How I made over $50,000 a year by becoming a TV and Movie Extra(Background). You can do it too.
I had just moved from Gilbert, Arizona back to Los Angeles. I got a job at Nordstrom’s at the Grove, but got bored doing it and I had always wanted to work in film in any capacity. Back in 2008 I decided to make the jump and do background work in the tv and movie industry. I knew the basics. You go to Central Casting in Burbank and register. They took pictures of you and then you called a hotline everyday to try and book work. This was before you could submit yourself online.
So I registered with them and had heard of a casting service that was run by a guy names Aaron out of his apartment in Hollywood off Franklin Ave just across the street from Gelson’s. He was a fun and fast talking guy who had outfits you could try on for submitting pictures to casting agents who delt in background work. If any fun finds pictures of my dressed as a police officer or detective from those days please send them my way.
My first job back doing extra work was as general background on the film called “The Soloist” with Robert Downey Junior and Jamie Foxx. What is of not was that This was the first and only time I where I worked just over 16 hours in one day. Now for me as non-union worker that was $220 for the day. Not bad plus all you can eat food. What I didn’t know until later was that the Union workers were made upwards of $800 that day. As a non union employee I was paid $74 for 8 hours of work. It’s higher now. Union were paid $150 for the day plus overtime, which amounted to nearly $40 an hour after 8 hours of work plus penalties. Penalties are what you get paid for if there as a meal that you miss and have to work through a scene or if there is smoke or water in a scene they pay you more. Also as a Union employee you get paid if you changes clothes that you brought to work.
After this I said to myself that I needed to become union. I signed up with another company called Face 2 Face management which was great for me. They were booking me 5 days a week. The great thing about working background is that you never starve. There is always food and drinks on set. It’s a great way to work and bank that money and not starve. That’s a plus in my book. After 2 months of working background non stop I was given a speaking role, which is called an upgrade. So I was given a couple of lines on Criminal Minds. I then became eligible to join the union. That meant I would now earn $150 for 8 hours of work minimum. The great thing about this is even if they don’t use you for the full 8 hours and release you early. You still get paid the full amount. I worked on the Carlos Mencia show. Did one scene where I worked for 30 minutes and they said I was done. Wow.
So this was how I was able to make over $50K my first year as background. I signed up for any commercial casting service company. The ones that specialized in Commercial only booking. Why do you ask? It is because just for showing up you were paid $380 for up to 8 hours of work. So once you worked 8 hours you then got bumped up to $57 an hour. Then when you hit 12 hours of work time it became $76 an hour until you hit a 16 hour workday. Once you hit 16 hours, which I only did on my very first job, You get paid “Golden Time” which is a full days pay per hour of work . So if it was a tv or movie you got paid $150 an hour. If it was a commercial you were paid $380 an hour until you wrap(Stop working) I knew plenty of people who were making $100K a year just getting in good with commercial casting companies like Alice Ellis or Idell James. If you get in good with these companies you will work two to three commercials a week and make at least $1,500 with that.
Another way to make money and I mean consistent money is to become a stand in. A stand in is a person who stands in for an actor, normally someone who looks like the person while the crew will will work the lighting and set up shots around you. When the scene is ready to shoot, they then know what they will do. I worked on House for several weeks doing this with the actor from “in The Heights” and “Hamilton”. Yes I know his name but I’m trying to not name drop here. Just working 5 days a week on house as a stand in I was making about $1500 a week. They were 12 hour days and some overtime so it really ads up. You also get paid a higher rate than a normal union background worker.
I have worked with the biggest stars on the planet and have even been recognized by people on the street during my heyday. Heck I have even been on a date and a major movie star walked up to my table to say hello because he remembered me from set. I am telling you when that happened my date became even better. The waiter even comped us 2 free drinks because so and so stopped by my table to say hello and even the waiter was impressed.
So to make $50K a year as non-union would be tough but doable if you can book lot’s of commercial work but because I was able to join the union within my first 12 weeks as an extra I was able to earn a very comfortable income. I have attached a directory of casting services and please feel free to read and register. If you have any questions feel free to ask. My 3 years doing this was a highlight of my life. I made lot’s of life long friends and have even made friends with famous directors and actors. Once you get into that click then you get invited to a lot of Hollywood parties. Its a lot of fun and a lot of free drinks, which if you are on a budget then that 1942 Don Julio tequila taste even better.
