Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Being an Extra in Georgias Booming Entertainment Industry

By Julie Senger

Due to all the tax credits offered, as well as all of the wonderful, scenic locations we have to offer, there are currently over forty movies and television shows being filmed in the state of Georgia, which in recent years has been referred to as the Hollywood of the south,  better known as Yallywood. With so many things being filmed here, many residents are wondering how they might get in on the action (pun intended)! Seasoned actors may audition for legitimate, character roles; while other Georgians just want to dabble in the industry from time to time by applying to be an extra on television or a movie set for various productions being filmed. Extras are responsible for creating the active background for scenes, allowing the main characters to interact in a more realistic, authentic environment. Being an extra can help you earn some extra money, possibly allow you to rub shoulders with a major star, and potentially provide you with an opportunity to spot yourself in the background of a scene on television or up on the big screen!

One of the great things about being an extra is that you dont have to be a member of any sort of actors union, (SAG, etc.). You are free to take part in any show or movie that can utilize you, without any of the restrictions you might encounter by being a unionized performer. A quick query on your favorite search engine might yield several different resources to bookmark for future reference, or current, specific opportunities for which you can immediately pursue.

You also dont have to worry about securing a personal agent to represent you, for which youd have to pay them a percentage of your earnings. However, when many productions desire extras, they often contact agencies that specialize in finding the right types of people for their needs. These agencies dont usually charge you a fee, as they mostly get paid by the production that is asking them to find the extras for them.

Before contacting an agency that is advertising a need for extras, you will probably want to have a headshot, as well as a full-length photo of yourself, in addition to being able to provide facts like your clothing and shoe sizes, and possibly even specific bodily measurements, in case the productions costuming department needs such information. There is a need for all different ages, shapes, sizes, and ethnicities in extra work; so you will want to provide honest photos of what you really look like, without filters, Photoshop edits, etc. Extras are meant to look like average, everyday people. Therefore, in the business of being an extra, attempting to be overly attractive, different, or unique may get you passed over in some cases, as they may not select you because you stand out too much from the crowd, which may detract attention from the productions main characters. However, some productions want to find people with a very specific look, or perhaps even a specific set of skills or talents which may need to be performed in the background. So hey, learning how to use a pogo stick, while playing a kazoo in the middle of a dust cloud that was created by a herd of elephants running all around you may actually come in handy one day! You never know! It could happen!

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

The average pay for an extra is usually a daily rate of $50-$100, for up to 12 hours worth of your time. Food is often provided, but be prepared in case it is not. Depending upon the production, you could be spending lots of time waiting around to be used for a scene; you may even spend more time waiting that actually being utilized. Therefore, be sure to bring something with which to quietly entertain yourself and pass the time.

Sign Me Up!!!!

Below is a list of some of the most popular extras casting agencies in Atlanta. Many of them advertise their needs strictly through social media, so if you do not currently have a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., you may want to open an account:

Background Artists Casting Atlanta, Facebook.com/bacatlanta

CL Casting, Facebook.com/CatrettLockeCasting

Cynthia Stillwell Casting, CynthiaStillwellCasting.com

Extras Casting Atlanta , ExtrasCastingAtlanta.com/

Hylton Casting, HyltonCasting.com/

Marinella Hume Casting, MarinellaHumeCasting.com/

Pierre Casting, PierreCasting.com

Tammy Smith Casting, TammySmithCasting.com/TSCasting/HOME.html