Becoming a Movie Extra. . . .?

Question

How can I become a movie or TV extra?

If I become one, will it help me develop an acting career? I read that you need no prior acting experience or training to be an extra and that it's the easiest way to get into acting because becoming an extra is easy. Is this true? If so, are there many movies that want teenagers in the background? And do I need an agent and headshots to do this?

Appreciate the help.

Answer 1

This depends greatly on where you live.  In Los Angeles there's actually a good amount of work for background actors.  There are lots of factors that will depends on whether or not you can do this type of work.  Here, you need an entertainment work permit.  You'd also need a parent or guardian on set with you at all times if you are under 18.  if you are over 18 and you look younger, they will LOVE you.  If you are out of school, homeschooled or emancipated they will also love you.  

If you're in the LA area and you're under 18 go here:

http://www.kidsmanagement.com/kids/index...

I have info for if you're older too but I suspect you're under 18 so I won't waste space.  HOWEVER, this is not the way to start an acting career.  It's fine to do it a few times so you can see how things work on a set, but not as a way to an acting career.  You need proper training and you need to build a resume and you can't do that while doing extra work.  Extra work has NO PLACE on a legit resume.  

To do extra work you do not need an agent and headshots but you can have those things.  You do need to go through a business that hires extras and they ALL charge fees.  That's the way it is.  Agents on the other hand are not allowed to charge up front fees.  They get paid when you do.  

good luck,

Marianne

Answer 2

well im not an expert

but i will tell u i am an actor and have done the same and i am also a teen

i went to california for half a year last year and did audition and extra work

well my suggestion would be to get sighned up with kids background

it is a great service thth will text u wen they need someone

and then u need to call in right AWAY

it is like a race

but if u call in fast enough u could book jobs

for example

i did medium and ghost whispers through this service

it was awesome

and you need to have a work permit and a cougan acoount.

it would be helpful to have headshots

good luck

Answer 3

I'm not sure how to answer this.  Being an extra is really not acting.  (okay everybody rail me now)  It is great to hire extras who are actors because then they can take direction, but basically extras are background and you are there to fill a space in the ... background.

One benefit to you if you have a try at being an extra is it puts you on a movie or TV set and lets you see whether you would be interested in working in that environment in the future.  It is a lot of waiting around, low pay (if any pay) and often, not being able to even see yourself on the final cut.

But I don't really think that being an extra helps get one into acting roles, unless you accidentally meet someone on the set, or it's a small film and the director sees you audition and then invites you to be an extra.  Typically the extras are held in a pen by the extras coordinator completely separated from the rest of the crew and cast.  

It's true you don't need acting experience or training to be an extra, but I'm not sure how being an extra is a "way to get into acting."

Good luck figuring out which you want to do, though!