This Is What It Takes To Be A Successful Child Actor
A lot of parents ask the same question, “How do I get my child started in the Entertainment Industry?” Maybe they ask this question because they have an adorable toddler or a five-year-old with an impressive vocabulary. It could be that their 13-year-old daughter did a School Production of High School Musical and got rave reviews as Sharpay. Or maybe, their 11-year-old son is obsessed with tween sitcoms and makes funny TikToks. Now all of a sudden there is hope that their kid will become a series regular on a long running television sitcom just like that one kid who they heard only went on two auditions before booking a huge job. Unfortunately, most if not all of these parents and kids are in for a likely expensive and probably heartbreaking rude awakening.
It takes a special kind of kid to succeed as an actor. A strong desire or a sassy attitude is not enough. There are good intentioned people who guide parents to the steps to take in pursuing an acting career but seldom does anyone inform the parents of the strengths needed of kids to really make it.
Being cute is not a prerequisite to an acting career. Nor is it enough. Television and Film is filled with a diverse array of humans in the stories they tell. The stereotypical “cute kid” market is honestly over saturated and is highly competitive. The chubby kids, non-binary kids, ethnically diverse kids, working class freckled kids and crooked teeth kids, who are all cute too I might add, are the ones that are sought after and have significantly less competition.
A young actor needs to be self confident and thick skinned. They have to know they are valuable and worthy beyond how many social media followers they have. It is imperative that they can take criticism and rejection and learn from it. Grow from it. Be able to recognize why somebody booked a role instead of them and not flippantly exclaim that they would’ve been better. Leave that to to Aunt Mildred who knows nothing about the business to say, she doesn’t know any better. And she is probably just being nice because she fears what countless rounds of rejection may do to a sensitive, immature psyche. She is worried and parents should be as well. If a kid gets their feelings hurt easily or is used to getting their way or is delusional of the strength of their current skill level then they are in trouble. They are either not ready or this type of career is not for them.
Actors are intelligent. They read extremely well. Actors research and study a library of various subject matters to understand a script or character. They may not be traditionally book smart either. What they most likely have is an off the charts Emotional Aptitude. They observe and analyze human behavior. They connect and reflect emotions within themselves to reach a place of empathy so they can deliver a representational performance not a presentational performance. They are not afraid of visiting the dark corners of humanity or of their own past while searching for motivation or in understanding difficult, uncomfortable, disturbing and painful topics.
Actor Nhedrick Jabier/Bohemia Group
A successful youth actor does not roll their eyes at suggestions from adults or even their own parents. They understand that life experience is the key to bringing truth to a scene and they respect that they have much to learn. In fact, getting notes and redirects fuels them because they were just given another piece of the puzzle. A gift. The process of creating a character excites them - even when it is required of them several times a week.
Kids that book are genuine. Real. Truly authentic and well intentioned people. They are not all big fake smiles and corny catchphrases. Their slates do not sound like a 1993 cereal commercial. This is a new era, and it does not favor the phony or overly primped and primed. Cheesy is cheesy. Cheesy is not en vogue, okay. Trying too hard is a big turn off and for that matter desperation is a straight up repellent. There is a difference between young actors that are very intrigued or even day dreamy about a role or project to an extreme, obsessive feeling like it is the end of the world if they don’t get it. That sort of pressure to make a good impression and not screw up an audition is a recipe for failure. It freaks people out. A well adjusted child actor knows there is likely a better, more exciting opportunity around the corner. And they get that only one person out of the hundreds of extremely qualified, more experienced and sometimes more talented actors will get the part. And deserve it.
