Does being an extra count as acting experience? How do I become an extra?

Question

I am a 15 year old boy, living in the south-west of England (Devon). I want to become an actor eventually, so I was wondering how to get acting experience, and it struck me that one possible way may be to become an extra. Would this count as acting experience in the future?

My parents own a small film company (sculptinglight.co.uk), and I act quite a lot in their films. I know that this does count as acting experience, but in the future I want to become an actual film actor, or at least try!

I know I should get involved in theatre; I do, I know this. I was just wondering, how could I become an extra at 15 years old, and living in Devon?

Answer 1

Where's Devon? In Cornwall?

Yes, being an extra helps, but only a little. Here in the States producers looking for local extras advertise in certain newspapers and www.craigslist.org

If I'm not mistaken, craigslist operates in the UK too.

There is a lot to acting. It's true that the best looking actors and actresses are chosen first for many roles, but not always. Elocution is an extremely important part of acting, as is cultivating a sense of dignity. At home, imagine yourself as in as many roles as you can, and write short monologs for these. Then practice these in a mirror so that you can adjust your face to the emotional tone of the part. And read a lot of plays and watch a lot of good movies.

Answer 2

yes being an extra can count. Anything is good for your resume'.

But i say if you really want to start acting look into some acting lessons around you. Community theater is a great way to start off then, you can look around and see some agents that might be in your area then you have a acting carrer just waiting to burst!

hope you make a break :]

Answer 3

being an extra gives you only 'on set' expereince and cannot be construed to be 'acting' experience.  Acting is the creation of a character through use of scripted lines as well as body movement.  Merely standing in a crowd to fill a lens with people does not follow this.  

Look in your community for a community theater to join to get more expereince.  In addition, work with the drama department in your school.  

Answer 4

As the others have said, being an extra can be helpful that it gives you first hand experience on a big set, but that's about it. Stories about people being plucked from obscurity as an extra and given lines,etc are few and far between.

Extra work also doesn't go on your acting resume.

So, if you want to become a film actor don't worry too much if you don't have many opportunities to do extra work. It's not going to advance you're career anyway. Actors will sometimes do it between gigs for some extra money or to network with other actors.

I'm not sure how it works in the UK, but check with any talent agencies around. If a big film comes to town and they need a lot of people, they'll usually post an ad somewhere everyone will see it, like the newspaper. For smaller, local stuff, go through the agencies.

Your parents may know of some resources, ask them as well.