All articles tagged with #child actors
Brady Bunch star Eve Plumb says the key to surviving childhood stardom is the power to say no, aided by parents who safeguarded her money and downtime. She discusses this rule in Happiness Included: Jan Brady and Beyond, detailing her grounding, late-career transitions, and ongoing work in TV, stage, and art.
Jamie Lee Curtis nearly auditioned for the role of Regan in 'The Exorcist' at age 12, but her mother Janet Leigh declined, preferring to protect her childhood; Linda Blair ultimately played the role.
Alison Arngrim and Dean Butler reflect on a 1977 episode of 'Little House on the Prairie' featuring a significant age gap and on-screen kiss between teenage characters, noting that such casting and scenes would not happen today due to modern standards and sensitivities.
Kiernan Shipka, who played Sally Draper on 'Mad Men,' reflects on the cast and crew's efforts to protect her innocence as a child star. Despite their attempts, Shipka admits she understood much of the show's adult content, recalling her experiences on the set from a young age. She recently watched the entire series during the COVID-19 pandemic, gaining new insights into her character's journey.
Elizabeth Gillies discusses her new film "Spread," where she stars and executive produces, and how it challenges preconceptions about the adult industry. She reflects on her career, her experience on "Victorious," and the importance of agency and voice in Hollywood. Gillies also shares insights on her future projects, including potential new music, and the need for better protections for child actors.
The docuseries "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" has come under fire from former child actors Raquel Lee Bolleau and Alexa Nikolas, who claim they were misled about the nature of the documentary and its focus on Dan Schneider's alleged abuse at Nickelodeon. They allege that the producers used their sensitive interviews primarily to re-air salacious material from Schneider's years at Nick, leaving them feeling deceived and abused. The series, which premiered to 20 million viewers, has sparked a public reevaluation of kids' TV, but the survivors feel betrayed and excluded from events related to the documentary. Producers have not addressed the allegations.
Christy Carlson Romano has stated that she won't watch "Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV" due to her belief that such documentaries can be exploitative and unhelpful. She expressed her concerns about the filmmakers being "outsiders" and "trauma tourists" and emphasized the importance of understanding trauma porn. Romano's personal relationships with actors and survivors involved in the docuseries, as well as her perspective on the nature of such documentaries, have led her to opt out of watching the series.
Mayim Bialik discusses the widespread abuse and mistreatment of child actors in the entertainment industry, not limited to Nickelodeon, on her podcast. She addresses the lack of advocacy for children's safety and comfort on sets, and the shocking support for convicted sexual abuser Brian Peck. Despite some positive outcomes from the docuseries "Quiet on Set," former child star Christy Carlson Romano criticizes the producers and directors as "trauma tourists."
Raquel Lee Bolleau, a former child star featured in the docuseries Quiet on Set, expressed disappointment with her experience and the industry as a whole, claiming she was not properly informed about the nature of the documentary and its impact on her. Other participants, including Marc Summers, have also voiced concerns. The docuseries outlines allegations of abuse, sexism, racism, and inappropriate behavior involving underage stars and crewmembers on Nickelodeon TV show sets. The success of the series has sparked a larger conversation about the treatment of child actors in Hollywood, prompting calls for change and support from industry figures and organizations.
Raquel Lee Bolleau, a former co-star on "The Amanda Show," claimed that Amanda Bynes spat in her face several times during filming without being prompted, causing her to feel infuriated. Bolleau alleged that the director told her not to make a big deal out of it and to keep her cool. This revelation comes amid other negative experiences shared by former child actors from Nickelodeon, including allegations of a toxic work environment and sexual abuse. Amanda Bynes did not participate in the docuseries discussing these issues.
Former Nickelodeon star Raquel Lee Bolleau, featured in the docuseries "Quiet on Set," expressed frustration with the series and the entertainment industry, stating she is "done" with it after feeling excluded from a panel discussion and being shown in unaired footage without her involvement. She recounted an alleged incident on set of "The Amanda Show" and criticized the producers for not informing her of the documentary's premise. Another former Nickelodeon host, Marc Summers, also claimed he was misled about the docuseries' premise, saying he was ambushed during the interview.
Drake Bell reflects on the impact of sharing his story in "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV," expressing his struggle with bearing his soul to the world and hoping for industry changes. The documentary investigates the treatment of child actors on Nickelodeon shows and sheds light on alleged toxic work environments. Bell alleges he was sexually abused by a dialogue coach and hopes that sharing his story will help him heal and raise awareness about the issue.
Former child stars Drake Bell, Giovonnie Samuels, and Bryan Hearne defended the parents of child actors, emphasizing the need for on-set caretakers to support young performers emotionally. They also discussed the Looking Ahead program and the challenges faced by inexperienced parents navigating the entertainment industry. The panel event followed a screening of Quiet on Set, a docuseries that shed light on allegations of racism, sexism, sexual harassment, and verbal abuse on sets overseen by producer Dan Schneider. Schneider responded to the series, expressing regret and acknowledging the need for apologies.
Directors of the docuseries "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV," Emma Schwartz and Mary Robertson, discuss the exposure of abusive behavior behind the scenes of Nickelodeon, including allegations of sexual assault, pervasive harassment, and the sexualization of child actors. They explain the difficulty in getting people to speak out and emphasize the importance of shedding light on the inappropriate and potentially illegal behavior that occurred on these sets, as it impacted the working conditions for children and shaped the understanding of appropriate behavior for generations of young viewers.
Episode 5 of Investigation Discovery's Quiet on Set docuseries, "Breaking the Silence," features never-before-seen footage and reunites subjects including Drake Bell, Giovonnie Samuels, Bryan Hearne, and Shane Lyons to discuss the response to the series. Bell addresses the initial responses and defends his mom, while Samuels and Hearne question Dan Schneider's apology video and advocate for more accountability. Hearne reconnects with his mom after watching the documentary, and Lyons comes forward with his experiences, advocating for more protections for child entertainers.