How to be an extra in a film or TV show
Extra, Extra, read all about it!
I’ll be covering a lot of information about how to be an extra on set, so I’ve made a cheat sheet for ease of future, quick reference.
Allow me to begin by thanking my friend and colleague, Jackie DeGraaff, who I hit up to help me with this subject. She has previously worked at an extras casting agency and she provided a ton of valuable insight to help get YOU HIRED!
I’m super excited to talk about how to be an extra. Other terms for being an extra are “background” or “BG.” It’s surprisingly easy to work on the set of your favorite TV show. Whether you’re a fan or looking to gain some set skills, being an extra is a fantastic gateway to set life without prior experience.
Be sure to download my Extra’s Cheat Sheet for quick reference.
1) Find the extra casting agencies in your area
I’ll list at the bottom of this post, the extra casting agencies in Atlanta, GA. If you live in another state, a place you can start is your state’s film commission website. If you hit a dead end there, check out the local entertainment publications in your area. Such as newspapers and magazines that will have coverage on what is filming or has filmed your area. Then watch the credits on those shows to see who is listed as extras casting. You can also look up the shows online on IMDb or International Movie Database. However, they typically list the extras casting director instead of the company. You can also get great results by simply Googling “extras casting in your state or city.” Get scrappy and make your list of resources.
2) Submit
Follow the steps! A casting agency will explain on their site how to submit to a casting call. Read them and get it right! Unless prompted, do not directly contact a casting director or assistant. There can be a lot of people applying and there’s a system in place for good reason.
The casting call post will list what “looks” they are casting for. Do not submit if you don’t fit. There are plenty of opportunities, so please be patient if you don’t fit the criteria for that particular call.
Make sure you submit ALL the requested information and respond promptly for any additional requests. This sounds simple, but a lot of people do not follow directions.
PHOTO
Have a good photo of yourself ready to send. You should be pictured chest up, no filters, no crazy angles, and it needs to be an accurate representation of how you look.
You may also need to have a full body shot, check the listing you’re applying to. Have a friend use a phone to take these pictures. Applying to be an extra is more informal than applying for an acting role where you would need to submit a professional headshot. However, it does need to be a clear image, with good lighting, and an accurate representation of what you look like. If you’ve had a haircut, shaved, or dyed your hair, it needs to reflect that. Which is another reason to not invest in headshots for the purposes of being an extra.
MEASUREMENTS
The extras casting agencies will likely need your measurements. That can be as simple as your weight and height. Or it can be very specific like your shoe size, waist, chest measurements, etc. To be blunt, this isn’t a time for insecurities. These numbers need to be accurate as wardrobe may only have certain sizes of particular outfits needed for filming. If you lied about your measurements and you can’t fit the wardrobe…well…you’ve pissed off wardrobe, made the casting director look bad, AND you probably won’t be on camera unless they can come up with a quick fix. Not to mention you may not get booked by that casting director again.
To wrap up step 2 of submitting, make sure you’ve included everything requested in your submission (follow the steps) and have an accurate photo of your beautiful self.
3) BOOKED IT!
Fantastic, you followed all the steps and received your booking e-mail confirmation.
For this section, I’ll break up the info into chunks, as there’s a lot to cover! Don’t worry, this section will ease any nerves and get you fully prepared for a day on set.
BE EARLY
Plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to the time you’re asked to be there. You’re on time if you’re early; you’re late if you’re on time. How far away is the location? Will it be during any rush hours, school getting out, or a lunch break? If so, factor in more drive time. If you need a ride or public transportation, have even more time as you’re dependent on more variables.
PARKING
There will be signs for “extras parking.” As you get close, you should see them, or at least for “crew parking.” Your confirmation e-mail should have a contact listed of whom to contact on the day of filming. Have that number in your phone and call them if you need help or have any questions.
Here’s an example of what the extras parking signs look like.
Source: JCL Traffic
Once you get to crew parking, there will likely be vans to take you to extras holding. If you’re not sure, ask the van driver. Occasionally there will be a crew member in the lot directing folks where to go and you can ask them too. If there are no vans, look for signs to extras holding or basecamp as they are usually in the same spot. If there are only signs and no vans, those destinations are within a short walking distance. Once you get to basecamp, there will be a lot of people running around. I do advise you to try and only ask Set PAs for directions, which takes some practice identifying them out of the crew. Set PAs will always have a walkie, a light tool belt (if one at all), they’ll have some papers on them, pens, and sharpies. Or you call the number the casting agency supplied.
EXTRAS HOLDING
Now you’ve arrived to extras holding. See why I say to get there 30 minutes early? It may take you that long to simply get to where you need to be checked in and you need to be checking in at the time you were requested to be there.
To find where extras are being checked in, you’ll want to look for where other extras are lined up. Or if you’re the first one, someone will be at a table with a list of who to check in and extra’s vouchers for each person to fill out. You can fill out your voucher later if you need to, but don’t loose it. They are usually carbon copied, so be sure to get a copy at the end of the day as proof for payment.
You’ll need to bring with you a valid, government issued photo ID. A driver’s license, state ID, or passport, and you’ll need to know your social security number. For minors, parents will need to register their child with GDOL or department of labor. You’ll need the child’s registration number, date of birth, social security number, and to be safe, their birth certificate.
