Entertainment: Child Stars & Our International Hunt For Young Talent

1) Child-star tendencies in the U.S., the UK, Japan, Brazil, China and other countries of interest — history, recent changes, etc.

There is a great tendency in the US to encourage child stars because they make money for the studios — and for their families. Families movies have never been more popular, and this means child actors are necessary to keep those family movies cranking out — not just on the big screen but on the small screen and the very, very small screen. There are more technology advances that create more places to enjoy entertainment in movie format — like the big screen, the home television, the personal telephone and home delivery systems like Netflix or movies that stream directly to home computers.

With all of these outlets there is a need for product — and because family films are big sellers, that means more child actors.

When is it morally accepted to have kids: a) performing for money, and b) performing for a mainly adult audience, and not just other kids?

Morals are tricky business. American families have lost their way, for the most part, morally. The breakdown of the American family and the American leadership structure has meant a chaotic workforce where children are employed because single mothers can’t provide for children on their own — and have been left without an adequate means of collecting child support or even having it ordered by a court that is easily manipulated by lawyers.

In addition, there is a celebrity morality now because there is so little leadership by our public servants. This breakdown of morality allows for children to be thrust into the workforce when a more moral society would keep them “as children” for as long as possible — or at least until they are 18.
2) Is there a difference in the public acceptance of beauty contests for children compared to music/dancing contests for kids?

There has always been more of an acceptance of music competition and ballet competition among children than of beauty contests that have a tendency to sexualize children early in order to gain attention of judges in these contests. However, classical music and dance are no longer the only outlets for children who want to learn the arts. Many parents are no longer interested in the basics of education or the arts. They want to shortcut their children from child to MTV star where they think the big money is. This desire by parents has spawned a world of sexualized dance and music for kids, overstepping traditional classical training as the first step in any music or dance career.

3) What are the laws regulating child labor in the entertainment business in your country? Where are they the most strict/non-existent in the world?

* You’d have to consult an attorney for the most up to date information on this subject.