Actually in LA, you would be the one doing the calling to submit yourself for the different background jobs, unless you signed up with a separate calling service that does the calling for you. It is true that a casting company you are registered with might call you on occasion if you have a certain look they are trying to find, but that is rare that they call you. So, as an example, if you registered with Central Casting, you would call their call-in line each day to see what they are currently casting. When you hear one you are interested in, then you follow their instructions as to what number to call next. If you want to end your membership, you can just stop calling. And if they do call you, you can just say you are not available on that day. If you don't renew your photos each year, they will automatically take you out of their database. If you haven't used them in over 1 year but want to continue to stay in their database, then you will need to go in and have your photo updated before the end of your year anniversary of when you signed up. If you want to update, but have passed the year mark, then you will have to re-register and pay the registration fee again.

So, it's not a big deal if you only want to work for a while and then want to stop. Just be sure if you want to continue, be sure to update your photo on time.

Each casting company has their own policy. You can call them or read their info on their websites to find out what to do.

Hope that wasn't too confusing. It's really quite easy.

quote:

Originally posted by LADelight:
Being a SAG extra in a commercial can make you like $400 or $500 a day. Won't help your acting career but it is really easy money.

Last one I did was on a Saturday = DOUBLE PAY.

So got over $600.00 and walked to work at Silvercup Studios.

We are both available for any AFTRA and SAG work that we can WALK to in LIC, Queens. Otherwise not really intersted unless for commercials or something really fun.

Thanks guys for all your help!

Being an extra can be a lot of fun, but like others have mentioned it requires early call times, long hours and not a whole lot of pay especially if you're non-union. I would definitely recommend trying it out to familiarize yourself with how a set works. Also, it kinda helps to give you a push that makes you work harder as an actor. When you realize how much better everyone and I mean everyone else is treated on set than you are as a 'background performer' you will only want to work that much harder to get a principal or leading role so that you can be appreciated for a hard days work.

Also, check out the newly updated www.backgroundbeat.com for more info on background work in LA.

i think there's something to be said for extra work if you're new to film acting. for one thing, working in front of a camera can be difficult if youve never done it before. there are a lot of technical things to pay attention to, and you could learn a ton about film acting by being sort of a "silent observer"

Youd also have the opportunity to learn about professionalism on set.
i guess im of the school that any job is a good job, as long as youre taking something from it.