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16 year old - Out of licensing - any time limits on set?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 10:40 am
by waitingandwaiting
Hi all,

Advice please - ds just booked something - hurrah! Out of licensing but still just 16 - are there any regulations as to how long he can be on set? He no longer needs a chaperone so I assume he is fine to go on his own for reh/shoot. There will be a child on set as well so at least I know there will be someone to keep an eye on him.

Any advice would be very welcome!!!!

Thank you!!

Re: 16 year old - Out of licensing - any time limits on set?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 1:22 pm
by islandofsodor
When is the job? If he's in year 11 he isn't out of licence until 24th June.

The only possible restrictions I imagine he would be subject to after that date is general working time regulations. Under 18s can't work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week.

Re: 16 year old - Out of licensing - any time limits on set?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 2:03 pm
by waitingandwaiting
Thank you so much for the response. I had thought I read something about under 18s and working hours so good to have that confirmed. Great to know!

He is Year 12 - just very young for the year but definitely out of licensing.

Thank you again! :D

Re: 16 year old - Out of licensing - any time limits on set?

Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 4:06 pm
by admin
A lot of productions now insist on a chaperone until 18 which is the norm in the US. The disadvantage of not having someone with them is that they don't like to say no to anything so make sure they understand its an 8 hour working day. It might be worth asking to go with on the first day so that you can assess the set up yourself. You wont be paid chaperone rates but a good company wont mind your being present.

Re: 16 year old - Out of licensing - any time limits on set?

Posted: Fri May 27, 2016 1:41 pm
by francescasmum
Our local theatres insist that they are chaperoned until 18.

Re: 16 year old - Out of licensing - any time limits on set?

Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 9:50 am
by paulears
The Councils often have very well meant, but confused rules. They are happy to take on people for real employment at 16, and put them to work with people who might have er, 'issues' with DBS checks, and that is fine and quite normal.

It gets tricky when the content is a problem. Many shows state 18 as a minimum age for being in the audience, but that's an advisory. A 16 year old can work on the show backstage. Strange that so many old laws and the new ones get mangled in our business.

Re: 16 year old - Out of licensing - any time limits on set?

Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 10:36 am
by francescasmum
It is quite ridiculous sometimes. A few years ago my dd was in a play where another cast member was actually a member of staff at the theatre where the show was being performed yet as he was only 17 we had to be escorted to the toilets!

Re: 16 year old - Out of licensing - any time limits on set?

Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 8:51 am
by fartoomuchtodo
So, how does it work that under 18s can't work more than 8 hours a day but kids under licence at say, 14, can work for 9.5? Or are we only counting filming time as 'working' not being on set?

Re: 16 year old - Out of licensing - any time limits on set?

Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 9:30 am
by paulears
I think it's because the acts of parliament that control this stuff are only updated when there is a real need - some are dozens of years old, and a few only recently repealed were getting on for 100! The new rules for the kids are modern and quite sensible, but the ones for non-kids are much older. Eventually they will catch up. Until then the madness continues.