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.
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.
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.
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.
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.</
I did a couple of days as an extra about 15 years ago it was for a programme called Sharmen which had Samantha Janus in it. I had to be there for about 7-7.30 they supplied us with tea coffee and breakfast, lots of standing around and was away by about 3 ish and got paid about £120 aday. I did this through a friend who does it all the time and is still doing it today, he was in Manchester before Christmas doing a Nike advert containing Rooney.
He gets alot of his work through Andy ansah because he used to be involved with dream team the series, I will ask him if he has any contacts for you.
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!!!!
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.
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.
Comments
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:
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.
My work is done here.
He gets alot of his work through Andy ansah because he used to be involved with dream team the series, I will ask him if he has any contacts for you.
Yeah but they kept running out of make-up for my head. How's the Extra Factor going?