Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Stardom Happens: Nurturing Your Child in the Entertainment Business
    Stardom Happens: Nurturing Your Child in the Entertainment Business
    Stardom Happens: Nurturing Your Child in the Entertainment Business
    Ebook168 pages2 hours

    Stardom Happens: Nurturing Your Child in the Entertainment Business

    By Candy Bennici, Taran Noah Smith and Judy Savage

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    From a former stage mom and her child actor son, “the nuts and bolts of show business told from the heart of actor and family. A wonderful guide” (Diane Hardin, Acting Teacher/Coach, Founder of Young Actor’s Space, LA; Teacher, The Joy of Acting, NYC).

    Stardom Happens is a guide for parents and their children to navigating the intricacies of the entertainment business. It helps parents get their child into the business with information about agents, resumes, auditions, etc. The book also covers the expectations placed on a working child actor and helps families stay positive and avoid problems so that everyone emerges with a good experience.

    “Fun, informative and very insightful . . . a big thumbs up!” —David. Lestrick, President, Kids Inc., Hollywood Kids Talent

    “A great read with lots of keen insight.” —Shawn Shea, Stage manager of the TV show, Home Improvement

    “The simple and honest style of this book is so refreshing. I think it will help many parents who are trying to decide what to do if they have a talented child.” —Judy Savage, Children’s Acting Agent and CEO of The Savage Agency
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateApr 14, 2015
    ISBN9781630471996
    Stardom Happens: Nurturing Your Child in the Entertainment Business

    Related to Stardom Happens

    Related ebooks

    Relationships For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Ilya Cascad

      Jan 22, 2019

      Ilya Cascad
      2 min read

    • Article

      Modern Market

      May 8, 2018

      The product-packed Modern Market section of Dwell just got even better with a fresh look and an innovative crop of new modern designs. In this highly shoppable section, you are guaranteed to discover that one unique item or special gift that makes yo

      6 min read

    • Article

      In The Zone

      Sep 13, 2021

      In The Zone
      3 min read

    • Article

      Beyond ‘Positive Thinking’: How A Philosophy Professor Sustains Hope

      Dec 6, 2022

      Defining what entails a meaningful life has preoccupied philosophers from Plato and Aristotle to Simone de Beauvoir and Iris Murdoch. Surveying centuries of thoughtful chin-tugging about the human condition, Kieran Setiya identifies a broad trend: “a

      4 min read

    • Article

      10 Tips For DIY Success

      May 28, 2020

      DIY is only scary in the way a rubbish horror film is scary: the anticipation can be nailbiting, but the actual event is never that bad. My favourite DIY phrase, oft repeated in our workshops and on our how-to days, is: ‘You’ll never know, if you don

      6 min read

    • Article

      Premonitions

      May 30, 2018

      Premonitions
      8 min read

    • Article

      Spring Antiques Fairs

      Mar 3, 2020

      One of Europe’s biggest antiques and home shows, with stalls both inside and out. Lincolnshire Showground, Lincolnshire LN2 2NA asfairs.com/antiques-home-show/about A renowned treasure-hunting ground, the largest event of its kind in Europe, held

      1 min read

    • Article

      Mixed Doubles

      Sep 23, 2021

      Mixed Doubles
      2 min read

    • Article

      Chinatown Pretty

      Dec 6, 2020

      Chinatown Pretty
      2 min read

    • Article

      Let’s Stop Bashing Millennials

      Jul 1, 2020

      Let’s Stop Bashing Millennials
      1 min read

    • Article

      The South Got Something To Say: A Celebration Of Southern Rap (2000-2004)

      Aug 3, 2020

      Our list of the best songs, albums and mixtapes by Southern rappers is a celebration that recenters the South as a creative center of hip-hop and honors the region for all that it has given to us.

      25 min read

    • Article

      Bungalows Galore

      Dec 21, 2021

      Bungalows Galore
      1 min read

    • Article

      Colour Therapy

      Sep 1, 2021

      Colour Therapy
      2 min read

    • Article

      Frankly Fran

      Jul 6, 2021

      Frankly Fran
      1 min read

    • Article

      WORLD of WONDERS

      Aug 12, 2020

      WORLD of WONDERS
      17 min read

    • Article

      Six Degrees of Separation at Burning Man

      Jul 11, 2019

      Today the alkaline desert is quiet. The roar of techno music and flamethrowers has been replaced with the soft clink of rakes and trash cans. Thousands of people put aside their hangovers to methodically clean the desert. After a dedicated communal c

