Archive for the ‘extras’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Being an Extra can be Fun and Rewarding Work

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Extras are vital in virtually all TV programmes and films. They are used to help build up the world in which the story being shot unfolds. Indeed, sometimes such people feature prominently in important scenes.

It is not uncommon for both film and TV extras to get the chance to rub shoulders with celebrities and this can be a thrilling experience. And it is also fascinating to get an insight into the world of filming and what goes on behind the scenes. Very few people get to witness such activity and so many extras consider themselves lucky. And the pay rates can be good too, which is always a bonus!

Meanwhile, for those who like dressing up in different clothes and assuming new identities, such work can sometimes feel more like play than hard graft. It is no surprise therefore that there are many people out there keen to make it to extras casting sessions.

The profile of such people may have risen a little over recent years thanks to the Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant BBC comedy series Extras. It featured a range of high-profile celebrities, including Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart and Ben Stiller.

If you are eager to get involved in such work, you might want to consider making use of us here at Audition Now. Our auditions text messaging service can ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunities.

In order to take advantage of these texts, you must be 18 or over. It costs £1.50 per text and you will be sent a maximum of 3 texts per week.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in extras | No Comments »

How to Be an Extra in a Movie or TV Show

Monday, February 28th, 2011

If you’ve always wanted to be an extra in a movie, perhaps you are wondering how to go about it? Maybe you have even taken some acting classes to prepare yourself for a TV role, or perhaps you have attended multiple auditions over the years but still had no success in getting into a movie? Here are some tips to help you push past that barrier and make your dream of being in a movie come true.

The first key to success is always being professional. Know what you are doing, and if you don’t know – learn. If you’ve never taken any acting classes, sign up now. Read some books. Talk to people. Let someone mentor you. Learn everything you can about the field of acting.

The next key is to be willing to take any role. Maybe you’ve always wanted to be a pretty girl in a pub that a main character fancies? But you might be more suited to the role of the main character’s child’s school teacher. Don’t be too choosey and you will have more opportunities, and more chances to get your foot in the door.

Finally, attend as many TV casting calls as you can. Find them online, in newspapers or magazines, on the radio, or try a company like Audition Now and receive expert information about local auditions via text message. (For those 18 years old and older – you can receive up to three text messages per day, at £1.50 per text.)

Remember – never give up. Who knows what’s right around the corner?

Tags: , , ,
Posted in extras | No Comments »

How Well Can You Play Dead?

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Weird as it might sound, “corpse” extras can earn a little more thanks to playing dead being considered a stunt – great! Now, how well can you play dead? It’s not all about collapsing in a gasping heap with your tongue hanging out (unless you’re auditioning for a Monty Python cover act!). Here are a few practice tips to help you play dead in acting auditions or extra castings. Playing dead might seem easy, but a little preparation can make all the difference!

•    Find a private space (in the middle of a park is a bad idea – remember the uproar at the little girl playing dead on Google Streetview?) where you can fall or lie safely without hurting yourself or scaring anyone.
•    If possible, try to play dead in front of a mirror or record yourself.
•    Work on a few death faces – wide eyes, closed eyes, mouth open, mouth closed, and other common looks.
•    Corpse extra work is all about stillness and concentration – practice simply lying still for as long as you can.
•    Take slow, long breaths. This takes a bit of practice (you can see a “dead” Megan Fox breathing and moving her eye at the end of “Jennifer’s Body!), but could be what sets you apart and gives you an edge over other extras.
•    Not all corpses are still, but they’re definitely dead! Have a friend move you while you’re playing dead to rehearse genuine flaccidity – it’s pretty tough to let yourself become 100% limp!

With the best death stare in the world, unless you’re over 18 we can’t offer our service to you (£1.50 per text, maximum of three texts per week).

Tags: , , ,
Posted in extras | No Comments »

Patience is an Extra Virtue

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Some people think extras – the background supporting cast – aren’t really so important on a set; surely it’s all about the principal stars? In a word, ‘no’. As an extra you hold more power than you realise. Of course, it’s easy for production staff to replace one or two difficult or badly behaved extras, but in terms of the bigger picture, the extras hold a great amount of responsibility.

