Throughout my career in the entertainment industry as a film extra, stand-in, actor, casting director and screenwriter I have been quite blessed with the opportunity to work with some of the industries most talented individuals. It seems within the recent year or so there has been an influx of interest in becoming a film extra. Maybe this has something to do with more people becoming interested in filmmaking, but I have a stronger feeling it is closely connected with the unemployment rate and many people are uncovering being an extra can pay quite good for a 12-hour days work (in upwards of $120).
If you are a budding film extra, or you’re a seasoned professional, and you desire more work there are certain promotional tools you should always have at your disposal to help land the next gig. Although these tips are from my professional experience, it is important to understand that they may not work for you. That being said, the most important promotional tool is perseverance and patience.
Business Cards:
I personally feel that one of the most important promotional tools for a film extra is a business card. There have been many times where I was sitting on set and one of the production assistants asked for my contact information as he was involved in another shoot that was looking for an extra, stand-in or day player. Instead of trying to locate a pen and paper, I simply handed him my business card, which featured my contact number, email address and a small headshot in the upper right hand corner. You should always carry at least 10 business cards with you at all time; however, this is very important when working on film set as you never know who you’ll come in contact with.
Comp Cards:
Comp cards, much like business cards, provide your personal contact information; however, they also allow you to put up to five photographs onto a single sheet. While these cards are larger than standard business cards, they allow you as an extra to showcase your visual versatility by showcasing several different “looks.” Typically reserved for models, I firmly believe comp cards, also known as ZED cards, are a vital promotional and networking tool for film extras.
Website:
This last promotional tool is currently being debated by some of my movie extra pals as some feel that this is a vital promo tool while others feel it is a waste of time. My personal feelings on this subject matter is a website can provide you with a personalized space to showcase your visual versatility by placing numerous photographs while simultaneously showcasing your professionalism by listing your acting and extra credits. Don’t feel like paying for a professional site? Use a free one. While it may not be as visually stunning as a personal/customized website, it can provide you with your own neck of the World Wide Web to help promote your services as a film extra.