I am a horror movie fanatic, and when I had the opportunity to work as an extra on a nationwide zombie TV show as an extra, my entire being quivered with excitement. As I was lying in bed the night before the first day of production, I began to wonder what the next day will bring. Of course, there would be a plethora of blood, maybe even some faux-intestines. With excitement butterflies lifting me off of my comforter, I walked into my bathroom.
Looking into my full-body mirror, I had a thought hit me so hard I almost fell over. I’m going to have to look truly horrified for around 12-hours, but how can I effectively perform this duty without looking cheesy or fake?
Sitting on the edge of my bathtub, I quickly ran through my favorite horror movie scenes. What did all these scenes have in common? Well, they typically involved nameless extras whose fear was so palpable it shook me to my core. I took this thought even deeper – what about these nameless extras stoke such a chord within my psyche? After several hours of contemplating, practicing in the mirror and writing down my thoughts, I compiled a list of techniques to make my performance as a horrified extra look not only realistic, but have the creepy vibe all horror/thriller movies strive for.
Your Face – Where the Horror Truly Shows
When I think about some of the greatest horror films, the one thing that sticks out in my mind is the facial expressions. While lead performers are typically the primary focus within a horror film, extras play a vital role in creating the creepy, horrifying and disturbing nature of horror flicks.
As an extra, you may not be the primary focal point of a scene; however, if you’re instructed to act frightened it is your responsibility to deliver a high caliber performance as if you were the lead performer.
When preparing for a role as an extra in a horror film, take several moments to look in a mirror and envision yourself in the scene. Imagine looking down the barrel of a gun, or having a large alien zapping all of your close friends and family members. How do your facial muscles convey this feeling of horror? While the specifics of facial horror can vary, typically fear is manifested within the eye region. Focus on altering your eyebrows and widening your eyes to showcase true fear.
Talk to yourself, think the actual thoughts as if you were in the situation. For example: you are stuck in a burning building. Your inner thoughts could be, “How can I get out?” “I don’t want to die,” The smell is so thick I can hardly breathe,” “I can’t believe this is happening.” By talking to yourself as if you were actually in the situation, your face will naturally form into a horrified look. While this takes time, with a little dedication and a dash of imagination, you can create a wonderful, true-to-life performance.
Body Language
Your body language typically speaks louder than your words. While as an extra, you are typically instructed as to where to go and stand your choices in body language are solely up to you. Again, review horror movies and look at the extras. When a large explosion happens, your body will typically tense and your arms draw up closer to your body. Running away from something scary? You may choose to look back in horror while your arms reach for your torso or grab your heart.
Although your choices with your body language are individual and based on the scene, one universal rule: Do Not Overplay Your Movements.
Interacting with a Crowd
As an extra, especially within a horror film, you will be working with a crowd. Acting alongside your fellow extras creates a fun opportunity to engage those around you with your fear. Look around at the faces of your fellow extras during the scene. If you’re running, and you happen to see one extra falling behind, lend a helping hand. Do not make your movement hokey or typical, but rather, imagine yourself in the situation and ask yourself how you would react if this was really happening? Would you push others out of your way in an attempt to be free, or would you find a special person and endure the horrors of the event together? Building a relationship with your fellow extras can add a wonderful sense of community to an typically chaotic scene.