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Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Background acting
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Question
Hi Phil,
I plan to retire from my Civil service job in a few years and would love to get involved in background work. I live in New York but plan to eventually move out to CA so location should not be a problem. Is it easy to become a regularly needed background actor and where do you start? Im not talking about the occasional "Backstage" casting call. I mean to be sort of a called upon person where I would be in a Pool (like Jury Duty or those focus groups). What is an average pay for a background actor? Can you become part of SAG being a background actor?
Thanks
Anthony
Anthony,
Yes, by all means, you can definitely get into a "pool" as you describe it for background work. When you move to LA, stop by the offices of Central Casting and register with them for background work. Non-union extras make about $80-100 per day. Union extras make about $150 per day. Once you have obtained three SAG waivers from the AD;'s or producers, you are then eligible to join SAG.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Phil
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Answers by Expert:
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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