ALT-1 Exciting Job what its like to be a Movie Extra
A movie extra or extra is a "minor actor" in one or few scenes of a movie, performing an "inactive role". Inactive roles may include roles which don't involve actions like speaking, dancing, etc. or roles that draw little or no attention.
What is it like to be a movie extra?
After several trials in different auditions, being given the role of an extra brings deep relief and encouragement to any new actor. Although, being an extra may not give you the opportunity to showcase any "meaningfully impressive" ability, it gives you some experiences that may land you the next major role in the future, especially if you are an actor; non-actors can be extras too.
You get to watch how experienced actors perform and improvise as different scenes are acted. You get to know about the "dos" and "don'ts" in acting, as the movie director points out several flaws while the acting progresses. Even though your role might not be challenging, you get to feel the challenge in the air, and the pressure experienced in real acting. The whole process is interesting.
Playing the role of an extra is really advantageous to those who are pursuing an acting career and are yet to get a major role. The producers and directors get to know you, especially when the movie doesn't involve too many extras. There is a possibility that you will be an extra in another movie under the same production. You also get to know about the people in the business in some way, at least, you can create a connection whereby you are always alerted about future projects and auditions.
Movie extras tend to enjoy the whole acting process more than anybody, because they watch and almost don't feel the total pressure experienced by the actors with the major roles, even though they might not be around all through the acting process.
Will you have the opportunity of having a chat with the lead actor? Yes. An extra, though being a minor actor in the movie, is treated like other actors in terms of hospitality and payment. You can be an extra as the lead actor's cab driver, etc. For this in Hollywood, you can get paid as much as $150 or more for 8 hours of the day, with 7 hours spent looking and probably 1 hour or less performing.
The role of an extra is the stepping stone for most of the top celebrities in Hollywood today. For career actors, the deal is this, "try as much as possible to get into a movie, whether it's just a snap of your face that is needed.
Can being an extra in a movie work as an advantage in getting a major role in another movie? Yes. Producers and casting directors will always want to work with those who have had a feel of what real acting is all about or at least have experienced it. So as you dream of big breaks, smile at the small ones too.
