Bubblegum Casting

- Introduction To

MODELLING COURSE HANDBOOK

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WELCOME TO

THE BUBBLEGUM ACADEMY

As you are probably already aware, this modelling handbook is designed to help you learn all the basic fundamentals of modelling — how to get started, how to break into the talent industry, and most importantly, how to be a success!

To do this, we’re going to introduce you to some industry experts who know exactly what it takes to make it in the world of modelling and child modelling as well as offer you some insider tips gleaned from our decades of experience in the talent industry. And as the longest running kids talent agency in Australia, let’s just say we’ve seen everything this industry can throw your way.

We created this modelling handbook to accompany your video tutorials. Each chapter will run through the information explained in each module from Modelling 101 right through to advice on scams and safety.

Remember that if there’s anything that you don’t understand in this modelling handbook or the course itself, feel free to get in touch and we’ll help in any way we can.

So if you’re ready, let’s take the first steps in your new career as an internationally famous model!
If you’re going to succeed in the world of modelling, then you’ll need to understand the fundamentals of the industry.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT

SOME OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS
THAT ASPIRING MODELS MAY HAVE

WHAT IS A MODEL?

A model is a person that is used in photography or video for campaigns, advertising, promotions of brands, and all types of other things. In a nutshell, a model helps a brand or company to convey a certain image in order to deliver a message or sell a product or service

WHAT IS EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY/MODELLING?

The photos you see in big fashion magazines like Vogue are forms of editorial photography and modelling. In this type of photography, models will use their bodies and facial expressions to tell a story or to sell an idea, concept, or even a dream-like fantasy. .

WHAT IS COMMERCIAL MODELLING?

A model is a person that is used in photography or video for campaigns, advertising, promotions of brands, and all types of other things. In a nutshell, a model helps a brand or company to convey a certain image in order to deliver a message or sell a product or service

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WHAT IS RUNWAY MODELLING?

Runway modelling is fashion modelling and is usually for bigger brands. As you may have guessed, it involves walking down the runway in a particular designer or brand’s clothing. Think of the Victoria’s Secret fashion show and you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about.

Runway modelling is often done in front of a crowd of industry influencers and sometimes even celebrities. This makes it a great chance to be noticed and possibly make a name for yourself. Bear in mind that as this is live modelling and not photography, you’ll need to be very confident in your skills.

WHAT IS TVC?

A TVC is just short for a TV commercial. This type of modelling is slightly different as you’ll need to play a character, play out some actions, and possibly even speak a few lines.

WHAT IS A MODELLING AGENCY?

A modelling agency or child modelling agency is a group of industry professionals who help models on their books find suitable work.

WHAT ARE THE AGENCY'S ROLES?

The agency will assign an agent to a model. It is that person’s responsibility to connect models with clients who have suitable opportunities. While it’s possible to go out and find freelance work without an agent, clients usually contact agencies with the best jobs and opportunities.

The agency will also help with contracts and ensure that any payment is the correct amount for the work done. Remember that an agency is not just about your agent, there’s a whole network of industry professionals working behind the scenes to help you secure that gig.

What does a casting director do?

A casting director is a person who facilitates jobs on behalf of brands, advertising agencies, and production companies. It’s their job to find the right person for the role. For the most part, casting directors will come straight to a modelling agency or agent with a brief and the agency/agent will recommend suitable models for the role.

What does a creative director do?

Creative directors are different to casting directors in that they have a direct influence on the campaign. In fact, it’s often the creative director who will come up with the idea for the campaign and, as such, they may have very specific instructions for the type of model they require.
It’s usually the creative director who briefs the casting director about what they are looking for in a model.

What does a director do?

A director is the person who is ultimately responsible for the filming of a TV commercial or any other type of video production. You’ll rarely see a director on a photography campaign, but you may see a creative director working alongside the photographer.

What does a producer do?

The producer is responsible for pretty much everything! They’ll find a location, book the catering, hire equipment — everything that is needed to make a shoot run smoothly is facilitated by the producer or somebody working on their team.

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What does a booker do?

