Working as a film/TV extra.

whattochoose

Mersey wrote: »

My best mate used to do this (more when he was a student). He received £85 - £100/day but that was over a decade ago so the above figures others have mentioned sound right.


As you're up North, the agency he used (Boss Casting) may be appropriate as they cover Lpool & Manc and you tend to be an extra in Corrie, Hollyoaks as well as a few BBC dramas etc. He did Shameless a lot, but that's ended, so whatever else Ch4 do in the North West. Other agencies are available as they say.


PS The above was for non-speaking. He did get to speak once - but only 6 words - and was paid extra for that day.


Just be aware that you may need to be in a city eg 30 miles away for 7am. You may be waiting around all da or be done in a couple of hours if your scene is called early on.


So yes, it's profitable but you couldn't do it to live off, as you may only get called eg once per month.

Hi Mersey. Thanks for this. I live in Manchester, so knowing about Boss Casting may prove to be particularly useful.
Unfortunately, I've never driven, always used public transport, so it's possible I may be offered work, but cannot accept because of the distance involved.
However, living in a busy urban environment may provide me with sufficient opportunities to participate, and I'd be grateful for any suitable offers really within reasonable travelling distance, however sporadic they may. be.

paddyrg

If you become a circuit regular, you may make contacts with other extras with cars. Often in urban areas they're a drawback as production won't want to provide parking for 100 extra vehicles (it costs a production much more than a regular parking space)

whattochoose

paddyrg wrote: »

If you become a circuit regular, you may make contacts with other extras with cars. Often in urban areas they're a drawback as production won't want to provide parking for 100 extra vehicles (it costs a production much more than a regular parking space)

Thanks paddyrg.

tonycottee

I had my 1st role as an extra recently. To be honest, it was a little boring at times, but the money wasn't bad and I would do it again.

I've written a bit about what's involved being an extra and how much you can earn.

another_casualty

A strange thing happened to me about 20 years ago .
I placed an ad in time out magazine lonely hearts ( cue the sgt pepper jokes :rotfl:). In those days , you checked your messages ( if you had any ) after a couple of days or so .
So I received a message from a nice lady who liked my message .
I won't mention her name ,or name of the production company.

The lady asked if I would be interested in meeting a director , whose name I cannot remember . The idea was to be filmed in the uk and in Russia chatting up women in a pub . I obviously didn't meet with the directors expectations . No problem . TBH , I never fancied the Russian journey .

Anyhow, because I turned up and failed the audition I received a phone call to see if I would be interested in going to browns strip club in Hackney at 9.am on the following Monday . I got there on time ,while most were arriving around 10.30.
So, it was to do with a 3 part programme about temptation .
It was presented by Angus Deayton. Nice guy .
I had to stand in the crowd while a stripper threw her bra off and Angus gets another put on his head .
I got paid cash about £40

2 weeks later, I arrived in portobello market on a weds afternoon for the same documentary . This programme was about gambling . I had to pretend I was a punter while card sharks played find the lady .
Unfortunately,I had to give the cash back. I did get a beer and £25 for that one .

This topic has got me thinking . I don't live in London now , but am currently unemployed . ..