How to Become a Film Extra

I took my child to a beginning acting workshop some time ago. I attended with her because of her young age. She liked the class, but did not care to do more. The instructor was a wealth of information. I found it interesting this sub-culture of making film outside of the main film industry. I decided that I wanted to try getting into a film. I had no acting related resume other than the training that the workshop provided. My way in was volunteering as a film extra. Since then I've been in local television commercials, some unreleased feature films, a student film trailer and a film short. What is a film extra? An "extra" is a person deemed an actor and who is used to fill in the backgrounds and busy areas of a scene. Some common examples of this would be an actor used as a non-speaking funeral attendee or café patron for a single scene. As an average, non-entertainer type of person; how do I get into a film or commercial? Opportunities to be in a film vary from state to state. Check your state for an active official film office, a film maker's message group on the internet, independent film industry meetings, student film projects, attend workshops on acting, go to open calls for actors, attend film festivals, check out the web sites of talent agencies, etc. Usually getting into a commercial is a matter of having representation or of being known by the people of the business desiring such commercial Casting calls for such things are held from time to time. See if there are any casting services in your area. A casting service office is a business location used for hosting auditions and filming test footage. Don't hang around needlessly, just inquire politely. You may be asked to audition for a main character so be ready. I really don't recommend doing an audition at a casting service if you don't have a head-shot and trade resume because casting services may require these things of the actor.

What can you really expect when working as an extra actor? Depending on what you expected, you may be in for a little bit of a let down. There are certain realities of the business. For your image to be used, you may be asked to sign certain paperwork(s). You may have to wait in long lines to either audition, be photographed or have test video taken. Often, there are long waits between filming activity when you get a film role. An "extra" may or may not meet high profile people. Your state's film industry may go into a slump, meaning that no films come to your state. Your part in the project may be diminished or taken out completely in the final product. Did you ever see a film and look at the crowds in the background? Did you ever see very many that ever stood out? Most likely, not. You will need to keep a job to pay your bills. Most extras don't make high pay and may be unpaid for their work. For the most part, it is a matter of what is offered as compensation or it's a matter of what you can negotiate for- if negotiation even comes into play. I have seen the "extra" given roll title credit for working in a scene of a film short and I've seen the film extra never even getting as much as a handshake for working in another production. Some savvy casting people will try to throw in a perk- something they can do, like a lunch or something, but not everyone tries that hard. You get to know who is good with crew and who is not. Some film makers send the "extra" to make up, wardrobe and a stylist whereas others take you as you look right then and there. How much a production may prepare the extra actor's appearance will depend greatly upon the production budget and the requirements of the script itself. Try to see film extra actor work as a "foot in the door" type of position... you get a foot in the door, build a resume, try to acquire an agent and then audition for paid work. As for myself, I have an agent and I've got paying "extra" work before and have made $100 or so for milling about, but most low budget films are just that, low budget- and they can't afford to pay much or nothing at all. Low budget/no budget films are to build resume and to show your abilities to the world and that's the only way to look at it. Ok, now you are wondering about the agent thing. I feel good having an agent because when I hit rock bottom on finding work, the office may call with notice of an audition for a commercial or something and they only get a small percentile of what I make, and since they do, they see to it that I get paid. ( by the way, that may be up to 90 days later ) An "extra" may feel that they do not want or need an agent due to being in a resume building phase but an "extra" does need to be careful of scams, being asked to sign contracts that limit themselves, and of non-professionalism either from their-own-self or from the employer. Think of it this way, "What are you willing to do or put up with to be in this project?" Are you doing this just to experience it? -then don't let the experience be a bad one. If you act unprofessionally, you won't last long. If the employer is acting unprofessionally, then you are not in good hands and should excuse yourself to go find a better opportunity. It is important to honor contracts, but if one doesn't exist you are at no one's mercy.

Most "extra" actors don't have a head-shot and resume. A good photograph of you to give the casting assistant may be all you need when you audition to be an "extra" actor. In fact, I've seen filming where a general call to everyone is made.
Anyone that shows up is an "extra". There have been times that I have seen a call for "extras" and the employer asks for the responding parties to bring their head-shots and resumes. I can only assume that they were looking to fill some cast or crew positions after having a look at what kind of talent showed up. The head-shot is roughly a 8" by 10" photograph that looks like yourself and given away to promote yourself. On the back of the head-shot is an actor's resume stapled to it upon all four corners so that you just flip the actor's head-shot over to immediately read the actor's resume. An actor's trade resume is not like your employment resume. An actor's trade resume may have the actor's name, height, race, hair color, eye color, birth year, gender, agent contact and then the acting that you have done ( film, television, theater, etc) followed by your training and special skills. The resume should not endanger the actor by using the actor's home address and phone number. Instead, use your cell phone number or a free web-based email address. The resume will be 8" by 10" just like the head-shot that you attach it to. Remember, you may not need these trade items to be a mere film extra. If you just want to be in a film, wait for the kind of call that goes out to anybody who will show up.

Are you thinking of going pro? The reasons for gambling with one's future a truly the artist's own. Some like being where the action is. Some want to live their dream. Some crave attention. I'm no doctor, I can't tell you why someone thrives doing this. It has a certain something that you can't help but to be drawn in by. You got a taste and want more? Expect to audition a lot, get few positive comments, and only a few calls (very few) wanting to know if you would like to take the part you auditioned for. Many local stage shows can help you build up your acting resume; but again, expect to be unpaid. Expect the worst and then be pleasantly surprised when you do find that paying part in a project. Auditioning is competitive. You are competing against everything from the kid next door to seasoned professionals of the business for that role. Acting is a unified effort to suspend disbelief and invoke a curiosity or emotion in the observing parties. Keep training. Develop skills. Watch the industry. Get an agent that only gets paid if you get paid and even then, just a small percentile of your earnings. You may buy training, head-shots and other trade related items but your agent should not force you into a huge financial commitment. You choose your training, your head-shot photographer, etc. Your agent merely recommends trade professionals to you. Your agent represents you using the furnished head-shot and resume. Be sure to learn what those are and be current.

My advice to the "hooked": Keep in touch with the people you meet, be likable, be remembered, keep an open mind and just do it. It's a labor of love, faith and living the dream. Break a leg.