This summer, I became a movie extra or “background actor,” as the proper term.
How it all started
On a typical July day, I was scrolling through Instagram and came across a post from a local background casting company. They had uploaded a post needing people who could pass as high schoolers for an upcoming film. When I saw that, I thought to myself, “I could do it,” and I could use the extra cash. Little did I know, I was in for the best time.
I’ll share what can be publicly discussed. I’ve worked on five different productions, and all of them felt different. So far I’ve been a server, a townsfolk, and a student. One was a Christmas movie, one was a teen rom-com, and three were thrillers. I don’t know what I was expecting when I first started background acting, but it turned out to be quite fun. Not just in the experience itself, but also in meeting people and chatting about their acting experiences. Anyone can do background acting: there’s zero experience required. Some people are just starting, while others aim to be the lead actors.
Despite what many may think, Ottawa actually has a decent-sized film industry, especially during its peak season for filming. While the industry is still small and can’t really be compared to Toronto or Vancouver, it is still growing in size.
How does it work?
You may be wondering what it’s like on set. I’ll be recounting my favourite working day so far. It was for a teen rom-com. The scenes we shot were at a house party. Yes, exactly like the ones you see in a movie. We got call sheets the night before, with information on when and where to show up. The location for this scene was a mansion.
As I walk in and sign in, the crew has to check me in and take a look at my outfit to see if it’s up to their standards. If not, I will change into other options, or they will provide you with clothes. A lot of working on set as a background actor is just sitting around and doing nothing. I’m only needed on set when they call us over, meaning you get paid to sit around. You are welcome to work on something else as long as you are quiet.
When the assistant director selected a few of us and called us up, we entered the main foyer of the mansion. It was well decorated. Streamers, red cups, and party décor were everywhere. This is the biggest production I have worked on yet, and it was very clear that it had a higher budget. We were given props, from cups to beer, all empty, of course.
Throughout the entire time, which was an almost 12-hour working day, we were shooting without music. Boom microphones pick up on everything, from a whisper to a breath. So, everyone who’s not in the cast has to be absolutely quiet. As one can imagine, dancing and bumping to the beat is quite awkward when there’s no music. However, you eventually get used to it, and it becomes easier. While I was on set, I spent most of my time waiting for the crew to roll and reset. The learning curve can be a lot when you’re new to this, but it gets easier.
For this movie, the cast included two main leads that I knew. Both were former Disney actors, and I had seen them in other projects before. So, I was definitely intrigued when I saw them on set. I wasn’t necessarily starstruck or anything, but it is uncanny to think people you have watched are in Ottawa, working on the very set you are on. Both seemed nice and took their roles seriously.
For background acting, you get paid minimum wage unless you are unionized with the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). All sets I have worked on are union sets, meaning there should be a certain standard of procedure. Since I’m a non-union actor, they aren’t required to feed me lunch, but because it seemed to be on a higher budget, they provided everyone with a boxed lunch. This included a wrap—that was actually pretty good—an apple, and a dessert bar.
Throughout the whole day, water and snacks were provided. I remember after we ate, the male lead arrived late to the set as he was called on later. He had asked us if lunch was good, and we had a nice exchange (the girls around me were so excited). By the time we were done with lunch, it was late evening. So, yes, it doesn’t matter what time of day it could be, “lunch” is the word used to describe mealtime. It can be anytime from noon to the crack of dawn.
After we shot a few scenes, the female lead was beside us at that moment, and asked if we were tired. I answered that I was, and we exchanged a few words. It was nothing major, but it was definitely nice to see an actor interact with the background actors. Due to the hierarchical industry, sometimes production tends to treat background actors poorly.
Some of the more memorable moments are the women working on the set. The wardrobe girl and the makeup girl made my day every time I worked on that film’s production. They were so nice, recognized me, and chatted with me. The crew was very relaxed this day. However, like all workplaces, things can change, and the crew can get more tense.
What does it take to be a background actor?
To be a background actor, you just need to listen to directions. On this day, I was playing a high schooler. I was told to dance, sway to the “music,” and pretend like I’m socializing. Then there are specific directions. Like one person makes a move here, another person walks down the stairs, and a group dances by. It can get hectic, and it’s your responsibility to remember your place, starting position, and path. And if I can do it, anyone can.
The best part of the day was when we were playing beer pong with the other background actors and the crew. We were shooting b-roll and were told to just do whatever we wanted, while they were shooting from far away. So by this time, we were hours into the day, and we just pretended to play. I remember small things like this because it’s genuinely really fun, and most of the background actors I met were really nice and cool.
To sum it up, I’m glad I started background acting. It was scary at first as there’s definitely pressure and a learning curve. But after some time, it’s actually really fun.