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Being AN extra

edited January 2012 in Not Sports Related
Anyone done it before?

Heard its good money.
«13

Comments

  • Blokes I used to work with were extras in Eastenders quite regularly and didn't get a penny!

    They also starred in (as extras) a couple of James Bond movies as their mum was a casting director!
  • Being a zombie extra must be good fun 
  • Friends with a guy who crews for lots of 'hollywood' stuff, and it's safe to say that the budget isn't spent on extras.
  • I've never been an extra but I spent a long time as a film techie. It's a laugh if it's a hobby, I would say. Some things to bear in mind:

    • Never pay an agency to put you on their books. Proper agencies take their pay from producers, not Supporting Artists (which is what you must learn to call yourself).
    • Don't expect to be looked after. You will get food last, be left hanging around, not get a confirmation on whether or not you are needed until 10pm the night before.
    • No-one is interested in whether or not you are ok.
    • You will have a third assistant director who will often be about 12 years old ordering you around.
    • You won't hang out with Tom and Keira. In fact, looking them in the eye could well get you dismissed. Asking for autographs and pictures certainly will.
    • Especially on lower budget shoots, things run late. Not staying till 10pm may mean that you go unpaid.

    But it's interesting to see how film and TV drama gets put together. Do it with low expectations, take a book and warm cloths, and it's highly likely you'll have a laugh. But most of all, don't pay to go on someone's books unless you get a personal recommendation from someone who has actually been paid for a job first. And if you do get work, obey the first rule, which is...Be on time. In fact, be early.

  • edited January 2012
    Can you set me up? Thanks for the advice

  • Friends with a guy who crews for lots of 'hollywood' stuff, and it's safe to say that the budget isn't spent on extras.
    Could you let me know if he needs anyone in south east area :)
  • Sorry Cray but I've been out of the game nearly six years so any of my contacts will be deeply unfashionable and useless. Sorry...
  • Spot on post
  • Damn. Thanks anyway lads.
  • As far as I know its done through agencies, just adhere to the golden rule- never pay for it!
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  • Me and my mate did extra work on 'The phone shop'. He saw something through facebook and signed us up. ALOT of waiting around but the actors were really friendly and would let people have pictures with them. Easy money really, they also gave us a fiver for lunch and quite good to see behind the scenes if you haven't seen anything like that before. Although the snotty nosed brats who were from the agencies are complete to55ers.
  • As far as I know its done through agencies, just adhere to the golden rule- never pay for it!
    Any agencies you can recommend?


  • Me and my mate did extra work on 'The phone shop'. He saw something through facebook and signed us up. ALOT of waiting around but the actors were really friendly and would let people have pictures with them. Easy money really, they also gave us a fiver for lunch and quite good to see behind the scenes if you haven't seen anything like that before. Although the snotty nosed brats who were from the agencies are complete to55ers.
    Sounds perfect. Who did u sign up with?
  • My mates did extra's work in the movie 'King Arther'. Got some quality pictures of them dressed up in all the gear, il try get some info for you.
  • My mates did extra's work in the movie 'King Arther'. Got some quality pictures of them dressed up in all the gear, il try get some info for you.
    Thanks, would appreciate that.

  • My mates did extra's work in the movie 'King Arther'. Got some quality pictures of them dressed up in all the gear, il try get some info for you.
    Thanks, would appreciate that.

    As already mentioned, it isnt much pay usually.. but would be a good experience with a few mates. It would be quality getting a role as a orc in LOTR
  • My mates did extra's work in the movie 'King Arther'. Got some quality pictures of them dressed up in all the gear, il try get some info for you.
    Thanks, would appreciate that.

    As already mentioned, it isnt much pay usually.. but would be a good experience with a few mates. It would be quality getting a role as a orc in LOTR
    The trip to New Zealand might offset any profit you made though :o)
  • My mates did extra's work in the movie 'King Arther'. Got some quality pictures of them dressed up in all the gear, il try get some info for you.
    Thanks, would appreciate that.

    As already mentioned, it isnt much pay usually.. but would be a good experience with a few mates. It would be quality getting a role as a orc in LOTR
    I would just like to experience it, and was hoping to tap on lifers experiences etc...
  • My nephew did some extras work on a horror movie. Sent a text to his mum saying he was having his head chopped off in the afternoon! My niece got some work as a runner with the same company - they wanted her to stay with them but she decided to stick with studying her accountancy exams. So, make yourself useful and you never know where it may lead, if you are willing to take the risk.
  • edited January 2012

    My work is done here.

     

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  • edited January 2012
    My nephew did some extras work on a horror movie. Sent a text to his mum saying he was having his head chopped off in the afternoon! My niece got some work as a runner with the same company - they wanted her to stay with them but she decided to stick with studying her accountancy exams. So, make yourself useful and you never know where it may lead, if you are willing to take the risk.</





    What was the company?

  • No idea - I'll ask my niece.
  • Cray - i did 2 films in 2011, St Georges Day (expenses only) - Frank Harper 1st film as director, out this year i did 7 or 8 scenes as one of the England "firm"and a day on the new Sweeney film (day rate) as a villian, met some great blokes who are now  good mates and have 3 films in pipe line for early 2012. As mentioned above i doubt you could make a living out of it but as a hobby its great fun and awesome to see how big films are made.
  • Me and my mate did extra work on 'The phone shop'. He saw something through facebook and signed us up. ALOT of waiting around but the actors were really friendly and would let people have pictures with them. Easy money really, they also gave us a fiver for lunch and quite good to see behind the scenes if you haven't seen anything like that before. Although the snotty nosed brats who were from the agencies are complete to55ers.
    It was a long day but well worth trying, just look out for notices on Facebook and Twitter via actors / directors etc. And as Fiiish said, watch out for the 'stage school' knobs, they are well above themselves!!!!
  • Weren't you in the Crystal Maze?
  • Yeah but they kept running out of make-up for my head. How's the Extra Factor going?

  • Was down the Kings Road in the late 60's with a pal during our lunch hour and got asked to be extras in a film that turned out to be Clockwork Orange, think we got £2 a day not bad money for hanging out in the Karova Milk Bar.
  • I had a small part in a porn film long ago. Didn't last long though.
  • My daughter was in the Inbetweeners and we got treated very well. As did most of the kids there. We had an advantage as it was my mjate that wrote it though.
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