A booker works for an agent to help them do all the heavy lifting of the job. They’ll work closely with the model to make sure that they have all the right information and that they have everything they need to make it to the job. They’ll schedule a model’s appointments and play an integral role in the everyday work of being a model.

What does a stylist do?

Not much explaining required here! A stylist will work on the set to help create a look that reflects the creative director’s vision.

Does a photographer do more than take pictures?

Yes, they often do. You see, while some photographers are quite happy to let the creative director lead the shoot, others will take a more hands on approach. These photographers will tell the models how they should pose or ask them to try different things. They may also work closely with the stylist to decide what direction they want to take.

What is a portfolio?

A portfolio is one of the most important tools a model can have. It’s a selection of images that showcase the best of your skills in a variety of poses or shots from different angles. Portfolios will also often include images from your previous jobs so a casting director can see what you’re capable of.

What are comp cards?

A comp card or composite card serves as a kind of business card for a model. It can be in physical or digital format and will include some of your most recent/best images and your details such as height, shoe size etc.

What is a go see?

A go-see is a meeting between a new model and a potential client. In simple terms, you go to see the client and they get to see what you look like and may even ask you to try on an outfit and take some test shots.

What is a direct book?

This is when a client books a model without asking them to go through a casting call. This usually happens with models that the client has worked with before or if they have a very specific request in terms of looks and you’re the only model that can fill the role.

What is open casting?

This is when a client wants to see a broad range of models. You’ll go along to the casting and there will be a lot of models waiting to be seen. It can be quite competitive and even a little intimidating for new models. Just remember that many of the other models at an open casting will be just as nervous as you!

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What is a callback?

A callback is what happens when a casting director is interested in you and wants to see more of you. Your agency may tell you about this through email or a text message and while it doesn’t mean you’ve landed the job just yet, it’s a step in the right direction!

What does on hold mean?

If you’ve sailed through the callback (your second audition) and the casting director is impressed, you’ll be put on hold. This means that you’ve been shortlisted for the job.

What does weather hold mean?

If you get the job and the shoot is being held outdoors, the client may give you two dates with one as the desired shoot date and the next as the weather hold date. This simply means that if the weather is bad on the first date, they’ll move the shoot to the second date. This means that you’ll need to keep both days free.

What is an extra?

If you’re interested in doing TV commercials, then you may land a role as an extra. This is a person in the background who is not the main focus of attention in the commercial. If you’re a featured extra, you may get a more prominent role and perhaps even a line.

Of course, you’ll come across a lot more words and terms as you become more familiar with the industry, but these explain everything you need to know to get started in the child modelling industry.

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What are Agencies?

Junior agencies

These deal with models from newborns right up to 17 year-olds.

Adult/grown-up agencies

These focus on anyone aged 18 or over.

What does an agency do?

An agency works as the middleman between a brand, production company, or casting director and the model or talent. The brand comes to the agency because the agency has good, vetted talent while a model signs with an agency because of the opportunities. It’s important to note that while an agency will put you forward for work, you won’t match the requirements for all the opportunities that come in. For example, some clients may require a model of a specific height or ethnicity for a campaign so it won’t suit you.

The client process

Typically, a client will come directly to the agency with a brief that includes all the requirements for the job. This often includes height, age, or any special skills along with the rate of pay and dates for the assignment.

The agency will then match the client with any models on its books that meet the assignment requirements and who fall under the client’s budget range. What we mean by this is that some of the more established models have set a minimum rate that they will work for.

Once the client has chosen potential models that they may want to work with, the agency will inform the models.

In fact, the agency will manage all communications between the client and the models throughout the entire working process. The only real contact the model will have with representatives of the client will be when working on set.

The agency will also help junior models secure a work permit to work on set which is a legal requirement in Australia and in many other countries.

When the job is finished, the agency will handle invoicing and the receipt of payments so you don’t need to worry about that at all

Go see event

This is when a client wants to see a lot of models from one agency in a short space of time. These were hugely popular in the past, but since more and more casting directors and agencies have shifted to remote auditioning, they’re not quite as relevant as they once were.

