When parents are applying their kids to casting calls online through KidsCasting, aspiring child performers and their parents begin their introduction long before making it to the auditioning stage. Follow the steps listed below to create a well-constructed profile on our platform to significantly increase the child’s chances amongst the vast pool of other aspiring actors and models.
- Provide all the required information accurately. Correctly filled personal information fields are the first steps to a successful profile.
- Invest in quality photography. The better the footage, the more likely the child is to get attention from the casting directors.
- Keep updating the KidCasting profile regularly. As the aspiring kid performer grows up, the information should renew with it.
Step #1: Personal Information
The first thing, even before signing their young talent up with KidsCasting, that the child actors' or models' parents will be required to do is provide their own basic personal information. That does include the respective parents’ names, surname, the location where the aspiring performer's family is based, and email address. Ensure that all the provided information is accurate and up to date. The new user will also be required to create a password of at least eight characters, as well as accept the privacy policy and terms of use.
Once that is done, parents will have to fill out the required information about their child to create their child’s performer profile. This means filling out the form about the kid’s name, surname, age, date of birth, gender, ethnicity, and more. Please note that in this case, the aspiring kid actor or model can be only a person who is younger than the age of 18. Yet again, fill in all the required information accurately.
Step #2: Visual Footage
The next step in creating kid models or actors' profiles is to upload their headshots. While the profile can be completed and created by skipping this step, if done so, parents should make sure to add the profile photo of their kid as soon as possible, as it is highly unlikely casting directors will pay attention to candidates who do not have any visual identification, even at first glance.
The visual footage of the kid is very important as it serves as the first representation of the aspiring model or actor. While the photos can be taken by parents themselves, it is highly advisable to hire a professional photographer for the task. Headshots created by experts of the profession benefit from various technical aspects that the average person may not be in full tune with. For example, the lighting during the photo shoot process should avoid overexposure and significant shadowing for the final result. Another thing a professional photographer will focus on is creating the image’s composition in a way that fully focuses on the subject, excluding anything that might distract the attention away from the kid actor or model. Even the quality of the docs for the photos matters - casting directors will be looking for details such as facial features, so using any type of filters or artificial digital adjustments for these photos is not advisable. Also important to note that professional photographers will create these images in a way that seems authentic and genuine instead of forced, which may not be the case if parents themselves take these specific photos of their child.
The key photos included in any KidsCasting profile are the profile headshot, a side view photo, and a full body shot. The background almost always should be plain and simple, as the whole focus of the image should fully be on the person.
A headshot should show the person from the shoulders up, focusing on the face of the kid actor or model, highlighting their expressions and individual facial features. The primary profile headshot should avoid artificial retouching, instead showcasing the individual's natural aesthetic. In this case, the kid should look as they do in their everyday life - natural and relaxed. Similarly, the side view shots showcase the person’s unique facial and body features from a different angle.
Since visual requirements in acting and modeling go beyond just the facial features, body shots done in full length are where casting directors get insight about the kid's physique and how it fits their project’s plans. While these photos also should aim to look natural, there is also a need to have variety in poses and moods, including happier and more serious moods.
Videos of the kid performer, better known as demo reels, can also make a KidsCasting profile stand out amongst the competition. Those are typically video compilations that are at least 30 seconds long, showcasing the highlights from kids' professional credits. In the case of the lack of those, a demo reel can still be added to the portfolio - parents can film their kid actor practising monologues or rehearsing scenes, or practising catwalking or posing in the case of kid models.
While initially it won’t be relevant, going forward with a kid's modeling or acting career, the photos should be updated not only with up-to-date looks of the constantly growing child but also with a more strategic approach if the young performer looks to carve a more niche market for themselves, including aesthetics aimed at specific brands and genre projects.
Step #3: Skills And Experience
Casting directors will also want to know a bit more about what makes the respective kid tick personally and professionally. Their skills do not have to be only directly acting or modeling related - anything relevant, from musical or athletic talents to simply being bilingual, can end up being important.
Experience in this case means listing all the acting or modeling credits the kid has had. This includes even the most minor appearances related to the field, as there has to be a start for everyone. If there is none just yet, no worries - the majority of aspiring kid performers are still looking for their first credit, so just focus on the other information in the portfolio and KidsCasting profile.
Regular updates are absolutely essential to casting success, so as soon as there is anything new and relevant to add or outdated info to remove, parents should make the respective updates to their kids' profiles.
