Becoming a Background Actor
52Working as a background extra can be a fun learning experience for anyone who is interested in acting. It's great for practice, networking and finding out if ac
Becoming a background extra is not as difficult as you may think. While it is not a job that is consistent, there are definitely opportunities out there.
I've done background work here and there throughout the past seven years and it is definitely something I enjoy doing. The great thing about background work is that you do not have to be the greatest actor to work on a project. When I first started, I had no experience. I worked on a couple of projects that were unpaid but it was a good experience. I was able to get a feel of what background acting was really about.
As a background actor, you are placed in scenes to help portray a realistic setting. I've crossed streets, sat in one spot and even played jump rope in some projects. Out of all the projects that I have worked on, I only remember seeing myself in one final edit. As a background extra, you might not ever see yourself on camera unless you are a featured extra. Even if you are not seen at all, you can still get paid for your work (if you are working a paid project). I worked a total of five days for the 2007 film, "American Gangster" and though I don't recall seeing myself in the movie, I received payment for each day I worked.
Aa a background extra you can work for a really short amount of time and sometimes you are asked to work a full day, which can run over eight hours (day or night). The good thing is that no matter how long you work you get paid for your time. There were times when I was on set for three hours and dismissed, and there have been times when I stayed on set for eleven hours. It really depends on the needs of the project. You are paid a set rate and if you work overtime, you are paid for the extra hours as well. There are some projects where you might be paid union rate, which is more than what you would get as a non-union background extra. The two unions for film and television are SAG and AFTRA. Once you receive three vouchers, you will be able to join one of them, and you might receive one in some cases. These are not given to you every single time you work but once you have three, receive notification of your eligibility and finally join, you can begin submitting for union jobs.
There are a couple ways that you can get work as a background extra. You can search the Internet for open calls in your city, but you should always confirm that everything is legit when using this method. Always use your best judgment. Another good way to go about getting work as an extra is by signing up with different casting agencies in your area. Some casting agencies hold open calls and you will either be asked to bring a headshot with you, or a snapshot will be taken of you (some agencies may charge $25.00) at the open call. There are some agencies you can mail or email your photo, resume, etc. to. Once placed in the agency's database, you will be contacted whenever they need you for a project. This can be a week from the date you're added to the system to a year from the date. It all depends on the needs of the project the agency is working on at the time, which is why signing up with a number of agencies is a good idea. I've used both methods to find work and you can get lucky either way. The best thing to do is to use all possible resources.
If you have spare time, are interested in acting and are looking for a great networking opportunity, background acting might be something worth trying. There are many people who do extra work for many different reasons, and with different levels of experience. This is also a good way to find out if acting is something you might be interested in doing full time.
I've done background work here and there throughout the past seven years and it is definitely something I enjoy doing. The great thing about background work is that you do not have to be the greatest actor to work on a project. When I first started, I had no experience. I worked on a couple of projects that were unpaid but it was a good experience. I was able to get a feel of what background acting was really about.
As a background actor, you are placed in scenes to help portray a realistic setting. I've crossed streets, sat in one spot and even played jump rope in some projects. Out of all the projects that I have worked on, I only remember seeing myself in one final edit. As a background extra, you might not ever see yourself on camera unless you are a featured extra. Even if you are not seen at all, you can still get paid for your work (if you are working a paid project). I worked a total of five days for the 2007 film, "American Gangster" and though I don't recall seeing myself in the movie, I received payment for each day I worked.
Aa a background extra you can work for a really short amount of time and sometimes you are asked to work a full day, which can run over eight hours (day or night). The good thing is that no matter how long you work you get paid for your time. There were times when I was on set for three hours and dismissed, and there have been times when I stayed on set for eleven hours. It really depends on the needs of the project. You are paid a set rate and if you work overtime, you are paid for the extra hours as well. There are some projects where you might be paid union rate, which is more than what you would get as a non-union background extra. The two unions for film and television are SAG and AFTRA. Once you receive three vouchers, you will be able to join one of them, and you might receive one in some cases. These are not given to you every single time you work but once you have three, receive notification of your eligibility and finally join, you can begin submitting for union jobs.
There are a couple ways that you can get work as a background extra. You can search the Internet for open calls in your city, but you should always confirm that everything is legit when using this method. Always use your best judgment. Another good way to go about getting work as an extra is by signing up with different casting agencies in your area. Some casting agencies hold open calls and you will either be asked to bring a headshot with you, or a snapshot will be taken of you (some agencies may charge $25.00) at the open call. There are some agencies you can mail or email your photo, resume, etc. to. Once placed in the agency's database, you will be contacted whenever they need you for a project. This can be a week from the date you're added to the system to a year from the date. It all depends on the needs of the project the agency is working on at the time, which is why signing up with a number of agencies is a good idea. I've used both methods to find work and you can get lucky either way. The best thing to do is to use all possible resources.
If you have spare time, are interested in acting and are looking for a great networking opportunity, background acting might be something worth trying. There are many people who do extra work for many different reasons, and with different levels of experience. This is also a good way to find out if acting is something you might be interested in doing full time.
