CASTING director of Jessica's Models, Preea Menon, has been in the talent and modelling industry for more than five years and has seen many doting parents.

"I love working with children, so this job is perfect for me. I've worked with many parents and kids, some are more difficult than others.

"But generally, foreign parents are easier to work with. They're more sporting. And most are not casting their children for the money. They do it for fun."

Menon says with young talents, the excitement of being on site doesn't last for very long.

"With the camera crew and props on site, many children get excited. But after a while, they get edgy and irritable.
"That's why we always advise parents to bring along their favourite toys, books or videos.

"Teenagers are much easier to work with. They handle it much better. But many clients prefer young talents to teenagers."

She says normal shoot duration is 12 hours. Anything more would be compensated with overtime.

Is it a well-paying job?

Menon says the industry pays very well, especially if the talent has got enough exposure.

"We pay talents immediately after the shoot. Many come to our agency because we don't hold off payments until end of the month.

"Payment defers according to the type of job. Extras normally get RM250 to RM300.

"Overtime is RM50 an hour. Featured extras (those who stand next to the main) can get up to RM2,000 and main parts can fetch RM6,000."

But she finds that Pan Asian talents are paid more than locals.

And how does a parent get his or her kid a gig?

"Interested parents can email their pictures to talent agencies. Some agencies charge a registration fee and some don't.

"Our agency doesn't receive payment from the talent. The production houses and clients pay us.

"We will then pass the pictures to the production houses before the children make a casting video. They have to introduce themselves, smile and talk about their hobbies in front of the camera."

Do some parents play coach?

"Parents are not allowed to be around when the casting video is made. We don't want the kids to be unnatural, we want them to be their selves and not be coaxed."

Menon says parents who plan to introduce their children to the world of glitz and glamour should consider the negative side of the industry as well.

"Parents have to know that the duration of shoots can be overbearing at times.

"There have been parents who even threatened to walk off the set if it took too long. That's understandable because some of the kids are very small."

But despite that, over the past few years there have been an increase in child talents in the country. Some do it for fun, while others hope to build a career.

"Some children make it big, the more exposure they have, the more in demand they are. One 7-year-old is earning RM12,000 for a shoot," says Menon.

"Manychild talents grow up to be teenage models. Some are in the industry for more than 10 years and are still making big bucks.

Would Menon, a mother of two, encourage her own children to model?

"I would and I have. Any parent, who gets the chance, should do it. It's a good experience. It exposes children to all types of people. It gets them out of their shell."

But are we creating little "super model" show-offs?.

That's based on upbringing, Menon says, as good values and morality are not something you should lose because of a job.

"Most talent children are not show-offs. Maybe it's just not part of our Asian culture. But I'm sure if they move around in that circle for long, they will develop an 'attitude'.