There are many ways to increase the amount of work you can obtain as a background actor. Below are a few things that can improve the ability you have to book Extra jobs without actually drastically changing your physical appearance with intense dieting and surgery or compromising you moral standards.
- Have a great wardrobe: Men with Tuxedos and ladies with evening wear are a constant request from productions for actors of all ages. Weddings, Proms, Banquets, Cocktail Parties and other Black Tie affairs are staples of Television Shows and Movies. Also great night club clothes and also even torn and tatterd homeless attire can be beneficial.
- A bookable car: Most productions need people with cars when filming outdoor scenes or locations that the street is visible from. For instance, the coffee shop in the ABC Show, Samantha Who, is shot on a sound stage at CBS Radford in Studio City, CA. Althought the set is on the stage, the windows are real and face an actual street between stages inside the Studio. The Production books people with cars to drive in circles around the stage, wet the street, make it snow and all kinds of cool stuff. These cars booked by most production are rarely allowed to be Red, White or Black. Several reasons have been given as to why (Principal Actors usually have red, white or black cars, the camera strobes or burns through with those colors etc.) Whatever the reason though, no red, white or black is usually the standard.
- Props: Things like Sports equipment, luggage, cameras (even if broken): Often productions will shoot sports scenes requiring people to have their own gear. Beach scenes wanting surfboards, bikes, frisbees, coolers and such. Airport scenes often require carry-on luggage, spectator sports sometimes request cameras, binoculars and the like. Often the prop does not have to work, like cameras, laptop computers etc. This is not really an excuse to collect junk but you might find some forgotten items useful for props.
- A new hairstyle: Do not shave your head for a military part or dye it Pink for a Punk Rock scene but if you look in the mirror and don’t smile at yourself, consider spending a few buck on a nice haircut. It will boost your confidence and people will notice. take some new photos and strutt your stuff. Beside, the worst you have to lose is a few bucks and you’ll feel great regardless of whether not you get a job from it.
- Keep your photos current: Old photos are a worrisome subject to casting directors. People change, especially actors, and time can make a big difference over “hot” or “not”, “18 to look younger” or “not”, “Upscale” or “not” or … you get the picture. Keep your pictures as current as possible, but be careful about spending a lot of money on it. Prioritize your spending to the agencies who book you and work your way down as you can afford it.
This is definitely NOT an encouragement to go out and spend a lot of money hoping that you will make it back because you are getting so much more Extra work. The suggestions above should be taken as such. If you are in the market for a car, consider getting one that is not Red, White or black. If you have an axtra $50, consider updating your wardrobe, like at a Thrift Store where you can get some designer clothing at great prices. Before you clear out your whole garage and take it to the dump, wipe off the old surfboard and briefcase and consider whether or not you can use them for props. And try to look your best, especially when updating your photographs at Casting Companies. Good Luck!