I'm a film and TV extra, AMA

[FilmExtra]

Just that. Happy to answer any questions, as far as I can.

Are you happy to call yourself an extra? I met someone who insisted on being called a "background artist" which just sounded really wanky.

A lot of the agencies refer to Background Artists or Supporting Artistes. I am not from a luvvie background and have no desire to be the next Margot Robbie, so extra is fine.

Ooo interesting! What's the most famous thing you've been in?

Did you watch Extras?

Have you ever felt looked down on by the main cast?

@brogo

Ooo interesting! What's the most famous thing you've been in?

Probably Outlander.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Did you watch Extras?

Yes - but before I started doing this sort of work. Love Ricky Gervais it's very funny. And accurate with all the sitting about.

Do you have to work long hours, only to be in a tiny snippet of film?

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Have you ever felt looked down on by the main cast?

Not really, most actors and crew are fine. Not much interaction with the "talent" though. Just with every profession you get the occasional arse and some fellow extras who think they are there to be "discovered" are the worst.

Can you make a living from it? Is it your main income?
Are you based in/near London?

Thanks!

@rainbowstardrops

Do you have to work long hours, only to be in a tiny snippet of film?

Yes. The standard working day is 10 to 12 hours. And that's for a couple of scenes. Lots and lots of standing around. And depending on the final cut you might not even be in the end movie/TV show. (But that's fine because you still get paid).

How many years did you spend at drama school and how did you get your equity card?

@PrincessTuna

Can you make a living from it? Is it your main income? Are you based in/near London?

Thanks!

I'm not in London, I'm in Scotland.

Up here there is less work, although there are incentives to get film companies up here to produce projects. One of the Avengers movies filmed in Edinburgh, Netflix and the BBC do a fair bit too. Outlander is probably the biggest thing filming here at the moment, just before lockdown they started filming the new Batman movie in Glasgow.

I certainly don't make a full time wage from it, but I'm self-employed doing other stuff and this is just another string to my bow.

What's the pay like? And how often do you get work? Could you live off it or need another job too.

@Ocsetldil

How many years did you spend at drama school and how did you get your equity card?

None and I don't have an equity card.

I'm not an actor, I don't talk, I don't act. I just make up numbers in a crowd scene or walk across the road behind the main character.

Ah sorry - cross post!

What sort of people make good extras? Are there any certain skills required for it aside from the obvious?

@MaggieFS

What's the pay like? And how often do you get work? Could you live off it or need another job too.

Pay is around £140 for a day's filming, depending on the agreement. But too irregular to live off full time. Impossible to say how often - this last year obviously I've hardly worked at all. Could be every day for a fortnight then nothing for 4 months.

@FredAstairesChair

What sort of people make good extras? Are there any certain skills required for it aside from the obvious?

Ordinary people. Everyone and anyone.

It will depend on the brief - obviously for a period drama they don't want people with loads of tattoos and piercings which wouldn't have been a thing in that period. I wouldn't get picked for a scene set in a punk club because I'm in my 40s and not "edgy" looking. But for most mainstream dramas they just want the sort of people you'd see every day walking down the street or in Tesco.

Skills - they do ask when you sign up if you can do things like ride a horse, shoot a gun, if you've experience in the military, first aid and thousands of other things. But mostly, it's about being reliable, turning up on time, doing what you're told and being patient. You also get more work if you drive and have your own transport as lots of the locations are not accessible by public transport and it's up to you to get yourself there for perhaps a 7am start.

Do extras get cast in different roles in the same production?
So for example, in Outlander, could you be 'someone in a tavern' and also 'someone in a bookshop' or whatever.

@BowlerHatPowerHat

Do extras get cast in different roles in the same production? So for example, in Outlander, could you be 'someone in a tavern' and also 'someone in a bookshop' or whatever.

Sometimes yes depending on the pool of available, suitable people.

Different clothes, nearer the camera, further away from the camera, hair up/down, hat - nobody would ever notice that the person wearing the post frock in the background of a ball scene was the same person dressed as an impoverished street beggar in last week's episode.

How did you get into this? (Thinking about it when I retire)

How did you get into it?

Oooh I did this when I was a kid! Was in loads of stuff and my parents have most of it on video tape! Also on stage aswell! (Operas etc)

It's actually something I am considering getting into in the next few years once the kids are older!!!!

My dad did it for years and sometimes randomly gets a check for a few pounds because a random film he was in has been shown on the tv!

My understanding is that on top of the day rate there is extra pay for if you have a line to say etc. Is that right? Must be complicated for the payroll.