SAG-AFTRA Responds To ‘Amanda Show’ Writer’s Calls For More Child-Actor Safety Protocols In Wake Of ‘Quiet On Set’ Documentary

deadline.com:

SAG-AFTRA is responding to calls for more safety protocols for working child actors following Investigation Discovery’s documentary Quiet on Set.

The five-part series delved into the toxic work environments that many child actors faced working on some of the most popular kids’ television shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including allegations of abuse, sexism and racism.

Jenny Kilgen, a former Amanda Show writer who is featured in the documentary, penned an open letter to SAG-AFTRA urging it to “initiate and institute robust child safety protocols” as well as support federal legislation on the matter. RELATED: Drake Bell Speaks Out About How ‘Quiet On Set’ Shocked Viewers: “This Is The Response That Should Have Happened Years Ago” In response to the letter, SAG-AFTRA Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez told Deadline in a statement: The Union takes young performer safety very seriously and devotes considerable time to advocating for important legislative protections for minors and administering contract requirements for young performers.

We give priority to complaints involving minors, maintain a constituent committee of young performers and help to fund and administer programs like ‘Looking Ahead’ that educate young performers about life as a child actor.In addition, SAG-AFTRA’s most recent agreement requires background checks for any ‘teacher or welfare worker (or other individual assigned to perform the same duties as a welfare worker, such as a child labor coordinator) who is engaged by the Producer to supervise or teach minors employed under the Agreement.’  Additionally, we have authorized Producers to demand background checks as a condition of employment ‘for any person working in close proximity to one