Best Practices for Creating Effective Employee Training Videos
Employee training can be time-consuming, particularly when the same information needs to be explained repeatedly…
If you have ever watched a film or TV programme and wondered what it would be like to appear in the background, becoming a film extra could be worth considering.
Extras, also known as supporting artists or background artists, help make scenes feel realistic. They might be sitting in a restaurant, walking through a busy street, sitting in an office or appearing as part of a crowd at a sporting event.
It might look glamorous from the outside, but what is it actually like to spend a day as a film extra?
The job of an extra is usually to help create the atmosphere of a scene.
For example, imagine a scene set in a busy coffee shop. The main actors might be having a conversation at one table while extras sit nearby, order drinks, use their laptops or talk to each other in the background.
The supporting artists are there to make the location feel like a real place rather than an empty set.
According to Equity, supporting artists are generally used to enhance the authenticity and atmosphere of a scene. They may be directed to move or react as required, but they are not normally required to deliver dialogue.
Usually, no.
One of the main differences between being an extra and being an actor with a speaking role is that extras generally do not have dialogue.
You may be asked to look as though you are having a conversation with another person, but you will normally be miming rather than actually speaking.
There can be exceptions, particularly if the production specifically requires a supporting artist to have a more prominent role, but it is important not to assume that being an extra means you will get to speak on camera.
Your day will normally start with checking in with the production team.
Depending on the production, you might then be taken through to a holding area where you wait until you are needed.
This is one of the less glamorous parts of being a film extra.
There can be a lot of waiting around because filming a scene involves much more than simply pressing record. Lighting needs to be set up, cameras positioned, actors rehearsed and scenes repeated several times.
A shot that lasts only a few seconds on screen can take considerably longer to film.
You might assume that once everyone has performed a scene correctly, filming can move on.
In reality, scenes are often filmed from several different angles.
The production team might shoot a wide shot showing the whole scene, followed by closer shots of the main actors. They may also need additional footage of the background action.
This means you could find yourself repeating the same movement several times.
You might be asked to walk through a doorway, sit down, pick up a cup or cross a room repeatedly.
The important thing is to listen to the instructions from the production team and repeat the action as consistently as possible.
You may find yourself working in the same space as well-known actors, but that does not mean you should treat the set like a fan event.
Everyone on set is there to do a job, and actors need to concentrate on their work just like everyone else.
Unless you are specifically instructed to interact with an actor as part of the scene, it is best to remain professional and follow the direction you have been given.
This is particularly important on larger productions where there may be strict rules about what cast and crew can do while filming.
This depends entirely on the production.
Sometimes you will be given a costume. In other situations, the production team will ask you to bring your own clothes.
You may be given specific instructions about colours, styles or types of clothing that are suitable for the scene.
For example, if you are appearing as an office worker, you may be asked to bring smart business clothing. If the scene takes place at a football match, you might be asked to bring suitable casual clothing.
Always check the instructions you receive before arriving on set.
For some productions, costume, hair and make-up will be provided. Equity’s guidance for film productions also covers arrangements around costume and other provisions for performers.
It can be surprisingly tiring.
You may have to arrive very early, spend a long time on your feet and repeat the same actions many times.
There can also be a lot of waiting.
That does not mean you will be doing nothing all day. You need to remain available and pay attention because the production team may need you at short notice.
Being reliable is therefore important. If you are asked to be somewhere at a particular time, arriving late can cause problems for an entire production.
Payment varies depending on the production, the type of work and the agreement you are working under.
There is no single universal rate that applies to every film or television production.
If you are offered work, make sure you understand the payment arrangements before agreeing to the job. Check what you are being paid, what expenses are covered and what your working hours are expected to be.
If you are working professionally, it can also be worth understanding the agreements and guidance provided by organisations such as Equity, which represents performers including supporting artists.
It can give you experience of being on a professional set, but being an extra should not be viewed as a guaranteed route into acting.
You may learn a lot about how productions work, meet people working in the industry and become more comfortable around cameras.
However, if your ambition is to become an actor, you will generally need to develop your acting skills separately through training, auditions and speaking roles.
Being an extra can be one way of getting familiar with the environment, but it is not a shortcut to an acting career.
If you are heading onto a set for the first time, it is worth being prepared.
Depending on the production, useful things to take could include:
The production should provide you with instructions before the shoot, so read them carefully.
If you are unsure about something, ask before the filming day rather than arriving without the correct clothing or information.
The first thing to expect is that filmmaking takes time.
A scene that looks simple when you watch it on screen may involve dozens of people working behind the camera.
As an extra, you are one small part of that process.
You might spend part of the day waiting, followed by a short period of filming where you are asked to perform a particular action several times. You may then return to the holding area before being called back for another scene.
It can be a long day, but it can also be an interesting way to see how film and television productions actually work.
That really depends on what you want to get from the experience.
If you want to spend a day on a film set, experience how productions work and appear in the background of a film or television programme, it could be an interesting opportunity.
If you are hoping to become a famous actor overnight, it is probably better to have more realistic expectations.
Being a film extra is a small but important part of the filmmaking process. Those background performances help turn an empty location into a believable world.
And next time you watch a film, take a look at what is happening behind the main characters. You might start noticing just how much work is going on in the background.
If you are interested in working as a supporting artist, Equity’s Supporting Artists’ Network is a useful place to learn more about the role and issues affecting supporting artists in the UK.
