Abackground actororextrais aperformerin afilm,television show,stage, musical, opera, or ballet production who appears in a nonspeaking or nonsinging (silent) capacity, usually in the background (for example, in an audience or busy street scene).War filmsandepic filmsoften employ background actors in large numbers: some films have featured hundreds or even thousands of paid background actors as cast members (hence the term "cast of thousands" ). Likewise,grand operacan involve many background actors appearing in spectacular productions.[citation needed]
On a film or TV set, background actors are usually referred to as "supporting artists", "junior artists", "atmosphere", "background talent", "background performers", "background artists", "background cast members", "talent", "background friends", or simply "background",[1]while the term "extra" is rarely used and is often considered derogatory.[citation needed]In a stage production, background actors are commonly referred to as "supernumeraries".A more archaic theatre term is" sword carriers ". In opera and ballet, they are called either" extras "or" supers ".[citation needed]
Casting
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Casting criteria for background actors depend on the production. It is not entirely true that background cast members require little or noactingexperience, as any type of unrealistic portrayal must include some form of imagination and acting. Punctuality, reliability and the ability to take direction also figure prominently for these cast members. Background actors are generally selected on short notice, after all other preparations for the shoot have been finalized.[2]
Several casting agencies specialize only in background work, while in the UK the directoryContactspublished annually bySpotlightlists all accredited agencies and productions.[3][4]Some agencies charge a registration fee, and some (mostly commercial background casting) will take between 10% and 15% commission from any booked work. Artists may be required to provide a basic one-page A4 sized CV/resume, that states basic personal details and dimensions, any significant skills (e.g.stage combat), and includes two 8×10-inch photographs on the rear: one head shot; one full body shot.[2][4]
When hiring background actors, casting directors generally seek those with a specific "look", such as "high school students" or "affluent senior citizens", consistent with the context of the film. Casting directors may also look for background actors with a special skill for the scene, such asrollerblading,bike riding, skiing or dancing. A background actor is often expected to bring his or her own wardrobe to the set, although there are also "fittings" for a specific scene or period. A casting director may favor the one who already has the required costume or prop, such as a police uniform, or a musical instrument. On other occasions, where a costume has already been prepared (for example, to fit another actor who is now unavailable), a background actor may be selected as a "costume double" simply because they are the right size to fit it. On smaller productions or student films, background actors may be hireden massewith little formality.[2]
The length of a background actor's employment on a production largely depends on the needs of the director and the scenes being filmed. Some background actors are needed on the set only for a day or two and are paid on a daily basis, while others may remain with the film for an extended period. For instance, onJames Cameron's filmTitanic,a group of 150 "core background actors" was hired to play the ship's passengers, and employed throughout the filming.
Salary and working conditions
editThe examples and perspective in this sectionmay not represent aworldwide viewof the subject.(August 2010) |
United Kingdom
editIn theUnited Kingdom,the distinction between an actor and an extra is defined by agreements between the actorstrade unionsBroadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)andEquity,and the various commercial trade and production bodies.[5]These state that once a performer says 13 or more words in any scene, they must become a contracted actor in that production.[6]Minimum pay rates are defined by UK Government minimum wage regulations, and both BECTU and Equity have agreed rates with each body. However, even on non-union productions an extra's pay is an agreed day-rate for ten hours of production time.[4]Actors who are recognisable or 'featured' in a commercial under agreement with BECTU/Equity are paid on-going royalties. Hence on many advertisements, which are often shown multiple times and distributed internationally, while the extra is paid a contracted day-rate, the largest payment is from ongoing royalties. Due to the resultant complex calculations from multiple international showings, performers under a are often bought-out of their advertisement royalties with a one-off payment called a 'buyout'.[6]Notable British extras of the modern era includeJill Goldston.[7]
United States
editSince 2012, in theUS,most major film and television productions fall under the jurisdiction of theSAG-AFTRAunion; previously, before SAG-AFTRA wasAFL–CIO's affiliate, the two unions were separately named asScreen Actors Guild(SAG) andAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists(AFTRA).[8]
SAG-AFTRA signatoryAMPTPproducers are allowed to hire non-union background actors after a certain number of SAG performers have been cast; non-union background actors are usually paid the minimum wage. On productions outside of union jurisdiction, payment for background actors is at the discretion of the producers, and ranges fromunion-scale rates to "copy and credit" (i.e., no pay). Those producers who do not pay their actors may be in violation of state and federal laws about minimum wage for a job.