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How to choose the right agency?

Do your research

Google the agency and see if you can find any reviews left by models or parents of models who have worked there previously. With the child modelling industry, you’re much more likely to find some negative feedback so take care to dig a little deeper. One or two bad reviews doesn’t necessarily mean that an agency is bad. Just make sure that those one or two negative reviews are far outweighed by positive ones.

Check the agency’s social media profiles to see what kind of clients and brands they are currently working with. In some cases you may even find that the clients mention the agency on their own socials if they’re happy with the service.

Decide on your needs

If your goal is to simply do some extra work and perhaps the odd shoot now and then, you may not need to worry too much about signing with a big name agency that has all those stellar clients.

On the other hand, if your goal is to develop your career and make a name for yourself, then a top-level agency is exactly what you’re looking for.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT

Quick tips for choosing an agency

How many years has the agency been in business?

A new agency may not have been in business long enough for you to learn much from their reviews.

Check the company email address

A legit agency will have a proper business email address associated with its website. They will avoid using email addresses from free providers like gmail or hotmail.

Is there a lot of negative chatter online about the agency?

Read forums, check social media groups, and read reviews to see if there’s a common theme for any negative chatter. Like we said, one or two is usually not a problem, but if you start to see a pattern, it’s time to move onto another agency

Are they asking for money too soon?

If the agency is asking for money immediately, that’s a major red flag as it shows that they’re only after your membership fees. Any reputable agency will want to meet with you first before even discussing your fees.

Are they reaching out to you directly?

If an agency is reaching out to a junior model without speaking first with mum or dad, this is totally unacceptable. A reputable agency will never do this and will only speak with a junior model in the presence of a parent or guardian.

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SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT

Quick tips for choosing an agency

You’ll need to make an online application first. And you’ll need to include:

A simple headshot

Preferably in front of a white background with lighting to the side or in front of you, never behind. Keep it natural with your regular hairstyle and colour and no accessories or heavy makeup.

A full body shot

Again, this should be very simple. A plain t-shirt and jeans is fine, no patterns or branded clothes.

The agency will then review your application and if they need any models in your category, they’ll call you in for an interview or arrange an online interview.
If the agency decides that you’re a good fit, they will then offer you a contract

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Expectations

Your job as a model is to be on time, be polite, be professional, be reliable, and show up for any opportunities.

Your agency’s job is to try to facilitate those opportunities for you.

Remember that no agency can guarantee you work. It’s all down to the briefs that they receive from clients, timing, and a little luck. Oh, and let’s not forget the effort that you put into your auditions too.

So if an agency makes a guarantee of work, you should treat that as a warning that this agency may not be on the level.

Your agency will also give you the opportunity to fill in a bio that clients will read when looking at your profile. You’re expected to write this yourself (or your parents can do it) so take the chance to highlight any additional skills that you may have.

A reputable agency will continue to work for you throughout your time with them and put you forward for any relevant opportunities. Just remember that they will contact you as soon as they have any news to share and emailing them every day or even every week won’t make any difference to your chances.

Persistence is Key

Working in the entertainment industry is very difficult as you’ll face quite a lot of rejection and that rejection may even come in the form of an agency deciding not to represent you.

At Bubblegum Casting we turn down thousands of applicants each year as we prefer to work with aspiring models that we believe have the right attitude and that certain something that will see them succeed in the entertainment industry. We also need to turn down some kids because we have too many similar junior models on the books already.

This means that there’s a very strong chance that during your search for an agency, you may be turned down once or twice. The important thing here is to never give up.

And believe it or not, it’s not unusual for agencies to turn down a model only to sign them the following year.

With this in mind, you have to keep plugging away and eventually you’ll find the agency that’s a perfect fit for you.

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WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO?

A portfolio is a selection of your images that showcase the best of your skills in a variety of poses or shots from different angles

WHAT IS IN A PORTFOLIO?

It’s crucial that you only have professionally taken photos in your portfolio. You want to wow the casting director and you just can’t do that with images taken on your smartphone no matter how good you may think they look. That means no selfies and no holiday snapshots.

