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An Entertainment Work Permit in California is a legal requirement for minors (children under the age of 18) who wish to work in the entertainment industry. This permit is issued by the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) and is designed to protect the rights and welfare of young performers.
To obtain an Entertainment Work Permit, minors, and their parents or guardians must submit an application to the DLSE. The application typically includes information about the minor, such as their name, age, and contact details, as well as details about the entertainment industry work they intend to do. The DLSE may also require documentation such as proof of age and a physician’s certificate of health.
YES
California has extensive rules for the employment of minors in the entertainment industry. The law requires both producers and child talent to hold permits to work and requires the presence of a California Certified Studio Teacher/Welfare Worker AT ALL TIMES for minors age 15 days to 15 years. The teacher, in addition to teaching, has the responsibility to look after the health, safety and welfare of the working minor. 16-17-year-old minors require a teacher for education only.
Emancipated minors are not exempt from California Child Labor Law unless the emancipation document specifically exempts the minor from Title 8 of the California Code of regulations. Graduated minors, however, may work any hours as an adult CA LC 1391.2.
Click here to view California Child Labor Law A-Z
Click here to view the full text of California Law
YES
Minors employed in entertainment are required to have a current/valid Entertainment Work Permit before work may be granted. School-age minors must demonstrate that they have “satisfactory” grade and attendance records before a permit will be issued.
Effective as of 1/1/2021: All submissions for minors aged 14-17 years old made online, by main, or in person must include Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) Certificate of Completion in Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (SHPT), and Certification of Compliance from the minor’s parent or legal guardian which is provided free of charge via the DFEH website. The training must be conducted in the language understood by the minor and their parent or legal guardian “whenever reasonably possible.” The parent or legal guardian must then certify to the Labor Commissioner that the training have been completed in order to be in compliance with the law.
Entertainment Industry Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Requirements (.pdf)
Click here to take the DFEH course
All minors working in the entertainment industry in California must register to obtain permits online.
- 6 Month Online Permit
- 10-Day Temporary Online Permit
*temporary permits are available to children under 16 years of age, on a one time only basis for a $50.00 fee through the DLSE.
Effective September 23, 2019, a new online system was implemented. You must create a new online account. Any existing username and password will not work.
Use the following forms ONLY IF WALKING or MAILING into DLSE – these forms cannot be used in conjunction with CA’s online system.
- CA Entertainment Work Permit Application Form
- CA Work Permit Procedure & Instructions
- Permit Renewal instructions
Additional documentation for Home Schooled Minors
YES
A Permit to Employ Minors in the entertainment industry is required in California. In order to obtain a permit the California Division of Labor Standards requires a completed application form and a copy of your workers compensation insurance policy. There is no fee. Permits must be obtained prior to employing children in your production.
Application for Permission to Employ Minors
Blanket Permits are available to employers who require large groups of minors such as a baseball team or a marching band. The Department of Labor requires additional processing time for blanket permits and all signatures must be original. No emails, copies or faxes allowed.
YES
Parents are required to open a “Coogan Trust Account” a.k.a. blocked trust account within 7 business days of the start of employment and provide employers with a trustee’s statement evidencing proof of the account within 10 business days after the start of employment.
Producers (employers) are required to deposit 15% of gross earnings directly into the minor’s “Coogan trust account” within 15 days of receiving a copy of the Coogan trust document.
To learn more about California Coogan Accounts, click here.
To read the code of the CA Coogan Law, click here.
YES
Employers must provide a California Certified Studio Teacher/Welfare Worker for the education of all minors up to 18 years. When employing any child under 16, studio teachers are required on all work days including weekends and holidays. Minors age 16 and 17 only require a studio teacher during school days. Studio teachers shall care and attend to the welfare of all minors 16 years of age and under.
The ratio of minors per studio teacher: 10:1 on school days; 20:1 on non-school days.
How can I tell if a teacher holds a current California Studio Teaching Certificate?
Ask the teacher to provide a copy of their “Studio Teaching Certificate” (small green card) or click on the following link to search the database of licensed California Studio Teachers.
To find out if a teacher holds a license for Studio Teaching in the State of California, click here.
YES
The state of California requires that all Talent Agencies be licensed and bonded.
Click here to search the California Talent Agent License Database
All talent agencies operating in California must provide their artists with education on sexual harassment prevention, retaliation, reporting resources, nutrition and eating disorder information. The law went into effect January 2019 however, due to the unavailability of third-party vendors and applicable materials, the Labor Commissioner will not be enforcing these new provisions until June 30, 2019.
- Applicants for entertainment work permits for minors between the ages of 14 and 17 (parents/legal guardians as well as the age-eligible minor) will be required to provide satisfactory proof of sexual harassment prevention training before obtaining a minor’s entertainment work permit.
- Applicants for 10-day temporary entertainment work permits are exempt from the training requirement.
Click here or a copy of the new law and minimum required training materials.
YES
In 2015, California enacted the Child Performer Services Permit Law requiring anyone (talent managers included) who provides services to an artist under the age of 18 in California to undergo a criminal background check.
The application fee is $198 and the permit must be renewed every two years. If you are an industry pro interested in obtaining this permit, click here to apply.
If you are a parent/guardian trying to ascertain if an industry pro holds this permit, click here to search for a Child Performer Services Permit holder.
