Filmmaker’s Guide to Working with Children

Meg Rickards has directed four multi-award-winning feature films: Snake, Atlantis, Kaalgat Karel, and Tess. She also directed a mini-series called Land of Thirst, as well as co-directed a feature documentary, 1994: The Bloody Miracle. She has directed work for South Africa’s Sesame Street and written scripts for a UNICEF media campaign. She studied at London Film School as a British Commonwealth scholar, and holds a PhD in Film Studies from the University of Cape Town. Tamryn Speirs has 25 years of experience as an actor, director, teacher, and movement and acting coach. She has written and directed her own short films, including The Innocents and Blood Rose. She is a much-sought-after acting coach for adult and child actors. Tamryn coaches at Act Cape Town, an affiliate of the New York Film Academy, and works in a newly developing role as a young performers' support specialist with the company Safe Sets SA.

• 1. Introduction 2. Casting 3. Pre-production 4. Rehearsals and Preparation for the Role 5. Facilitating Children During Production 6. Directing the Child on Set 7. Infancy (0–2) 8. Early Childhood (3–6) 9. Middle Childhood (6–12) 10. Adolescence (12–17) 11. Preventing Trauma 12. Post to Release 13. A Compendium of Games 14. Moving Forward

“A Filmmaker’s Guide to Working with Children is an indispensable exploration of one of the most mystifying parts of filmmaking — and how to get it right.”Jim Mickle, Director/Showrunner, Sweet Tooth“If you’ve ever felt torn between ‘we need the shot‘ and ‘is this right for young performers?‘, this book resolves it with usable steps. Clear, humane, actionable. A rare book that changes behaviour on set. Buy it, mark it up, and make it policy.”Likarion Wainaina, Director, Supa Modo“A thorough, honest, gentle and practical must-read for anyone who is thinking about having a child actor on set. Not only essential for directors but also useful for all members of the crew. This book might be the spark of a revolution in how we direct kids on screen.”Matthew Kalil, Author, The Three Wells of Screenwriting