You’ll also want a few headshots, images from a variety of angles, and at least one full body shot. Sometimes these are referred to as polaroids.

It’s also a good idea to have images showcasing any skills that you might have. So if you’re a ballet dancer, have at least one shot of you stretching or jumping.

It’s also vital that your photos are up to date. This is particularly true if you’re a child model as height and looks can change over the course of just a few months!

Even adults that change their hair colour or change anything else about their appearance should include a recent image too.

Your portfolio can also include some images from any jobs you have done in the past

Why is a portfolio so important?

A portfolio is just like a resume for models. It shows a casting director what you are capable of and an idea of the work that you have done before.
In a nutshell, this is how you make a good first impression in the world of modelling.

How to build a portfolio?

Most agencies will book new models in for a test shoot just to see how they perform in front of a camera. The images taken in this shoot will be the first images in your portfolio and, as you may have guessed, they should be taken by a professional photographer.

What you will want to do in that session is try to include as many poses as you can and possibly an outfit change if at all possible.

And remember, try not to use too much makeup or hair product so you can give the casting director a clear understanding of what the natural you really looks like.

As you start to work, you can add some images from your jobs to build out your portfolio.

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Portals

What is a portal?

Talent or casting portals are online platforms that allow casting directors, creative directors, and photographers to find models based on their details. Your agency may have several portals that they ask you to join and that you must pay a subscription fee for.

This is one of the reasons that agencies will charge you annual fees so they can cover the cost of you subscribing to each portal.

What portals do I need to join?

This depends entirely on your agency. Most will ask you to join the big ones such as Casting Networks, Backstage, Spotlight, or Talent Shoutout. You’ll need to ask your agency which ones you need to join and then fill in your own details.

What details are on the portals?

Details include your size, height, skills, and age. These will need to be updated regularly especially for younger models.

Face to Face / In studio

This is probably the kind of scenario that most people think of when they hear the word audition. It involves you attending a scheduled audition either in a studio or a rented space such as a hotel conference room where you’ll meet the casting director face-to-face.

These auditions will run for about 10-15 minutes, but it’s a good idea to keep your schedule free for at least a couple of hours after your time slot just in case there’s any slight delay or your audition runs over.

In these auditions you may be asked to perform some lines from a script. In most cases you’ll be sent these lines beforehand so you can practice at home. If this happens, make sure that you practice as much as possible!

Child models and actors will need to be accompanied by an adult, but it’s important that only one adult attends. There will be lots of kids and their parents at the audition so casting directors like to keep those in attendance at a minimum.

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Open casting / Open call audition

An open casting or open call audition often happens when a casting director or client wants to see as many models or actors as they can in as short a time as possible. So if you’re asked to attend one of these, you can expect to see a lot of other models and actors there.

At these types of auditions, as with most others, the client wants to see the real you to figure out how you might fit in with their vision. This means that makeup and hair products should be kept to a minimum.

The casting director may ask you a few simple questions such as your favourite colour or movie. It’s important that you keep your answers simple and honest. Remember, they want to see the real you so just be yourself!

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Online audition / self tape

This type of audition is becoming increasingly popular as it helps casting directors reduce the time required to see all the applicants. While some online auditions may be live, the majority involve you recording a self tape and sending it to your agent or the casting director.

The casting director or client can then take a look at your audition at any time and rewatch if they like what they see.

If you’re ever asked to film a self tape you should make sure that you are well prepared beforehand. Choose a quiet setting with plenty of natural light or good lighting. Your background should be clear of any distractions that may draw the attention of the casting director. You should also make sure that everyone knows you’re recording so there are no unexpected interruptions.

Oh, and remember that you can record as many takes as you like, so do a few in different styles and ask someone to help you choose the best one to send in.

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Quick Audition Tips

Know where you're going

If you’re attending an audition make sure that you know where you’re going and how to get there. Do this a day or two beforehand so you can ask your agent if there are any problems.

