Extras Casting
How to Become a
Background Extra
Imagine a scene in a movie where two actors are chatting at an outdoor cafe. It would look a little unnatural if there were no passersby, no other customers, no wait staff...
Extras (sometimes referred to as background or atmosphere) are actors who appear in a scene where a non-specific, non-speaking character
is required, usually as part of a crowd or in the background of a scene.
"Extras gain on-screen
experience and have the chance to work on set with other actors, producers and
directors," explained Brett Wettlaufer from Kids Management,
an extras background company in Los Angeles. "It's a great way for kids to
get their foot in the door."
Though becoming an extra is much easier if you live in a major entertainment city like New York or Los Angeles, it is still fairly simple to gain extra work without having Hollywood in your backyard.
Extras are needed for productions throughout the US and because of this there are Extras Casting agencies throughout the country in cities like Orlando and Miami Beach, Florida: Chicago, Illinois and many other cities.
Generally, extras in California make a day rate of around $130.00/8hrs, however the law only regulates minimum wage, so it is possible that a low-budget film may only pay $6.55/hr.
If you want to become an extra, here's how to get started:
