn't have to do 'lots of chores' on top.

You should have negotiated a fee before signing her up for it. Any remuneration would be in the contract.

Didn't you sign a contract or something ?

not yet. I just came on here to see what others might say before having that discussion.

Why on earth have you signed your child up for this with knowing if they’ll be paid and - presumably - reading the contract?!

Surely the contract would state these details and you can ask from there?

Approach Equity or an agent for some specific advice, then.

It’s confusing for you to state in your OP that she is doing it, when it’s not actually confirmed then. How did you get involved with the production company?

My original post was badly worded. I was just making the comparison with extra money I give her when she does chores.

Not signed and the contract suggests no pay. I now need to speak to the company. Just came on here to get an idea of what to expect.

Oh, so your question is whether to actually give her access to the money she will be earning…or keep it for yourself? And give her nothing for her labour?

IMHO, she should get a nice treat now, and ALL of the rest of any money put into savings for when she is older.

If no money is changing hands at all and you’re being expected to ferry and chaperone and exploit your daughter for nothing more than the warm regards of a profit making production company, I would question why you’re even bothering.

DS does drama and the school also operates as a casting agency. He is often put forward for things, doesn't often get picked mind you but at the "are you interested" stage, the agency ALWAYS states the rate of pay and reminds you of there commission. If there is no pay (not often) then they are clear about that too.

I am also signed up with a casting agency for extra work and again, they will always state the pay. Not always in ££, but will say something like "PACT day rate applies" and then you can look on their website to find out how much that is.

Who has put your child forward for this? Doesn't sound very professional IMHO.

their commission. 🙄

Which, btw, is 10% - 20% plus VAT in most cases. Even for children.

Depends on the production. She may need a Child Performance Licence from Local Authority, professional chaperoning and expenses at least. There are regulations providing for limited hours and statutory breaks

Because it might be fun? The child might want to? The child might learn something?

I took my kids to activities and paid for the privilege, parental time is normally given.

That said, I would expect some payment, am surprised there is nothing.

In fact, the only thing DS has been put forward for which had no pay was a film being made as a final student project. They were really clear they couldn't pay as their budget was about 50p, and pitched it as a chance to get on screen, learn about being in a film etc. And they also said they'd provide lunch for both the child and parent as chaperone.

If by "major network" you mean something like Netflix, BBC, ITV - they always pay. Always. Your agency sounds really crap OP.

This is why it’s always a mistake to post on AIBU!

Just from skim reading the post, it’s clear that the op was comparing filming, with her child doing chores over and above the usual, and wondering if there would be any remuneration on a par with pocket money. At no point does she say anything about making her dc do extra chores for any potential earnings, or that she intends to keep any money for herself!!

Put simply, I imagine her dc might be signed up to be an extra in something, and the op is enquiring whether you normally get paid? Happy to be corrected if I’ve misunderstood.

Oh and on the "contract" thing - I never sign a contract when I do extra work. That's not the way it works. My contract is with the agency, and they deal with the production company. The agency tells me where I need to be and when, tells me how much I'll get paid, invoices the production company, pays me.

Individual extras do not deal directly with Netflix or whatever.

Not filming but promo photos were taken including my ds. The contract was no payment in cash but a toy gift would be given.