Why should I go on the books of an agency to obtain work?
If you’re not registered with an agency, it may be very difficult for you to find work. Production companies have many things to consider when selecting cast. The most efficient way for them to get the right cast is to approach an agency, who helps them to find the right people. If you’re not on the agency’s books, there is no way for a production company to find out about you. Occasionally production companies may advertise for cast members in the press or through the employment sections of magazines and newspapers but there is no substitute to having a agency that is dedicated to finding you work.
If you’re not registered with an agency, it may be very difficult for you to find work. Production companies have many things to consider when selecting cast. The most efficient way for them to get the right cast is to approach an agency, who helps them to find the right people. If you’re not on the agency’s books, there is no way for a production company to find out about you. Occasionally production companies may advertise for cast members in the press or through the employment sections of magazines and newspapers but there is no substitute to having a agency that is dedicated to finding you work.
How is work found?
A production company contacts us with details of their filming schedule and a profile of the extras they need. We telephone all artistes meeting this profile and inform them of the work. Artistes are contacted on a rota basis, to ensure that everyone gets an equal chance of work and work is allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis. NOTE – we cannot guarantee to find you work, but we’ll do everything in our power to ensure that all artistes are considered on a fair and equal basis.
A production company contacts us with details of their filming schedule and a profile of the extras they need. We telephone all artistes meeting this profile and inform them of the work. Artistes are contacted on a rota basis, to ensure that everyone gets an equal chance of work and work is allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis. NOTE – we cannot guarantee to find you work, but we’ll do everything in our power to ensure that all artistes are considered on a fair and equal basis.
How are artistes selected?
Please do not contact us about castings, roles or jobs. we cast and send from the brief we receive and then send your headshots to production companies and they get in touch with us ONLY if you are selected. We select the artistes according to the casting brief that we receive from the production company. In some cases we may consult with the production company for their approval on the people we send along to the job. For featured roles, you may be sent along to a casting session for selection by the production company’s casting director. Wherever possible, we will do whatever we can to ensure that all artistes are given an equal chance of selection for work.
Please do not contact us about castings, roles or jobs. we cast and send from the brief we receive and then send your headshots to production companies and they get in touch with us ONLY if you are selected. We select the artistes according to the casting brief that we receive from the production company. In some cases we may consult with the production company for their approval on the people we send along to the job. For featured roles, you may be sent along to a casting session for selection by the production company’s casting director. Wherever possible, we will do whatever we can to ensure that all artistes are given an equal chance of selection for work.
What experience do I need?
None whatsoever to be an extra. However, to be considered for more demanding roles, experience will be required. As an extra you will gain this experience simply by being on set and working in the industry.
None whatsoever to be an extra. However, to be considered for more demanding roles, experience will be required. As an extra you will gain this experience simply by being on set and working in the industry.
Should I have any special skills?
Not necessarily, but they can be useful. You don’t need special skills to be a basic film extra. All you really need is patience, reliability and a willingness to be available. The work may involve long periods of standing around waiting for filming to start and you may also be asked to work unsociable hours. A sense of humour is, therefore, an advantage. Of course there are always film companies on the lookout for people with special skills for specific scenes (e.g. dancers, singers, horse riders, jugglers, skateboarders – the list is endless). Please do let us know if you have any specialist skills. It may help to improve your chance of selection for a particular job. Work experience can also count as a specialist skill. If you have a specialist job (e.g. ambulance worker, policeman, postman, barrister, sports trainer, hairdresser etc) please do let us know. Production companies often ask for people to portray a career role convincingly and if you have experience of the job, you may be in a better position for selection.
Not necessarily, but they can be useful. You don’t need special skills to be a basic film extra. All you really need is patience, reliability and a willingness to be available. The work may involve long periods of standing around waiting for filming to start and you may also be asked to work unsociable hours. A sense of humour is, therefore, an advantage. Of course there are always film companies on the lookout for people with special skills for specific scenes (e.g. dancers, singers, horse riders, jugglers, skateboarders – the list is endless). Please do let us know if you have any specialist skills. It may help to improve your chance of selection for a particular job. Work experience can also count as a specialist skill. If you have a specialist job (e.g. ambulance worker, policeman, postman, barrister, sports trainer, hairdresser etc) please do let us know. Production companies often ask for people to portray a career role convincingly and if you have experience of the job, you may be in a better position for selection.
Am I too old/young/fat/tall to be an extra?
Production companies are always on the lookout for people of all ages, types and builds to appear as extras, so don’t worry about being too old, young, fat or anything else. As long as you are older than 18 years old then you can be a supporting artist for most of the productions we work on. The important thing the production company wants is someone who will turn up on time, follow instructions and has the patience to wait and be available when they are needed.
Production companies are always on the lookout for people of all ages, types and builds to appear as extras, so don’t worry about being too old, young, fat or anything else. As long as you are older than 18 years old then you can be a supporting artist for most of the productions we work on. The important thing the production company wants is someone who will turn up on time, follow instructions and has the patience to wait and be available when they are needed.
What work will I get?
For an inexperienced extra much of the work offered will be background and Walk On 1 parts (i.e. a background artist with no speaking role or interaction with principle cast members)
For an inexperienced extra much of the work offered will be background and Walk On 1 parts (i.e. a background artist with no speaking role or interaction with principle cast members)
When will I get work?
