Actors who take work as extras are sometimes thought to be selling out. Some people even think that such work impacts adversely on an actor’s future prospects. Extras casting calls can draw large numbers of eager hopefuls with limited or no previous acting experience, and that too can make working as an extra seem the wrong choice for you.
There are some die-hard regular extras who have no ambition for more visible acting work, but who nonetheless get enough work to make a reasonable living, though usually they have to be prepared to travel a lot in order to keep working. There are also many amateurs who strike it lucky because their face just ‘fits’.
All of this makes it hard for the serious actor to find any value in turning up to casting calls for extras work.
If this is how you feel, you should perhaps reconsider. After all, no-one is suggesting that you should sacrifice fully professional theatre work in favour of doing tonnes of extras casting jobs. However, if you are finding it hard to get your next job, then working as an extra may offer a valuable additional income.
As an extra you will be working in your chosen profession: meeting and working with other performers may even lead to further, more visible work opportunities for you.
Here at Audition Now we can help you with all the latest information on acting auditions and casting calls; we can even line you up for some extras work.
Tags: acting auditions, casting calls, extras, extras casting