Extra Roles

[pollypickles]

Just wondered what peoples opinions were on extra roles? My DDs are about to be involved in filming for the third time in the last few months as extras. I have always looked as these opportunities as beneficial but don't want them to miss out on other things if it is not looked upon favourably. What's everyone's opinion of this?

[harry2]

Its okay to get experience on a set but being a regular extra is a no no in my opinion as you only get walk ons and its also how you get treated ie like a spare part. Some ad's are better but not all, I did some when I was younger and its full of people who think there going to get main parts with no training or experience, and it really got on my nerves that!

[pg]

I think that this is a question where the answer changes depending on the age of the "extra" and where they are in their career.

If you are an adult actor I think the answer is unequivocal (hang on, I can't think it's unequivocal can I - it's comfortable here on this fence though).

If you are an adult actor, and wish to be taken seriously as an adult actor, don't do extra work OR do it quietly/under another name if you can and keep your head down. Treat it as a money-earning job like working as a waiter or stacking shelves and never, ever put it on your acting CV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvBvXMZZ ... re=related

The only exception I can think of is if you are at the very start of your career and you would like to find out what is like to be on a film or TV set, in which case you should still keep your head down and keep a low profile.

There honestly is a very clear divide in this country and SA's (supporting artistes) are treated and regarded differently from guest artistes who have one line. I don't think this is fair or appropriate, but it is the case.

If it is a child, I think it's different. I would still say that you should not include any background credits on a CV. You can, however, emphasise the positive experience to a prospective agent in a covering letter because there are lots of positives:

It shows that the child has
1) An ability to cope with lots of waiting around
2) An ability to behave responsibly on set
3) An understanding of what goes on in a film/TV environment

as long as you make it clear that you don't regard it in the same light as a credited experience I would think an agent would see the positive side of this experience.

So, make the most of the positive experiences, but don't crow about them and don't expect anyone in the industry to regard it in the same light as being employed as an actor.
As an extra, you don't (generally) get hired in the same way as an actor does. As an extra you are generally picked as reasonable wallpaper because you come into the required "mix" - 3 student types, 3 businessmen, 1 old lady, 5 children making their way home from school. As an actor, you are generally chosen by audition or by showreel because of your ability (though obviously "looking the part" still has a big influence on whether or not you get picked).

[pollypickles]

Thanks for your comments, useful as always

[snookienoo]

My ds's agent has taken all extra work and adverts off ds's spotlight and only shows featured roles in tv parts.
He is still a child, what I thought was good experience, the agent doesn't!! However I still think its been great that he's done the other stuff as it is experience.

[Irishdancer]

I feel that extra work and children are taken advantage of some of the things they do companys use them for smaller parts that they would have to pay a lot more for a actor to do it. They def don't get treated the same where a featured artist gets there own trailer the extra usaly has to sit on the bus, Extras the 1st series made me laugh as most of it was really like being an extra when Ricky and the other extras said to the main actor you can not get on this bus it's very true to life there are usaly 2 busses 1 for the crew and actors and one for extras and u are told u can only sit on the extras bus and usaly differnt food as well. I would not let my children do extra work can not put it on CV and if you do tell CD that u where in that film or TV program they will look u up on IMDb and if u are not on the cast list then will no u where a extra.

[tikka]

By coincidence my DS and I were both working as Supporting Actors yesterday!

We had a lovely day, a mix of doing as we were told, in the background whist the cameras rolled, I read my book, chatted to people, eat a rather wonderful dinner on the same bus as the lead actors, DS had fun chilling with the other teenagers, and we both got paid. It's good experience of how a film set works and gives you a little pocket money.

If you were getting decent paid acting jobs then I can see how people would see it as not for them. However, for us its better than DS sitting at home playing on facebook, and comes up fairly infrequently so to not take up a lot of time. Also there is always a chance of making a good contact. meanwhile DS dreams of that big break into stardom!

i see it as a pocket money earner, with fun and film set experience thrown in.

[shortguy]

Glad you had a great day yesterday Tikka
My DS does alot of extra work - probably 1/2 jobs a week which he juggles with his other jobs! He loves it and pays fairly well while waiting for his big break. He was a walk on in a recent series and they are now casting for the second series and he has been called to audition for something in it. It is all just luck of the draw and being in the right place at the right time

[tikka]

Good luck with the audition shortguy.

It is all about being in the rightplace, at the right time, and contacts.....having enough talent to get called, and then its down to you being what they are looking for!

[frisbee]

Trying to find the answer to my ponderings, read this thread now not sure what to do. Ds just done speaking part advert, which involved some acting skill as well. Don't know wether to put it on spotlight or not. What about voice overs? Still learning.