Working Hours - Actors age 16 - MA

[alexo]

Hello,

I`m currently running auditions for a student short film, looking to hire a 16 year old actor for the the project. I wanted to double check what was the maximum hours allowed per day for a 16 year old minor on set in Massachusetts.

I`ve been searching through .gov sites, but their layout is not the most intuitive when it comes to the entertainment industry.

Thanks

 

[Conner Kent]

This might not be too much help but from what I know it's not per day it's per week(could be wrong). I also know that they need to have breaks for meals like lunch dinner etc... You probably know that but just trying to share my knowledge

 

[jax_rox]

You need to check with the unions etc. as to what their guidelines are.

I'm from Australia, but the way it works here is there actors <~12 can only work for up to 6 hours a day, 12-18 up to 8 hours a day, must have meal breaks every 5 hours, must have at least 12 hours between wrap time and call time the next day, must have written permission from the school to miss school, or a tutor if shooting goes for more than a week.

This is all found in the union and entertainment laws websites, I'm not sure where the US ones are found, but keep digging around

 

[directorik]

There are no differences in the laws for a 16 year old working at
McDonalds or working on your film. jax points out the possible
Guild rules regarding working hours for 16 year olds - you can
follow those if you like, even if you aren't hiring Guild actors. In
many cases on a no pay, non-union, student film you can do
whatever you want - talk to the actors parents and ask them how
they feel. If you want to do the right thing you can follow the
employment rules in Massachusetts.

You say this is a student film. Doesn't your teacher provide
information for you regarding this? It seems this is what school
should offer - information on working hours for minors on movies.

 

[Morris]

Should be able to find here http://www.mass.gov/lwd/labor-standards/dls/. Could use contact info if can't locate.

 

[Aspiring Mogul]

Here you go. You should also talk to child protection services as to whether they will require a social worker to monitor the working conditions.