Day in the life of an extra

Today on ZILLO Young Reporter Jaxx gives us a brief look into his time as a TV extra.

I’m a young person who is an extra. Here’s what you need to know.

My name is Jaxx and I am a TV extra. Things I have been in include; Hollyoaks, Premiere League and Amazon Prime adverts for LFC.

How did I get into this?

My nan suggested becoming an extra as she has been one for many years, being in a range of shows such as Coronation Street to Hollyoaks. There are lots of different agencies to choose from. I signed up with a casting agency in the north west.

If you are under 18, a parent or guardian would have to agree signing up to a casting agency. You also need an up to date DBS/Police check. This would be something you would have to do and pay for yourself. This is important as it keeps everyone safe.

What does an extra do?

An extra is someone who is in the background of a shot or a scene. Of course, it’s not just being an extra, for the LFC advert I was in, I had a speaking role.

It’s not an acting role, but some people do it to get into acting. All you have to do is just follow the instructions of the director. A runner is a person who takes you from the waiting area to the costume department, make up and then the set.

Do you get paid?

Yes! It differs, but for Hollyoaks for example, its around £75 a day. It would be around £90 but the agency you’re with take their deductions. You can get more if you’re scheduled for more than 1 day, also called continuity.

Day in the life of an extra

The day before, you will get given a call time. This is the time when you will be called to the set by the runner. Getting there early is a must. Time is money in the film industry!

On the day, you arrive at the studios and you have to report to reception and tell them who you are. They will direct you where to wait, this is normally the canteen. Waiting times can be long so make sure to take something to entertain you, and snacks in case you don’t have money (sometimes you get free snacks!)

You will then be called by a runner who will take you to the costume department - they will check and make sure your outfits are appropriate and give you an outfit if not. You usually take a few different outfits of your own. You can’t have any clothing with big logos on. Sometimes you may need makeup so you will be taken there.

After makeup, you will then be taken to the set itself. The runner will tell you where to stand and where to go on “action”. This is the exciting bit as it’s where you get to see all the famous people!

You are now being filmed. Sometimes you may need to redo a scene again (and again) because of something that wasn’t done right, or a plane flies past. The director is in charge and wants everything to be perfect.

Do you film in different locations?

It’s not always in the studio. Sometimes it can be on location, meaning that you might be in a shopping centre or in a pub etc. Make sure you know where you’ve got to be each day, your agent will tell you this a day before the filming. They will also provide you with a phone number if you get lost.

Things you need to consider if you are interested in being an extra

Have you got transport to get to the location? Call times can be as early as 7am! Getting public transport may be difficult, so plan the night before.

Are you confident enough to be on television? Are you happy to be filmed?

Will this affect your school or college work – do you have enough time? Filming is usually a full day.

Make sure you have food and entertainment. Wait times can be very long and long periods of the day where you aren’t doing anything.

You will have to visit a photographer to get professional pictures done for a portfolio. This is sent to the casting department directly so they know who you are and what you look like. They look for a wide variety of people.

With some casting agencies, they have a rule where you can only be with 1 agency in the country, or within a specific radius.

Why be an extra?

It’s good as a side job while you are studying at college or university. It’s very easy to be an extra and not much is required of you. Everyone is really friendly and you will get to meet a lot of new people and make new friends. Sometimes the cast will come and talk to you too!