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Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Principal Actors Vs. Supporting Actors

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Expert: - 9/9/2008


Question
What's the meaning when an actor puts the following on their resume:

principal
supporting
featured
recurring
guest-star
co-star

Do any of these apply to an extra role where the extra says a line?

Answer
Laura,

Thanks for writing. Here's the definitions:

principal - means they were cast in a lead role in a film

supporting - means they were casts in a supporting role in a film

featured - means they had a small character part with a few lines and some good scenes

recurring - means they were cast in a role that reoccurs on a television series

guest-star - means they were cast in a key part in one episode of a television series

co-star - means they were cast in a supporting role in a television series

Hope this helps.

Phil

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Phil Nemy

Expertise

I am a motion picture and television producer with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I am also the author of the book GET A REEL JOB: Finding Your First Job In The Motion Picture Industry In Los Angeles. I can answers questions on a variety of subjects about careers in film from acting to directing to crew work, getting into the unions, successful strategies for networking, etc.

Experience

Former VP, Production for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Supervised production on such films as ARMAGEDDON, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, REMEMBER THE TITANS, PEARL HARBOR, CON AIR, ENEMY OF THE STATE, THE ROCK, CRIMSON TIDE, COYOTE UGLY, A CIVIL ACTION, ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, NOTHING TO LOSE, EDDIE and others. Worked as an actor, stage manager, director on broadway and regional theater as well as L.A.' Equity-waiver scene. Former Associate Artistic Director of Los Angeles Equity-Waiver theater.

Organizations
Director's Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, Actor's Equity Association

Education/Credentials
BFA in Acting/Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Past/Present Clients
I've worked with such filmmakers as Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, Steve Zaillian, Scott Rudin, Garry Marshall, Frank Marshall, Michael Bay, etc.

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