Those performers that rise to the top have the “IT FACTOR”. Many are born with “IT” and a lot may learn to develop the secret ingredient to success. The “IT” if you don’t know is called Charisma. The ability to be extremely likable. The power to build a fan base from a single meeting. A child that has no fear when talking to adults. Someone who is extremely positive. A kid that knows their strengths and uses them confidently. They have infectious energy and can always be interesting and engaging. They have a desire to make friends and know that making friends means having a sincere, reciprocal conversation with a true desire to get to know others. Charismatic people can turn anxiety, embarrassments and vulnerabilities into laughable moments. They are story tellers who recount events with every emotional high and low expressed in a way that makes you hang on to every single word. It takes an ability to overcome shyness so they can be an equal to all they meet. They aren’t afraid of touch and they are secure in the value they offer. Yet they can be humble about their gifts because they are a true lover of their craft and in awe of so many other talented performers. They don’t rush their auditions because they are too busy owning the room. The easy cool factor they seem to have is enviable. They have sparkly eyes and a warm kindness.
A parent needs to be able to honestly discern when their child actor is giving unnatural line readings or not. All actors need to be held to a high standard of believability and truth, especially on-camera. The performances should be grounded and in the moment. They should not be over rehearsed or over the top.
Youth Actors who make it in TV and Film are the ones who do not play it safe. They are constantly taking chances in an effort to stand out. They are not trying to blend in and are not scared to make waves like most of their peers. They make it a point to bring a strong point of view to their scenes and characters. They make specific choices. They know that great dramatic acting needs an actor who can truly listen. An actor that strives to always approach dialogue from a fresh perspective like it is the first time the words have been spoken. An ability to actively think while in character and not be afraid to feel or show the depth of some intense emotions. They know that successful comedy takes a special kind of fearlessness from an actor. It takes total full body physicality, lots of energy and absolute commitment. An awareness that the best laughs come from the weirdest of ideas. And they securely know their unique brand of humor and how to get a laugh.
Actor Ty Correia/Bohemia Group
These are kids who train like a gold medal is at stake. You do not have to bribe them to memorize or plead with them to self tape because they are motivated, passionate and inspired young actors. Sure. Fame would be cool. Having more money would be nice. But what they really care about is the art, the challenge, the opportunity and the growth. Influencing on Instagram or bougie red carpets are secondary to the work. They are well rounded individuals but not over-committed to other interests, sports and activities. They are driven, patient (as they can be) and in it for the marathon that it most likely will be. They have endurance and are the stubborn, strong willed type.
Perhaps most importantly the children that have success and longevity in this industry are the ones that can display grace under pressure. They have the maturity to hold their own as the only kid on a set full of adults. They have the work ethic to see a trying project through to the end. Even if it is hard work, long hours and chock full of adults with unsavory temperaments and entitled egos. There is more stress and expectations put on these kids than most adults will ever have to experience. Few kids can maintain under those kind of circumstances.
The question must be asked of a family to gauge if they have the ability to support and invest in pursuing a career in a multi-billion dollar industry with such high stakes and tall expectations. There really are no shortcuts to Hollywood. Overnight success is an anomaly and the exception to the rule. An actor with mediocre materials will simply not cut it. If they want to be competitive then it is a must to have quality materials and consistent training from experienced instructors.
Actor Vega Ankrum/Bohemia Group
All of these qualities are a necessity for kids and teens to possess in order to accomplish this goal. It is important to take a real critical look at what these young hopefuls are capable of. Parents need to seek feedback from unbiased, knowledgeable evaluators. While it is admirable to support a these ambitions, it is foolish to push children into something and needlessly invest in a career in an industry as difficult as this business is when they are not ready.
If what I described truly is in a child’s make-up, then by all means I encourage parents to forge ahead and be that supportive rock and moral compass for them. If they fall short- that is absolutely okay., too. You know, it may not be a particular kid’s time yet. Or likely, the other natural abilities that lead to a true calling is yet to be revealed for some.
My grandmother (Oh, how I miss this woman) would always tell me, “You can be anything you want to be if you just set your mind to it.”
I strive to pass on her infinite wisdom and encouragement to everyone I am blessed enough to mentor. Because I do wholeheartedly believe that any single courageous person with a great personality, that has a burning passionate desire to act and is instilled with self discipline is certainly in a position to control their destiny and make their dreams come true.
Cherished Grandma Veronica Rapp
