Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some feedback from those of you who have gone to or have brought your children to auditions for the Disney Channel.

I'm assuming most of these auditions have taken place in California.

I would specifically like information on the audition process, including the number of actors at the audition, what you had to do (read sides, sing, etc.) the casting team (were they nice, helpful, etc.) and anything else you feel is of importance.

I would also love to hear some feedback from anyone who has booked a spot and appeared on the Disney Channel.

I ask this because Disney is one of the companies that I wish to work with the most, whether it be Disney on Broadway, Disney Channel, or the Disney Parks.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Why do you want to work with them for tv/film? I hear they pay almost nothing, and keep you contractually bound for years so that you can't do other work.

Because there are so many opportunities with them, and like I said, the Disney company is one of my favorites.

I will say though, that I would probably enjoy doing more work with actual "Walt Disney" film projects than the Disney Channel. You know what I mean, the animated or live-action movies.

Where did you hear this about their pay and contracts? Any websites with this information that I could take a look at?

A neighbor actually did tell me (he's 14, and his cousin, who's about 12, is in the business) that apparently, like you said, if you work for Disney, you can't work for say, Nickolodean.

But, I do know that the girl who did Tinkerbell's voice in the Tinkerbell movie (Mae Whitman, check her out on IMDb) also provided the voice for the character Katara on Avatar: The Last Airbender (which runs on Nickolodean), and although that show has ended, re-reruns are on all the time, meaning she's still getting paid for it.

So if she's getting paid from both production companies, I can't see how Disney has her contractually bound.

quote:

Originally posted by AnitaLoos1:
Why do you want to work with them for tv/film? I hear they pay almost nothing, and keep you contractually bound for years so that you can't do other work.

Wow, is this true? O_o

Sparkling Ariel,

Both Disney and Nick typically run their shows under AFTRA jurisdiction, as opposed to SAG, so that they ARE NOT paying residuals on reruns, as you post suggests (saying that the woman who provides a voice for Avatar is "still getting paid for it"). That's just one of the ways they avoid paying their talent higher wages.

quote:

Originally posted by dramamama:
Sparkling Ariel,

Both Disney and Nick typically run their shows under AFTRA jurisdiction, as opposed to SAG, so that they ARE NOT paying residuals on reruns, as you post suggests (saying that the woman who provides a voice for Avatar is "still getting paid for it"). That's just one of the ways they avoid paying their talent higher wages.

This is not completely accurate...many Disney shows are SAG and a few Nick shows are as well. As for residuals...I can only speak from my personal experience...under some NICK AFTRA contracts there is a residual component.
The comment made by anitaloos "I hear they pay almost nothing, and keep you contractually bound for years so that you can't do other work" is also not accurate. Anita...if you have specifics, or facts, please share. From my personal experience, I would say that your salary comment is not a true statement. Re contracts...anytime you work on a show, movie etc, you have contractual obligations. Sometimes those obligations are very restrictive in all or some areas of the biz. One does have the choice to accept those obligations or walk away.

Wow, lots of different replies here.

Has anyone been to these auditions or callbacks and personally read the contracts that Disney and Nickelodean offer?

Sparklingariel, I think you are putting the cart before the horse. Do you have an agent? You will be more like to get auditions for Disney projects (FF and Bway are more common for kids in NY...not many opportunities for Disney tv shows) if you do have an agent.

Without going in to specifics, we have been to auditions, callbacks, director/producer sessions for projects with both of these companies. And without going in to specifics, yes, I have seen the contracts. Like all of our auditions, we got our NICK and Disney auditions through our agent. The process is no different than any other audition. Many children are seen for every role. Also, you should know, it is really not possible to audition for just Disney (or Nick) projects. You go out for whatever your agent or manager think you might book. Unless you have tons of credits, you would not be in the position to pick and choose your auditions.

Re auditions for Disney Channel shows...for guest and co-star roles, they do audition pretty much only in LA. These roles are filled quickly, so it'd be very unlikely that a kid from outside of LA would be considered.

Re contracts...every contract is individually negotiated. If you have a huge resume and thus, a lot of clout, you will have more negotiating power. If you are just starting out, your agent will push for what they can get, but in the end, you are at the mercy of the production company, and must choose whether to accept the terms or walk. We have been on both sides of that coin...accepted terms that weren't 100% of what we wanted and walked from contracts/terms/scripts that were unacceptable.

