Where to even start here? From the moment you step onto a set until long after you leave, your behavior, and your child’s behavior, affects every person on that set. Sets are like little worlds of their own, and they have a delicate ecosystem.
If you are fortunate, you will primarily be on sets that are run by good-natured and strong leaders. If you are unfortunate, you can find yourself on a set run by someone who is impatient and immature. Worst of all might be the sets where it appears that no one is in charge. These sets can be dangerous, because in the vacuum of leadership, things get unpredictable. The people at the top generally determine the tone of a set: the director and the star. Executive Producers come right behind them. From there, most people will follow the lead for attitude and behavior.
We have been largely very fortunate in our set experiences. But whatever the tone of a set you step onto, you can make a difference for everyone by what YOU do. Stay positive in every interaction. Everyone on a set is working very hard and frequently under some amount of pressure. There may be a hierarchy on set (and there is) but every single person there performs a critical part of the whole. No one is “unimportant.” And no one should be treated as though they are. You are also providing a direct example to your child for professional behavior. Be unfailingly gracious to every person you encounter and they will pick that up. Make sure your child arrives before their call time, and arrives prepared.
As in all relationships, first impressions count for a lot, and you don’t always know what you are walking into. Relationships on sets can go back years and have many layers. Assume that you know absolutely nothing about everyone you meet, and do your best to suspend expectations of all kinds. Remember that everyone is there to work, not to become friends. Genuine, lifelong friendships are born on sets every day; just don’t assume that THIS experience will bring that. Then you can be pleasantly surprised when it does, and avoid disappointment when it doesn’t. This is also a good thing to remind your child.
If your child has a decent-sized role in either a film or TV show, odds are they will be invited to the “table read” before filming begins. This is where the actors literally sit around a large table and read the script out loud. This gives the writers, director, and producers a feel for how the script is sounding while there is still time to make changes. It also gives the actors a chance to get a sense of the dynamics of that script, which is helpful because it will invariably be shot out of sequence.
As always, aim to be fifteen minutes early—parking can be confusing on lots and gates can be backed up while the guards check everyone’s ID. Some lots are HUGE and resemble small towns. Getting to the lot is one thing, but getting to the room where they are holding the table read may be something else!
A note about dress: People tend to dress casually on sets. Everyone is working hard, conditions can be less than pristine, and temperatures can vary wildly. During rehearsal days on the Liv and Maddie set the air conditioning can make it so cold that many of us wear Uggs and down jackets—even when it may be 95 degrees outside! Shooting days typically begin frigid because the AC has been on, but since it must turned off during shooting, and the lights are so warm, the temperature rises steadily during the day until it can be incredibly hot in the afternoon and evening. Dressing casually for comfort is the standard. Bring layers!
The structure of the shoot will vary according to the project, but there are two common distinctions that are helpful to understand: single-cam vs. multi-cam. Single camera shoots are generally used for dramas and film. These are also projects that use more locations and fewer sets. Because they shoot all over the place, it makes more sense to rehearse as you go—in other words, rehearse a scene for the first time, then shoot it immediately, then move on to the next one.
In comparison, multi-camera shoots are typically used for sitcoms, or shows that are largely if not entirely shot on a single sound stage. Because the show is filmed in a controlled, contained space, it’s easier to set up multiple cameras that can catch the action from several angles, which saves a lot of time. It also means that the entire show can be rehearsed before a single moment of filming is done. Typically a multi-cam show will rehearse for three days (starting with a table read the morning of the first day) and shoot for two. However, your child may not be there for the entire run of rehearsals and filming: they will only be called to set when they are needed.
Similarly, if your child is in a film, they will only be called to set for the portion of the film they are shooting. This may mean that they are on set for a matter of days of a two-month film. One surprise to a number of first-time kids and parents: you may well not even meet many of the other actors in the film if their scenes are not with your child! Strange but true.
NEXT: Set Etiquette and the Set Experience: Part 2
Where to even start here? From the moment you step onto a set until long after you leave, your behavior, and your child’s behavior, affects every person on that set. Sets are like little worlds of their own, and they have a delicate ecosystem. If you are fortunate, you will primarily be on sets that are run by good-natured and strong leaders. If you are unfortunate, you can find yourself on a set run by someone who is impatient and immature. Worst of all might be the sets where it appears that no one is in charge. These sets can be dangerous, because in the vacuum of leadership, things get unpredictable. The people at the top generally determine the tone of a set: the director and the star. Executive Producers come right behind them. From there, most people will follow the lead for attitude and behavior.