Great advice for extras and actors who want to get in the business, from Dov Simens: "ACTORS…START NOW, BUILD A RESUME. AN ACTOR’S SECRET…(Part 1)… (“Extra. Extra. Read all About It. Central Casting is quite amazing. Enroll.”) (For all “Free” 422 Filmmaking Tips, Contacts& Updates go to “MOVIE CLOUD” & “LIKE”)…………………..(August 20, 2013) ……………………………………………………… Want to be an actor? Want to join the union for actors? Want a SAG card? Want to qualify for the union jobs? Want to start your acting career and learn, as you’re being paid, while being on sets? Then without a question of a doubt “starting as an Extra, or a Backdrop Actor, is an excellent way to commence” By-the-By: Extras get paid. I always get bugged by hearing the words “learn by interning”… Interns don’t get paid anything and likely the only thing you’ll learn by interning is “how not to get paid”…. Let’s start your acting career with acting… Okay, as an Extra you just are going to be a basic table lamp on a set that is supposed to blend into the wallpaper…but you are going to learn by “being there” seeing who “shows up” and networking with your fellow actors (this is how you’ll get an agent. It will be from a fellow struggling actor who has one but doesn’t LOOK LIKE YOU…. Then he/she will gladly introduce you to his/her agent…. But again don’t ever expect an actor WHO LOOKS LIKE YOUR DEMOGRAPHICS to ever help you… Now, if you truly know how to either (A) Flirt or (B) Entertain then you can be part of the star-actor’s entourage and obviously move your career forward a small or giant step. ASSUMPTION: I assume that you know how to act and truly do act. BY-THE-BY: Everyone assumes they “know how to act” and/or “are acting”… Back to the subject: EXTRAS! Getting started. The basic rules are: 1) BE ON TIME: Being early helps…you don’t know who doesn’t show up and…Voilla!...your opportunity appears 2) WARDROBE: Bring your own clothes. Bring a change of clothes 3) DRESS THE PART: If movie is set in 50s. Dress for the 50s. You’ll figure this out. 4) STAY CLOSE TO THE ACTION: When there is a break in the action. Don’t be one of the many extras who goes off to the side and starts checking for Texts and Texting. Stay close to the director and main actor… who knows what will happen. 5) BRING A CHAIR: You are going to spend a lot of time waiting between setups. Bring a folding chair. 6) BRING A BOOK & TABLET: In between set ups you will have plenty of time to kill of you are not hanging close to the action but just “chillin”. 7) BRING YOUR SAG CARD: If a member of the actors unions, bring your card WRITE NEATLY: Fill out your voucher so that someone can read it 9) AD APPROVAL: Never leave the set without permission from the Assistant Director 10) KEEP YOUR OWN RECORDS: Time cards, time of arrival, time of lunch, meal breaks, etc. Now, here’s where everyone starts with their first to fiftieth extra job. Here’s the company; they are the king of Extras. CENTRAL CASTING 220 South Flower St, Burbank, CA 91502 TEL: 818-562-2700 WEB: “www .CentralCasting ” A) Registration for Union Members (Tues & Thurs, 10:30am-11:30am) Registration for Non-Union (Mon, Wed & Fri, 10:30am-11:30am) C) CASTING INFO: Females (818-260-6110), Males (818-260-6100) OK Actors; you’re planning on coming to LA. You’re gonna leave Oklahoma, or Vermont or Texas…or even you’re coming from out-of-country (Australia, Germany, Brazil, China, etc.) then your absolute FIRST STOP is with CENTRAL CASTING..." - Dov Simens
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 19:48:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015