A Day In The Life Of An Extra

Extras make huge films and series possible. They exist not only in the English-speaking world, but also internationally in telenovelas and German TV series for example. But what does an extra do? Are they the same as background actors ? How much do they earn? Can they actually be successful?

What is an extra?

An extra is one of the indispensable parts of TV/film/series production . Unlike the main and supporting actors, they never appear in the foreground of the production. Instead, extras belong to the category of bit-part actors who don’t make a significant contribution to the plot with their roles. Extras could also be described as moving props that bring a scene to life (unless you could imagine a classic rom-com meet cute in a completely lifeless café or an epic battle scene without the army of people surrounding the leads?) Essentially, extras are mostly non-speaking actors who make up the lively background of a scene.

What is the difference between extras and background actors?

Both of these jobs are very similar and both belong to the ‘bit-part actors’ category; in the film industry the two terms are often used interchangeably. To explain the differences between them, the film ‘Braveheart’ will be used as an example. Imagine Mel Gibson pacing up and down rows of Scotsmen. He stops to look a warrior in the eye and continues with his motivational speech. This Scottish warrior responds with a snappy remark and grimaces thus becoming an active part of the scene. This Scottish warrior is clearly an extra. But there are several dozen other Scottish warriors standing in the background who do not play an active role in the scene- these are background actors. Fun fact! Extras are not only used in film/TV shoots, they can also work in the audience on the red carpet or cheer on the stars at award ceremonies!

How much do extras earn?

It’s difficult to give an accurate estimate because extra’s wage depends on the budget of the production and the amount of work you actually do. Extras with a few lines of text can expect to earn more than extras with non-speaking roles. Normally extras are booked for an entire day of filming and paid a flat rate accordingly. If you work overtime or on a weekend/public holiday, then you can expect extra pay. In bigger German and international cities, there are lots of actors who earn their main income as extras- if they prove that they are dedicated and reliable, they can start to book bigger, better paid roles.

How can I become an extra?

Previously, becoming an extra was mainly based on luck; you had to live in a big city and be extremely flexible. Nowadays, you can be more proactive in starting out as an extra. Applying to an agency like starboxx will kickstart your career! It could be acting as an extra in a crowd or audience or filming a small, spoken role, starboxx will find something for you!