When people ask if they should include extra and background work credits on their résumés, the answer is typically no. However, there is one exception where it can be helpful to list a few of those jobs.
What’s the exception? If someone is just getting started in the industry and has no other film or TV credits, it’s often helpful for casting directors to see that although the actor is just starting out, at least they’ve been on sets and know what to expect of what it’s like to work on them.
If an actor decides to place extra work on their résumé, it’s very important that they be honest and have it clearly stated as extra work and not try to fudge the facts and give the impression it was a principal booking. It’s too easy to get caught lying on a résumé and one misleading or fraudulent credit calls the rest of it into question.
READ: How to Make a Living as an Extra
So how do you even get that extra work to include on your résumé as an early-career actor? If you’re living in New York, L.A., or Atlanta, you can work practically every day as an extra. It’s a great learning experience if you’ve never been on a professional set before, and you’ll get paid to learn how TV/film is created and who’s who on set. Depending on the scene you’re an extra for, you may even get to see an amazing actor at work.
Another tremendous benefit of doing some extra work is the networking you should be doing with the other extras. Chatting with your fellow extras could lead to tips about agents, new projects coming to town, the best headshot photographers, and the acting classes others find most helpful.
All this said if you’re interested in ultimately pursuing principal roles, accepting a lot of extra bookings may not be the best business decision. When an actor consistently accepts extra jobs, they’ll be viewed as an extra. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it can derail you from being considered for anything other than extra work.
So if you’re just getting started, doing extra work can be a great learning experience. If you want to be considered for principal work, limit how much extra work you accept.
Aaron Marcus has been a full-time actor for over 30 years. He has been cast in over 1,200 acting and modeling jobs to date. You have seen him on “Gotham,” recurring role on “House of Cards,” "Mr. Robot," “Do No Harm,” “Law & Order,” “Rectify,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” “The Wire,” and “West Wing,” as well as film projects such as “Project Almanac,” “Philomena,” “Fishbowl,” “Buck Run,” “Eugene,” and “A Modest Suggestion.” Aaron’s book, “How to Become a Successful Actor and Model,” is considered by many industry experts to be the most important book on this topic and is top-rated on Amazon. Aaron has given his Book the Job workshop over 600 times spanning three continents. He also offers private online mentoring and monthly online workshops. Get three free acting videos, click here. Subscribe to his YouTube Channel.
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