• 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: tuxedo, 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 4: Show your talents as a film extra.

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 5: Check with agencies 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 6: Being chosen as a film extra.

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 7: Earn and show off.

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

How much can you make as a walk-on?

The basic for films is £83.72 per day plus travel money. For overtime (payable after nine hours) you can expect £7.84 per half an hour. For doing an overnight (9 hours) you should get about £104.64.

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 with words.

The BBC pays around £85.50 per day, ITV pays slightly less. Walk-on artists who don’t have to give individual characterisation in a role but may be need to pretend to be someone specific or even speak a few words will get about £105.70 a day.

Most of the time you will get free meals (and film food is usually very good!).

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. You can find out more rates from the Casting Collective website.

Getting started as a TV extra

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

• Equity
• BECTU

• You Can Be A Movie Extra, by Rob Martin
• The Truth About Being an Extra, by Jo Kelly

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