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Film/ TV extra

John Random makes money in his spare time by acting as a film extra.

Case Study

Writer, John Random, has been an extra in and around London for around 20 years. “Without question the highlight of that entire time was snogging Kate Winslet,” he says with a smile. “It wasn’t just a peck on the cheek it was full-blown snogging on the set of ‘Iris’. Fantastic.

“I’m as stage-struck as the next person and it is exciting to work with actors who’ve been around for years like Dustin Hoffman or Johnny Depp. It goes down well at dinner parties too. Some of the things I’ve had to do are just plain weird though, like taking aural swabs from students on ‘Silent Witness’ or being around fake exhumations or autopsies. I’ve been a dead body several times too. Once I had gassed myself in my car, another time I had fallen off a mountain in a climbing expedition. That was for a Scottish soap opera – it was filmed in Acton of course.”

He says he takes his laptop to jobs and writes while he waits in the bus set aside for the extras. “It’s a totally stress-free job,” he adds, “nothing is your responsibility. If the film’s a turkey it’s not your fault. Getting there is the most stressful part of the day.”

In fact, getting there can be tricky for some. Days often start at 7am and go on for around twelve hours. “I have a son and there are times when I have to turn down work because we can’t get childcare in time,” he says, “but it’s great if I can get there. It never feels like actual work.”

Appear in the background of films in your spare time.
Contact these agencies to sign up now.

If you have time to spare during the week, live in or near a major city and you would like to rub shoulders with famous actors, then being an Extra, or “supporting artiste” (the new politically correct term for it), can be a great way of making some extra cash.

You don’t have to do a whole lot except turn up, wait for ‘rolling’, take your directions and get a nice lump sum at the end. It used to be a closed business, but nowadays you don’t need to be a union member and there are many agencies to choose from.

What’s involved?

A whole lot of fun, some boredom, excitement and lasting memories. Extras exist to make films and TV look realistic, giving a setting behind the main actor’s dialogue. Passengers at the train station, revellers at a concert and customers in a café.

You don’t need any acting experience at all, but you do need to be punctual, reliable and able to take direction. The length of an extra’s employment on a production depends on the needs of the director and the scenes being filmed.

How do you do it?

Step 1: Research.

Contact your local film commission. They usually have an idea on what major projects are coming up and where extras will be needed. Look in the phone book or search the internet for local casting offices, and ask them how you can sign up to be an extra. Note the results of a net search of your nearest major city with the words “casting office” and “extra”.

You can look in the local papers for information about independent films being done in your area, and watch out for film festivals to find out who the local contributors are. You can also try the local university’s film department. Student filmmakers are always looking for stand-ins.

Extras agencies work like temping agencies, you can join as many as you like. Find a list of agencies for the UK at www.ukscreen.com. The back pages of Screen International lists all the films in production, and sometimes in pre-production. You can use these to help prompt your agent to try for a particular film.

Step 2: Get your face out there.

Make sure you send whoever you contact – the commission, agencies, local councils, etc – a headshot and full body shot with your resume so they will have your information on file.

You can have photos taken with a digital camera that can be blown up to 8 x 10, or you can spend a bit of money to have some professional shots taken.

Getting picked as an extra does depend on how you look, and most of the time they just want normal everyday people. You can look a bit scruffy, or overweight, or unusual and still have a good chance of being chosen.

It is also an idea to have a few different ‘looks’ taken in different styles of clothes. Have one photo where you look like a professional in a suit, and then a casual street look, and an elegant black tie style. But don’t digitally airbrush the photo – if they call, they want to hire you.

Step 3: General casting information.

Casting agents and producers have different requirements, but it is good to have the following details on hand when needed:

Your full name, address and contact numbers;
Your date of birth and the age range you can convincingly play;
Your Union status;
The ethnicity you appear to be;
Your availability;
Your car details: make, year, condition, colour, and any tickets;
Height and weight;
Measurements (in feet and measurements) – Women: Waist, Hips, Bust, Dress Size, Shoe, Hat, Glove size. Men: Waist, Inside leg, Neck, Shoe, Hat, Glove;
Clothing you own: taxedo, types of suits/uniforms/special wardrobe items, wigs;
Unusual physical traits – body piercings, tattoos, scars;
Will you work for example in water, or at night;
Special props you own – musical instruments, sports equipment, etc;
and, Special abilities you have such as horse-riding, singing or dancing, etc.

And don’t forget your photos!

Step 3: Show your talents.

If you have certain talents you may be able to earn a little bit extra. Special ability background players are those required to perform skills showing sporting ability (being able to play tennis or golf), social dancing, rollerblading, skiing, singing, or driving.

Stand-ins are used to substitute actors so the crew can focus shots and set lighting, but they are not actually photographed.

Sometimes extras can be upgraded to day performers, who deliver a line of dialogue or are required to do more complex actions.

Step 4: Check and wait.

Check and double check the agency you decide to go with, and the people you decide to build a repertoire with. There are many unscrupulous people out there. If they ask you for money straight away, move quickly to the door and keep running. Have a look at Clive Hurst's webpage about dodgy agencies before signing up and, certainly, before handing any money over.

Ask the casting office for a list of shows they’ve worked on and cross reference that with the actual TV show credit; or contact the entertainment unions here. If the business looks dodgy, it probably is.

Once you find and sign up to the right agency, you need to be patient and wait. Calls can be rather sporadic, depending on the number of extras needed and whether filming is happening nearby.

Step 5: Being chosen.

Extras get very few details when called to take on a role from their agency, and full details are given the night before the actual shoot. They are told what their part is, what time to show up and where, as well as what to wear for their part.

Assistant Directors are usually in charge of extras, so make sure they know you’re there when you arrive. Listen to them carefully, even if they tell you to simply walk down a hallway. Extras should blend into the background and take their direction well.

Take a bag packed with things to keep you busy – a book, crossword puzzle, snacks to nibble on, even thermal underwear for when you are working outside in the cold. There’s a lot of waiting around time on set. Also try and network with some of the other background actors. A good tip or referral could lead to more work.

In most cases, especially on bigger film sets, you will have to sign a confidentiality clause. This means no photos, but even if there’s nothing to sign, ask permission. Don’t bother asking for autographs either, as actors are also there to do a job, and don’t need you hanging around like a bad smell.

Step 6: Earn and show off.

Cash the check and invite all your friends over to watch yourself on TV.

How much can you make?

The basic for films is £76.85 per day plus travel money. For overtime (payable after nine hours) you can expect £6.74 per half an hour.

For TV you can expect £90 for a ten hour day if you’re in the background of a commercial and £200 for a proper walk-on part.

The BBC pays around £73 per day, ITV pays slightly less. The Film Artists Association set fees of £69 per day with extra for a walk on part, overtime and wearing your own costume. Most of the time you will get free meals.

Within the United Kingdom actor’s union Equity, and the entertainer's Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU), extras are protected and guaranteed the same working conditions as actors with speaking roles.

Non-union extras are paid at a lower rate, but on productions outside of union jurisdiction, payment is at the discretion of producers.

Getting started

If you fancy being a film or TV extra contact these agencies now:

The Casting Collective, 020 8962 0099
Ray Knight Casting, 020 7722 1551
2020 Casting, 020 8746 2020

Unions:

Equity
BECTU

Resources:

Don't fancy being in front of the camera? See our pages on writing a TV or film screenplay and using your home as a film set for more ways to make money from TV and film.

Jasmine and the Moneymagpie team
Moneymagpie Moneypedia
16.07.2008