Traveling Movie extra

[Sikafishn]

Does anyone have any experience with this ?

 

[dextours]

While not an expert I have worked as an extra in a handful of productions. I will share with you how "I" did it and my experiences.

I will be posting several replies in a row because of my slow typing on my phone the posting editor times out. Sorry if that is an annoyance to anyone.

 

[dextours]

The way i found work as an extra was through a CASTING AGENCY. They are contracted by productions to find and supply extras.

The casting agency I worked with was onlocation casting. Don't know if they are "the best" I just knew that they had a need for extras in my location. There are probably lots of other agencies. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.

It is my opinion it shouldn't cost you anything to be an extra. Don't pay for listings, professional head shots etc. It has never cost me anything to be work on several productions. AGAIN DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.

For me being an extra is all about stereotypes. They have a look they are after. College students, stay at home mom, grandmother, biker, camper, whatever. The agency will be trying to get extras that fit the productions needs that's all. So if you are a good fit you're in. If you are not they just won't use you. It isn't personal. You either are or aren't the TYPE needed.

 

[dextours]

First step was to go to my casting agencies website in my case that was onlocation casting to setup your listing.

You will enter in your contact information. They will ask for a bunch of information about your height, weight, hair color, if you have any special skills like horseback riding or fluency in a language.

I had to up load a few pics of myself just a head shot and full body shot. These pics don't have to be professional high quality. Just clear in focus. Don't wear hats, sunglasses, etc. Just a clear shot of your face and clothed body. Mine were taken with my crappy cell phone by a friend. I was standing outside in front of a wooden fence because that's where the good light was. Don't stress this.

 

[dextours]

After setting up a profile with the casting agency it's time to look for work.

Onlocation casting the only company I have experience with posts available work on their Facebook page. Anyone can go see what if anything they currently are trying to cast

The Facebook post will give you most the details of who, what, when, pay rate, and how to apply. Again this is just how ow the agency I have experience with does things. Other agencies probably do it differently.

 

[lenny flank]

Interesting.

When I was visiting LA I had a long chat with an extra I happened to meet on the way to the zoo. One thing I quickly learned--they prefer to be called "background actors" and get quite annoyed if you call them an "extra".

 

[Sikafishn]

Wow...Thats a platefull. Covers a lot of area. Was thinking of adding that to the on the road job options list. Thanks so much for all this Dextours.

 

[dextours]

What was the pay like?

Each porduction had different pay rates. The average was $80 for the day plus they provided lunch. I was paid for 8 hours even if they only needed me for 6. If they kept me longer I was paid time and half for each additional hour. 

If by luck you become a "featured" extra that would be where you speak or are a real part of the story line you will be paid more. How much I don't know never happened to me.

 

[dextours]

What is the work like?

Mostly waiting around. A lot has to happen before they shoot a scene. They generally have the extras wait in a staging area. A production assistant (PA) will go there to get the extras needed for the scene. The PA will take you were you need to be and tell you what if anything to do. You could be sitting in a car or crossing a street whatever. They'll shoot and reshoot as many times as needed. Each time they will reset everyone and everything to reshoot. 

That's all I can think of. Any questions I'll try to answer. Just be kind.

 

[Sikafishn]

Thnx again for all this info. I guess my curiosity would lie in wondering if mobility would be a factor being able to bounce around location to location and if per diem is part of the pkg.

 

[dextours]

In my experience they won't pay traveling expenses. 


Being a nomad has advantages in that we are traveling anyway. A nomad knows how to do it cheaper than anyone else not local. If they need you for several days you don't have to drive home each day. Nomads boondock or stealth close to location. The fact that you are willing to go where the work is is your competitive advantage. Maybe the location is near where you are going to be anyway or someplace you want to see.

In my experience for most extras it's a job of opportunity where you might make a few hundred dollars. I wouldn't want to be dependent on the income.

 

[Sikafishn]

Wonderful insights. Thanks for your efforts

 

[RoamerRV428]

cool post to read

 

[maki2]

You would probably find more work near towns that are popular for making movies in such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City, etc. There are a few somewhat remote locations now and again but they are often located close to cities that have airports and linked to major highways. That is simply logistics for moving people and equipment to the location sites.

So if you like to boondock in remote locations you might not get much work.

 

[highdesertranger]

what are you saying, that there isn't much work in Basque, Oregon? highdesertranger

 

[Minivanmotoman]

Great answer Dextours. So now that you're not famous, can I not have your autograph?

 

[dextours]

Minivanmotoman

I am so not famous I should be famous for that alone  :dodgy:

I don't appear on screen in any of the movies

 

[RoamerRV428]

you don't appear on screen, so what does an extra do then if off screen? huh, this is just so interesting, not a subject I ever checked into....movies and glamour and all that jazz, way out of my league or desires cause I just never went there with acting kinda thing

 

[dextours]

I never appear on screen because all the scenes I was in ended up on the cutting room floor and not used.

They shoot many hours of material and only use something like 90 minutes of it.

You don't do anything off screen but wait until they need you for something.

 

[RoamerRV428]

cool.
ahh, on the cutting room floor. seems sad but sounds like a neat way to make some bucks