How to become a Movie Extra

The times are tough, so I decided to get some cash by doing Extra’s job. I realized that there are tons of agencies on the Internet and most of them want you to pay a registration fee. Why do I have to pay? I’m doing it to make money and not to spend it!

I’m confused. I talked to a friend of mine who is doing Extra for many years. He told that the production slowed down right now and there are not so many jobs. He took me to the Samuel French Theatre & Film store on Sunset and showed me specialized books, full of websites for Extras. But I don’t have time, energy and money to explore them all and to be disappointed in the end. I want something that works.

Well, I’m ready to spend 20 bucks on it, but not more. By the way, my friend is spending hundreds of dollars on memberships on different websites. He paid over two thousand just to get in the SAG. I asked him what are the advantages of being a union Extra? He said that they can’t pay you less than $16 an hour and they pay double for overtime. And they have to serve you hot meals every 5 hours (don’t worry, there are always some snacks on the set), and if they don’t want to interrupt the production, they have to pay you extra cash for those hot meals… It can go up to $500 per day! A very long day, though…

But the problem is that now my friend is not allowed to do an $8 per hour audience job. They simply refuse to hire him: “You’re in union, go get a better job!” And if there is no better job?! Speaking about audience job, there some agencies, but beware!

The agency SRO (Standing Room Only) pays you cash after each show, but it’s very hard to get on their list. They work with a group of people they know, and if they don’t have enough people, they put an ad on the craigslist.org. Then you have to send your picture… and they almost never call you back. Of course, you can call their hotline and find out the location, come to the show and do specking (which means you wait in the line and they can let you in, if they don’t have enough people). Last time I waited one hour and half and after that they said it’s full! I don’t wanna do it again.

Another agency The Infinity Group pays only by checks which they send weekly (as they say), but in fact the checks come once a month, if you are lucky. Many people complain that they can't get their money back.

The Actors Reps seem to be a scam. They say they don’t charge you for anything. They make you go through professional acting audition (even for audience job!). And never call you back. Why? In my case, I had my own headshots. Lately, I was told that they want you to make headshots with them, and after they forget about you!

I have no idea which online agencies are effective, because I never paid them. My friend recommended Central Casting, Hollywoodos.com, Extraaccess.com, Actorsaccess.com, Lacasting.com, Lacgroup.com, Nowcasting.com and Backstage.com.

The important thing is to get access to the casting directors’ lists. You can find it on those paid websites or even buy it in the Samuel’s book store (not sure if the lists in the store are updated). Look for updated lists; otherwise you will waste a lot time trying to find out the contact information.

Send the casting directors your headshots, measures and resume. You don’t have to scam them. Remind about yourself every couple month by sending updated headshots.

Now about headshots. White background is not hot anymore. Green, Coral backgrounds make the face look fresh. Black clothes make the face lighter. Make photos on the beach, in the mountains, in the Jacuzzi, in the office, in the bar… If you want to be very professional, take a picture of yourself in medical costume, military/police uniform. The Extras suppose to have different kinds of costumes, dry-cleaned and ready for rush calls. Don’t forget to make shots of your hands, arms, feet, legs, ears… Record a video of yourself talking and showing your face from different sides. You don’t have to spend a fortune on the headshots. Ask your friends who are interested in photography or find a student. There plenty photographers who are looking for free models in exchange of pictures.*

If you are in database of hundreds of casting directors, you will likely get a job. Currently the production is slow, and they finally have time to look at your profile. Check out the hotlines and listen to the auditions they have. Keep you cell phone on. Be organized. Once you got a job, be on time. They count on you!

* If you don’t have a photographer, I can recommend you a good one. He will do the headshots for whatever money you have. Write me fromanastasia [ad] gmail.com