It's a long shot, but it just might work...

Even though being an extra is not really the most acclaimed part of the movie industry, many famous actors and actresses had their start in the background. Not only did Megan Fox (left) and Brad Pitt (right) begin in the back, many other celebrities did as well. Such famous actors as Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, John Wayne, and many more. Though, most extras career's are not this successful, the key to working one's way up by strictly being an extra is to be in the right place at the right time. One can work their way up by gaining SAG vouchers, which in turn can gain one access into the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). This is one's best way to make it through simply being an extra, for being in SAG gives better roles and pay. So, not everyone will become rich and famous from extra work, but there are many opportunities that can arise from being there when needed.

An Inside Look

One of my favorite aspects of working as an extra in the various films that I have participated in is that I get to observe how films are shot first hand. In my first film, The House Bunny, I noticed how much filming goes into a scene before it is actually finalized for the feature film. Specifically, of the three 10-12 hour nights of filming for the tiki party scene that I was in, only about three to four minutes actually made it into the film. Now I understand that this may vary considerably from film to film, but the more films I was in, the more I noticed this trend. The main cause for this is that the filmmakers will film over a certain shot in a scene at least two to three times, which could only comprise a few seconds of the actual footage. So, actually filming a four minute scene could take many hours. The repetition for a shot also depends on the importance of the dialogue and/or scene being shot as a whole. Most of the shots in The House Bunny that I had best screen time in were cut. Though, I was in one quick shot dancing in the background. Likewise, when I participated in the filming of Transformers 2, the whole scene I was in got cut. Whereas I do not expect great footage in the films, one of the best features of being in a film is observing the process for which they are made and all the details that are put into it's making.

Perks of the Job

Whereas there are many perks to being involved as an extra through Central Casting, one of the most fun features is being able to film with a friend. Two out of the four times that I have filmed I have been able to film with my brother. Don't get me wrong, it is fun meeting new people on the sets, but having a friend there makes the whole job that much more fun. My brother signed up about a year before me after hearing of the opportunity through a friend. I did not really want to sign up alone and decided to bring a good friend to sign up with me. Funnily enough, my friend, my brother, and I all got called to film my first shoot together in The House Bunny. Understanding there are many reasons people sign up, it is not necessary to go with friends, but having a friend at least breaks the ice.

Quick Reminder!

Just wanted to let you all know that the registration information is linked up on the left. It is set up for those who are first time registrars. Also! Couples Retreat comes out this Friday (Oct. 9th)! Go check it out!