If you have a 15-to17-year-old-child in the industry, this may be your most important read of the year.
Have you noticed that as your child actor creeps closer to 18, the opportunities are fewer and further between? It’s not just you. When given the option, production will choose an actor over the age of 18 to play younger every time. Why? So they don’t have to adhere to Child Labor Laws or hire a tutor to spend three hours every shoot day for schooling. Talent doesn’t need a permit, they can work adult hours, and they don’t need a guardian on set.
All of these reasons add up to saving money and getting more shoot time.
But don’t despair, there’s a way around this: the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE). It’s a high school equivalency test offered three times a year that can allow your minor child to work as an adult in the industry, meaning they’d be eligible for all those coveted “18 to play younger” roles.
Who can take the test? Anyone who is 16 years old, anyone who has completed 10th grade, or anyone who will complete 10th grade by the end of the semester on which the test is given.
READ: 5 Dos and Don’ts for Parents of Child Actors
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