How to Search for and Find Work as Movie Extra
Regional Acting Parts Available Through Online Notices, Searches
Oct 16, 2009
The search for background roles in movies has developed into a regional market defined by the location of filming and evolving need for extras. A number of opportunities are available through knowing some of the resources for information, including what to be on the cautionary lookout for.
Web sites now have become dominant both among casting directors and casting agencies in publicizing acting work. “Because much of the acting job-hunting involves online searches, beware of online casting agencies that charge a fee to post headshots and resumes online,” Adrian McCoy pointed out in “Movie extras should never pay a fee to work,” in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of May 13, 2009. “Many of these sites are upfront about the fact that they’re not employment agencies, but more of a networking tool that may connect actors with casting directors.”
Some new to the field may not realize the difference between talent agents and casting companies. Agents are hired to find work for actors, while production companies hire casting firms to find actors needed to fill roles. But actors ordinarily don’t pay casting companies.
Prospective Extras Need to Learn of Available Film Opportunities in Their Geographic Area
Brian Dragonuk, a Maryland-based actor and casting associate, puts out free online newsletters with notices of casting calls and networking opportunities primarily in the Mid-Atlantic States. He reminds anyone interested in extra work to learn what projects are available in their area that need background actors. That usually involves finding and registering with casting agencies in a given region, attending an open call for extras, or setting up profiles in agency online actor databases.
In addition, booking services which know people at casting companies may be able to provide extras for a scene in a film or TV production. Non-professional actors may encounter pay-to-work offers that are routine in places such as Los Angeles and New York.
However, Dragonuk warns prospective extras never to agree to pay anyone for auditions or jobs. “There are NO FEES in OUR INDUSTRY NONE -- NEVER -- NO MATTER WHAT THEY CALL IT,” his newsletters frequently proclaim. “If someone wants money from you up-front (not related to a job you have finished and been paid for) RUN.”
Many film industry professionals also advise amateurs to be aware of individuals who may try to present themselves as “producers” and offer film roles to anyone willing to help provide financing. “The online classified ad site Craigslist is a popular source for information on audition and casting notices,” McCoy wrote. “But again, unscrupulous people have used the service to post phony scams and offers.”
Regional Acting Expo in Maryland Brings Together Interested Actors and Film Industry
At a recent regional acting exposition which Dragonuk helped organize in Timonium, Maryland, in suburban Baltimore, those interested in work had a chance for face-to-face meetings, exchange of head shots and resumes, and taping brief speaking auditions with casting directors, employment agencies for actors, independent film companies, and others involved in the business.
“‘The event itself comes from several years of trying to create a regional film family,’ said Dragonuk, who noted as a working actor he would often see the same Baltimore and Washington, D.C. actors and crew on one film after another in cities as diverse as Philadelphia and Richmond,” William Powell wrote in “Actors chase dreams make connections at Actor/Model Expo,” in the October 5, 2009 Examiner.com. “‘I thought, we’ve got to regionalize’.”
Not all work is in theatrical movies. Non-union performers were sought this year for principal speaking parts in a series of vignettes produced for use on the U.S. Census Bureau Web site. Other casting opportunities have been in American Red Cross training films and as characters in dramatic videos that university film students are making.
Roles are both paid and non-paid. Extras in films also can receive added pay for the use of their car, pets, or props in a scene. While non-actors usually appear only briefly in non-speaking parts in professional films, some movie background work can lead to listed name credits onscreen and on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) site.
Extra Work Open to Different Backgrounds but Certain Appearances Sometimes Sought
Extra parts in different filming locations can be open to those of a variety of nationalities, races, ethnic backgrounds, or physical appearances. But if casting companies are looking for someone of a certain description or with specific skills, a person seeking that role should meet the basic requirements. At open casting calls, agencies often take digital photos of those attending and registering and ask them for such information as height, weight, hair color, and age.
Those who are called to come to a movie set may receive as little as one day’s notice about filming. Anyone accepted should determine their availability beforehand or be able to arrange time off from work if necessary to fulfill the commitment.
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) is an open union for professional performers. Qualification for Screen Actors Guild (SAG) membership requires performers to have worked either three times as a SAG-covered extra or once as a SAG-covered principal. With a certain amount of non-union film extra work, individuals can become eligible to join SAG.
Although SAG has jurisdiction over background actors, contracts only require a small number of union extras to be hired for a given union project, and the remainder of extras can be non-union.
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