“Behind the Bright Lights: The Hidden Struggles of Child Stars That Could Change Everything You Think About Fame”
But it’s not just training the actors how to act in front of the camera. They train them how to keep their innocent and youthful appearance 24/7, just to make sure they don’t receive bad press.
Autograph Training Is Mandatory
When people see child actors, most of the time, they see the characters they portray on-screen. They have an image in their mind of how this young person acts, walks, and even talks. And the actors are told to feed into the fans’ fantasy, even when it comes down to how they sign their name for autographs.
One former child actor who was asked to change her signature was Miley Cyrus. According to thegamer.com, the singer was asked to switch up her autograph to make it more “Hannah Montana fan-friendly.”
Young Actors Have No Say In The Matters Of Show Biz
Even if a child actor is in a leading role, that doesn’t mean the adults want to have their input. In fact, they don’t. Most young actors are still in the “seen and not heard” stage of their lives, even if they are walking down red carpets.
During an interview with Vulture, Dylan Sprouse from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody spoke of how he and his brother were ignored. He said, “We had a really awesome idea for where the show needed to go. We were 18. If that isn’t old enough to know exactly what the show needs, then… well, I would beg to disagree.”
The Show Must Go On No Matter What
As it so happens, the phrase “the show must go on” isn’t just a phrase; it’s actually a real thing in show business. No matter what is happening in an actor’s personal life, filming isn’t going to be halted. When Drew Barrymore was working on E.T., she had to come to set and film while she had a high fever.
In another instance, Mara Wilson had to continue filming Matilda even though she was only ten years old and her mother had just passed away. But, hey, the show must go on.
Dating Co-Stars Is Part Of The Game
It seems that love is in the air whenever it comes to young actors working together. What or a lot of people don’t know is that these child stars aren’t necessarily looking for love. Some of them are asked to “date” in order to promote their show or film, while others aren’t allowed to date outside their network.
Disney, for example, makes it a point for their young actors to date within the Mouse family. So, who really knows if Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens or Selena Gomez and Nick Jonas were even into each other.
Coffee Drinking Starts Young
Long hours, sleepless nights, and memorizing lines are all part of being an actor. But being a child actor, the tireless grind catches up pretty quickly, and they need a way to stay awake during filming. Unfortunately, a lot of them turn to vices to stay awake.
According to Miley Cyrus, she started drinking coffee at a very young age, probably too young, just to make sure she was awake and alert during her time on the set of Hannah Montana.
Some Actors Don’t Own Their Names
Copyright is an age-old issue. Unfortunately, child actors can be a bit naïve when it comes to the business side of Hollywood and, a lot of the time, they’re walked all over. Miley Cyrus, for example, didn’t even own the right to her own name,
During an interview with Pop Buzz, Cyrus said, “My name was Miley on my show, but I didn’t own my name – we didn’t think about that… My mom started understanding how many people take advantage of a child, so she hired smart people to protect me in that way… and put me in a position where I can now control my music.”
They Have To Be The Essence Of Innocence And Youth
In movies and television shows, child actors typically play characters that epitomize youth and innocence. The idea is to bring the viewer back into their own childhood or show them what life can be like. To keep this image alive for viewers, the young actors must follow strict rules dealing and morality clauses.
This means no getting photographed by the paparazzi doing questionable things at night, not getting caught saying bad things on social media, and keeping an idealistic image of a “forever 12-year-old,” even if they’re pushing 20.
You’re With The Mouse Or You’re Not
While adult actors are able to work on multiple projects at once, as long as their schedule allows it, child actors don’t have the same privilege. Many networks, namely Walt Disney, ask their talent to focus on nothing more than the projects they’re assigned to with the network.
Even if a career-changing film or television series comes along, child actors are told to decline the offer. Adriana Caselotti, the voice of the original Snow White, wasn’t allowed to feature her voice anywhere after making a deal with the devil (sorry, the Mouse).
