Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard

Child actors are required to have a chaperone on set with them. The role of the chaperone is to ensure that the actors have enough to eat and drink and that they are adequately rested. They also ensure that actors are where they need to be in terms of makeup, hair, costuming, sets, or tutoring. The chaperones, who may be a family member, close friend, or a professional, also should monitor the amount of time that the actors in their charge spend on set. (Child actors should spend no more than three hours at a time on set.) The chaperone must also ensure that the minimum amount of tutoring for each day is achieved (three hours).

Corpsing is a British theatrical term that refers to moments in which actors break into uncontrollable laughter, ruining the take. Child actors working together tend to be particularly susceptible to corpsing, but it can also happen to adult actors. Chris Columbus, the director of the first three Harry Potter movies, set up a red card system, whereby actors were required to pay a fine if they had to be asked three times to stop laughing on a particular set.