You want to act but never went to drama school. When you go to bed at night and you don't just count sheep, you want to be one. People describe you as having a 'herd' mentality. You think film stars are 'important'. Or you just want to earn £100 a day without doing anything demanding. You are a born extra.
IS AN EXTRA A KIND OF ACTOR?
An extra or 'background artist' is the kind of person you see in the back of the pub or walking down the pavement while the actors do their acting thing. If you think walking down the street in the background is acting, you have the right mentality. If you are just going to say "rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb, I didn't think much of the lunch, did you?" then you will be shunned and possibly burned by the professional extras who need to get through the day without feeling like a spare parts.
WILL I GET TO SAY ANY LINES IN A MOVIE?
To repeat the famous advice given to Michael Caine when he was carrying a spear at the back of some theatre production, you will have all kinds of wonderful thoughts and lines, you just won't say them. In short, probably not. If there are any lines to be delivered the director will probably cast someone specially for the role.
HOW MUCH CAN I EARN?
The BBC are one of the higher payers at around £73 per day. ITV pay slightly less. The Film Artists Association, a body which negotiates background artists' fees with the industry set fees of £69 per day with £25 extra for a 'walk on' part. You get more for overtime and wearing your own costume, how much extra depends upon the production. But it is true, you do get free meals.
DO I HAVE TO LOOK LIKE RUSSELL CROWE OR MR BEAN?
Extras are usually required to look like ordinary people and the best way the film business has of getting round this Everest sized problem is to use...er...ordinary people. If you look like a model you will get a lot of work hanging around shoots where they need people to look beautiful. If you are older than 18 but can pass for a school kid, you will be popular; you'll be saving the production companies the cost of a chaperone. Ray Knight Casting says that of the people on their books men aged 25-40 work the most because they can play soldiers, policemen, thugs and football fans in addition to basic background work. The Casting Collective say that women with period hair do well so, if you want to appear in the next Jane Austen serial, do NOT dye your hair or cut your fringe.
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