To work as an extra in a movie, you don’t need any special abilities other than the ability to follow directions. Actors who blend into the background of a scene to add visual interest are known as extras. Because background actors rarely have lines to speak, becoming an extra is relatively simple.
Extras for movies can appear in any scene where extras are required. They can be cast in a crowd of people walking down a city street, as a member of a band of marauding soldiers, as a diner in the background of a quiet restaurant, or in any other scenario. Extras can spend the majority of their time waiting to be called upon on set. The background actor must be punctual, patient, and able to follow directions without much fanfare.
Extras don’t usually go through a traditional audition process. They are frequently chosen due to their physical characteristics and ability to blend in with the environment. Extras are occasionally required to have a special skill, such as juggling or playing the guitar, but fine acting talent is rarely required.
Although it is not required, formal film acting training is the most effective way to become an extra. On the set of a major film, there is little time for learning, and even the smallest extra is expected to know all of the rules. For the sake of efficiency, major film studios will almost always hire only professional actors as extras. A large percentage of extras in a film are usually members of an actor’s union, and the rest are hired based on a talent agent’s recommendation.
Making connections with the right people, especially talent agents, is crucial to landing a job as a movie extra. In exchange for a small percentage of your earnings, a good agent will be able to assist you in becoming an extra. It’s best to go with a well-established agent in one of the major filmmaking hubs, such as Los Angeles, California, or New York City, New York, in the United States, or Hyderabad, India, for example.
While major studios prefer to hire professional extras, independent filmmakers frequently use local residents to appear in background scenes on location. A film company might advertise an open casting call and invite the entire town to audition. Anyone who shows up has a chance to be chosen, and there is usually little or no remuneration. Unless you live in an area where independent filmmaking is common, attending open casting calls is an unlikely way to become an extra.