Working with children & animals 3
oOne of the important things I maintain and stress when working with child performers is ensuring that any image context is clear and not open to giving the wrong impression.
Children are often asked to perform within theatre or filming quite strong realistic roles, it is not all "Disney" style work, and this sometimes needs reflecting within their profile of images, or indeed mine.
It becomes more difficult for nearer to 16 they become, as adult roles begin to appeal.
Some parents find it hard to know what is and is not acceptable - for example should an 11 year old boy be depicted shirtless, or a girl be in swimwear.
The answer to this has to always be "it depends".
The fact is if you look at editorial, childrens programmes and particullary advertising children are often presented this way. On holiday, fun in the sun, drama and reality . To say as some parents do - "lets [in the case of a boy" no to shirtless", either images or performance - will limit roles and agents! The child must be confident with whatever the role demands, and as I work on the confidence aspect that is important within my work.
This said I never would insist on any young performer shooting in any way they are unhappy with, but a lack of confidence will hold them back within performance.It's a fine line, and I leave it to the parents to decide having said my piece as to what I think should be included.
An actor of any age is only as good as the roles he/she performs, and a child model working lets say in catalogue will be expected to wear whatever the client wishes to advertise be it winter coats or summer swimwear.
The biggest and most limiting factor is to limit in an unrealistic way - so look at current production demands on television, theatre, editorial and advertising and decide from there.
In my experience few young performers have a problem with whats asked of them, if it's honest, decent and true.
I work very hard to ensure that everyone is happy with any shoot content, and that it has a clear context behind it.