After one week on a film set in California with my 11-year-old, my short answer is yes. In fact, the past week is the safest I’ve felt since May, when I first began interacting—cautiously—with anyone beyond immediate family. That is because here, on location north of San Francisco, I know:

-Every cast and crew member is being tested for COVID-19 every three days. There is no shopping errand or backyard gathering or kid playdate that offers that level of reassurance.

-Everyone’s temperature is checked as we pull into base camp (literally before we park our car—and we each have our own car—no group vans). Temperatures are checked again as we leave base camp at the end of the day.

Safety signage in our trailer

(Read about Hollywood’s stringent safety reopening guidelines in Deadline)

-Everyone is wearing a mask at all times (except actors after makeup application), even though we are primarily outside and way more than six feet from each other. This rule is followed religiously and respectfully because cast and crew members are experts at functioning as one, like a finely greased machine. Movies/TV shows would not get made otherwise. Politics have no place here. Everyone wants to work and keep working. In this time, it is a privilege to do so. It is a privilege to stand on set in a mask.

-A COVID-19 compliance officer is overseeing safety protocol. If we could have one of those at gatherings with extended family, I’d attend. But we don’t, so give me a movie set any day of a pandemic. He enforces social distancing whenever a clump of people starts to form (which is rarely).

-The hairdresser and makeup artist—those who have to get closest to the talent—are in masks, shields, and plastic body suits. Each actor has her own set of cosmetics and makeup brushes. And remember, these people tested negative three days ago and today and will be tested again a few days from now.

-Anyone who doesn’t have to get close to each other (which means pretty much everyone except the makeup artist, hairdresser, and actors) does not. Again, people are working and no one wants to mess with that. Chairs (which are sanitized, along with tables) at lunch are spaced six feet apart. It doesn’t feel distant emotionally. We are eating our individually packaged lunches and boy do I miss the buffets of yesteryear, but life is good! The cameras are rolling again! Creativity is in the air  (the fresh outdoor air) and, in its shadow, that other C word seems smaller.

2 Surprises of Shooting During COVID

1. It’s still FUN! If you have kids in the biz, that’s the biggest worry. If it’s not fun, you don’t want to be dragging your child away from their captivating virtual schooling (ha) to a set that feels sterile and glum. Even with the significantly pared down crafty offerings and air elbow bump greetings, Natalia is giddy each day she works—the farm animals on set make it extra fun—and bummed when she has a day off (the hotel pool is closed). She is making memories she will cherish and befriending people who are teaching her about collaboration, patience, passion, and storytelling. “I love having a new mom (uh, should I be insulted?), sister, and home, and creating this whole other life,” she gushed after the second day on set. Imagination! It’s hard to fire up in these days of Netflix and Youtube bingeing, so major points to the child actor life.

Cute castmates

2. It doesn’t feel reckless. On the contrary, productions up and running, in a safe atmosphere, are more than just an economic positive to society; they’re a safeguard ensuring fast contact tracing. There is this whole pocket of people who are being tested so frequently that should a breakout happen in their family or social group, it likely will be caught and contained quickly rather than festering and spreading unchecked through who knows how many asymptomatic or symptomatic transmitters.

COVID-19 Concerns for Productions – The Long Answer

Northern Californian ranch country

-We are on location in Northern California, and most people traveled in (by car) from L.A., so they are going home to a hotel room each night, not to their families or roommates. This probably mitigates potential viral spread (unless hotel protocol is sloppy). So it may be a bit of a different story for productions getting up and running in L.A., where cast and crew members have a life off set. It will be up to them to be extremely vigilant at home if the set is to feel as safe as this one does. But again, the frequent testing is a reassuring safeguard and is likely to make people feel safer than they do if not working and not receiving those constant “negative” results.

-Everyone on this production—some 60 people—all tested negative from day 1. With many coming from L.A., where the positive result rate has hit 9% of the population, that was a minor miracle. And a huge coup, considering how inconvenient and costly delays would be. If a positive test comes back mid-production, meaning people on set may have been exposed, that would cause even more of an upheaval—and perhaps scare some people out of returning to work so soon.

-We have been shooting in the summertime, not cold and flu season. Once fevers and symptoms that may look like COVID are swirling around, delays are likely to be more frequent. For each high temp or sore throat, Covid will need to be ruled out as the cause. Unless more rapid testing is readily available, these disruptions may be lengthy and costly. (Test results here are taking two to three days.)

-The majority of the scenes on this shoot have been outdoors, which we know is safer. We also have been eating outside. The soundstage environment will be a different animal but still infinitely more manageable than antiquated schools expected to be filled with thousands of students this fall. I know my kid is safer on set and with a studio teacher than in a crammed classroom and congregating with reckless peers. Everyone has to weigh the pros and cons for themselves, especially anyone who is older and/or has a pre-existing condition.

Post your comments, send your stories and opinions of working—or not—during COVID, and hang in there!

Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search or Talent Search

Model Search Update

Drum roll, please . . . I’ve had so many great submissions in the last few months that I’m going to start posting winners in various categories! Look for FOUR posts this month showcasing a different beauty or cutie. I still have more models in my inbox that the world should see, so expect multiple winners next month also. If you’ve submitted in the last few months, YOU STILL COULD BE A WINNER NEXT MONTH OR THE MONTH AFTER!

Child Model – Boy – Winner

Congrats, AJ Vaval!

I had quite a few super dashing young gents in my inbox this month, but this adorable toddler wins for the first spot in October. (Expect to see a few more boys posted in November!)

• Amari James “AJ” Vaval
• Brooklyn, New York
• Clothing 18-24 months, 2T
• Shoe 6, 7
• Height ~35″
• Weight ~30 lbs
• Seeking Representation

AJ Vaval, October Model of the Month 2018, Child Model – Boy Category

Child model AJ Vaval

Irresistible AJ Vaval

AJ Vaval, going places!

Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search!

Big-blue-eyed baby model Zoey Varela

Model Search Winner Zoey Varela

Height: 27 inches

Clothing Size: 6 to 9 months

Closest City: New York City

Seeking Representation

I have a lot of stunning submissions in my inbox and some are still in the running for Model of the Month this fall, but who can resist this face? Look for her crawling down a catwalk near you soon  :)

It’s so exciting to watch past winners’ careers take off! Read about them here: Model Winners: Mother Agencies, Talent Agents, Contracts in Asia

Enter the 2018 Modeling Mentor Model Search and get discovered!

Congrats, Chloe!

Child Model Chloe Guy-Martino for JCPenney

Age: 27 months   Height: 33″   Size: 18 – 24 months
Based in Jersey City, NJ (NYC)
Represented by Elen’s Kids and Funny Faces

When this little cutie hit my inbox, I just couldn’t resist! I’m sure a bunch of modeling clients won’t be able to resist either. Chloe is already a JCPenney kid!

Chloe Modeling for JCPenney

Chloe’s Winning Model Smile

Your submissions are still eligible for future months. There are more beauties and dashing gents in my inbox, so stay tuned!

Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search 

Agent – Model or Agent – Mom Relations Rule Book

No one gives you a guide book on how to act with your agent, so faux-pas are common—and can kill your career if you aren’t careful! Here are a few tips on What Not to Do when communicating with your agent.

Emailing Your Agent

1. DO NOT write unnecessarily lengthy e-mails. Your agent—if he or she is any good—is very busy. Keep e-mails as brief as possible. A few sentences at the most. No chitchat. Your agent is not your buddy. If you want to do any longwinded venting or bragging, text a friend.

Calling Your Agent

2. DO NOT call your agent all the time. Again, they are crazy busy! Most communication can happen via email (brief ones!). If you have an important issue that you must discuss via phone, ok, but this shouldn’t happen often. (I talk to my kids’ talent manager once a month at most and their modeling agent hardly ever—even bookings are conveyed and confirmed via email.) If your agent happens to prefer speaking by phone, that’s fine, but let them take the lead as far as the frequency and duration of those calls.

Booking Out

3. DO NOT forget to book out. If your agency is submitting you on jobs because they think you are available, it’s a hassle for everyone and poor reflection on them when it turns out you are not. After you book a vacation or schedule an appointment you cannot miss, email your agency with your book-out dates. (But if you book out all the time, that also will irk your agent!)

Lauren Hutton’s famous gap-toothed smile

Career Guidance

4. DO NOT skip consulting with your agent when making important career decisions. Without monopolizing their time (I know, it’s a fine balance), keep your agent in the loop and respect their advice. Certainly there is a place for standing your ground (Lauren Hutton kept telling Eileen Ford she would fix the gap in her front teeth but never did; it became her signature feature), but don’t recklessly undermine your relationship with your agent.

Brooke Shields (age 14 in this photo) was managed by her infamously over-earnest mom, Teri Shields

Model Parents

5. DO NOT be over-eager. This one is especially directed at parents. Be supportive; do not be over-earnest or pushy. Unfortunately we stagemoms are up against Gypsy stereotypes. One whiff of Mama Rose behavior and agents are likely to drop Junior rather than deal with you. So many parents sabotage their kid’s career, often unknowingly, with their own misconduct. You don’t want to be that mom. The fact is that you have to lean toward passive to overcompensate for the pre-conceived notions people have about stagemoms. In my experience, few live up to those notions, but the ones with successful kids are definitely on the ball, informed, and at-the-ready when their kids have to be at a casting or booking. (Teri Shields, Brooke’s mom, was generally all of these things, despite a severe drinking problem, but she also was pushy enough that she insisted on managing her kid’s career herself. Most agents wouldn’t tolerate such an opinionated and emotionally erratic mom. Read more about that “model-mom” relationship in Brooke’s book: There Was a Little Girl: The Real Story of my Mother and Me. I found it fascinating and well-written by the Princeton grad and ultra successful model-turned-actress.)

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If you are looking for representation for your cutie patootie in the Big Apple, here are a few questions to ask yourself first:

1. Do you live near New York City? If you are in Iowa, it’s going to be a long trip to get to castings! Most child models repped in the city live in the tristate area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut). NY Models, for example, takes submissions from kids who live within 2 hours of the Big Apple.

2. Do you know what is involved with child modeling? Get educated by reading these posts (scroll back for more): Child Models.

3. Are you realistic? Manage your expectations before you even start your agency search. Modeling is super competitive. Success requires a combination of luck, good genes, the right personality, tenacity, and geographic compatibility (the closer you are to NYC or another large market, like L.A., the better your odds. BUT don’t relocate just to up your kid’s odds. Chances are their income won’t pay the cable bill, let alone rent).

So with those minor considerations behind us, here’s a list of the creme de la creme of kids’ modeling agencies (click on the links to their sites for submission details):

New York Model Management’s Kids Division

My allegiance to NY Models dates back two decades to my own career, so I have to list them first! Actually, that history aside, the fantastic experience I’ve had with the kids bookers there would nudge NY Models into #1. They are professional, organized, and understanding (this last trait is a wee bit rare in bookers, by the way).

James Miller, NY Models (trivia: my son did a movie and music video with James. He is an awesome kid and had a great kid modeling career. He’s now a budding teen actor.)

Generation

I have some history here as well. Generation was a loyal advertiser when I ran Tear Sheet magazine. They are still a top agency for young faces. They also have a TV division. (Most modeling agencies have a relationship with talent agencies, and actor-model crossover is common.)

Wilhelmina Kids & Teens

A division of Wilhelmina, Wilhelmina Kids & Teens reps models and actors, from babies to older teens. Wilhelmina is one of the original “Big 4″ modeling agencies in NYC, alongside Ford, Elite, and Zoli.

Funny Face

Funny Face has been in the biz for 40 years, so they know their stuff. They rep babies, kids, teens, and adults for modeling and commercial print work.

Super happy (or unhappy) with your child’s agency? Comment and give us the scoop! Don’t forget to enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search to gain exposure to agents! Winners of my model search are now represented by top agencies in NYC, LA, Atlanta, Paris, London, and in all major markets in Asia!

So what’s it really like, working as a mini model? I’ve written a lot of posts on the subject through the years, using my kids as guinea pigs. You can read those posts here: Child Modeling (scroll back for more posts within that section).  This particular post will focus on working with our new favorite client: The Children’s Place.

Back-to-School Shoot, The Children’s Place

Model Fun On and Off Set

This team really knows how to turn work into play. For this shoot they had a skateboard park built on the set! A game room at Dune Studios is the kids’ hangout and they run from studio to studio, playing in packs, like kids on a playground. Child models tend to be outgoing, so they all bond quickly and Natalia and her friend Naya were begging for a playdate after shooting together their first day (never mind the 3-year age difference)! The catering for breakfast and lunch offers a smorgasbord of food items, plus too many desserts (of course the kids never touch that stuff—ha!).

Natalia Mann, Childrens Place 2017

How Long Is a Kid’s Modeling Shoot?

The models are usually booked for at least 4 hours and days can run as long as 8 hours. They will go in for a fitting, usually about an hour long, before their actual shoot day(s). That way the stylist can ensure the outfits fit perfectly and pin and tuck here and there as needed. At the shoot, the models go to hair and makeup first—the girls usually love that part! Each kid shoots an outfit every few hours, so it’s a pretty leisurely pace. (I remember catalog shoots where I had 16 outfits in one day—now that’s work!). There is plenty of time for playing, and hopefully some school work!

Zack Halabi and Natalia Mann for The Children’s Place

Model Guardians

A parent or chaperone needs to be present for each model, but all we do is sit around and chat, eat, scold our kids for eating too many sweets, coerce them into doing homework, write (me), and help them get in and out of outfits—the young kids, anyway—especially if a neckline has been pinned tightly. It’s a role I much prefer to criss-crossing my suburban town 5x a day, driving kids to soccer fields and dance studios!

Here is an awesome peek behind the scenes (look for the super cute non-kid model in this video!): CHILDRENS PLACE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOOT

Enter your cutie in the Modeling Mentor Model Search!

Child Model Pierce Kang

Pierce Kang, shot by Bonnie Nichoalds

Age: 6     Height: 48″    Weight: 52 lbs
Size: 6-7
Location: Houston, TX
Represented by Page Parkes
Photos by Bonnie Nichoalds

I seem to have an inbox full of cute boys lately! I love Pierce’s energy and ease in these photos. 

Versatile Model Photos

Pierce Kang, shot by Bonnie Nichoalds

Pierce Kang, shot by Bonnie Nichoalds

Pierce Kang, shot by Bonnie Nichoalds

Model Website

Check out Pierce’s very professional website: Piercesworld.com. This kid has got it together. I’ll totally vote for him for President!

Pierce is represented by Page Parkes. Page is one of the long-time matriarchs of the modeling industry and repped many of my friends through the years. We all adore and respect her. She’s a force and a beauty! Read more about Page Parkes here.

Remember, your submissions are still eligible for next month. I have a few favorites picked out already!

Don’t forget to “like” the page of your favorite Model of the Month

Getting Your Child Star Training, Coaching and Representation

Here’s a fun guide I contributed to Westport magazine. It’s great for residents of Fairfield County but also will steer you to my favorite coaches in NYC, so check it out no matter where you live…

LINKS TO ABOVE PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, STUDIOS, COACHES, MANAGERS

Westport

Ballet Etudes

Cynthia Gibb’s  Triple Threat Academy for Performing Artists

Cynthia Gibb – Voice Lessons

DWKing Talent Management

Jill Jaysen‘s Center Stage Theatre Company

Staples Players

Westport Dance Center

NYC

A Class Act NY

Badiene Magaziner (voice)

Kurt Froman (ballet)

New York Model Management

Thommie Retter (tap) & Retter Entertainment

Trapper Felides (acting/singing coach)

Suave Model of the Month Bryson Ligonde!

Height: 41″   Weight: 38 lbs    Age: 4   Size – 4/5T   Shoe – 11.5    

Based in New York

Represented by Munchkin Stars Management

Photo by Carrie D’Landazuri, MSM

I mean, can you stand it? How cute is this munchkin? Not surprisingly, he has representation already. Read about Munchkins Stars Management— I was intrigued when I read this company was developed from several generations of bigtime experience managing talent. 

Remember, your submissions are still eligible for next month so stay tuned! I already have another model in my inbox that I know will land on this page in the future. 

Don’t forget to “like” the page of your favorite Model of the Month