In order to get accurate results, you must have the exact name of the permit holder.
YES
In California, CA Graduated Minors are exempt from child labor law, but must still adhere to Coogan Laws.
Los Angeles Office:
California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
Los Angeles
320 W. Fourth Street, Suite 450
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone (213) 620-6330
Fax (213) 576-6227
Do you know the child actor labor laws for your state? If you’re looking to pursue a career in entertainment for your child or if you are an entertainment industry professional looking to employ a child in your production, it is important that you know the child actor labor laws in both your home state and any state in which you intend to work.
If you are a production company seeking to employ a child actor, you can research the child actor labor laws for all 50 states right here on ChildrenInFilm.com. Find out whether or not you need a work permit or if a Studio Teacher is required by law. You can also find out how many hours each child can work per day.
Learning the child actor labor laws in your state is one of the first steps towards becoming a successful child actor parent. You’ll want to learn about entertainment work permits and obtain one if necessary, find out if a trust account is required in your state, or if your talent agency is required to hold a license. ChildrenInFilm.com can answer all of these questions.
- Children In Film makes it a priority to be on top of changes in state law, however laws vary from place to place and evolve over time. Even if a statement made about the law is accurate, it may only be accurate in certain jurisdictions and not all jurisdictions; as well, the law may have changed, been modified or overturned subsequently since the entry was made on the website. We strongly encourage you to follow the links provided for each individual state, study the law and then contact the state for further information.
- The legal and financial information provided on ChildrenInFilm.com is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a licensed professional.
- We encourage you to read our terms of use for more information about the legal information provided by ChildrenInFilm.com
Producers (employers) are required to deposit 15% of gross earnings directly into the minor’s “Coogan trust account” within 15 days of receiving a copy of the Coogan trust document.
To learn more about California Coogan Accounts, click here.
Here are some key functions of a talent agent:
Finding Opportunities: Talent agents actively seek out job opportunities for their clients. This could involve scouting for auditions, casting calls, gigs, endorsements, or other opportunities relevant to their clients’ skills and interests.
Negotiating Contracts: Talent agents negotiate contracts on behalf of their clients with employers, production companies, advertising agencies, or other entities. They aim to secure favorable terms regarding compensation, working conditions, rights, and other important aspects of the job.
Career Guidance: Talent agents provide guidance and advice to their clients regarding career decisions, such as selecting roles or projects that align with their goals and interests. They may also offer advice on training, branding, or marketing strategies to help advance their clients’ careers.
Networking: Talent agents often have extensive networks within the entertainment industry, including casting directors, producers, directors, and other industry professionals. They leverage these connections to create opportunities for their clients and promote their talents.
Legal and Administrative Support: Talent agents handle administrative tasks related to their clients’ careers, such as scheduling appointments, managing contracts and paperwork, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations and labor laws.
- Read the Script: Try to understand the context of the scene.
- Learn Your Lines: Get familiar with the lines. It’s ok to “feed” your child the lines one at a time and edit them together in one clip.
- Understand the Requirements: Follow any specific instructions provided by the casting director, such as framing. Pay special attention to how they want it filmed. Often they request it to be horizontal in landscape mode. They typically request the length of the tape and any particular actions or expressions needed.
- Choose a Quiet Location: Find a space with minimal background noise and distractions.
- Neutral Background: Use a plain solid color background to keep the focus on you.
- Good Lighting: Ensure your face is well-lit. Use soft, natural light if possible.
- Camera Setup: Use a tripod to keep the camera steady. Position the camera at eye level and frame yourself from the chest up, unless instructed otherwise.
- Slate: At the beginning of your tape, introduce yourself with a slate. State your name, the role you’re auditioning for, and any other requested information.
- Performance: Deliver your lines with clear diction, appropriate emotion, and natural movements. Stay true to the character while keeping your actions within the frame.
- Eye Line: Look slightly off-camera to the left or right when interacting with other characters, not directly into the camera.
- Multiple Takes: Record several takes to ensure you have options to choose from. Review them to pick the best one.
- Sound: Ensure clear audio by using a good quality microphone, or at the minimum in a quiet room. Avoid recording in echo-prone areas and minimize background noise.
- Video Quality: Record in high definition (1080p or higher) to ensure a clear picture.
- File Format: Save the video in a commonly accepted format like .mp4 or .mov.
- Label Your File: Follow any specific labeling instructions provided. Typically, use a format like “YourName_Role.mp4”.
- Check Requirements: Double-check that your tape meets all the specified requirements before submitting.
- Upload: Submit your tape through the designated casting platform or email, as instructed by the casting director.
- Practice: Rehearse your lines and blocking several times before recording to build confidence.
- Watch Examples: Look at examples with your child of good self-tapes online to understand what works well.
- Stay Calm and Professional: Maintain a positive attitude and professional demeanor throughout the process.
WELCOME TO KIDS! MANAGEMENT
If you want to get your child on set quickly we network with background casting companies that often get our clients on set while they are learning the industry. This is a fun and easy way to begin, and typically you are cast based on your photos and no auditions are required.
This is one of our favorite companies, Kids Management!
Click here if you would like to learn more about them. There is no fee to work with them, they are paid commission on jobs booked through through their company. Our clients have enjoyed working with them