Know your audition details

You should know who you’re meeting, the address, the client/brief, the role you’re auditioning for, and your time slot. It helps to have all of these things written down just in case.

Do your research

This means finding out anything you can about the client that you’re auditioning for. Their previous ads or productions and their social media activity will give you a good idea of the type of models/actors they generally use.

Dress appropriately

If you’re auditioning for a clothing brand then you can try to mimic the brand’s style. For example, if it’s streetwear you can dress casually. However, it’s important that you dress for your age. Don’t try to dress older as the casting director has specifically asked for someone in your age group.

You should try to wear plain clothes with no large logos or branding and avoid accessories. Also try to avoid white as you’ll often audition in front of a white background.

Take the chance to network

Auditions are a great opportunity to get to know other people that work in the industry so instead of spending your waiting time looking at your phone, try to have a chat with the other models and actors. You never know who you might meet and it’ll also help ease your nerves a little.

Don't change your look

Once you’ve finished your audition it’s extremely important that you don’t change your look. If the casting director chooses you, they’ll want to see the same person that they saw in the audition so don’t get your hair cut or change anything about your general appearance.

Don't share any audition details online

Some clients may not want details of the audition or role shared with the public so try not to post anything too detailed about the audition online. In some cases, you may even be asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement as the client wants to keep everything top secret until the ad or production goes live.

Be patient

Casting takes time. This means that regardless of how well you think your audition went, you need to be patient and wait for word to get back to you and calling your agent won’t speed up the process. If you’re chosen, you’ll be notified immediately and any further details will be sent on as soon as possible.

Generally speaking, casting directors don’t give feedback and they will only contact your agent if you have landed the role or you’ve been put on hold. Being put on hold means that you’re under consideration but that you haven’t got the role just yet.

However, if the date of the job passes and you haven’t heard anything, then it’s likely that you haven’t been successful this time around.

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WORKING SET

PERMITS FOR WORK

In Australia, all children that want to work in the entertainment industry must apply for a permit to do so.

This is to protect the rights of the child and to ensure that only people who have been legally cleared to work with children can do so. Permits vary from market to market so the permit application process in Western Australia may be slightly different to that in Victoria. It’s also important to note that permits cannot be used in any market other than the one where it was issued.

We’re talking about Australia here, but this is likely true in the vast majority of countries around the world so no matter where you are, take care to ensure that your agency is getting the right permits in place.

From a legal standpoint, production companies cannot work with children without the right permits, so they will do all they can to ensure that all the right paperwork is in place. This means that it’s usually not something that you need to worry about as a parent.

As child modelling work usually takes place during office hours, the agency will need to get permission from school and the state government to allow the child to miss some classes.

Once the school agrees that the work won’t have a significant impact on a child’s education and the production company has met any legal requirements, then the permit is usually approved.

BEFORE YOU START WORKING

Once the permits have been approved, it’s time to get to work on set!

At this point the wardrobe department may contact you about clothing sizes and any hair product or makeup allergies you may have. For younger models, they’ll speak with a parent or guardian.

It’s important to note that you must be honest about any allergies you may have as the makeup department has no problem dealing with this kind of thing. It shouldn’t affect your ability to do the job at all.

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BEFORE YOU START WORKING

Once the permits have been approved, it’s time to get to work on set!

At this point the wardrobe department may contact you about clothing sizes and any hair product or makeup allergies you may have. For younger models, they’ll speak with a parent or guardian.

It’s important to note that you must be honest about any allergies you may have as the makeup department has no problem dealing with this kind of thing. It shouldn’t affect your ability to do the job at all.

PERMITS FOR WORK

This is a document that tells you what time you need to be at the shoot and any other important information such as how to check in and what you’re expected to do on the shoot. It will include any things that you need to prepare beforehand or that you might need to bring with you to the shoot such as a certain type of shoes or clothing.

It will also include the name of the person who will meet you when you arrive and who will be responsible for taking care of you throughout the shoot.

Most call sheets are just a single page with the basic details, but some clients have been known to issue call sheets that are 10 or 20 pages long. Sometimes even longer!

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