Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/being an extra

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Expert: - 6/21/2009


Question
for someone new to acting, is it possible in LA, to be a full time extra,or actor,making more than $20,000 a year?

Answer
Mike,

Thanks for writing. It IS possible to be an extra in LA. Full-time? No. Extra work, by definition, is a free-lance or part-time job. You work from film to film or TV show to TV show. In any given week, you may be called to work on a production 5 days, then the following week you may only work one day. That's the nature of free-lance work in the entertainment industry.

If you are not a member of the Screen Actor's Guild, the you will be paid non-union wages which, for an 8 hour day, is approximately $70. Assuming 5 days a week, 52 weeks of the year, that's a little over $18,000 annually. BUT - that's assuming you work 5 days a week for 52 weeks, which is unheard of in the world of working extras.

So, yes, you can find work as an extra, but will you make 20k a year doing it? No.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

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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