by Bonnie Wallace | CHSPE, General, Mandatory Paperwork
I received a letter from Bank of America recently—they have stopped opening new Coogan Accounts, and wanted me to update my website’s Resources Page to remove them from the list of financial institutions that offer this service. While I appreciate B of A’s reaching...
by Bonnie Wallace | CHSPE, General
California has the most protective rules in place of any state for minors in the entertainment industry, but we still have a long way to go. One of the foundational safeguards for the protection of minors working on a union set is the strict number of hours that kids...
by Bonnie Wallace | CHSPE, General, Mandatory Paperwork, Parenting
When you walk onto a set for the first time, assuming your child is not an extra (I can’t speak to this experience since we didn’t have it) you will be greeted by the set PA, or Production Assistant. They will show you to your kid’s dressing room or trailer. You will...
by Bonnie Wallace | CHSPE, General, Mandatory Paperwork
There is so much confusion over these two, even on sets, and they are entirely distinct. Industry people who really should know better use the terms interchangeably, generally saying, “emancipated” when they mean “legal 18.” Here are the basic differences spelled out....
by Bonnie Wallace | CHSPE, Education, General
CHSPE Pros and Cons The CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Exam, commonly pronounced “chispie”) certificate is the equivalent of a high school diploma. Having one makes your child a “legal 18,” which can be magic words in this industry. Basically, it means that...
by Bonnie Wallace | CHSPE, Education, General
There are probably about as many ways to manage the question of school as there are families trying to manage it. Parents whose kids are professional actors generally have to be a bit more flexible than those who are simply having a more normal childhood. Luckily...
