If that sounds good to you, then you need to get your masochistic butt in gear and get yourself a job as a film or TV extra. But there are other reasons to become an extra:

• It will help you familiarize yourself with the film industry.
• You might get noticed and get work as an actor (it has happened. . . once).
• It's easy money for people who are especially lazy. Or mute. Or both.
• It's cool to stand within one hundred feet of some famous folks.

These are all possible outcomes, and if they sound good to you, then you have every reason to read on and get the straight dope on being an extra.

What is an extra?

An extra is a person who fills up the background of a film or TV show when the cameras are rolling. It would look pretty weird for two actors to have a conversation on an empty sidewalk, so extras get hired to make everything look more natural. Extras are almost never given lines to say, but if they are, they technically become actors while they are saying the lines (examples of extras' lines: "Excuse me," "Over there!" and "Thank you"). Extras are the people who busily walk by on the sidewalk while the stars are being fabulous, or stand around behind the stars holding fake cocktails while the stars are being fabulous. It's not all that challenging, but it can be pretty exciting if you like being around the entertainment industry.

1. REGISTER WITH A CASTING COMPANY

The usual way to get started as an extra is to find a casting company which handles extras (there are many which specialize in extras) and go and register with it. This means you will make an appointment to talk to someone at the casting company, go in and talk to someone briefly and then hand over some amount of money. This is unavoidable, and you shouldn't let the fact that the casting company is asking you for a registration fee lead you to assume that they are just a scam or a waste of time. They will actually provide you with services, which range from the simple posting of your picture in a directory to someone making phone calls on your behalf and trying to scare up work for you. You should try to determine what sort of services they will provide you and judge whether you want to pay the fee accordingly. In this regard, comparison shopping among agencies is probably a good idea, and to save time, try to get as much information as possible about each casting company's services and fees over the telephone before you go in.

When you go in to register, some companies will conduct an interview, while others will simply take a picture, collect your registration fee, and be done with you. If there is an interview the main thing that the casting company representative will wish to determine is: "Will this person give me a sum of money?" They see a lot of people and they need to collect those fees to make a living. However, the person will also determine how serious you are about being an extra, how much experience you have with acting, what special skills you have, and what sort of wardrobe you have. If they don't ask you any of these questions, be wary -- you might be getting scammed. If you make a good impression the casting company will be more likely to go to bat for you to get you work, so be prepared for the interview. Be ready to mention your good attitude and special skills, and your understanding that being an extra primarily involves showing up on time and staying quiet.

Sadly, some casting companies will pull little side-scams on their registrants, such as referring you to an expensive photographer to get a headshot done (from whom they receive a kickback), charging you an inordinate amount of money to have your résumé printed up on "industry standard" paper, or asking you for "front money" for some project in which you would get to work. These things don't necessarily mean the place is a total scam it just means they're trying to get a little more money out of you. It can be a good idea to get a headshot done, and it's absolutely necessary if you're interested in getting work as an actor as well, but it's not really necessary for most extra work. Most extra companies will simply take a picture of you when you register and keep it on file. Similarly, there is an industry standard for the size of paper on which you print your résumé (8X10, so that it can be affixed to the back of your 8X10 headshot), but you don't need a résumé if you're just interested in working as an extra. The point is, if you do decide you want to have a headshot and a résumé, you can probably get these things done much more cheaply if you shop around than if you just do what the casting company tells you. (On the other hand, you should walk out if and when "front money" -- money that you have to chip in to help "fund" a film project -- is demanded. This is often a scam, and you're a beginning extra, so you want to work on big, well-funded projects anyway.)

Most major cities will have at least one company which handles extras, and if you don't live in a major city you will have to register in the closest city which has one. One last option is to register over the Internet. Sure, you don't get the personal attention, but it's a start. Register here for FREE for your own profile page (See sample). The whole process of registering with a casting company is not the same thing as getting yourself a talent agent. Getting an agent is much tougher.

Or just show up

If you don't want to start out by registering, or you've registered and you want to try to get more work, another way to start out and see if you like the work is to show up on film or TV sets and try to be an extra on "spec" (speculation). This means that you will go to the location, indicate your interest in being an extra to someone (if you can get near anyone who'd be interested, which can be difficult on sets), and/or stand around looking available while you "speculate" about whether or not you will get hired. This is not a surefire method of getting work as an extra. Extras are only hired on spec if someone doesn't show up or if they have a look which interests the assistant director. Don't count on it. But if you enjoy hanging around film sets anyway, why not give it a try?

2. KNOW THESE TERMS

Blocking

While "blocking" sounds like something you'd find in a hockey movie, it actually refers to the placement of the various actors and extras in a shot. But you can pretend that it's a movie about hockey. When the assistant director tells you it's time to go over the blocking, it means that you have to go and be told where to stand and what to do during the shot. In short, it's what you actually do when the cameras roll.