      12 min read

    • Article

      This Old Game

      Mar 9, 2023

      This Old Game
      3 min read

    • Article

      Missouri

      Dec 21, 2021

      MANY LINEAGES TIE BACK TO MISSOURI. Countless travelers, drawn by prospects out west or the vast tracks of land in the Midwest, navigated through the state or became permanent settlers. Many left behind a trail of documents that give clues about thei

      5 min read

    • Article

      The Art Of Interior Design

      Sep 2, 2021

      The Art Of Interior Design
      3 min read

    • Article

      “T” Time

      Apr 27, 2023

      “T” Time
      1 min read

    • Article

      We Are All Cold Callers Now: Sam Lipsyte’s Savagely Satirical Fiction

      Jan 7, 2019

      He explores with merciless and lacerating precision the demoralized state of the urban man-boy and alterna-dad. Lipsyte Man—a baffled and wounded specimen. The post We Are All Cold Callers Now: Sam Lipsyte’s Savagely Satirical Fiction appeared first

      12 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Stardom Happens

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Stardom Happens - Candy Bennici

      PREFACE

      In the last twenty years many people have asked me, How did a little kid from Marin County end up on the national hit TV show, ‘Home Improvement?’ What in the world did you do? I’m writing this book to answer that question for parents who have a child who wants to act. I have managed three children in the business and all three were successful. My daughter was a child model who went on to become an international model at the age of fifteen, my friend’s son became a TV and film star and my own son, Taran Smith, was Mark on Home Improvement. All three did well, but more important, all three had a positive acting or modeling experience.

      As parents, it’s important to help our children fulfill their dreams. We want to give them everything we can to help them succeed. But the acting world can be both beautiful and harsh. I want to provide the knowledge parents need to guide their children through the experiences of acting and have everyone emerge with a positive sense of self.

      Some people may be aware that my son had some problems with our family after Home Improvement was over. I want to explain that it had nothing to do with his acting experience. When the show ended, he was a normal, happy, fifteen-year-old kid who told us over and over how lucky he was to have a good family and an acting career. He finished high school at fifteen and a half and, with the goal of being a director, worked hard and got into USC film school at the age of sixteen. The problems occurred a year after the show ended when he met the wrong person. That story is a whole different book. Thankfully, it’s all over now, and an older and much wiser Taran is happily reunited with our family again. In fact, Taran has agreed to add his own comments to this book to provide his unique prospective from the eyes of a child actor. His comments will be scattered throughout the book.

      By sharing my experiences with my own children, I feel I can provide some insight to help you create a delightful, nurturing, acting experience for your child. There is so much you can do to make this happen if you are aware of what is ahead. To make it more useful, I divided the information into three parts.

      The first part is called GETTING STARTED and it will give you some general information about the entertainment industry. Some topics in this section include finding ways for your child to get experience, finding an agent, making good photos, getting a work permit and making it through the audition process.

      Part Two is called WORKING ON THE JOB. This will help you with all the knowledge you need after your child gets a job, including negotiating a contract, creating a Coogan Trust Account, learning where to find the appropriate child labor laws, following the school regulations, behaving on the set, getting a SAG card and more.

      Part Three is called STAYING POSITIVE AND AVOIDING PROBLEMS. This section will include numerous accounts of our personal experiences to help your family avoid many of the pitfalls of the business such as dealing with producers, fellow actors, fan mail, public appearances, travel and education, and yes, the ever present sharks. It will illustrate how we managed to keep our son grounded and our family together during good times and bad and how we brought beauty and laughter to the whole experience.

      I hope all of this information will make your family’s acting experience fun and positive for everyone.

      TARAN’S PREFACE

      I am often asked, What was it like growing up in the entertainment industry? A big question, since the answer involves my entire life up to this point, yet I can say without a doubt I have had a wonderful time and would do it over again the same way, mistakes and all. The reason it worked out so well was not the material success or the benefits of fame: it worked because I was lucky enough to have the right parents that both supported and protected me through the entire process. I sometimes joke that I have won the lottery multiple times throughout my life, when I add up all the good fortune that has come to me in different ways. Yet none of the success or amazing experiences are anything compared to the sheer luck of being born to loving, supportive parents who have given me so much from the very beginning.

      As a working actor, I was in a unique position to observe a lot of other kids’ adventures as they interacted within the industry, for better or for worse. And I can tell you that how the parents help, or sometimes push, their children through the process can have drastic consequences on their lives. The realities of show business are magnified and the stakes are high, not all my fellow child actors are still alive today, but a lot of them are living wonderful lives, rich with experience and opportunity and it all comes down to the parents.

