Learn how a background extra can land a speaking role in our latest ‘The Background Extra’ discussion
The best part of being an extra is to see legendary actors work. Watching Academy Award winning actors do their 9 to 5 is inspiring and motivating. But, it begs the question, how can an extra move from “moving furniture” to a speaking role? Most recently, HBO’s new series ‘Vice Principals‘ just upgraded three background actors to speaking roles. A few weeks before that, Tyler Perry upgraded several actors to speaking roles for his TV series ‘The Haves and The Have Nots‘. But, again how can an extra land a speaking role?
In our first part to our six part series of ‘The Background Extra’ we asked Jamie Lynn Catrett, the casting director behind ‘The Hunger Games’ and Heather Taylor, the casting director of USA’s ‘Satisfaction’, how important are background extras to Georgia’s growing film industry and their responses are motivating, honest, and ultimately inspiring.
In part two of the ‘The Background Extra’ we asked Jamie Lynn Catrett and Heather Taylor, two top Atlanta casting directors, how can an extra land a speaking role or job on set of a TV show or movie.
Here is what they had to say:
2. What do you believe a background extra can do to either land a speaking role or a job on a film set in Atlanta?
Jamie Lynn Catrett: Oh man – this is such a loaded question! 🙂 Sometimes, it’s just being in the right place at the right time. On rare occasions someone can be pulled from background to say a one-liner. Doing background work is great because it allows you to see how a set is run from the inside, and it also allows you to be paid to watch and learn from some great working, actors. Most of the time though, it’s a matter of the actor studying and booking roles with principal casting directors.
Landing a gig as a crew member is a little different. I’ve seen background actors connect on set with various departments and change their careers. Some people start out as background actors because they want to be on-screen, but end up in the wardrobe or the props department a few years later because they realize they are better suited or more passionate about another area of the industry. The best policy is to get on set, watch everything that is going on and figure out what YOU are naturally drawn to and go from there.
Heather Taylor: –Thats an easier one than you think. Readiness, Meets Preparedness, Meets Opportunity. I have had the privilege of helping cast several principal roles, 2 roles actually just worked yesterday. If you are aware of your surroundings, are always on time & show up, you start to stand apart from all the others. If you also perfect your craft by taking acting classes, working on small student films or independent films, having a 1 minute monologue filmed, and a slate of yourself filmed on hand (meaning saved on dropbox or your cell phone) – you would be surprised how much those things will work to your advantage when that moment of opportunity comes knocking. But with that being said, being a background performer is vitally important to this process. I see so many people get jaded and tend to turn their nose up at being an “extra”. Some people feel that they are an “actor” and therefor they will not work as BG, but working as a BG one day on set is how you make it to the next level – it is all about exposure. *Here is a short Personal Story* I started out as an extra that knew nothing about anything in film (with only a background in theater). A few days after working on that set I became a stand in. How you may ask? Because the ADs saw me on set when I was booked as an “extra” and felt I looked similar to their actress – they also liked my willingness to learn and my ability to catch on very quickly. Truth is every day I was on set I payed attention to my surroundings and observed everyone’s jobs, including Stand Ins. So many times I see people come to set and don’t take it seriously, they goof off, talk loud, and expect they will be an actor in no time – when you are quiet and observant it goes a long way. From Stand In work I then was asked to do Photodouble work and Makeup tests for that and other actresses. I did well on camera and followed direction given. From their I got the opportunity to audition for a speaking role– and I got it! From there on out I was able to meet people on the production side. My 6 years of previous business background in NYC, and my life long dream to work in the film industry came fill circle back to my favorite expression, that was taught to me by other Casting Directors in Florida…. “my Readiness, met Preparedness, which met the perfect Opportunities. Now, I am the owner of an Extras Casting Company, Casting TaylorMade and my daily job as a Extras Casting Director makes me feel as I have finally reached my goal, but I am never done learning and growing! Now I can make others dreams new to this industry (or old) come true – the same way the Extras Casting Directors / Casting Directors did for me. “Pay It Forward”
Stay tuned for Part 3 of ‘The Background Extra’ series as we discuss what a background extra should do if they feel disrespected or unsafe.
