BEING AN EXTRA
Sometimes hundreds or even thousands of extras can be on set to help make a scene
believable.
Extra work can be grueling. You may be dressed in heavy clothing like it's winter, in
ninety degree weather. You may be wearing summer clothes on a chilly autumn day.
You are often on set working fourteen to eighteen hour days. Most often, you sit in a room,
"Extras Holding", the majority of the time, and only go on set for short spurts as they
need you for different scenes. You'll most surely be doing the same scene many times
over while the director has the scene shot multiple times from multiple angles. That's
how it's done in film. Make no mistake, it is work.
It's not a prestigious job. You're considered extras, background, decoration, moving
furniture. You'll be herded like sheep, fed in large groups, told where to go and what
to do, told to be quiet and to not look in the camera.
But, going in with the right attitude, it can be very rewarding. You get to see
how things are done on a film set, you get to mingle and network with other actors, and
sometimes you get to see the big movie stars.
Schedule...
You could be working day, night, or both. Films are made all places, all times. You may
not know until the night before or even the morning of the shoot when and where they want
you, as the call sheets, (the shooting schedule showing who's needed where and when), are
often not completed until some time after the previous day's wrap (end of shooting for the day).
Only park where they tell you to park, and be standing where they want you (not in the
parking lot smoking with your pals) fifteen minutes before your scheduled call time,
no more, no less (unless, of course, they tell you otherwise). In this business,
on time is late.
Wardrobe...
Often, you'll be told what type of clothing to bring. Bring a good sampling of what the
agency that booked you told you to bring. The wardrobe departments love when you
do that, as it allows them to easily do their job, and gets you a better chance of being
placed somewhere nice in the film. That way, when you watch the film with the family,
you can say, "Look, Grandma! There I am! Standing right behind Hugh Jackman!".
Sometimes, particularly in period films, your wardrobe will be supplied for you. Be
respectful of this clothing, as it is very important it can be used again, and probably
cost a pretty penny. You may be wearing the same outfit on set for weeks at a time,
and for continuity purposes, it usually needs to look on day fifteen the same as on day one.
Autographs From the Stars...
Don't even think about it. No autographs, no pictures, no waving, no doing anything
to get their attention and distract them from doing their job. You can get booted
off the set for that, and maybe not called back to any other set if they report you to
the agency that booked you.
Pictures of the Set...
Again, don't even think about it. Besides being booted, you often sign a piece of paper
before shooting saying you won't do that, and you could get in big trouble. I was on set
once, and saw someone getting caught taking a picture with his phone of a logo that
was a big part of the film, and making it his screen wallpaper. He was escorted out,
and I hear was being sued by the production company for breach of contract and
copyright infringement. Ouch!
When Do I Eat?
Basically, when they tell you. The cast and crew always eat first, as they have to get
back on set to organize everything for the next scene.
Personal Belongings...
Simply put, if you can't afford to lose it, don't bring it with you. You can't take your stuff
with you on set. Anything you bring with you may have to stay in the holding area while
you're on set. You could be working with a lot of people you don't know, and
unfortunately, even on the film set, not everyone may be as honest as you.
Getting Paid...
There will be paperwork. Vouchers given to you at the beginning of your work day will
have to be filled out and handed in at the end for you to get paid. If you get anything from
the wardrobe department, they will usually require that you hand over your voucher, and
you don't get it back until you return what they issued you. You get to stand in line
to hand those things in and get your voucher back. Then you get to stand in another line
to hand in your voucher, have it signed and receive your copy.
Getting The Work...
There are good extras casting companies to go to. Search online for your area, and ask
around for their reputation. Aside from maybe fifteen bucks for an initial one time
administration fee, never pay anything up front to any talent agent or casting agency.
There are unscrupulous businesses out there that will try to rope you into paying large
amounts of money for lessons, headshots, or even monthly fees to be signed with them
or to have your picture on their website that casting directors never see.
Extras agencies get paid by the production companies for the work the agencies get for you.
Headshots and Resumes...
Yes, they will need to know who you are, what you look like, what your skills are,
everything down to your shoe size so they can properly cast you. Make sure your
information is up to date with the agency, and that your headshot looks like you now.
Don't forget, this is a job. If you can't handle any of those things I mentioned above,
don't apply.
If you can handle it, and it sounds like your cup of tea, do it! Have fun with it!
Make new friends on set, and maybe be one of the lucky few who gets
bumped up to a one line role! Yes, occasionally, it does happen!
​
More to come...