The Energon Pub

Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:06 pm

''Extra'' are the actors that never speak and are usually on the background in a movie/tv show.

Well, my brother got me a role as a ''extra'' for a movie. I send photos to the agency and they accepted me.

They just told me the date and that few days before, I will have to try the costumes. And asked if I was comfortable to have my torso naked because I will play a Filipino Tribal man with Jewelry.

Beside that, no other information. Its my first experience... what am I to expect? Do I need acting skills? Is its complicated or hard?

News Credits: 402 · Updated Oct 21, 2022

Do precisely what they tell you to do and don't give them any lip. Also unless the main director or actors talk to you, don't talk to them. Otherwise they'll can you and replace you with another extra faster than you can say "hold on a minute."

Most likely what they'll have you do is something very simple, no acting skills required. Just expect to do that task over and over again.

They filmed a movie in my hometown once, and that's what happened to some of my buddies.

Congrats on getting a part!

Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:55 pm

Most likely you'll just stand in one spot, or walk from point A to point B.

Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:12 pm

I see.

I just got a call that there will be tigers and asked if I am ok with that. Also said I shouldn't worry because they are trained and shouldn't be scared by me or anyone.

I am kinda nervous since its my first experience.

News Credits: 487 · Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:24 pm

I would agree with what others have said: do what the director tells you to do, don't bother the other actos, and have a good time.

News Credits: 1 · Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:06 pm

Bother the directors. Constantly.

Do something different every time.

Challenge the stars to an act-off.

Insist you were meant for greater things.

Set them on fire.

Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:23 pm

What sort of #&#%&#$ing movie is this? You play a Filipino tribesman with jewelry (as an expert in this field, being from, well, the bloody Philippines, this is just ludicrous and borderline offensive unless it's a period piece, which I highly doubt it is) and there are tigers running around, which are not indigenous at all to this godforsaken failninsula? Is this some Uwe Boll racist cracker D-list production?!

FEEL MY AZN RAGE

News Credits: 273 · Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:27 am

Congrats! Prime Evil and I actually tried out as extras for Revenge of the Fallen but didn't make the cut.

Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:43 am

I have no experience being an extra, but I think technically extras can have words, though very few, but I'm not totally sure about this. You may actually speak. Also, expect to do a ton of waiting, so get friendly with the other extras. You may not even be used. What's the movie?

Randall K. Orton wrote:(as an expert in this field, being from, well, the bloody Philippines, this is just ludicrous and borderline offensive unless it's a period piece, which I highly doubt it is)

I have absolutely no idea where you came to the conclusion that it can't possibly be a period piece.

Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:52 am

Me, Grimlock! wrote:I have no experience being an extra, but I think technically extras can have words, though very few, but I'm not totally sure about this. You may actually speak. Also, expect to do a ton of waiting, so get friendly with the other extras. You may not even be used. What's the movie?

Randall K. Orton wrote:(as an expert in this field, being from, well, the bloody Philippines, this is just ludicrous and borderline offensive unless it's a period piece, which I highly doubt it is)

I have absolutely no idea where you came to the conclusion that it can't possibly be a period piece.

I never said it can't possibly be a period piece, just that I highly doubt it is one. ;;)

Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:10 am

Me, Grimlock! wrote:I have no experience being an extra, but I think technically extras can have words, though very few, but I'm not totally sure about this. You may actually speak. Also, expect to do a ton of waiting, so get friendly with the other extras. You may not even be used. What's the movie?

I don't know what the movie is because the agency don't give full detail until 1 day before the shooting. Its to prevent ''extras'' to tell to the media that a certain movie is being filmed or a certain movie star is in my city.

So they keep this as discreet as possible. Like the day of the shooting, they give me a location to go and a car will wait there for me and transport me to the area.

At least that what my brother said when he played as a extra in Mummy 3 (the one with Jet Li as the Dragon Emperor).

So the only clue I have about the movie is I will be a Filipino Tribal man with jewely and tigers are around.

News Credits: 273 · Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:00 am

SimonMK wrote:At least that what my brother said when he played as a extra in Mummy 3 (the one with Jet Li as the Dragon Emperor).

Why ask us? Ask you bro!

Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:08 am

Randall K. Orton wrote:I never said it can't possibly be a period piece, just that I highly doubt it is one.

True enough, but I'm not sure why you even doubt when we have nothing to go on. You seemed pretty angry.

Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:23 am

Me, Grimlock! wrote:
Randall K. Orton wrote:I never said it can't possibly be a period piece, just that I highly doubt it is one.

True enough, but I'm not sure why you even doubt when we have nothing to go on. You seemed pretty angry.

Nah, hehe. I was just joshing.

FAKE OUTRAGE AT PERCEIVED RACIAL SLIGHT FTW ;;)

Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:46 am

Randall K. Orton wrote:Nah, hehe. I was just joshing.

FAKE OUTRAGE AT PERCEIVED RACIAL SLIGHT FTW

Dagnabbit! Totally taken!

News Credits: 49 · Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:07 pm

You have only one task as an extra.

BRING ME A TIGER!!!

Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:34 am

Alright, I tried the costumes yesterday and its wasn't that bad. I did have to wear a diaper...

I think I know what movie I am in, before entering the room to try the costumes, its written ''Costumes - The Phantom'' and inside I saw a skintight purple suit. Well, I didn't know who ''The Phantom'' was so I assumed they were just making costumes for 2 movies at the same time because I didn't saw a connection between Tribal people with a Superhero looking guy.

I typed ''The Phantom'' in Google and saw the same purple suit and in Wiki, saw Phantom meet Tribal people.

Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:21 pm

Did you travel to the past? The Phantom came out in 1996.

Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:44 pm

Look like they are making a new movie or a reboot like Batman Begin.

Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:51 pm

SimonMK wrote:''Extra'' are the actors that never speak and are usually on the background in a movie/tv show.

Well, my brother got me a role as a ''extra'' for a movie. I send photos to the agency and they accepted me.

They just told me the date and that few days before, I will have to try the costumes. And asked if I was comfortable to have my torso naked because I will play a Filipino Tribal man with Jewelry.

Beside that, no other information. Its my first experience... what am I to expect? Do I need acting skills? Is its complicated or hard?

Chances are they don't even know exactly what you'll be doing till you actully get there and they still may not even use you at all. Just because you've been hiared as an extra doesn't mean they're actully going to use you but as long as you show up you'll still get paid regardless.

You don't really need any skills to be an extra and it's not complicated or hard. Just do whatever they ask and don't talk to any of the big named actors unless they approch you first.

I think they pay $50 a day for extras unless that's been changed. And like I said before, as long as you show up and stay till they tell you to go you get paid weather or not they actully use you. Basically, sit back and relax, you're getting paid to basically do nothing.