Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Is your child booked for a commercial? Are you curious about permits, work hours, and safety rules? Join SAG-AFTRA staff Stephanie Perry and Tracy Hyman as they break down the key protections and requirements for minors working in commercials. From age restrictions to on-set supervision, get essential knowledge every parent needs before the cameras roll.
What You'll Learn:
Work hour limits by age group
Required permits and documentation
On-set safety and supervision rules
Education requirements for child actors
Stephanie Perry is SAG-AFTRA’s staff liaison to the National Young Performer Committees and supports the National Child Protection Task Force in addition to being the National Director of Background & New York Entertainment Contracts.
Tracy Hyman is SAG-AFTRA’s Executive Director, Commercials, Corporate/Educational & Non-Broadcast Contracts,
Need More Info? Commercial contracts: sagaftra.org/commercials Young performer resources: sagaftra.org/youngperformers
0:00 – Introduction: What Parents Should Know Before a Commercial Shoot
0:06 – Meet Stephanie Perry & Tracy Hyman
0:12 – Why Kids Working in Commercials Need Extra Protections
0:23 – Age Definitions: Who Counts as a Minor in Commercial Contracts
0:31 – Updated Rules in 2025: Safety, Education & Security
0:45 – Work Hours for Minors: Maximums by Age
0:56 – Start & End Time Limits (School Nights vs. Non-School Nights)
1:10 – Why These Restrictions Protect Children on Set
1:23 – Required Documents Before Kids Can Work
1:32 – School Forms, Health Forms & Trust Accounts (Coogan Accounts)
1:49 – Work Permit Requirements Across Different States
2:03 – Wage Rules: Kids Must Be Paid the Same as Adults
2:17 – Residuals, Scale Pay & Equal Treatment Under the Contract
2:30 – On-Set Safety: Supervision Rules for Minors
2:39 – Parent/Guardian Must Be Within Sight & Sound at All Times
2:47 – Teacher/Social Worker Requirements & Background Checks
2:58 – Additional Adults Working With Minors May Need Clearance
3:11 – Education Requirements for Kids Working 3+ Days
3:23 – Three Hours of Schooling Per Day & How It Must Be Delivered
3:33 – How Parents Should Prepare Before the Workday
3:41 – What to Check: Teachers, Credentials, Assignments & Permits
3:54 – Red Flags Parents Should Watch For
4:00 – How to Confirm if a Job Is a Real SAG-AFTRA Commercial Contract
4:13 – Clarifying Work Hours, Safety Rules & Expectations
4:25 – Where to Find Checklists & Parent Resources
4:32 – Visit sagaftra.org/commercials & sagaftra.org/youngperformers
4:48 – Subscribe for More Take 5 Episodes
Any information provided in this video is provided for informational purposes and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of legal and/or financial counsel. You should not act or refrain from acting based solely on information provided in this video. SAG-AFTRA, its affiliates and contributors, shall not be responsible for any errors, omissions or damages arising from anyone’s use of the information described and/or contained herein.
#SAGAFTRAUnion #YoungPerformers #Commercials #ChildActors #ParentingActors #FilmIndustry #UnionProtections
Subscribe: bit.ly/subSAGAFTRA | Make sure to enable ALL push notifications!
Watch our NEWEST videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaCFx0MPpBfI2p358aDL6g6N&playnext=1&index=2
Follow SAG-AFTRA:
Website: sagaftra.org/home
Facebook: facebook.com/sagaftra
Instagram: instagram.com/sagaftra
Twitter: twitter.com/sagaftra
Watch more SAG-AFTRA:
Actor to Actor Interviews: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaCH2A9ciqhchJRvXgFbhT0R&playnext=1
Events: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaCY7OnjbhQXFMZespg2gUYd&playnext=1
Industry Panel Discussions: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaDDRF2OQQJWAYmB47v0j_06&playnext=1
Latest Videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaCFx0MPpBfI2p358aDL6g6N&playnext=1
Popular Videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaDXBxaZ40JAOrS4hyf97nUy&playnext=1
About SAG-AFTRA:
Welcome to the official SAG-AFTRA YouTube channel. On this channel, you’ll find a variety of informational, entertaining, and educational content, including interviews, industry panel discussions, celebrity events, actor to actor interviews, SAG Awards red carpet footage, award show bts, and more. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. With national offices in Los Angeles and New York, and local offices nationwide, SAG-AFTRA members work together to secure the strongest protections for media artists into the 21st century and beyond.
