budding star is a children’s modelling and casting agency that places children from newborns to 18 years in television series & commercials, catalogues, fashion parades, promotions, voice-overs, film and theatre.
budding stars is a highly professional agency run by personnel that have extensive experience in the advertising and entertainment industry. We have extensive relationships with all television networks, advertising agencies and the media. We only take on children that we genuinely believe we can gain work for and we thoroughly explain the industry to parents and guardians so they understand what is to be expected.
We are a boutique agency. We currently have approximately 80 children on our books, and are still recruiting. We have capped each age category at 25-30 members. We are currently recruiting talent in each category however once we have reached our quota we will close the books.
We recruit children from newborns to 18 years of age.
No. We only accept children that we genuinely believe we can gain work for.
You can fill in our online application form and attach a couple of photos (head shot and full body shot). After reviewing your child’s photos we will contact you to organise a time to meet with you and your child to assess their suitability for work in this industry. At this time we give you an honest understanding of the nature of the industry, what you can realistically expect and the requirements of parents to be able to take children to castings and job calls. We will run you through our fee structure and membership process. If at the end of this process you are happy and we think we can gain work for your child we will accept your child into the agency.
No. Legally and ethically your child is only able to be registered with one agency. We will only accept children who wish to be exclusively represented by budding stars.
Following your child’s photoshoot budding stars will create an on-line profile and an e-comp card that is distributed to our entire database of clients, advertising and casting agencies. In your first 3 months your child will be promoted as a ‘new bud’ (new recruit) to all of our clients and advertising agencies who have full access to the database of talent on our site. When budding stars is briefed for jobs we nominate all of our talent that fit the brief to attend a casting with the client.. If your child fits the brief or is requested by a client we will be in contact with you and arrange a time for your child to attend a casting.
Photographic work for catalogues and brochures, television commercials, television mini-series, films, voiceovers, promotions, fashion parades, drama, theatre and musicals.
Photographic work can be anything from $45 to $85 per hour
Television work can vary dramatically depending upon the role and will be quoted at briefing.
20% television commercials, photographic stills, fittings, fashion parades, promotions, voice-overs and dance performances. 10% feature films, TV mini-series, acting, drama and theatre.
Registration and annual membership is $495. This includes 12 months representation with budding star, agency registration and administration, professional photoshoot, development of your child’s website page / profile and downloadable comp card, marketing and promotion, and unlimited information updates and portfolio uploads to your child’s profile and a basic profile on either Showcast or the AT2 global casting services.
A profile with a Showreel on AT2 or Showcast is available at an additional charge.
Possibly. This will be assessed on a case by case basis. We outsource our photography and have negotiated excellent rates to keep the fees as low as possible. We need to ensure that the photos are of good quality resolution and that they are in the appropriate file size to suit our website design and quick download times. We also like to have consistency of appearance across the site and therefore prefer that our photographer takes the head and body shots, however we will be pleased to add images of work that your child may have done in the past as part of their profile and portfolio. If your child is under 2 you may provide your own photographs.
No. We will do everything we can to promote your child and put them forward for every relevant opportunity however the final decision lies with the client to assess which talent best fits their brief.
You need to be available at short notice to attend castings and job calls, generally around inner Melbourne. If you work fulltime and there is no one available to drive your child to a casting or job call then this type of work is unlikely to fit into your schedule.
budding stars recommends that all children have a Tax File Number to ensure that the minimum amount of tax is deducted from payments by the client.
Budding star is not your child’s employer. We act on your child’s behalf as an agent. We invoice the client on your child’s behalf following any work performed. The client deducts PAYG taxation instalments. We deduct our commission and then forward the balance of payments with a Tax invoice that sets out all rates, deductions and payments. At the end of the financial year the client will send out a Group Certificate for your child for taxation purposes.
Yes, as of the 12th June 2004 new legislation was introduced by the Victorian Government governing the employment of children under the age if 15. As a result a Child Employment Permit is required for each job prior to conducting any work in this industry. Obtaining permits is the responsibility of the parent / guardian. Detailed information is available on www.irv.vic.gov.au. We recommend that all parents familiarise themselves with the code for the “Employment of Children in the Entertainment Industry”.
Yes, this program is designed to build children’s confidence and interests in performance. You don’t have to have had previous experience; this program will give you that.
Yes, absolutely! This course will teach your child all the elements of performance in the advertising and entertainment industry. They will develop confidence and learn what to do in a photo-shoot, screen test, audition, catwalk and more. This will help you to work out if joining a modelling agency is the right thing for your child and if they enjoy it or not. You will have professional photos and filmed footage as well as some experience to give you a start in the industry.
Yes, all teachers of Budding Star Academy are fully qualified with Teacher Registration, Police Checks and Working with Children Permits in place.
Kane Jarrod Photography is our Melbourne Photographer. Kane has been working in the industry for over 15 years. He works in all aspects of photography including children, weddings, and commercial.
Yes, we only use the best. Our film crew, TAFTA, are professionals in the industry. They regularly film screen tests, show-reels and auditions for popular feature films, TV series and TV commercials.
We consider all applications for agency representation on a case by case basis. We do offer discounted membership and representation to Academy Graduates that we are interested in representing. We will be happy to discuss representation with you and the types of work available.
Budding Stars owns the copyright of all photographs and filmed footage. All requests for commercial usage need to be made and approved in writing prior to use.
All requests for commercial usage of photographs and footage need to be made in writing. We are happy for you to use photographs and footage within your own portfolio and industry casting services such as AT2 and Showcast provided Budding Stars is credited.
All students in each program are divided into smaller working groups based upon age and interests. We need a diverse range of ages within each program to provide for different character roles within each performance. We actually tailor the content and select scripts based upon the ages and interests of all students.
From time to time our Catwalk fashion parades are sponsored by clothing retailers. As such we need accurate sizes for all students to ensure that clothing supplied fits them.
Budding Star Academy is much more than a drama class. We provide all students with a professional photo-shoot, mini-portfolio, and a DVD with screen test and audition footage. The value of this program is in excess of $1000, so $440 is extremely cost effective.
No, unfortunately all students must be school-age and currently attending school from prep upwards. We will be happy to take him next year when he is 5.
No, we ask that parents drop their children off just before their scheduled start each day and arrive by their scheduled finish to collect them. The program is very busy and we have a lot to teach the students so we need their undivided attention. Having parents watching or chatting in the back ground can be very distracting to the students. Parents are invited to attend the graduating performance at 11am (Primary) or 3pm (Secondary) on the last day of the program (Friday), so you can see your Budding Star in action.