How to land a part in a Hollywood movie

Ever wanted to star in a Hollywood movie? Us too! Sadly we lack the talent… and the looks.

But even the likes of us can still be a film extra and soak up the sights and sounds of an authentic film set.

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But how do you get into it? To find out we spoke to Tom Walker, Managing Director at Extra-people.com, Tony Gerrard, General Manager at Ray Knight Casting and student Sam Pattisson, who worked as an extra on ‘War Horse’. Here are their tips…

Tip 1: Register with lots of agencies

OK, this isn't rocket-science, but some burgeoning actors might only sign up to one. Get your applications in to all the (legitimate) agencies you can find, including those specializing in different fields.

Tom says that single agencies “can’t offer you regular work” and admits their books are overflowing with actors, so you need to broaden your horizons.

Some places to start: castingcollective.co.uk, extra-people.com, rayknight.co.uk

Tip 2: Say “cheese!”

Unsurprisingly, casting bigwig Tom confirms that the industry is “very image based”. In order to make it easier for studios to choose you, good pictures are vital. If casting agents have to struggle to look at your pics, they will simply overlook you.

Most agencies will help you get your photographs sorted. If not, get professional photos taken rather than just holding your old Nokia brick at arm’s length. One headshot AND one ¾ or full length shot is preferred.

Tony Gerrard said that studios are usually looking for people that can “blend into the background”, but this does not mean that unique looking people cannot find work. They normally pick up fewer, but perhaps more lucrative jobs.

Tip 3: Treat it like a real job

Many people looking for jobs as extras see it as a fun way to get a little extra money, but if you actually want to get into a film, you must take it seriously. It’s a business after all.

Ray Knight Casting boss Tony says that he looks for genuinely interested people who have taken the time to make a proper CV. “It seems obvious”, he says, “but time and time again I am sent CVs that simply say ‘I would like to be on your books’. I simply throw them away.”

Similarly, being professional and friendly will always help your cause. Agencies will vet your personality before you work as you will be representing them on the job, so they have to be confident you won’t ruin their reputation.

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Tip 4: Don’t be shy about secret talents

Include everything you can think of on your application - except sensitive information obviously (no bank details and so on).

When we say everything, we mean everything. Extra-people boss Tom says that studios can be VERY specific with their briefs. As the recent (highly publicised) casting call for the ‘Hobbit’ films showed, studios can ask for physical measurements like height, inside leg length and even if you have a ‘character face’ (did they mean ugly?).

Similarly, Tony Gerrard encourages hopefuls to include any interesting talents. “We have an actor who can remove his teeth, which can prove very valuable”.

Tip 5: Know your movies

More and more big Hollywood films shoot in the UK these days, including ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (Nottingham) and of course ‘War Horse’, which was filmed in Devon. If you hear about a project being shot in your neck of the woods, you stand a good chance of nabbing a part.

Sam told us: “I heard about [‘War Horse’] being shot in Castle Combe and that the casting day was at my old secondary school.”  After going to auditions, student Sam ended up playing a “peasant/chimney sweep/apple seller”. "I was unable to shake of my class!”, he said.

Tip 6: Have a good alarm clock

Reliability and trust is a key factor in getting work as an extra.

Extra-people boss Tom said: “a good name in the industry goes a long way, but a bad name goes even further”. If you don’t turn up to jobs, act inappropriately or unprofessionally, don’t be surprised if you never work as an extra again.

Extra Sam said that while filming ‘War Horse’, he “had to be on set by 6am”, which is standard practice in the movie industry. If you don’t fancy making early starts, you won’t last long as an extra.

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Tip 7: Be prepared to have your hair cut

Flexibility is crucial. Accepting late notice jobs and sticking to your commitments is a great way to impress agencies.

Tom Walker spoke about how some jobs come in the morning before the work starts, so the people that get noticed, on-screen and of, are those who can drop everything at the drop of a hat. Sadly this precludes most people with a full time job, unless you have a very understanding boss.

Student Sam said he had to jump through many hoops before he landed his role in ‘War Horse’, including an audition, a costume fitting, a rehearsal and finally having his hair cut. They paid him an extra tenner for this.

Tip 8: Get chatty

It’s a cliché, but the saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” counts for a lot in the entertainment industry so if you do get on-set, chat to other people working as extras as they’ll know what other work is going.

Sam said: “I would suggest doing some serious networking between scenes. There were a lot of people that did [extra work] in their spare time so you can learn from them, find out about where they were working next and what companies they are with.” He even got to meet Steven Spielberg himself, a decent contact to have in the movie biz…

Tip 9: Accept your first offer

When you do get offered a role in a film, do your best to accept it. Once you have worked once for an agency, you are much more likely to work again.

Casting boss Tom is adamant that trust is a crucial aspect to this industry. Although they encourage newcomers, they are always wary of first-timers. So, if you do get the call, take it, do a great job and prove the agents can trust you. This should lead to more work.

Tip 10: Don’t get disheartened

Do not give up after one audition. Rejection is a huge part of this game and no matter how good you are, it will happen from time to time.

CastingNow.co.uk advises that you treat any failure “as a learning curve” as it’s “audition experience!” They recommend you “keep the dream alive and keep knocking at those doors because eventually one will open for you”. Cheesy but (hopefully) true.

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Tip 11: Be careful

Scam websites posing as talent agencies have been set up to try and trick punters out of cash. From charging extortionate upfront fees, overpriced photo shoots or even identity theft, there are always people looking to exploit other people. Be sure to thoroughly research agencies online and let friends or family know where you are going.

If it seems too good to be true, a little bit dodgy or extremely expensive, avoid it.

Is it worth it?

On average, extras are paid between £80 to £110 (minus agency fees) for a day’s work according to various agency websites. As previously mentioned, days start at around 6am and last until around 7pm.

Sam said “we got paid about £110 a day (minus the casting company’s 10% cut) to go through each scene until Spielberg got the money shot he was looking for.” He also got £30 for his fitting session (plus that tenner for his new 'do) and £50 for a rehearsal.

Have any of you been an extra? Let us know your tips and experiences in the comments section below…