#SAGAFTRA
Is your child booked for a commercial? Are you curious about permits, work hours, and safety rules? Join SAG-AFTRA staff Stephanie Perry and Tracy Hyman as they break down the key protections and requirements for minors working in commercials. From age restrictions to on-set supervision, get essential knowledge every parent needs before the cameras roll.
What You'll Learn:
Work hour limits by age group
Required permits and documentation
On-set safety and supervision rules
Education requirements for child actors
Stephanie Perry is SAG-AFTRA’s staff liaison to the National Young Performer Committees and supports the National Child Protection Task Force in addition to being the National Director of Background & New York Entertainment Contracts.
Tracy Hyman is SAG-AFTRA’s Executive Director, Commercials, Corporate/Educational & Non-Broadcast Contracts,
Need More Info? Commercial contracts: sagaftra.org/commercials Young performer resources: sagaftra.org/youngperformers
0:00 – Introduction: What Parents Should Know Before a Commercial Shoot
0:06 – Meet Stephanie Perry & Tracy Hyman
0:12 – Why Kids Working in Commercials Need Extra Protections
0:23 – Age Definitions: Who Counts as a Minor in Commercial Contracts
0:31 – Updated Rules in 2025: Safety, Education & Security
0:45 – Work Hours for Minors: Maximums by Age
0:56 – Start & End Time Limits (School Nights vs. Non-School Nights)
1:10 – Why These Restrictions Protect Children on Set
1:23 – Required Documents Before Kids Can Work
1:32 – School Forms, Health Forms & Trust Accounts (Coogan Accounts)
1:49 – Work Permit Requirements Across Different States
2:03 – Wage Rules: Kids Must Be Paid the Same as Adults
2:17 – Residuals, Scale Pay & Equal Treatment Under the Contract
2:30 – On-Set Safety: Supervision Rules for Minors
2:39 – Parent/Guardian Must Be Within Sight & Sound at All Times
2:47 – Teacher/Social Worker Requirements & Background Checks
2:58 – Additional Adults Working With Minors May Need Clearance
3:11 – Education Requirements for Kids Working 3+ Days
3:23 – Three Hours of Schooling Per Day & How It Must Be Delivered
3:33 – How Parents Should Prepare Before the Workday
3:41 – What to Check: Teachers, Credentials, Assignments & Permits
3:54 – Red Flags Parents Should Watch For
4:00 – How to Confirm if a Job Is a Real SAG-AFTRA Commercial Contract
4:13 – Clarifying Work Hours, Safety Rules & Expectations
4:25 – Where to Find Checklists & Parent Resources
4:32 – Visit sagaftra.org/commercials & sagaftra.org/youngperformers
4:48 – Subscribe for More Take 5 Episodes
Any information provided in this video is provided for informational purposes and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of legal and/or financial counsel. You should not act or refrain from acting based solely on information provided in this video. SAG-AFTRA, its affiliates and contributors, shall not be responsible for any errors, omissions or damages arising from anyone’s use of the information described and/or contained herein.
#SAGAFTRAUnion #YoungPerformers #Commercials #ChildActors #ParentingActors #FilmIndustry #UnionProtections
Subscribe: bit.ly/subSAGAFTRA | Make sure to enable ALL push notifications!
Watch our NEWEST videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaCFx0MPpBfI2p358aDL6g6N&playnext=1&index=2
Follow SAG-AFTRA:
Website: sagaftra.org/home
Facebook: facebook.com/sagaftra
Instagram: instagram.com/sagaftra
Twitter: twitter.com/sagaftra
Watch more SAG-AFTRA:
Actor to Actor Interviews: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaCH2A9ciqhchJRvXgFbhT0R&playnext=1
Events: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaCY7OnjbhQXFMZespg2gUYd&playnext=1
Industry Panel Discussions: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaDDRF2OQQJWAYmB47v0j_06&playnext=1
Latest Videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaCFx0MPpBfI2p358aDL6g6N&playnext=1
Popular Videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vEfc49ZyaDXBxaZ40JAOrS4hyf97nUy&playnext=1
About SAG-AFTRA:
Welcome to the official SAG-AFTRA YouTube channel. On this channel, you’ll find a variety of informational, entertaining, and educational content, including interviews, industry panel discussions, celebrity events, actor to actor interviews, SAG Awards red carpet footage, award show bts, and more. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. With national offices in Los Angeles and New York, and local offices nationwide, SAG-AFTRA members work together to secure the strongest protections for media artists into the 21st century and beyond.
#SAGAFTRA
