This has to be one of the most fun and interesting side jobs out there yet so many people think it is not possible for them to do it. When people find out that I have been a Television Extra or Supporting Artist, as goes the more sophisticated term, I have had lots of questions asking who can do it and how.
Can Anyone Do It? Pretty Much!
The truth is anyone can do it, the only catch really is that it often requires a certain degree of flexibility, so for example if you have a job that you could not get out of at short notice any time of the year, then it is quite unlikely that you would ever time it right to be able to respond to one of the calls to go and be on set. But apart from that, anybody can apply to be one and have at least a chance to be selected. There are some types of people that are more in demand, and these include people of Asian and African origin. I think it is great that the television industry is trying harder to promote equality and diversity.
If you have dyed hair, tattoos or piercings you won’t easily land a part on a period drama for example as these require authenticity but – you may win a part on a soap opera such as Emmerdale or Coronation Street (if you live in the UK that is!) as a pub drinker or party goer. It just depends what the production team is looking for!
Are Any Skills Required?
I have had so much fun when carrying out television extra work but it is not without its challenges of course. You have to be patient and in quite good health – depending on the role of course. Many filming sessions require you as an extra to just be seen and not heard, wear whatever outfit they need you to – however chilly that might make you in the cold winter air, and you often have to stand for long periods at a time whilst they get as many shots as they need. This could sometimes be hours and you are sometimes wearing a costume that might not be the most comfortable – such as a tight corset in my case!
You need to be really professional on set and you have to really try and keep calm if you come across a famous actor on set, which does usually happen. I have seen many of these and some were up there with my favourites but alas, I just had to keep quiet and not squeal with excitement – not easy but necessary if you want to get asked back again by your agency.
Driving is a really useful skill to have when it comes to extra work because the production sets are often in quite obscure places and at anti-social times of day. I am not a driver and have missed out on work in the past due to this. When it has been possible for me to get there, I have used public transport but this can be a little awkard sometimes due to call times being changed last minute and the fact that your travel fees may go up depending on what transport you take and the route you use, resulting in lower fees for your work. Just be aware of that if you want to get into this. Other than that, you just have to be passionate about doing a great job!
How Do I Sign Up?
All you need to do to apply is to check out the websites of agencies that are looking for supporting artists. Follow their guidance as to how to apply – sometimes it is necessary to go in to see them and have photographs taken but more often than not, they just want you to fill out an application form online and provide your accurate measurements and any special skills that you may have, such as playing an instrument or being able to ride a horse. It is not necessary to have any special skills to get a call but it can help you land a role if they are in need of a live musician on their production for example, so it is worth telling them as much about you as possible.
As hinted at above, the days as a television extra can be very long on set so you need to be able to allocate the entire day in case they need you for overtime, this is quite common so just be aware. The pay rate can range from £50 to £300 a day but it just depends on the job and your role – be aware that most of the agencies you join take a cut of your pay and a select few require you to pay a sign-up fee but you normally still end up with a decent amount. This is just par for the course and something you have to get used to. Most agencies prefer you to just be with one agency so that there are not too many crossovers and you don’t end up doing multiple days on the same production, but you are best off asking them directly if they mind you being with more than one, as some don’t.
Here is a list of some agencies that you can apply to in the UK:
- Universal Extras
- The Casting Collective
- Ray Knight Casting
- Mad Dog 2020 Casting
- Fame Casting
- Lemon Casting Ltd
- Imperial Personal Management
You may also wish to join and set up profiles Star Now and Casting Now websites as they can help you find more casual work and get you discovered.
Good luck applying and I hope you find yourself landing a role in a production sometime soon – you won’t regret it – being a television extra is a unique experience and you can maybe tick something off your bucket list and say you’ve been on TV!
Featured Image by Laurent DE WAELE
