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Extras Information
What Is An Extra? | How Do I Become An Extra? | What Should My Photo Look Like?
What Is An Extra?
Extras,
also called Background Performers, are who make every scene in the movie seem
as realistic as possible. You may not notice them at first, but trust us,
after doing one or two days of extra work, you will never watch a movie the
same way again. Anybody
that you see in a movie who does not have any lines, are considered extras.
The people that you see walking, sitting, reading, etc. in the background
while the stars are talking are considered extras. Sometimes, we will ask for
specific extras that have specific skills such as skateboarding, running, and
dancing. This is why it is very important when you fill in your Extras Casting Form,
to put all the skills that you have (even if they seem menial). A
good way to understand the industry is to work as an extra. You get a feeling
for the pace, you also get a hands-on experience of how it really is to be on
set. How Do I Become An Extra?
There
is absolutely no acting or any film related experience required to be an
extra. Anybody can be an extra. All you need is a good listening skill, and
good work ethics. To
get started, you need to take a snapshot of yourself, solo picture (no
smaller than 4” x 6” photo), then fill out an Extras Casting Form. We prefer for
everyone to mail in their Extras Form and Photo, as the quality of the photo
is not the same when it is not the original. You can e-mail it as well, but
make certain the photo you are emailing is at least 180 dpi. Once
we receive your photo and form, we keep you on file, and will call if there
is anything that you are appropriate for. We
suggest for everyone to update their photos every two years. For kids, every
year. This way, we know who is interested in working every year. What Should My Photo
Look Like?
You
don’t have to have a professional headshot, although it doesn’t hurt to have
one. We usually submit all options to the director before hiring anyone, so
the better the photo, the greater your chances are for getting hired. Photos
should not be any smaller than a 4” x 6” photo. Either black and white or
colour is fine, although, if you are submitting a black and white photo, it
would be wise to submit a colour photo as well. It is much easier for us to
see Hair/Eye colour that way. Photographer Links
Helpful Tips For
Stand-Ins
View/Download
tip sheet Tips On How To Be An
Extra
FAQ About Extra Work
Q: Do I need to have acting experience? A:
There is absolutely no acting or any film related experience required to be
an extra. Anybody can be an extra. All you need is a good listening skill,
and good work ethics. Q: I heard an ad on the radio that said you’re looking for
extras for a movie. How do I get involved? A:
All you need to do is fill out the Extras Casting Form and send it to us
along with a good quality picture. We will contact you if we are able to use
you for a production. Q: Why do you ask for so much information on the Extras Casting Form)? A:
Sometimes, we will ask for specific extras that have specific skills such as
skateboarding, running, and dancing. This is why it is very important when
you fill in your Extras Casting Form, to put all the skills that you have
(even if they seem menial). We also sometimes need individuals who have a
particular look, height, weight, age, so the more information you give us,
the more we know and that helps us in choosing extras. Q: Do I need to get a professional headshot? A:
You don’t have to have a professional headshot, although it doesn’t hurt to
have one. We usually submit all options to the director before hiring anyone,
so the better the photo, the greater your chances are for getting hired. Q: Does extra work pay? A:
Extras are paid $10.75/hour plus overtime pay after eight hours. Lunch and
snacks are provided if you are working for more than six hours. PLEASE NOTE: Even though you are contacted by KARI CASTING,
you are hired by the individual movie productions that you work on. You are
paid by the Production and NOT by Kari Casting. We do not deal with ANY
payroll. We are simply hired by the productions to look for the extras. Make
sure to keep a copy of all of your paycheque stubs as well as your white
vouchers, just in case you have any payroll inquiries. Q: I want to become an actor. How do I get started? A:
A good way to understand the industry is to work as an extra. You get a
feeling for the pace, you also get a hands-on experience of how it really is
to be on set. Being an extra is a great start, whether you want to be an
extra or get involved in another aspect of the motion picture industry. Q: Do I have to pay to be on file with Kari Casting? A: Absolutely Not! You do not pay to be in our files.
Having said that, submitting a photo and casting form does not guarantee you
extra work. You are called to work based on the requirement of each
production. The more often you send an application to update your
information, the better it is for your chance to get called. REMEMBER: You never ever have to pay to be an extra in
Manitoba. Don't fall for any false "Open Casting Calls"
claiming they can guarantee you work if you pay to be on file with them. |
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