Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Movies Extra! Extra! Learn How to be an Extra!
Posted by Gabe Wardell on Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 4:22 PM
- BBC/HBO
- Ashley Jensen, Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant have a laugh on the series EXTRAS
Other than watching the Ricky Gervais series EXTRAS and a clever documentary called Strictly Background, I have spent very little time thinking about the role extras play in film and television. This is as it should be. If I notice the extras, and they draw my attention away from the action, they have become a distraction, and have ceased to serve their function as extras.
It never occurred to me that being an extra is something one might have to take a course to prepare for.
This Sunday, ATL Film 365 is presenting a three-hour course called "Intro to Working as an Extra in Feature Films and Television." (Full diisclosure: for the past four years, I served as Executive Director of ATL Film 365). When I asked some actors, casting agents and instructors about the need for such a course—the reaction was mixed. Some thought it might be a good idea, but a few thought the organization was havin’ a laugh at inexperienced actors’ expense.
The three hour course costs $55 (with parking) and includes such topics as:
Hour 1: How to Start My Career as an Extra
Do I need a headshot?
How/where do I find work?
Do I need an agent?Hour 2: What to expect once I show up on set
Terminology and Protocol.
Being an extra isn't glamorous - it's a job too!Hour 3: Do's and Don'ts
What can I bring to set - what should I avoid bringing?
How to keep getting rehired - how to avoid getting banned from set.How to take a proper photo of yourself and how to properly list your credits.
- Anthem Pictures
- Strictly Background
One instructor who expressed reservations about the need for an Extras workshop asked to remain anonymous. He cited the glut of workshops and classes in the marketplace: “Some are worth every penny, some are questionable, some are scams. I think this falls into the ‘questionable’ category in terms of it's return-on-investment.” Because Extra work is essentially self-explanatory, he was bothered, “That they're charging to tell actors about being an Extra. I'm sure all of the information provided will be accurate, but it just doesn't seem necessary.”
Steve Coulter, a longstanding instructor with ATL Film 365 and a professional actor, believes the course has some merit, but admits, “I've never been a big ol' fan of extra work. Did it once when I first started out and vowed never to do it again. It very rarely leads to anything.”
Coulter concedes, “Now that so many things are shooting here, there are lots of opportunities for folks who want to do it. And the course description (set protocol, etc.) is great. They need to know the do's & don'ts. Extras are very often treated like nameless cattle, unfortunately, so it's important that they don't have unrealistic expectations when they do that work.”
- "I never said all actors are cattle; what I said was all actors should be treated like cattle." —Alfred Hitchcock
Bob Harter, co-founder of YourACT, and a professional actor, expressed reservations about the course, “My personal feeling is that unless you intend to become a ‘professional extra’, then there is no need for such a course. The pay is so low and there are few requirements.” He allows that given the reasonable cost, and the fact that ATL Film 365 is known to be a reputable organization that YourACT supports, taking a course like this “couldn't hurt.”
For those not inclined to drop a Half C on an Extras course, Harter offers the following crash course in Extras work.
Hour 1: How to Start My Career as an Extra
Do I need a headshot? Probably not.
How/where do I find work? Look for Extras Casting Atlanta on Facebook, check the Yahoo message boards, blogs, etc.
Do I need an agent? No. Their percentage is so low that they aren't interested usually.
Hour 2: What to expect once I show up on set
Terminology and Protocol. This is important if you've never been on a professional set, but they will usually inform you when you arrive of what is expected and things like not to ask the stars for autographs, no photos, etc.
Being an extra isn't glamorous - it's a job too! That's an understatement. Long hours, low pay, sometimes difficult conditions with weather, temperature, etc.
Hour 3: Do's and Don'ts
What can I bring to set - what should I avoid bringing? Bring only what you need in terms of wardrobe. A book or something to keep you entertained during the long waits is a good idea.
How to keep getting rehired - how to avoid getting banned from set. Be seen and not heard - don't be a pest. Don't try to work your way into the shot, don't ask about being upgraded to a principal, don't bother the stars or even speak to them unless they speak to you. Treat it like any other acting job - know who you are, what you want, where you're coming from and going to, the who, what, when, where, and why of the situation - in other words, be a real person living a life.
How to take a proper photo of yourself and how to properly list your credits. Get someone with a quality digital camera to take your picture. You probably will not need credits, but if you do, just list the show, project, film, the director if you know, and the production company or producer.
Then of course, there’s Ricky Gervais’ take on it all.
“I’ve got to get out of this, it’s doing my back in.”
Comments (1)
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To all those who haven't seen "Extras" I highly recommend it. The cameos by the "real" stars alone make it worthwhile. Amazing (and refreshing) how willing they are to make fun of themselves e.g. Daniel Radcliffe, Ben Stiller, and esp. Kate Winslet who was remarkably candid about what she needed to do to win an Oscar :)
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