Extras are trusted to be on-set responsibly. For example, to be an extra probably means at least a glimpse of a few celebrities. Flinging yourself into their path, monopolising their time or bugging them for hints/autographs/photos is seriously frowned upon and could cost you a job. You’re both in your workplace, so behave accordingly!

•    If you come across an on-set parameter or boundary, use a little common sense rather than stepping over the line. Being an extra doesn’t necessarily give you 100% freedom to roam on-set.
•    If you’re to provide your own wardrobe for the likes of filming everyday London street scenes, remember to avoid bold colours and logos unless advised.
•    Be quiet. We all know that when a sign says “Please Turn Off Your Mobile Phone” most folks head straight for the silent setting instead. Fine. Just remember to use your discretion and never interrupt a casting or scene with a mobile, media player, or jingling keys.

As an extra, the production staff are relying on you to bring a set to life, to add context and feeling. Your job is an important one, so do it well!
Even the most proficient extras can only use our auditions service if they’re 18 or over (£1.50 per text, maximum of three texts per week).

Tags: , , ,
Posted in extras | No Comments »

“Extra” Cash

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Watching “Extras”, you’re rather fed the impression that all extras are fame-hungry, attention-grabbing creatures hell bent on snaffling as much of the limelight for themselves as possible. This is actually rather untrue.

Of course, of the many paths to fame and fortune, one is to begin acting life through extras casting, but a great number of TV extras get into the business simply to be everyman, to blend in and make some money doing so.

Whilst some extras shoot for the money shot (getting into the same frame as the main star or principal character), a lot find it enough to indulge in the thrill of being onscreen – albeit in the background – as a supporting background character.

The average extra tends to earn around £65 or so for a day of standard work (usually about nine hours) but opportunities for increased revenue are pretty common. Overtime, extra pay for night work, and increased rates for skilled extras can help carve out a living wage.

Got any skills? Horse riding, ice skating, welding, sculpting, hairdressing, gymnastics, rock climbing, singing, yoga – increased rates for extras performing particular skills can push your daily wage up substantially. Also included in the stunts and skills arena is playing a corpse – technically lying very still is deemed a stunt – another great way to make a little extra!

If you’re under eighteen we can’t offer our £1.50 per text service to you (maximum of three texts per day).

Tags: , , ,
Posted in extras | No Comments »

Extras Auditions Require A Little Extra Diligence

Monday, January 17th, 2011

Extras work, whether in TV, film or theatre has always been high coveted. At one end of the spectrum, many people of all ages, shapes and sizes simply enjoy extras work and the additional income it provides alongside other employment. It can be social, interesting and there might even be opportunities for them to rub shoulders with celebrities. At the other are actors across a broad age demographic who aspire to make full time careers of acting and for whom extras work can, in some cases, provide valuable networking opportunities, springboards to more work and increasingly prominent roles.

However, auditioning for extras work is not something to be undertaken in a slapdash manner, as doing so often results in unnecessary wasted time, effort and expense. This is because production teams casting for extras largely have specific criteria in mind dependent upon the programmes, films or theatre productions they are working on. They will be looking for certain attributes that can be pertinent to general appearance, gender, age and even skin colour. Hence, it is highly advisable for people seeking out extras work to be forearmed and forewarned, as places are as strongly contested, as with all acting opportunities.

We, at Audition Now, boast an expert team of researchers with relevant experience whose job it is to stay abreast of forthcoming extras auditions, their locations and what productions are looking for. This vital information is then passed on to our subscribers via our text alerts.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in extras | No Comments »

Have you Got the “Extra” Factor?

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

Not many of use were aspiring “extras” when we where younger, however there is a lot to be said about being a TV or film extra, and not only will it give you a flavour of what acting involves, but it could also help you get your foot in the door and be spotted by directors or TV executives.

Unlike “proper” acting, it is actually not to difficult to be an extra. Whereas production companies will only cast for a couple of actors, often they will need a cast of hundreds of extras, so therefore the chances of getting work are a lot greater.

