Actor under 18 with strict on-set regulations — mandatory schooling, break times, daily shoot limits are legally mandated. Requires work permits and parental consent.
Working with child actors on set means entering a dense network of labor laws, compulsory schooling, and psychological demands. This is not simple casting like with adults — the state regulates this, and rightly so. Before shooting begins, you need the work permit from the relevant authority, consent from the legal guardians, and a child labor form. The child's employment contract must be concluded with a trusted person (usually a parent), not with the child themselves.
On set itself, strict limits apply: A child under 15 may work a maximum of four hours per day, with no more than two hours at a time. Breaks are required by law in between. A tutor must be present to provide school instruction. This sounds like overhead, but it's the reality. Directors shooting scenes with children must factor these times into their shooting schedule. The pacing is different: you don't arbitrarily tackle your most intense scenes, but rather when the child is fresh — usually in the morning. Catching up on shots in the afternoon is unrealistic.
Psychologically, handling them is crucial. Child actors are not tiny adults who simply follow instructions. They need guidance, clear communication, and often a lighthearted approach. Emotional scenes work better if you play with the child beforehand, working trustfully. Yelling on set is absolutely counterproductive. A good First Assistant Director working with children understands this psychology; they are often the bridge for the child to the camera. In editing later, you notice: authenticity in children cannot be faked. A genuine reaction, even a small one, far surpasses any staged alternative.
Your costume, makeup, and catering departments also need to know that waiting times for children are wasted time — they need activity, movement, not stress. And: the legal overhead — permits, tutor costs, break times — is not a bothersome burden, but the foundation for legal, fair work. Children are not props.