Expert: Phil Nemy - 6/25/2005

Question
I love movies and always have and at some point wanted to be an actress but I have stage fright and cant talk in front of people. But my best friend had change her major to acting and hasnt had that much luck in getting extra rolls. We both signed up for Louisiana casting but didnt get that many calls because some directors wanted very specific people. I would love to just be an extra really and been on a movie set behind the scenes organzing people or something. First question: Is there any way to really get into being an extra or maybe even working on a movie set as something minor to start? Second Question: Since my best friend really wants to persue acting I was wondering if there was anything i could tell her that would help her get more call backs (since recently Louisiana has been getting more and more movie productions)or somwhere to look for casting extra and getting some minor parts?

Answer
Courtney,

Thanks for writing. Here are your answers.

1) There is a way for you to become an extra on films shot in your area. Contact the Film Commission in New Orleans or Baton Rouge and ask them for the names of the extras casting companies in those cities. Then, submit your headshot and resume to those companies with a letter indicating that you are available for work as an extra.

If you want to work behind the scenes as you say "organizing people or something," then you need to contact the Film Commission periodically to find out what productions are coming to your area, ask them who the Unit Production Manager on the project will be and how you can contact that person, then contact that person and submit your resume telling this person that you are willing to work on the production as a Production Assistant.

2) If your friend wants to get more acting workly locally, then she needs to find a good agent locally who is in constant contact with the local casting directors. Casting Directors get you parts, agents don't. Agents negotiate the best deal possibly for your services. But Casting Directors often won't respond to unsolicited headshots from actors. They tend to be more responsive to agents. So have a good agent represent you and have them submit your pictures for work.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil