“Should I do extra work?” is a question I get asked all the time by actors. For those of you just starting out—and those of you aiming for principal roles—extra work may not seem glamorous. But while you wait to land that Academy Award-winning role, let’s talk about why it could be beneficial to your acting career.
Here are some pros to consider:
First and most importantly, it’s an acting job! Although some may beg to differ, after casting hundreds of extras for movies, TV shows, and commercials, I’ve found that great extras can make or break a project. Whether or not you have lines, if you are in front of the camera, your job as an actor is crucial to the believability of the project. How you portray these roles needs to be convincing, otherwise it detracts from the scene. So if you’re booked as an extra, approach it as an opportunity to flex your acting muscles.
You’ll network.You can expect a lot of downtime sitting in holding, the designated area where actors are asked to congregate for longer waits between shots. Use this time to your advantage by making contacts! The community of actors on set is a great place to make new friends and colleagues as well as share
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