No, I do not have an agent, but I was not talking about me specifically in this case. Was just looking for some feedback from others' experiences, since I've been hearing various things.

Has anyone heard whether or not their child got a disney part for the upcoming disney shows? My son had a call back, but we have not heard anything and am not sure how long it will be before we know anything.

I was thinking about it and doing some research, and with a lot of these Disney Channel stars, none of them had many professional credits before they hit it big on the Disney Channel.

The most specific examples I could give are:

Debby Ryan, who is now starring on "The Suite Life on Deck." She has one Barney movie and another movie on her resume, and now she's got "The Suite Life on Deck." Which I must add, is an AWESOME show. I just love the whole living-out-at-sea-on-a-luxurious-cruise-ship idea.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2913275/

Demi Lovato, who is now getting her own show "Sonny With a Chance" (although it keeps getting renamed). She has 1 episode of Barney, 1 episode of Prison Break, the Disney Channel short series "As the Bell Rings," and 1 episode of "Just Jordan." Then she got Camp Rock, and is now a Disney Channel superstar.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1416215/

Selena Gomez. She has a few more credits than the previous two mentioned, but not until she appeared as bitchy pop star "Mikayla" on Hannah Montana did she really make an impression, which then led to her getting the lead in "Wizards of Waverly Place."
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1411125/

Of course, I know that all of these actors have wonderful agents, but to me, I take that as a sign that even though these kids didn't have very long/impressive resumes, high-end agents still took them on as clients, who obviously sent them out on the auditions that led to their fame. I'm sure the whole "its who know you" situation has some play too, but I think that every actor has to personally make their own connections to be a part of the "its who you know" deal.

Now, I'm not saying that its my DREAM to be a Disney Channel superstar. But I am a huge fan of the Walt Disney Company, and even though I sort of see the Disney Channel as its own entity, its still a part of the company. And, let's be honest here, their actors get AMAZING exposure. So to me, exposure plus the chance to appear on one of my favorite company's TV stations would equal a pretty happy actor.

Let me hear your thoughts!

You should try to audition for the next princess voice, like Snow White and Ariel!

"Ahhhh aaaahhhhhhhhhh"
I love that scene the most.
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Sorry a bit random

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You do have a point of big exposure. You should try it, since they might like you, and if only get one part than it's still exposure.

The younger you are though the better for Disney, some of them were like early twenties and receive great exposure... none on the top of my head though..

Sparkling Ariel, I don't think it's all about "who you know" - the actresses you mention all started acting professionally many years ago. You can't just look at IMDB resumes - that doesn't have much info about what they did to get where they are now. Commercials, professional and community theater, etc. If you look at Debby Ryan's website, you'll see that she started working in professional theater at 7 years old . . .

I also have to point out that Selena and Demi were regulars on Barney, not just on one episode.

So these girls have worked hard to get where they are now - plus they had talent, training and a bit of luck! Agents get the auditions for them, but they have to be able to book the jobs.

Given this, if you want to get into this business you should start locally and then spread outward - community theater, local acting workshops, student films are great places to start. At the same time be sending your headshot and resume to agents and managers and see what kind of feedback you get. The important thing is that you enjoy the acting you do, at whatever level it is.

Good luck!

Mystique, I would LOVE to be the next princess voice. That would be so amazing!

Actually, many of the Disney Channel actors are in their 20s, and as long as you *look* younger, they're open to you.

FishMom, of course I know that these girls started out in commercials/theatre etc., but I guess I was looking at it from the viewpoint that even with commercial and theatre work, it still may have been difficult to land a legit agent.

As far as Barney goes, I don't personally see that as a big break for their acting careers, although I'm sure it helped them and their agents out a bit.

Really, I was just saying that considering these girls didn't have too much legit work before their agents, now they are getting tons of it.

I've been doing just what you said! I've done a bunch of local theatre, and I have a lot of friends making their own pilots/movies/student films etc.

Thanks you so much for your input =] !

The next princess voices are Rapunzel (2010) and and Tiana (2009)

I assume that there won't be more available for a while, since it seems Disney makes a whole batch and then dies off with the Princess for a while. But in the past two decades they made more than usual. Since they only made three, I believe, before Ariel.