How Your Child Can Become A Professional Model

If you're a parent than you already know that your child is cuter than McCauley Culkin, has more talent in his or her little finger than Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have between them, and could put Kriss or Kross to shame on any dance floor. (Of course, if my children were also in the competition...well...I don't want to brag.) Fortunately, for parents who would actually want to expose their kids to the snakepit commonly known as "film and television work," How Your Child Can Become a Professional Model offers some fairly good guidance. Debra Pappas, who conducts seminars on child modeling; George Papadakis, who specializes in child model photography; and talent agency representative Tina O'Brien share their knowledge in a wide variety of areas. Viewers will learn how the process works: the importance of good photos and composites (and the information one needs to include when submitting a portfolio to an agent), how to avoid unscrupulous agents, the greater emphasis on personality over looks, how to obtain a work permit, union requirements, the various pay scales for print vs. film and television work, and much more. While the production qualities are not the best--the interviews are conducted without lavaliere mikes, there is a noticeable background audio hum, and the interviewer is not always in sharp focus--the information is not readily available on other videos. Child modeling is a big business (and I predict interest may jump even higher with the release of the Michael J. Fox vehicle Life With Mikey on video), and as Debra Pappas points out it's never to early to start out. In fact, her recommendation of a good time to begin is "at birth." Think of it: out pops Junior, he's slapped (doctor) and snapped (photographer), and before Mom's even out of the hospital, Junior is already earning his keep. Heck, that's not such a bad idea. I think I'm going to go have a little pow-wow with my kids now; it's never too early to start preparing for daddy's keep, and my kids....well...I don't want to brag. Recommended. (Available from: GRA Video Productions, 863 Shoreline Rd., Barrington, IL 60010-3816; (708) 382-9318.)