Marks

"Marks" refer to the specific spot on which you are to stand during a scene. These are actual marks, usually made with tape or sandbags. If you don't stand at your mark the camera won't focus properly. Extras are not usually given marks, but you need to know what the term means, i.e., that if someone tells you to "hit your mark" you need to go and stand on a piece of tape which should have been pointed out to you earlier.

Assistant Director

The assistant director, or A.D., is your boss. The A.D. is usually in charge of all the extras, and he or she is the person to whom you need to endear yourself. Assistant directors can help you in all sorts of ways, from not screaming at you and firing you to getting you lines or letting you work for more money on a union voucher.

Taft-Hartleyed

To be "Tafted" or "Taft-Hartleyed" means to get into the union based on having worked on three union vouchers or by saying a line. The name comes from the Taft-Hartley labor law, the details of which we don't know and which don't concern you anyway. Just know that when people talk about Taft-Hartleying, they aren't uttering random syllables in an attempt to confuse you.

3. GET WORK BY FOLLOWING THESE TIPS

Nuts and bolts

If you are registered with a casting company, you will have a number to call when you want to work the next day. You call in and they'll tell you whether there's any work for you. It's very important to try to develop a good relationship with people at the casting company, as they can help you to get work by recommending you to casting directors. Sometimes they'll call you and ask if you're available to work, but it's better to take the initiative yourself. Be pleasant, but also let them know that you want the work.

Whether you're registered or not you can, as described above, just show up and look wistful near film sets. If you want to be more pro-active about it, you can check here and here; these sites have classified listings devoted to casting. Sometimes casting directors will advertise for extras independently, without going through a casting company. This, however, is rare, so you should still think about hooking up with a casting company.

The look

Since extras don't have lines, what is most important is how they look. This does not mean that you have to be gorgeous in order to be an extra; if the scene is in a skid row location, it would be an asset for you to look like a homeless person (note that we are not suggesting that you cultivate this sort of look). Gorgeous extras will get work in situations which require there to be a lot of beautiful people around, and it's never a bad thing to be attractive, particularly in Hollywood. However, casting directors could be looking for an older person, an ugly person, a midget, a goat-footed hell-spawned creature, or anyone with some sort of interesting look.

One thing which is always a great asset is the look of youth. It's a hassle to cast extras (or anyone) who is under 18, because then the kid's parents have to be on the set and they have to get release forms signed. However, many films and TV shows concern those precious little high schoolers, and they need to have people who look like they're teenagers. Therefore, if you're over 18 but you can look like you're not, you can get a lot of work. They have to have somebody around to offset all the 28 year old "teenagers" who are doing the acting.

It is also important for an extra to have an extensive wardrobe. You might receive a call which requires you to be able to dress up in seventies clothing, and if you don't have it then you won't work. You should try to have clothes from many different eras and to suit many different roles. Sometimes you'll need to wear a suit, at other times you'll need to wear a snowsuit, and at other times, a swimsuit. So don't throw away any clothes because they've gone out of style.

The attitude

Extras need to have a good attitude. If you cause anyone any problems, you won't be cut any slack and you might get a bad rep with the casting company if someone complains. You need to do what you're told, to stay out of the way, and to show up. Showing up is of most importance, because it reflects badly on the casting company if you're a no-show - they'll probably cancel your registration. If you accept work, you go, even if you get a sudden onset of the stomach flu and you have to spend most of the day running to the toilet. It's not fair, but you can get a black mark in the extra business pretty easily if someone has any reason to think you are unreliable. Be on time and don't leave until you have signed out.

Special skills

Another thing which can help you get work is if you have special skills. For example, shows like Baywatch and Pacific Blue often require large numbers of people to be randomly rollerblading around and smiling as if they enjoy it. Therefore, it's not a bad thing to be able to rollerblade. Other skills which could be useful include juggling, line dancing, tai chi, frisbee-throwing, and demolition expertise, or poodle tossing. Aw, you caught us: demolition expertise is rarely required.

4. MAKE THE UNION DECISION

The decision of whether to be a union or non-union extra is actually a pretty easy one, because it's really tough to get in the union. The basic distinction is this: union extras get paid more but non-union extras often get more work. Union extras also get benefits, such as health coverage, and they are generally treated better on set. Some commentators suggest that non-union extras get so much more work that if you want to make a living as an extra you're better off staying out of the union. Others disagree, saying that the difference in wages is sufficient to outweigh the slight increase in work for non-union extras. If or when you get the opportunity to join the union, you'll have more experience with the industry and you'll be able to make a more informed decision.
The Screen Actors Guild (known as SAG), is the union for both actors and extras. SAG requires every film and TV show to have a minimum number of extras who are union members. Since union extras have a higher base rate of pay and receive more benefits, a production will usually only hire the minimum number of union extras and give all the rest of the jobs to non-union extras. This is why there is more work for non-union extras. SAG extras are always treated better, they get the best jobs and they get hired first, but there are fewer jobs to go around.

Getting into the union

If you decide that being a union extra suits your plans better than being non-union, good luck. It's not easy for an extra to get into the union, but there are two ways of doing it. Getting into the union in either of the below manners is referred to as being "Tafted" or "Taft-Hartleyed".

Three SAG vouchers
The first way is to work on three union vouchers. Whenever an extra is cast, whether union or non-union, a voucher is issued with necessary information, which is signed at the end of the day and submitted back to the casting company so that the extra can get paid. Union extras get union vouchers, and non-union extras get peasant vou… we mean "non-union" vouchers. If a union extra is cast and the voucher is issued but then that union rascal doesn't show up, the voucher still has to be filled in order to meet the SAG minimum number. Therefore, they'll take one of the non-union extras and get him or her to work on the union voucher. Do that three times and you can join the union. As you can surmise, this is not going to happen until you've spent an awful lot of time working as an extra. The best way to try to get a union voucher is to suck up to the A.D., and your ability to hit it off with him or her will be dependent on looks and attitude.

Saying a line
The second way to join the union is to be a non-union extra who is required to speak a line for some reason. Non-union extras are not allowed to say lines, but under certain circumstances it can become necessary for them to do so. When this happens, the non-union extra will simply be told to say the line, he or she will do so and be paid as an actor for that day. Any subsequent work the extra does in that role, SAG will fine the production for using the non-union person in a speaking role, but the non-union extra will then have the opportunity to join the union. This sounds rather easy - one line and you're in! - but it's not. It's a real hassle for the production to use a non-union extra in a speaking role with SAG breathing down everybody's neck, so a SAG extra will always be used for speaking parts if one is available. A non-union extra will only be asked to say a line under extraordinary circumstances, such as if all of the SAG extras turn out to have the IQ of lettuce, or if one of the actors decides he or she wants to interact with a non-union extra during a scene.

5. DO YOUR JOB LIKE THIS

We thought we told you to shut up! This is very important. Whenever the sound equipment is running extras have to be quiet. This means no talking, no rustling around, no opening and closing of doors, and no breakdancing. When shooting is about to begin, there will be something to indicate it, such as a red light which flashes and/or someone in the crew yelling really loudly. Once that happens all the extras have to keep very quiet until it is clear that shooting has stopped. Sometimes the extras will have a waiting area which is far enough away from the shooting that whispered conversations will be tolerated, but don't allow your whispering to ease gradually into a normal speaking voice. And if you're told to keep quiet, then do so without question.
You must remember at all times that you are very low in the film set hierarchy and that you need to be polite and stay out of the way. Some assistant directors can easily develop a foul mood over the course of a day of shooting, and they might just be looking for an excuse to scream at or fire someone.

Bring something to read, a walkman, snacks and whatever else you need to keep yourself occupied and sane over the course of a long day of doing almost nothing and staying quiet. You will get bored of the rare glimpses you get of the actors as they scurry back and forth from their trailers. You will need something to do.

6. DO NOT GET FIRED

You must not speak until you are spoken to. We are not kidding. Extras are not allowed to speak to actors unless an actor initiates the conversation. This rule is pretty strictly enforced, and you can get fired or disciplined if someone thinks you're bothering the actors. This means:

No asking for autographs.
No offering compliments.
No behaving like a star-struck tool.
No "pointers" for Jim Carrey on how to "make that last scene much funnier."
Do any of the above, and you will probably get fired.

If you're standing around an actor for a long period of time while a shot is being set up and he or she doesn't seem too uptight about your odious presence, it might be appropriate for you to toss out a little comment or some idle conversation. Use caution, though, and don't do it if you think you're going to sound breathless and spazzy or if the actor is concentrating on something else. If in doubt, just keep your mouth shut until the actor deigns to speak to you.

You must also not bring any of your friends or other people to the set. You are not an "insider" yet, and you are not permitted to show off your fancy job to your friends.

Another absolute taboo is the use of cameras on set. Don't bring one, and if someone forcibly puts a camera into your possession, do not use it under any circumstances. People will get really uptight about it if you break this rule, and you're likely to find yourself on the bus back to Pasadena before you can say "Ouch!"

Congratulations on your new job! You're well on your way to getting an inconsequential role that will not be remembered. Or maybe it will. . .

Register here for FREE for your own profile extras page.

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