I'm a film and TV extra, AMA

[FilmExtra]

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

Do you have to sign up with an agency? I had a look a while ago and they all wanted payment upfront...

@imyournextdoorneighbour

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

Just do some research and sign up with a reputable agency.

www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/top-supporting-artists-agencies-70128/

Good starting point. I'm only signed up with one agency, other people are signed up with several. They don't charge you to be on their books - if you come across an agency asking you to pay a joining fee then steer clear. Then once you're signed up, respond quickly to emails, be reliable and they'll put you forward for more things.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

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.

That's right. There are lots of standard agreements online which most companies use. Standard rate for a day, then overtime if they keep you late, more money if you are working a weekend and not weekday, more money if you're asked to drive a car, etc etc etc. The agency manage the whole invoicing and pay side of things.

At the moment things are a bit different - i'm filming next week and have to go the day before for a covid test, they'll pay £40 for me to do that, which should take about 2 hours.

Are there any agencies which you would recommend for Scottish filming?
I wanted to try this out and signed up to a couple of the agencies on the link you posted previously but all the filming seemed to be in England

@Kelpies

Are there any agencies which you would recommend for Scottish filming? I wanted to try this out and signed up to a couple of the agencies on the link you posted previously but all the filming seemed to be in England

Try Real People Casting, Casting Collective, GBM Casting. Just avoid any company which asks for a joining fee. And check to see what productions they've worked on previously.

Most work is Central Belt (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling).

What's the food like?

@CannotOperateOnThisFailure

What's the food like?

Usually pretty good! Hot meals. But extras are expected to let the crew/actors get fed first so again, loads of standing around.

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!
I thought extras would just get paid a day rate - do they get royalties too?

Hi. I used to do this too op (many years ago) and have so many fond memories (especially if the catering!!). I'd been thinking recently about getting back into it.

Will be reading with interest...

Are you considered self employed and have to do a self assessment tax return?

Is there a demand for people with particular unusual/striking physical characteristics? That is, when you register do you include that sort of detail. For example, if you were unusually tall/short/fat/thin etc.

@BowlerHatPowerHat

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! I thought extras would just get paid a day rate - do they get royalties too?

I don't - but perhaps contracts have changed over time. I just get paid a flat rate, however often the piece is shown.

My husband does this and I do his tax return.
I count it as self employed as he doesn't pay tax or ni on his earnings. Basically he gets paid for the work less the agency fee. He doesn't make a living, but it pays for holidays, it made me laugh he worked on a job for Disney Corp but then we went to Disney world with the money.

@LApprentiSorcier

Is there a demand for people with particular unusual/striking physical characteristics? That is, when you register do you include that sort of detail. For example, if you were unusually tall/short/fat/thin etc.

Yes. When I applied I filled in the basics of measurements and sent in a few photos. Every 6 months I have to update photos and measurements.

There was a big long tick box sheet to add any other characteristics. Everything from a missing limb to ear piercings. So if a call comes in to the agency for men, aged 25 to 34, with brown eyes, tattoos on their hands and over 6 feet tall, they can immediately pull up details of who fits the bill.

Obviously it depends on what productions they are casting for - like I said upthread if it's a period drama they don't want people with mohican hairdos and masses of tattoos and piercings. But in a crime drama set in 2021 they might want just that.

I suppose that if you are very unusually tall/short/fat/thin or have a full face of tattoos then you might struggle as you don't fit the "ordinary person" bill which most productions are looking for.

You mentioned extras who want to be discovered - do you ever notice them frantically over-acting or sidling into a shot like Andy Millman?

I’m a huge outlander fan so interested to hear a lot of your extra work is on there - would love to hear more about it.

Thanks @FilmExtra

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

You mentioned extras who want to be discovered - do you ever notice them frantically over-acting or sidling into a shot like Andy Millman?

In my experience the crew are really good at spotting the wannabes and usually shove them right at the back, well out of the way.

Only did a couple of days on outlander in 2019, they have just started filming again for the new season so might get some more work over the summer. It;s a slick, big budget production. Huge attention to detail on things like costumes and props. Amazing how they make Scotland look like France or America!

Us lowly extras are not allowed to approach the "talent" or ask for selfies - sure fire way to ensure you won't ever work again. But Sam Heughan is just as handsome in real life and seems nice.

Must be an amazing experience to see the sets and then how that translates to screen.

As an extra do you get your hair/make up done? Was your costume nice to wear? Did you have a glamorous scene or a poor beggar?!

Depends on the production. Things are a bit differnet at the moment due to Covid, they are trying to cut things like makeup and costume to a minimum. The thing I'm on next week is a present day setting, I'm an "office worker". So the agency asked me to send them three pics of me wearing office style clothing which I own - they give a brief like no neon colours, no stripes, no branding or logos. Then they email you back saying "wear the black trousers and the blue shirt from picture 1 with the scarf from picture 2" or whatever.

On other productions yes you will attend for a costume fitting but it really depends on budget and what sort of drama it is. In outlander I was in a scene where the main characters were talking in the street and I walked past in the background with another female extra. We wore fairly boring stuff, long floor length skirts, simple blouse, shawl, bonnet.

Have you ever played a dead body?

I actually do notice the small stuff like extras turning up in multiple scenes and the odd dead body with moving eyes (BBC Traces btw).

I've often wondered about people in the background talking to each other - like if they're sitting at a table in a restaurant - what do they talk about? I'm guessing you have to make it look like a natural conversation, but are you actually talking or just pretending to?

I've done this quite a few times too, the sitting around is really dull. The best bit for me is the food! Easy pocket money.

@LizzieMacQueen

Have you ever played a dead body?

I actually do notice the small stuff like extras turning up in multiple scenes and the odd dead body with moving eyes (BBC Traces btw).

No! Never say never though.

I've done this a few times for a couple of things, and got paid extra as I used to be a dancer so had one of those "skills" you talked about. It was so interesting being on set, it was a lot of sitting around like you said, but I was happy just watching the process of them filming. It had never occurred to me before that to film a conversation they'd have to film from at least 3 different angles separately. Watching the "bloopers" as they happened was good too.

I'd love to do more maybe when the children are grown.

What's the weirdest direction or thing you've been asked to do? I was asked to kiss some other random extra passionately in the background of a speakeasy scene. I was so embarrassed - not that anyone was watching us at all haha, they were watching the "talent"