From 1946 until 1992, background actors (in film and television) were largely represented by theScreen Extras Guild.The Screen Extras Guild was dissolved in 1992 (legally dissolved in 1994[9]) and its portrayal was transferred back to SAG as "West Coast extras".[10]
Notable extras during theStudio EraincludeBess Flowers,Ellinor Vanderveer,Symona Boniface,Minta Durfee,Florence Wix,Maurice Costello,Lester Dorr,Philo McCullough,Barry Norton,Larry Steers,andShep Houghton.Notable American extras of the modern era includeEmmy CollinsandJesse Heiman.
Cultural references
editCharles Chaplintackled the subject of film extra work in three of his early short comedies:The Masquerader(1914),His New Job(1915), andBehind the Screen(1916).
The 1922 novelMerton of the MoviesbyHarry Leon Wilsondepicts the tribulations of a male extra.
The silent filmThe Extra Girl(1923) portrays a small-town girl who comes toHollywoodand becomes a background actor in her attempt to achieve stardom.Souls for Sale(also 1923) depicts a young woman's career trajectory from extra to leading lady, though her progress is more haphazard.
The novelsExtra-Girlby Stella G.S. Perry (1929) andI Should Have Stayed HomebyHorace McCoy(1938) depict the working lives of Hollywood extras during the Great Depression.
The feature filmMovie Crazydepicts a would-be actor (Harold Lloyd) working as an extra.
The quasi-documentaryHollywood Extra Girl,directed byHerbert Moulton,depicts the experience of a young female extra working onThe Crusades(1935).
In his novelInfinite Jest(1996),David Foster Wallacerefers to silent extras insitcomsas "figurants", commenting that the need to include them is a concession to reality, even while their complete silence is unrealistic.[11]
The British television sitcomExtras(2005–07) follows the exploits of two professional background actors, Andy and Maggie. They spend most of their time on set looking for a speaking role and a boyfriend, respectively.
In the Hindiblack comedyfilmMithya(2008), theprotagonistis a background actor whose facial similarity to an underworldcrime bosslands him in trouble.
The Filipinocomedy-dramafilmEkstra(The Bit Player) (2013) centers around the life of a divorcee named Loida Malabanan, whoseodd jobas a bit player for various acting roles enabled her to send her daughter to college.[12]The movie is asocial commentaryon the exploitation and mistreatment of themarginalizedsector in thetelevision productionindustry in the Philippines.[13][14][15]
The Chinese-Hong Kong filmI Am Somebody(2015) is about extras working at theHengdian World Studios.[16]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Ross, Mae."Background Actors, Extras or Atmosphere?".tophollywoodactingcoach 3-2-1 Acting.Retrieved22 May2018.
- ^abcJo Kelly (March 2006).The Truth About Being an Extra: How to Become a Good Background Actor.Background Actors Seminars.ISBN978-0-9771878-0-5.
- ^"How to be an Extra".BBC.Retrieved1 July2014.
- ^abc"Make money being a film or TV extra".Money Magpie. Archived fromthe originalon 30 July 2014.Retrieved1 July2014.
- ^"Background Artistes".BECTU. 1 July 2011.Retrieved26 March2013.
- ^ab"Rates and Agreements - Members Guide & Pamphlet".Equity.Retrieved1 July2014.
- ^Jill Goldston,Guinness World Recordswebsite
- ^"Screen Actors Guild Fast Facts".CNN.11 December 2018.Retrieved25 July2019.
- ^"1990s".Retrieved27 November2019.
- ^Verrier, Richard (10 June 2011)."Extras are the center of attention in crackdown on casting company fees".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved25 July2019.
- ^"Infinite Jest: Giving a Voice to Figurants".University of Texas, Austin. 4 November 2012.Retrieved2 December2020.
- ^Kuipers, Richard (11 September 2013)."Toronto Film Review: 'The Bit Player'".Variety.Retrieved3 December2018.
- ^Hawson, Fred (29 July 2013)."EKSTRA: An Excellent Paradox".Blogger.Retrieved3 December2018.
- ^Jimenez-David, Rina (19 August 2013)."'Ekstra': The country in miniature ".Philippine Daily Inquirer.Retrieved3 December2018.
- ^"A review paper for Ekstra (2013): A film by Jeffrey Jeturian".ilusyonaryo.com.WordPress.11 December 2014.Retrieved3 December2018.
- ^Lee, Maggie (17 June 2015)."Film Review: 'I Am Somebody'".variety.com.Retrieved10 October2015.
External links
edit- "Extra helping",Sam Delaney,The Guardian,2 April 2005