Chicago film production is booming, as you might expect under a mayor that is the brother to one of the industry’s most powerful agents (Ari Emmanuel, CEO of Endeavor). In addition to more than a dozen series filming in Chicago each year, there is also a consistent stream of feature films. Commercials are shot here…
Resources to Navigate COVID Safety for Your Child This page is NOT intended to provide medical advice, since that is heavily dependent on your geography. Bizparentz does not engage in political discussions about the pandemic. We follow the science, and COVID-19 is a legitimate concern for professional actors of all ages. Our goal is for…
Showbiz Kitty Litter: A Parable for Parents Kitty litter looks a lot like playground sand, doesn’t it? Toddlers can even have fun playing in a litter box, right? Feels the same, looks the same (if you don’t look too closely). Kitty litter even costs more than plain sand. It looks the same until you stand…
Don’t worry, this isn’t religious. A show bible is a book created by TV writers and show creators that contains all the details of their show, laying out the roadmap for the entire series. They are first used as sales pitches to present to a studio. A show bible typically contains a short “pitch page”, …
New Requirement for Your California Work Permit (ages 14 – 18) Preventing Sexual Harassment and Child Abuse Many parents with California Entertainment Work Permits are aware that some laws were changing, but seemed to be in limbo. The short story is that it took a package of 3 new pieces of legislation to fix. The…
There are two main laws that affect child performers in Massachusetts, and both are initiated by the production, not the parent: 1. A waiver process for employers to hire anyone under 18 (it is a “waiver” from the usual child labor laws) that is accomplished through the Office of the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division,…
Looking to the Future for Kid Actors In a COVID Year This year sounds like the plot of a post-apocalyptic movie, doesn’t it? A mysterious pandemic, government uncertainty, travel bans, and entire industries shut down. Everyone wishes it was over and we could “go back to normal”. Well, friends, Hollywood will never be “normal” again. …
Let’s Roll! Listed below is information to assist production in the appropriate dealings with minors. Of course, we welcome you to use the search bar on this site and peruse all the info about working with child actors, such as How to Learn Lines with Kids, or Child Actor Safety. Much of the information on…
Pennsylvania updated their child labor laws in 2012. Like many states, film incentives had a huge impact on the state, drawing new productions, revenue and problems. Most famously, the reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8 (TLC) was accused of abusive behavior as they failed to get work permits, filmed the children without consideration for…
After the Release of An Open Secret An Open Secret was a couple of years ahead of its time. The #metoo movement would not be sparked with the allegations against Harvey Weinstein until October of 2016, about two years later. An Open Secret was mysteriously not able to find mainstream distribution, despite discussions with Netflix,…