Never Work with Kids or Animals
"Unless you want to take home the most Oscars..."
W.C Fields once said, "Never work with children or animals." Perhaps this American actor was simply putting a comedic spin on how tedious it can be to meet the demands (both those that come naturally and those that are legally required by the state) of a working child performer.
But last night's 84th annual Academy Awards proved that investing in young actors- as well as those of the furry kind - can have a major payoff. Hugo and The Artist both took home a happy handful of Oscars proving that both children and animals are important players in the art of storytelling, and though they may require a bit of hand holding, they are well worth the effort.
Hugo hit the ground running, claiming the first two awards of the evening for cinematography and art direction, and in the end, tied with The Artist, racking up a total of five Oscars each - no small feat!
Some fun little facts for your next Oscar party:
 Hugo star, Asa Butterfield has been a professional actor since the age of 8. You might remember him as "Bruno" from the Miramax World War II drama The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Asa is currently fliming the sci-fi adventure Enders Game starring as the lead character Ender Wiggin.
 Uggie, the four-legged star of The Artist, was rescued from being sent to a dog pound by trainer, Omar Von Muller. Uggie has been working as a live performer for many years and also starred as "Queenie" in the Fox feature film Water for Elephants. But don't look for Uggie in any future pix. His Oscar appearance is scheduled to be his last as he heads of into doggie retirement.
So what do children and animals in film have in common?
Not only do both play a critical role in the art of storytelling, but both child actor and animal performers have advocates for on-set safety and welfare.
Did you know, the American Humane Association (AHA) has a film and TV unit that provides a "Certified Animal Safety Representative"? Originally founded in 1877 AHA was dedicated to the welfare of animals and children. Although the AHA still plays an important role in preventing child abuse and neglect, when they created their Film and TV unit in 1940, the focus was soley on animal safety, leaving child performer safety to the state and federal government.
Although there is no "no child was harmed during this production," disclaimer, you still have a lot of ways to ensure the safety of children while they are working. Read the Rules and Regulations in your state. Understand the Union Rules for child actors, and know when certain rules do not apply so that you may advocate for the appropriate treatment of children.
Want to learn more about the rules and laws pertaining to working with minors?
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