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The Secret to Directing Kids (It’s Not What You Think)

Working with Child Actors — the ultimate guide from the best directors to have elevated their young actors in their performances. Subscribe to StudioBinder Academy ►► https://bit.ly/sb-ad StudioBinder Blog ►► http://bit.ly/sb-bl ───────────────────── Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Directing Kids 00:46 - The Goonies / Stand By Me 01:40 - Slumdog Millionaire / Hamnet 03:01 - Orphan / The School of Rock 04:04 - C’mon C’mon / The Florida Project 05:10 - The Underground Railroad / Stand By Me 06:34 - E.T. / Kes 08:04 - Knowing The Law 08:31 - Capernaum 09:11 - Takeaways ───────────────────── WORKING WITH CHILD ACTORS — A FILMMAKER'S GUIDE The old Hollywood adage is often very true — never work with animals or kids. But the person who said that probably didn't have the lessons and insights from the directors we've included in this video. Directing kids is not like directing adults, but it's not just harder, there are different approaches to take. As filmmakers like Spielberg, Reiner, Loach, Linklater, and Zhao explain, there are clearly successful strategies to take. Something we hear a lot from directors is just how raw and natural kids can be WITHOUT formal acting training. You might think that child actors need more help to become actors, but as Richard Donner and Chloe Zhao explain, their natural abilities (when given space and encouragement) will deliver more authentic and earnest performances. For The Florida Project, Sean Baker takes this a step further by not rehearsing crucial and emotional scenes in order to capture the more raw reactions from his young actress. One of the most common bits of advice for how to direct kids in film is to not treat them like kids. Richard Linklater likes to interact and treat his younger actors just like any other adult actor. For him, this can give the child actor the confidence and sense of belonging without the condescension. But beyond the working relationships, there are other special considerations when directing child actors. There are specific and strict labor laws in place, which can vary from state to state. For example, there are limited hours that a child can work per day and they also often require an on-set teacher for them to continue their education while working. For the complete set of rules, check your state's website for labor laws. In the end, directing child actors does not have to be an automatic nightmare. Give them some room to be kids, treat them with respect, and you'll be surprised at just how capable and professional they can be. #FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking ───────────────────── ♬ SONGS USED: Capharnaüm - Khaled Mouzanar Parents on Mission - John Debney, Danny Elfman, Heitor Pereira Nobody Ever Goes In - Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley Kes Score - John Cameron Searching for E.T. - John Williams Stand By Me Suite - Jack Nitzsche, Ben E King Bessie - Nicholas Britell Celebrate - Lorne Balfe Who’s Taking Care of Jesse - Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, and Feist School of Rock - Craig Wedren Orphan - John Ottman Of Agnes (Hamnet) - Max Richter Dreams On Fire -A R Rahman Fratelli Chase - Dave Grusin School Rebels (Good Boys) - Lyle Workman T2 Theme - Brad Fiedel Music by Artlist ► https://utm.io/umJx Music by Artgrid ► https://utm.io/umJy Music by Soundstripe ► http://bit.ly/2IXwomF Music by MusicBed ► http://bit.ly/2Fnz9Zq ───────────────────── SUBSCRIBE to StudioBinder’s YouTube channel! ►► http://bit.ly/2hksYO0 Looking for production management solution for your film? Try StudioBinder for FREE today: https://studiobinder.com/pricing — Join us on Social Media! — Instagram ►► https://www.instagram.com/studiobinder Facebook ►► https://www.facebook.com/studiobinderapp Twitter ►► https://www.twitter.com/studiobinder #FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking