The Idea:
Work as an "Extra" in movies and earn cash for being a face in the crowd.
How it Works:
Show business is a big-money industry, and even the "little guys" can make a little cash. Almost every movie needs extras, people who aren't professional actors who can be part of a large crowd in street scenes, customers shopping in a store scene or anyone who appears in the background of the movie. Casting calls will appear in your local paper, as well as on actor-oriented websites. The majority of extra work is found in major cities, especially Los Angeles and New York, but even if you live in a small town, keep your eyes open for any news of movies coming to film in your locale. Chances are, the production studio will hire local extras to populate their backgrounds. People of all shapes, sizes and ages are needed, since in general, the job of a extra is to be part of a crowd of normal people in the background. If you're over 18, but still look like a teenager or kid, your options increase dramatically, since studios prefer to hire adults for younger roles to avoid the legal regulations involved in hiring minors. Expect to spend a lot of time waiting around as an extra, and don't expect to actually get to meet the stars. What you CAN expect is the chance to earn a decent amount of cash for not too much work, and the fun of telling your friends to look for you in a two-second crowd scene when the movie finally makes it to the theater.
How Much Can You Make:
Pay for extras rages from a few hundred dollars a day for standing in the crowd to a few thousand dollars if you happen to score a small speaking part. Speaking parts for extras usually don't involve more than a line or two- a cafe employee's "Can I help you?" or a "Hey!" as the hero and villain race past- but the pay increases dramatically for even just a couple of words.
More Information:
Contact local actor's organizations or look at our targeted online job listings for more information on becoming a movie extra.