Next you’re onto “the works.” Now that you’ve found the crew, they should be directing you to the next steps. However, it could be their first day too, so be sure to ask where to go to be seen by wardrobe, hair, and makeup. You HAVE to be seen by some representative in these departments to be approved as “camera ready.” There can be a lot of extras with not enough crew directing, so take some initiative and ask your fellow extras too. Get through the works together!
It can be difficult to navigate basecamp (which is where all the working trucks are), so here’s an example of what a wardrobe truck looks like. They will typically have wardrobe racks nearby and a clear sliding door at the back.
Rights reserved by Ken Olson of many photos.
Example of a wardrobe truck.
ITEMS TO BRING WITH YOU
Wardrobe, Hair, Makeup
The casting agency will let you know further details about your “look” for filming. Typically you need to be hair and makeup ready and bring some wardrobe options. Don’t worry if you aren’t highly skilled in theses areas, you’ll be seeing a crew member from each of these departments. They will make adjustments if necessary. Don’t stress about the clothing either. If the show takes place modern day and the scene is in a common place, like a café, you likely already have outfits that will work. Bring 2-3 options: avoid bright colors (especially white), busy or too tight patterns (like thin stripes), and anything with a band or logo. Camera sees differently than our eyes and those types of clothing appear much more strongly and therefore distracting. Also, bands and logos come with copyright, so it’s best to avoid any conflicts there.
In addition to your wardrobe, check the weather and bring appropriate attire. You may be stuck in extras holding in a tent and it may be freezing, super hot, or raining. If you’re filming on stage, the temperature can be chilly on the outskirts as the stage lights can really heat up set. In between set ups, you may want a warming jacket that will keep you comfortable.
Water Bottle & Snacks
More than likely, you will not have a chance to eat when you arrive to extras holding. Plan on already having eaten a meal. I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle and some snacks for the day to bring with you. There will be a water jug for you to fill up at. Depending on the budget of the show, there may be some snacks specified for extras vs crew. Don’t assume any food you see is for extras, please be sure to ask the casting associate or PA when you get there. If you’re working longer than 6 hours, you’ll be fed a meal. A length of day for an extra can vary from as short as 4 hours to as long as 18 hours. Don’t bother asking how long you’re going to be there, it’s impossible to predict with all the variables of filming. Although, the average length of day for an extra will be between 8 to 12 hours.
Lock & Entertainment
Once you get settled at extras holding, gone through the works (hair, makeup, wardrobe), you will likely get called to set. Or in some cases, you won’t get called to set at all. Don’t take this personally, it could be as simple as they overbooked or are not making it to the scene where they need extras.
You may have brought nicer personal items that you don’t want stolen. Although there may be some security, I highly recommend having a lock for your personal belongings. You will not have time to bring them back to your car. Once you’re on set or in extras holding, you’re expected to stay there.
Since there’s the possibility that you may not get called to set at all, bring something that is quiet (or ideally silent) to work on. Extras holding may be within earshot of filming; in which case you’ll need to be silent during takes. Bring a book, magazine, or device (with charger or extra battery) that can be silent.
RATE
How much you get paid to be an extra will depend on how long your workday is and what is the budget of the show. You are guaranteed to be paid for 8 hours. Typically for 8 hours of work, the pay is around $80. For an average-length day you’ll be making in the low $100s. You can get pay bumps if they need to use your car or if you’re selected for a more featured role. It is extremely rare to get a speaking line, but once in a while that will happen and you’ll get a bump in pay. If your end goal is to eventually get speaking roles, get an agent & join SAG (Screen Actors Guild).
As I mentioned earlier, you will fill out a voucher for payment. Make sure you get checked out by the PA or extras casting associate and get a copy of your voucher. You can expect a check in the mail within 6-8 weeks or less. If there’s ever a pay dispute, contact the payroll company listed on your voucher. DO NOT contact the extras casting company, as they do not handle payroll.
FILMING
Being on set, especially for the first time, is super exciting! However, please keep in mind you have been booked for a job and you need to be professional. Do not speak to actors, nor ask for autographs or pictures. You’ll want to stay quiet at all times, including between takes and camera set-ups. There can be a lot of extras on set and sound (even whispers) can get out of control and crew needs to be able to each another.
Be sure your phone is on silent or OFF so you don’t ruin a take. Also if your phone ruins a take, you may not be asked back.
You’ll be directed what to do by a PA or AD (Assistant Director). The crew will call “rolling,” but you’ll need to wait for “action” or “background action” before you perform whatever action you’ve been given. Once “cut” is called, you’ll return to your starting position or you may hear the PA announce “back to 1,” (which means the same thing).
If you happen to be near camera, DO NOT look in camera when rolling. If you do this and the crew sees it, you’ll be replaced. Remember to be as natural as possible and have fun.
That’s a wrap. Thank you for reading. I’d love to hear about any stories you have when you book your days on set. Please be sure to share this blog post with anyone interested in being an extra.
P.S. Don’t forget to download my cheat sheet for easy reference.
Atlanta Extras Casting Agencies:
Background Artists Casting Atlanta
Casting Taylor Made - Facebook
For further listings, click here.
