If you want to break into doing extras work for film or television, the end of the summer is a good time to find out what opportunities there are for you.

No specialist skills are required for extras work, but there are important rules of working practice to bear in mind. Experience teaches you, for example, the value of allowing plenty of time to get to a day’s shooting. Often the day starts early, and it may well involve getting to out-of-the-way locations. You should plan your transport arrangements in advance, and make allowances for heavy traffic or adverse weather.

You will need to get used to sitting around not doing very much. Individual scenes (‘takes’) may not last more than thirty seconds, but a lot of preparation work goes into deciding camera angles, or supplementing the lighting, so recording to camera actually accounts for a small percentage of time use. For the rest of the time, you may be glad of an engrossing book.

When you are finally required to be filmed, don’t be disappointed if your appearance is for the briefest possible time. You must also remember to keep your contribution as unobtrusive as you can. Unless directed otherwise, your aim is to be seen but not noticed. Any ‘acting’ that pulls focus from the main characters in the scene should be avoided.

Finding extras work can be greatly facilitated for you by us at Audition Now. We seek out all the latest opportunities and text them direct to your mobile phone.