Working child actors are required to have a certain number of hours of set school each day with a studio or “set” teacher as per legal requirements. But what exactly does a set teacher do and how can you prepare your child actor for attending school on set?
Debbie Ginger is a longtime studio teacher on the set of “The Bold and The Beautiful.” I spoke with her about what a set teacher does, how you can get your child ready for on set school, and what you should know if you want to become a studio teacher.
What is a set teacher and what do they do?
A studio teacher or set teacher is a teacher hired by the production company to serve as a child advocate for all minors and to provide schooling to all school-aged minors. All minors are eligible to work in the entertainment industry including infants over one month. The state of California requires all minors working in the entertainment industry have a work permit and those in 1st through 12th grade must be provided with three hours of school during their workday. The hours of work allowed varies depending on the age of the minor. It’s the job of the studio teacher to make sure all minors are working the right number of hours including scheduling school hours, meal breaks, and free time. While the minor is on set, the studio teacher makes sure the work environment is safe and comfortable.
How long have you been a set teacher?
I have been working as a studio teacher since 2002 and prior to that, I worked as a teacher in the public school system.
What do you do with the kids during school time?
The three hours of school time is different each day depending on each student’s needs. Some students attend regular school while others might be homeschooled. The students are required to bring enough school work to last the entire three hours, but if that’s not possible we play educational games or we read. I help each student with whatever work they have for the day or we work on long term projects or papers.
READ: How to Manage Your Child Actor
If I’m a parent of a working actor, what do I bring to set for you?
Parents play a big role in our day as well. Each minor must be accompanied by a parent, so I work with the parents to make sure everything gets done. Parents do not attend school with their minors, but it is important that they make sure enough school work is provided. It really is a team effort and I have had the opportunity to work with some great parents. In addition to school, minor actors need to go to rehearsal, wardrobe, and hair and makeup before they actually work. The studio teacher makes sure the minor actors get to all the places they need to be as well as making sure they get to their dressing room, have meal breaks, and have time for rest and recreation.
What are some of the challenges of being a set teacher?
The biggest challenge is fitting in everything in the allotted amount of time. A minor who is eight years old can only work for a maximum of eight hours; three hours of school, one hour for a meal and rest, four hours on set. If it is a heavy taping or filming day, it can be difficult to get everything finished. It is important to work with directors and producers to make sure all the work gets done and all the rules are followed.
Another challenge is when a minor or the parents don’t take school seriously. A minor’s education is so important and occasionally the excitement of working gets in the way of them wanting to do school work. Three hours of school can be challenging if the minor doesn’t bring school work or they don’t want to do the work they brought. Luckily that doesn’t happen often.
What do you like about being a set teacher?
I really enjoy being a studio teacher because it enables me to work with young people in a unique setting while pursuing my passion for education. I love watching my students succeed in the school room and then I get to see their talents as they work on set! I work with some kids only a few times while others work with me for several years. I get to work with infants, elementary school-aged kids, and high school students. They all bring something special to my day and have given me so many great memories.
If someone was interested in becoming a set teacher, what advice would you give them about this career path?
Being a studio teacher is a fun and fulfilling career. In order to be a studio teacher, you must have both an elementary and a secondary teaching credential. It’s possible you will be working with minors of all grade levels so you need to be comfortable teaching all levels and multiple subjects. You must also obtain a license in child labor laws from the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) and pass a test. I taught in the public school system for several years, which was a very valuable experience. Although there are several requirements, it can be a very rewarding career!
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