When filming “The Pit” many things have to be done correctly. The medical drama’s 360-degree hospital sets and painstakingly crafted prosthetics leave little room for error. So in Season 2, creator R. Scott Gemmill raised the bar by introducing the most unpredictable element: babies.
During the seven-month shoot, more than a dozen adorable swaddled infants played abandoned newborn Jane Doe, including four-month-old twins Luca and Luna. In the finale’s concluding scene, Luca is seen leaning on Dr. Robbie’s (Noah Wyle) shoulder, providing a much-needed moment of catharsis for the troubled doctor. “They really needed a sleeping baby,” said mother Desanka Pinder. “Luckily, he just happened to be tired.”
It’s no exaggeration to say that Luka will have bragging rights for the rest of his life. How many babies can say they’ve shared the screen with an Emmy Award-winning star? More than you might think: As work in movies for young children slumps, toddler actors are back in the spotlight with TV shows like “9-1-1,” “The Shrinking,” and “Margo’s Got Money Trouble.” It may seem like an unusual event, but agents and parents say it’s not that different from any other extracurricular activity — except, Pinder says, “our kids are getting paid.”
Luna (who made her television debut on Grey’s Anatomy season 22) and Luca’s careers began in the womb. When the parents found out they were having twins (an advantage in the industry because of the promise of on-set matching backup), they contacted several agencies before signing on with Julie Cruise, head of baby division at Paloma Models & Talent. (It’s no surprise that most parents are reluctant to prepare for postpartum, so when it comes to newborns, “looks don’t really matter,” Cruz says.) “I was literally in the hospital when I emailed her,” Pinder recalls. “I was like, ‘They’re here!'”
For babies recruited after birth, the submission process typically requires emailing a photo of your choice. (Casting is usually done off-shot only). However, impression is more important than cuteness. Being comfortable means being able to get reservations. Anxiety around strangers can lead to early disqualification. “You can’t reason with a baby,” explains casting agent Katie Taylor. “You know, ‘Angelina Jolie is going to hug you for two minutes!'” Often there isn’t much time to get used to it. When 6-month-old River Cabrera-Kelly (also representing Cruise) was called back to screen test for Margo’s Got Money Trouble, she was quickly handed over to Elle Fanning. She was booked the next day.
Elle Fanning holds River while filming ‘Margo’s Got Money Trouble’
River filmed for nearly four months, alternating with another child actor, Graham Hendricks. Fanning also attended her first birthday party. Kathy Borde, head of young talent at Zuri Agency, says she rarely hears of people having bad experiences due to evolving job requirements. In California, infants between the ages of 15 days and 6 months can only work 20 minutes at a time and spend 2 hours per day on set. Nurses, parents, and studio teachers are also required to monitor the baby’s health. “It’s so easy for babies,” says Taylor. “Their working hours are very limited and they have very strong protections in place.”
Of course, the salary is also attractive. Prices range from a few hundred dollars to a thousand dollars per day (regardless of whether the baby is filmed or not). This is one option for parents who want their children to be financially successful. However, don’t expect to secure college funding. There’s no guarantee that Baby will book anything, especially as the industry continues to shrink. Compared to 20 years ago, “there are far fewer jobs for babies now,” says Anne Henry, co-founder of entertainment education nonprofit BizParents. “It’s like they’re writing it out.” Henry attributes this to their notorious unreliability. “Babies do what babies do,” she laughs. In fact, productions are increasingly using AI and fake babies, which are easier to manage and cheaper.
Still, there’s something about the real thing that just can’t be beat. “You can’t recreate the emotions that a baby brings,” Borde says. If Baby Jane Doe were a doll, Dr. Robbie’s monologue would be a little less moving.
