Video: Childhood Lost vs. Millions in Fees: How Child Actors Make Films
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
The increase in the cost of the project, the presence of child psychologists and nannies-educators on the set, the resolution of issues with labor legislation and many other disadvantages accompanying the work of child actors are undoubtedly offset by one huge plus: everyone loves children. The kids on the screen are guaranteed to arouse interest, especially among women, and after all, it is for them that a huge number of TV series are designed. Therefore, the filmmakers agree to all the inconveniences in order for a child's character to appear in the frame.
told reporters Liza Arzamasova, whom viewers know as Galina Sergeevna from "Daddy's Daughters".
- (From an interview with Ulyana Vorozheikina, who played the role of Nadia in the TV series "Tatyana's Day")
It was the money question that immediately arose as soon as young actors appeared in the cinema. Jackie Coogan is considered the very first child star in the world. This is the same kid who starred in the famous 1921 film by Charlie Chaplin. The boy was really very talented. After such a stellar start, he was incredibly in demand, became the first idol and brand of Hollywood, as well as one of the youngest millionaires in the history of California. However, having matured, the actor found that he was not only no longer interested in producers, but was also left penniless.
Under the terms of the legislation of those years, all his money went to his parents. They tried to secure the future of their son and seemed to even invest his money in profitable projects, but over time they lost everything. The lengthy lawsuit was the first in history when a grown up child tried to sue his parents for his "own blood". The result for Coogan was a small amount, which he still managed to demand, and a huge scandal. However, it was this case that became a landmark for the history of cinema, and California legislation was amended. Now "Coogan's Law" protects the rights of child actors. According to him, part of the fees must be transferred to a savings account, which the star can only use when he grows up. As for Jackie Coogan, his only bright adult role was that of Uncle Fester in the popular 1960s television series The Addams Family.
- (From an interview with Ulyana Vorozheikina, who played the role of Nadia in the TV series "Tatyana's Day")
According to the Labor Code in Russia, minor actors can work no more than 4 hours, including a break for lunch and rest. Child actors require not only increased attention from the director, the contract with them also stipulates the smallest details: diet, recreation conditions, provision of teachers (if the shooting takes place during the school year), etc. The contracts usually also contain a clause according to which parents who formally represent their children undertake to "maintain an even, good mood for the child." And shooting babies is actually so difficult that today, instead of babies, expensive animatronic robots are increasingly used. Some puppet firms specialize in the production of such "artificial actors". Another interesting solution is to use a pair of twins for one role - while the workload can be divided between the two actors without interrupting the filming schedule.
Previously, such filming was of a one-time nature, because the film is shot for a year or two, and today work in serials sometimes takes decades. Many young actors grow up on set. Therefore, another issue that always worries people is the "lost childhood" of young stars, although usually the parents of child actors claim that they are quite happy:
- says the mother of Liza Arzamasova.
Probably the most painful question is the future career of children-stars. It seems that their future path has already been determined for life, but in fact, a very small percentage then go to acting universities and become a sought-after professional. Most then choose completely different professions.
- says Boris Grachevsky, the director, through whose hands many young actors have passed.
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