How to Be an Extra: 5 Tips for Getting Background Acting Work

Extras, also referred to as background actors or background talent, are performers placed in the background of a scene in a film or TV show to make the atmosphere more realistic. Extras can be used in a scene to populate a restaurant, walk in the background down a street, or appear in a crowd. Aspiring actors can perform extra work on television or movie sets as a part-time job to make money, or to help boost their acting careers.

If your dream is to be a professional actor, consider becoming an extra for film. Here are five tips to find extra work.

1. 1. Consider your location. Though acting work is available wherever film production happens, cities like New York and Los Angeles offer the most opportunities for extra work in the entertainment industry.
2. 2. Make sure you have a headshot. Extras casting is a visual process, as most background work does not include speaking roles. A professional headshot can help sell your look to prospective casting companies.
3. 3. Look up casting agencies. Research reputable casting directors or companies that have a proven track record of successfully finding work for movie extras. Once you’ve found a casting service with trusted reviews, submit your headshot and any necessary paperwork. If you’re a member of SAG-AFTRA—which is a union that represents actors—you may have an advantage in getting cast as an extra, because many productions have a quota for how many union members they must have on set.
4. 4. Check for casting notices. Look at casting job boards online to see if any productions are holding open casting calls, and apply to as many as you fit the bill for. Some opportunities will be general, but others may call for a specific look.
5. 5. Keep at it. Be patient but persistent in your efforts to pick up extra gigs. New productions are always cropping up, and many of them need extras. Regularly check the casting notice boards for any new opportunities that may arise.

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