We cannot give any guarantees of work, but we do promise to give you as much opportunity to be considered for work as everyone else on our books. We don’t make any money if our artistes are not working, so it’s in our interest to find work for you.
How much notice will I get?
In reality the amount of notice you get will be very short. In many cases you will get a call for work the day before. Wherever possible we will give as much notice as we can but you may have to be ready to work at very short notice. In the majority of cases you will receive a text message to your phone between 6 – 8pm the day before.
In reality the amount of notice you get will be very short. In many cases you will get a call for work the day before. Wherever possible we will give as much notice as we can but you may have to be ready to work at very short notice. In the majority of cases you will receive a text message to your phone between 6 – 8pm the day before.
Will it count against me if I refuse work?
Refusing work will not count against you. We understand that everyone has personal commitments so don’t worry about turning work down. If you are not available for the specific job offered please tell us – there may be other, more suitable times. But please do let us know as early as possible if you are not available. The most important thing not to do is to accept a job and then don’t turn up. That will count against you and you may be removed from the agencies books.
Refusing work will not count against you. We understand that everyone has personal commitments so don’t worry about turning work down. If you are not available for the specific job offered please tell us – there may be other, more suitable times. But please do let us know as early as possible if you are not available. The most important thing not to do is to accept a job and then don’t turn up. That will count against you and you may be removed from the agencies books.
How much will I get paid?
This depends on a number of things, including the hours you work, the type of role you perform and even the rate paid by the production company in question. The average rate is between £60 and £80 per day – but some low budget productions may only pay £40. You will not normally be given expenses but you will be supplied with meals, snacks and drinks. NOTE – some production companies may make a charge for refreshments
What days and hours will I work?
This depends on a number of things, including the hours you work, the type of role you perform and even the rate paid by the production company in question. The average rate is between £60 and £80 per day – but some low budget productions may only pay £40. You will not normally be given expenses but you will be supplied with meals, snacks and drinks. NOTE – some production companies may make a charge for refreshments
What days and hours will I work?
This depends on the work schedule of the production company. The working hours of a background artiste are normally long and involve a lot of waiting around – take a good book. You may start at any time of day (early in the morning or through the night) and it could be during the week or at weekends.
Contacting
Unsolicited phone calls, texts and personal visits to casting directors and extras directors are prohibited in the entertainment industry. With the waive of the new medium of the social networking sites on-line this is no way to contact them as well. Not only does it does it display a huge level of non-professionalism it is extremely inconsiderate of the directors time. They receive hundreds and sometimes thousands of photos and resumes every week, They certainly can not accommodate been inundated with phone calls from actors, aspiring actors and supporting artists. Talent agents who know them can call them for if it is for a very important reason such as rescheduling them a client for a audition.
Unsolicited phone calls, texts and personal visits to casting directors and extras directors are prohibited in the entertainment industry. With the waive of the new medium of the social networking sites on-line this is no way to contact them as well. Not only does it does it display a huge level of non-professionalism it is extremely inconsiderate of the directors time. They receive hundreds and sometimes thousands of photos and resumes every week, They certainly can not accommodate been inundated with phone calls from actors, aspiring actors and supporting artists. Talent agents who know them can call them for if it is for a very important reason such as rescheduling them a client for a audition.
Behind the Scenes of what we do
We are also sometimes asked by our artists, “After initially calling us for an availability check, why don’t you then get back to us to let us know if we have been successful?” The truth is, if we haven’t called you back with a response, it’s because no one has called us back either. In simple terms, if a production company wants you (an artist) from our books, they will let us know – and we will let you know. However, if they decide not to use you, then (usually) they do not get back to us at all. This is completely normal practice in the industry! We know not to take it to heart so we hope you don’t either! So remember, never think you have been forgotten just because you haven’t been called in a while – in reality it is quite the contrary! A lot of work goes on behind the scenes here at The Lynch Mob Agency and it is very likely that you have been forwarded for jobs that you are not even aware of! Also remember that a casting brief can often be quite specific – so if you don’t, ‘look the part’ we simply cannot use you! In the meantime, always make sure that you have your phone with you so that you are easily contactable and always check your email. Some jobs can come in at very short notice
We are also sometimes asked by our artists, “After initially calling us for an availability check, why don’t you then get back to us to let us know if we have been successful?” The truth is, if we haven’t called you back with a response, it’s because no one has called us back either. In simple terms, if a production company wants you (an artist) from our books, they will let us know – and we will let you know. However, if they decide not to use you, then (usually) they do not get back to us at all. This is completely normal practice in the industry! We know not to take it to heart so we hope you don’t either! So remember, never think you have been forgotten just because you haven’t been called in a while – in reality it is quite the contrary! A lot of work goes on behind the scenes here at The Lynch Mob Agency and it is very likely that you have been forwarded for jobs that you are not even aware of! Also remember that a casting brief can often be quite specific – so if you don’t, ‘look the part’ we simply cannot use you! In the meantime, always make sure that you have your phone with you so that you are easily contactable and always check your email. Some jobs can come in at very short notice
