Any other film or TV background / extras / SAs?

[KnottedTwine]

Anyone else do this sort of work? Started about 4 or 5 years ago, live in Scotland so it's very irregular but a good additional string to my self-employed bow. This month has been the busiest ever, booked for 3 separate productions (one TV, one movie, one tv commercial) two days on each.

Obviously not!!!

I read recently about a woman who has been an extra for decades and a director went through and found all her background appearances and put them together into a tribute film, have you seen it?

amp.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/01/jill-uncredited-worlds-most-prolific-extra

What is an SA?

Supporting artist. Which doesn't really describe what we do most of the time, as we don't speak, don't "act", just sit there or walk across the camera or whatever. Haven't seen the movie but I can't imagine doing it for 60 years!! Not speaking to the talent is a common rule, but have never been told not to make eye contact. Then again I haven't been in a movie with Tom Cruise.

Off again this morning to unit base in a car park on an industrial esate.

Does it pay well?
And is it fun?

Sometimes it's fun. No two days are the same. I did just one day on a BBC drama last year which was great, we sat in a really nice holding room all morning with loads of tea, coffee and snacks, then filmed for 20 minutes, lunch, back on the bus and finished. Other days when you are standing in the rain it's not so fun. Extras are bottom of the pecking order for getting fed or getting on the bus back to where you've left your car so you need loads of patience.

Pay - most productions use PACT or FAA rates which are online, once the agency has taken its commission it is £100 - £150 for a day's work, if you start before 7am or finish aftet 10pm it's more, plus there is extra money for lunch being late, or not getting a proper lunch break and having to eat on the hoof, or working on a bank holiday.

https://www.castingcollective.co.uk/production/pay-rates

It's not loads of money, but you meet loads of interesting people - not many people do this full time unless you are a featured extra on something like a soap opera filming 5 days a week. So everyone does other things as well, or is retired, a student etc.

If you are the stereotypical Mumsnet introvert who doesn't like speaking to strangers you'd HATE it.

It sounds like a lovely adjunct to being self employed.

Which companies do you use? My son did it when he was a student as he could make it fit round his studies. He did a couple of films, and few series and a few adverts. He appreciated the refreshments as much as the wage 😆

I love the idea of this but work FT , do you think I'd get work if I just do weekends ?

How do you know what to wear or do they provide clothing, I get that a back ground person in the street or cafe can wear their own normal clothes but what about Sci fi / period drams ect

Well the first thing you get from the agency is an availability check - so if you could only work weekends you could just turn down anything on a weekday. But you’re going to be limited.

if it requires costume then you go for a fitting - which you get paid for. There are lots of agencies and it really depends where in the country you are.

Thankyou @KnottedTwine it's certainly something I will look into 📽🎬 .

You should, it's fun and you meet a lot of interesting people. Was out yesterday on a TV ad for a mobile phone brand, being filmed from above using umbrellas so you probably won't see it's me when it's on TV. There is a good facebook group called Heavy Pencil for people in the industry. Some of the big agencies are Entertainment Partners, Casting Collective, do some googling and see what's around in your area. One to avoid is Maddog, lots of people having to take a CCJ against them to get paid.

My uncle does this quite a lot. It started as something to keep the weeks varied after he retired and now he knows a lot of people in the industry he does more and more. He has been in loads of well known programmes and films, so much that it sort of spoils the flow when we spot him!

It is definitely true that if you turn up on time, are polite, respectful and do as you are told, then you are more likely to get asked back. Production will feed back to agents about extras who have been rude or just awkward.