The money’s not bad either, and whilst you wont be earning film-star bucks, you can earn as much as £130 a day working as an extra – which is not to bad considering that many people would happily pay to be on TV!

For film lovers and aspiring actors, it really does pay to be an extra, as depending on what production you are working on, you may get the chance to work with some real stars and experience just what it’s like working on a TV set.

With Audition Now, as long as you are 18 or over, we can let you know about extras casting oppourtunities for as little as £1.50 per text with a max of 3 texts per week. And the best thing is that as long as you fit the look of the role, unlike other acting roles you stand a real chance of becoming an extra, no matter what your experience.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in extras | No Comments »

What Does An Extra Do?

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

We’ve all heard of extra work, but not everyone is sure exactly what an extra does, how long they are needed for and what qualifications are needed to be an extra. Usually, an extra will just be a regular person hired to be in the background of a TV programme or a film. As for what they actually do, the truth is not an awful lot.

Most of the time that is involved in recording any on screen action is the set-up, and therefore for all this time an extra will simply be standing around waiting. When the lights go up and action is shouted, they will then need to perform anything from simply standing around, to walking past the camera to full on battle scenes. The role an extra takes will depend heavily on the production, as well as their physique and gender. Occasionally, there may even be a line or two to say.

The benefits are numerous though. For the job you are doing it is usually surprisingly well paid. Plus you get to be on a real set usually not far from famous people. And finally you get to see yourself on the big, or little, screen.

There is no experience or training necessary, so all you need to do is turn up at an extras casting and hope you are just what they are looking for. Audition Now informs you of all the latest extras auditions so you can be sure you have the best chance to have a great fulfilling time and get a good bit of money for it in the process. Open to anyone 18 years and over, after you subscribe, a maximum of three texts per week will be sent to you with information on castings, charged at £1.50 per text.

Tags: , ,
Posted in extras | No Comments »

Extras Work and Stage Training

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

The majority of extras auditions and other work is concentrated in London, but you can find plenty of other opportunities across the UK in major centres such as Cardiff, Birmingham and Glasgow.

Extras are needed in both film and television. They can impart a realism to the events in a particular scene. The audience believes in the reality of the situation because as a backdrop to the drama, they can see other people going about their business and getting on with their lives. Extras do not ‘perform’ as such; they move and react in the unstudied manner of real people in a real situation.

As an extra, therefore, you do not need specific stage training. Your success in a scene actually depends on how ‘invisible’ you can make yourself. Your contribution consists in briefly passing in front the camera, precisely as instructed by the director or his assistants. In fact, an extra’s day is often long and uneventful with early starts and late finishes, and often a lot of waiting around with minimal time on camera.

Many people work as extras and the chief attraction is that the pay can stack up, particularly if you have to stay to work overtime, sometimes, as much as £150 a day, which is not bad considering no training is required.

Here at Audition Now, we offer many opportunities for work as an extra. You can be sure of being notified as soon as an opening arises, with a text sent direct to your mobile.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in extras | No Comments »

Extras Work and Improving your Prospects

Monday, October 4th, 2010

It is surprising how many actors will seriously consider extras work when they are ‘resting’ between shows or auditions. A common view is that you will damage your standing as a serious performer if you are seen to be offering your services as a ‘background artiste’.

This is not necessarily the case, and indeed, in these financially uncertain times, you may be glad of the reasonable earnings. Sometimes, with overtime, these can amount to £150 a day. Of course it is not easy to swallow your pride and let yourself be herded about with non-actors in a crowd scene. Remember, however, that much of the time you are sitting around waiting – since you are only there because your work prospects are currently not great, it is gratifying to know that as an extra you are actually being paid to sit around waiting and observe how the filming process works.

You should certainly not miss out on any acting auditions, but during the hours of waiting as an extra, you may actually have the chance to prepare yourself for upcoming auditions. You can always turn extras work down if you have got a clash with an audition. Generally, you get to hear about extras work at the last minute, so you should be able to prioritise easily enough.

Here at Audition Now, we offer many possibilities for extras work, as well as keeping you up to date with all the latest acting casting opportunities. In this way, we can become for you a ‘one-stop’ shop for your acting career.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in extras | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »