Is being an extra in a movie worth it?
Extra work doesn’t necessarily get an actor noticed by casting directors or agents, but it can be a very valuable way of gaining experience on set. It can sometimes result in being upgraded to a speaking role, or helping an actor get his union card.
How hard is it to be an extra in a movie?

Being an extra requires no experience, no acting talent and no talking. Although you can sometimes parlay being an extra into an acting career, that’s neither required nor expected. All that’s expected of you is to show up on time — early, ideally — and to pay attention and follow directions.
How much do extras make in movies?
The average daily salary for an Extra is $170. The daily salary range for Extras runs from $100 – $185 a day. All Extras are considered freelance workers. So for someone doing background work as their profession, they will need to be responsible for their own benefits, like health insurance, and taxes.
Can you be an extra with no experience?
How to Find Movie Extra Jobs. You don’t need any experience to become background talent, but youshould have a decent headshot and some persistence. It’s definitely not like the old days when you wouldlook in the want-ads of a newspaper or Variety magazine to find a casting call.
Is it easy to become an extra?
Becoming an extra (sometimes referred to as a Background Artist) is fairly simple if you live in any city but it is much easier if you live in Los Angeles or New York. All you do is contact an extras casting service or director, and sign up with their service.
How can I be an extra?
Here’s a very quick and accurate list of how to become an extra on films sets in three steps.
- Find Where They Hire Extras. Credit: Paul McKinnon / Shutterstock.com.
- Get Hired as an Extra. Once you’ve registered with an extras agency, two things can happen, depending on their business model.
- Work and Get Paid, then Repeat.
Do you have to audition to be an extra?
Why Become a Movie Extra? There’s no audition. Don’t worry, they won’t ask you to sing or dance, or even read a script. That’s because being an extradoesn’t require too much skill.
How do I get a job as a TV extra?
5 tips for landing work as an extra in films and TV
- Take photos. Forget pricey portfolios – most agencies will initially just want a digital photo of you standing against a plain or white background.
- Describe yourself.
- Keep the paperwork ready.
- Tackle self-employment.
- Make the most of it!
Can you make a living as an extra?
The payment model for extras is very simplistic and standard. It usually breakdowns down into two ways of paying extras: per hour (rarely) and per day (most common). Extras do not get paid much, but if you‘re doing this on a regular basis, you can definitely make a living.
Is being an extra worth it?
Extra work doesn’t necessarily get an actor noticed by casting directors or agents, but it can be a valuable way of gaining experience on set. It can sometimes result in being upgraded to a speaking role, or helping an actor get his union card. Yet, working as an extra can be worthwhile.
Can you make a career out of being an extra?
There are many ways to make a living as an actor. For some, it means starring roles and a foot-long IMDb page. But that certainly isn’t the only way. Background acting—or “extra” work for movies and TV—can absolutely be a full-time profession if youknow how to go about it.
Are background actors really talking?
When the director starts a scene and they are shooting, the only people talking are the principle actors with dialogue, and any secondary that interacts with them. Extras are directed to pantomime so as to not interfere with the sound being recording of the principles on set. There are exceptions.
What’s it like to be an extra in a movie?
When not required to be in a given place, extras generally congregate in some designated area away from the important people, where they read, chat, play cards, or otherwise find any way possible to stave off boredom. Beyond being boring, in some cases the life of an extra can also be extremely uncomfortable.
Can extras talk to actors?
It is strictly not permitted to talk to the actors, ask for autographs, take photographs, or use recording equipment of any kind. This can result in you being dismissed immediately without pay.
Do extras wear their own clothes?
Background actors are usually expected to bring their own clothes to set unless the production has a large wardrobe budget. If you resemble one of the principal actors, you’re probably not going to get much camera time.
Are extras actors?
All of those people you see wandering around the background of your favorite movies and television shows are called “extras.” Extras are actors and actresses who serve as “dressed background.” They help to sell the idea that a scene is filled with real people just going about their daily business.
Who is the most famous extra?
Despite his age, he still portrays teenagers and young adults as an extra.
Jesse Heiman |
Nationality |
American |
Occupation |
Actor,comedian |
How much do background actors get paid?
Background Actor Salary
Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Top Earners |
$105,500 |
$8,791 |
75th Percentile |
$55,000 |
$4,583 |
Average |
$58,588 |
$4,882 |
25th Percentile |
$25,500 |
$2,125 |
Do extras get IMDb credit?
There will not normally be a credit for extras unless they did something notable as a featured extra. It is also possible to add yourself to a production’s listing. There is a simple IMDb form to complete. Follow the instructions on the IMDb page to find out more.
Do extras in movies get credit?
No, if they are credited they are not extras, that’s central to the definition of an extra as being an uncredited role. There are of course times when someone is initially hired as an extra and they are given lines on the day and get a credit. In which case they are no longer an extra.
Do background extras get credit?
Apparently, background extras from the movie are trying to gain IMDB acting credit for the movie. But, production will only give credit to actors that had speaking lines in the movie.
Can anyone have an IMDb page?
You are more than welcome to submit it yourself. You do not have to wait for the producers or the director of the film to send it: just find the title in the database, click on the Edit page button at the bottom of that page and follow the on-screen instructions.
How much do movie extras get paid?
A common rate for a single day of background work is between $100 and $200. SAG talent earns more—sometimes a lot more—than their nonunion counterparts, but pay is much less uniform. The base rate for background work in 2021 is roughly $170 per day, but there are a number of stipulations that affect that number.
Can extras talk to actors?
Be quiet on set.
Never look at or in the direction of the camera when filming. Don’t over act – act naturally. It is strictly not permitted to talk to the actors, ask for autographs, take photographs, or use recording equipment of any kind. This can result in you being dismissed immediately without pay.