      PART ONE

      GETTING STARTED

      This section will give you the information you need to get your child started with an acting career. It covers how to gain experience, how to find an agent and a manager, how to get the best photographs made, how to obtain a work permit and how to survive the grueling audition process.

      Acting is an exciting experience, but it is not for everyone. Before you begin looking for opportunities for your child, you need to figure out if she will be happy pursuing an acting career. First, be sure your child is intellectually capable of handling the world of acting. Can he memorize lines? Is she a quick learner? Can he follow directions, even if the directions seem contrary to his wishes? Most of the successful child actors are exceptionally bright self-learners.

      Watch your child in social situations. Is he comfortable around strangers or does he hang back and avoid contact? Can she entertain herself quietly while waiting for her turn to shine? Does he enjoy being in the spotlight? How does she take criticism or rejection? For some children, even ones who love to act, the audition experience can be devastating.

      I have an adorable grandchild who attracts attention wherever he goes. He has big blue eyes and dimples that look like they go straight through his cheeks. Several agents have requested him and my daughter and I have had to say no every time. He is a sweet, intelligent child, but he is way too sensitive for the harsh realities of the business. He would be in tears within minutes of being on a set. Knowing what we do about the business tells us this is not the right path for him at this time.

      Evaluate your child’s personality and abilities and make a responsible judgement. One of the hardest things to witness in this business is a parent pushing a reluctant child through an audition. I call them the Pot of Gold Parents. Please be sure this is the child’s choice and not yours.

      If you do feel you have an enthusiastic, capable actor on your hands, the first thing to do is look for ways he can express his talent. My son’s agent, Judy Savage, has a great comment when she is asked by parents about their child actors. Bloom where you’re planted, she says. This means, find opportunities where your child can act where you live.

      School plays are the easiest place to begin. Most school programs try to be all inclusive, i.e. a part is available for any child who is interested. Some hold auditions for the larger parts. Encourage your child to start at a level that will insure his success and create a positive experience for him. Don’t push for the leading role if she’s not ready. And always help your child learn that every part is fun. If he didn’t get the part he wanted this time, he can still enjoy making the part he has the very best it can be and try again next time for a bigger part.

      When the school plays aren’t happening, you can check out your community theatre programs. These tend to be a bit more competitive but, in turn, they provide more of a professional experience. Your child will have a chance to learn skills from the advanced actors and bond with people who are serious about acting. Even a small part can bring recognition, and a lead role will certainly put your child in the spotlight for awhile. This can provide you with an opportunity to see if she is mature enough to handle fame. Your child will get a feel of what a career in acting would be like and hopefully he’ll be asking for more.

      If you live in a large metropolitan area with a university close by, you can check if they have a film department. Many students will advertise for actors to participate in their student films. These will be unpaid jobs, but they will provide wonderful experiences for your child. Check bulletin boards at the university and Craig’s list for possibilities.

      One of the best ways you can support your child’s choice to act is to find a good acting class. Most large cities have people who provide acting classes specifically for children. They are often expensive, but many now charge on a sliding scale to help people with lower incomes. Look for a teacher who obviously enjoys children and exudes warmth and encouragement. A positive experience builds self-esteem and is just as important as information. Usually the children will have an opportunity to perform in front of a group, and many classes will film these performances to give the kids the chance to see themselves and improve. Often acting classes will have showcases at the end where your child can perform for agents who are flown in from California, New York and other performing cities.

      Taran took many acting classes from a variety of teachers in San Francisco and Los Angeles. When he first got Home Improvement he was only seven years old and needed guidance. His Los Angeles agent directed us to a wonderful woman named Diane Hardin who had an acting school called The Young Actors Space. This school is still going today. Diane taught him so much about the essence of acting and he met many other working child actors there. It was also a great place for mothers to get together and share information as we waited in a nearby coffee shop.

      Training is crucial to the success of your child. If he wants to have an acting career, he needs to develop his craft. Even successful adult actors continue their training while they are acting. As in most things in life, it takes years of study and practice to become a professional. If you live in a small town with no acting classes, ask around. Maybe there is someone who has acted before who would be willing to coach your child.

      I attended a range of different classes throughout the time I worked on Home Improvement, but one of my favorites was an improv class with a coach named Kevin McDermott. It was arranged in five-week sessions, with one class a week. Throughout the session we would build up a character and interact with each other in various scenes that Kevin would create for us and then give constructive criticism at the

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1