We understand that there are as many types of acting jobs as there are aspiring actors. Not everyone wants to be front and center, or maybe you just want to get your feet wet and see how the proverbial sausage is made. Either way, becoming a background actor is a great way to get on-set experience, make a little money, and meet fellow performers. This is especially true in New York City, one of the entertainment capitals of the world.
Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
Being a background actor means a lot of sitting around waiting. To be honest, that’s a large part of the job. “About three-fourths of your day is waiting to be called to action. You’ll be in holding for hours at a time, waiting to be called onto set. Bring a book! Or a crossword puzzle,” said actor Michael Lugenbuehl, who has done background work in films like Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 2,” in an interview with Backstage.
Most extras are booked for a minimum of eight hours, but they very often have their day extended for up to 16 hours. In between takes, this leaves a lot of time to network with your fellow actors or simply take in the sights and sounds of on-set life. Using that time to learn how everyone behaves and operates in that ecosystem can be valuable for your career.
In New York, you’re more likely to find background jobs for the ongoing shows that call the Big Apple home. That, of course, includes “Law & Order” and its many spinoffs or similarly themed series like “FBI.” There’s also “The Gilded Age” and “Poker Face,” as well as a host of projects that dip into the city for a week or two. (Steven Spielberg’s new movie recently called for background actors in New York’s Westchester County, for example.) New York also plays host to several late-night shows that frequently need extras, such as “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” and “Saturday Night Live.”
How to Get Cast as a Background Actor on ‘Saturday Night Live’Make sure to bookmark our roundups of background acting jobs and gigs in New York, which we frequently update with new opportunities.
You will also want to follow and get acquainted with the many background casting agencies in New York, as they often broadcast jobs direct from the source. This includes:
- Central Casting
- Grant Wilfley Casting
- Background Inc.
- Comer Casting
- Idell James Casting
- Rick Pagano Casting
Unlike the audition process for featured and lead roles, you won’t need to self-tape or do any callbacks. All you’ll need is an up-to-date, professional headshot.
“What we’re looking for in a submission is a picture that represents yourself,” Grant Wilfley, of Grant Wilfley Casting, told Backstage. “We’re not interested in retouched professional headshots if they are not an accurate representation of what you look like.”
Like many roles in the entertainment industry, background acting can be a game of who you know. Once you’re finally on set, don’t be shy—network with your fellow extras. You never know where your next gig can come from.