StarBaby LA

Father of Tween TV

Interesting story Rich Ross had a Mouse ear for 'tween' talent - Los Angeles Times.   

What Makes A Great Actor

Casting director Susan Figgis (she cast Daniel Radcliffe - hello Harry Potter) shares what she's looking for in child actors in this article.

Former Child Stars Revealed

Here's an interesting blog dedicated to former child stars. For those kids that don't end up as daily consumption in tabloid magazines a la Lindsay and Britney or transition into stars such as Natalie Portman or Shia LaBeouf, life does goes on.

Starlet

Here's a fun blog that captures another mom and daughter making the rounds in LA. Check it out. It kind of reminds me of my early days with LaLa Land.

Exhale! No Jail for CA Home Schooling Parents

Whew! The madness has limitations it seems! Time reported that Jack O'Connell, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, released a statement saying that the California Department ofEducation will not go after parents who do not have teaching credentials: "I have reviewed this case, and I want to assure parents that chose to home school that California Department of Education policy will not change in any way as aresult of this ruling," O'Connell said in his statement. "Parents still have the right to home school in our state."

More Rice Krispies Treats!

Kortney and I did a commercial for Rice Krispies Treats and its back in regular rotation! If you haven't seen it, you can check it out here.

Summer Camps for Future Mini Moguls and Pint Size Superstars

Even though it's only March, it's not too early to start planning your child's summer vacay - spaces fill up pretty quick at all of the good camps. If your child is an American Idol fan, sending them to this camp should buy you goodwill up until...they want something else.

Looks like American Idol is stepping up the game for performing arts camps. The creators behind the instant pop culture icon have also created a summer camp for kids ages 10-15. It was formerly in MA and will be moving to...where else? The West Coast in summer 2008. Comes with a hefty price tag at $2,995 per 14-day session. Click here for more info.

Whether or your child pursues a career in acting or modeling or not, you want them to be able to handle their money. Camp Millionaire provide kids ages 10-12 with the financial tools they need to choose and create financial freedom. Um, where was this camp when I was a kid?? Locations are limited to only four states.

What Type of Portfolio Should I Have For My Two Year Old?

Since Kortney has been modeling since she was four months old, some folks (do family members count?) consider me somewhat of an expert on the subject. Every stage of a child's career has a learning curve, so I'm good up 'til about five years old. Anyway, some one asked me the above question the other day. She wants to get her son into modeling and wanted to figure out what type of portfolio she needed. When Kortney was two, I think she booked one job that year. It's not called the terrible two's for nothing. Short of gluing her butt to the floor, you could not get her to sit still to take a picture. The best you could get from her was a shot of the back of her head as she toddled off somewhere. That being said, typically babies and small children DO NOT need a portfolio when starting out. Clear digital photos work best taken by you. I interviewed a number of folks for my book, Baby Modeling & Beyond and while the ages varied on when agents felt pictures were needed, the general consensus was that kids five and under did not need a professional portfolio to get started. After they book jobs, you use their tear sheets (the actual pages of the ad or editorial job they appeared in) in their portfolio. At a young age, kids change so much in appearance, you're just wasting money by paying for a portfolio, it'll be outdated in a matter of months. Just invest in a good digital camera. Read my post about Creating Winning Photos for your budding baby model to get tips.

Baby Modeling In The News

GMA did a segment on baby modeling that was just ok. No to toot my own horn, but - toot, toot - it's such a broad topic that it's hard to distill it into a two minute spot. On the other hand, it's not rocket science either which is why my book, Baby Modeling & Beyond, is only 87 pages. The ABC piece is worth the watch though. Also, CBS did a story on baby modeling as well. There's certainly a lot more interest in baby modeling now than six years ago when Kortney first got started.

Children in Film Updated Website

Children in Film is a great website for parents of aspiring and working child actors. It has plenty of information and is another great resource. They recently updated their website and it looks great! Check it out!