Does anyone know how to break into commercial background work? Why is it so difficult!?

I was on set with a girl the other day who recommended Debbie at Background Talent for background commercial work. It seems that the people who work the most on background whether it's film and tv or commercial have a calling service. I don't know if she's a calling service or a casting agency, but check her out. Good luck!

I answered one on a callboard in my area. They were looking for college student types for a Microsoft multi-media about 2 weeks ago. Usually, sometimes they post it on callboards if thy're looking for a certain type.

If you want to do poor-paying non-union commercial extra work, then it is not difficult. You can sign up with Debbie as Lovejoy said, as well as Virgo, Big Daddy, Golden Time, and a few others. On a typical shoot you will be told $150 for 12 hours, but after the broker fee($15), the n/u casting co. invoicing you($10), and government taxes, you'll see about $100. Sometimes less and occassionally more.

SAG commercial bg? That's a whole 'nother can of beans. It's basically some of the dumbest money in the business($309/8 or $618/8 for a weekend or two-spot). I have no idea how SAG managed to get commercial extras this much, considering how pedestian the other rates for film/TV are. It's almost entirely a product of being in good with the folks at the casting places. First, you have to sign up with the casting companies(Idell James, Extra Extra, Atmosphere, Alice Ellis, Advanced, Sande Alessi, etc.). This is tough in and of itself; they have occasional registration days that you need to be invited somehow to attend. They tend to use the exact same 40 people for every shoot whenever possible(friends or family or whatever else). Usually, when it comes to extras, the clients don't care what they look like, particularly for big crowd scenes. In that case they'll get the chosen 40. Other times they will just ask for specific guidelines on race and gender, and in that case as many of the chosen few will be accomodated, plus a few others who are also favorites. If the client asks for people to be submitted because they want specific looks, then the casting co. may provide them with their "book" of people to choose from. So unless you're in real tight with the places I mention, this is your only hope. Basically you have to kiss the right behind.

Hi LA Delight,

Any idea what the current address/phone is for Advanced? I hear they're called ACT, now.

Thanks,

Annie

ACT's # is 818-907-7457. If you go to the next signup it is "free," but with a $40 'photographer's fee.' The photographer, of course, works for Advanced Casting. What a clever way of getting around the rule that they cannot charge SAG members to register. Good luck but don't expect to be flooded with work from them.

LADelight you hit the nail on the head! If you are a member of SAG and get this work it is total cake. The couple of times I did it I only worked for a few hours and I have to say it was probably some of the easiest money I have ever made.

Thanks for the info LADelight!

You can also get commercial background work through Central Casting in Burbank. But like LADelight said, you have to get to know the right casting director there and become one of their "favorites."