Has anyone ever been an extra in a movie or in a commercial? If so...?

Question

How did you go about doing it? I would like to do some work like this but I don't know how to go about doing it. I live in San Diego, CA. and I should be able to find a place but I can't. Will you help me?

Answer 1

I've been in a test commercial for soft and dry deodorant.  I was working at as a temporary receptionist at an advertising agency when one by one all these blond haired blue eyed young adult girls that looked exactly like me arrived to audition for the commercial. I was lucky.  The director let me audition, too.  I got the part. This was in 1975.  I made $175 for one half hour of work.  I would have made much more for residuals every time the commercial was shown, if it had gone national.

The point is everyone wants to get in commercials.  You need an agent to send you to auditions.  Your best agencies would be in Los Angeles.  Find out what you need. [ What kind of head shots etc]   Try to get an appointment and go talk to an agent that thinks he or she can make money by sending you on auditions.  Be persistent.

My brother and a friend were both in movies shot in Mansfield Ohio at the prison there.  My brother got his job through the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services.  My friend  answers an ad.  Try the California Bureau of Employment Services.  Take acting classes, too.

Answer 2

I was an extra in a film in Philly. I got the job cos my friend worked at a casting agency. I was on the set all day from 4AM to 7PM and earned $95. It was cool, but I didn't end up in the finished film. There was a lot of standing around in the cold.

Have you tried Stu Segall Productions? They are out of San Diego. Here's the website I found:

http://www.stusegall.com/background_sd/w...

As far as I know, you don't have to have any special talent to be an extra - just be willing to work long hours, be on time, and be courteous to the cast and crew and you'll be fine.

Good luck!