Extras. How much does it cost to be an extra during filming – Salaries

Become a TV star, hear the cherished “Lights, camera, motor!”, sign autographs at meetings with fans and pose for the paparazzi on the red carpet. Everyone has a chance to participate in the filming of a movie, series, TV show, video clip or advertisement.

How to get into the crowd scene, is the work of the spectator and actor of crowd scenes adequately paid, and can a few seconds in the background become a springboard for an acting career? We figured out these issues, and at the same time talked with regular participants in crowd scenes about their work and impressions.

You can sign up for some major television projects as a guest directly on their official website. This is how, for example, viewers are recruited for the filming of the Channel One show “Evening Urgant” - http://urgantshow.ru/form (follow the link you will find a viewer form, by filling out which you will receive confirmation and details about the filming time by email).

But experienced actors do not recommend using groups on social networks for employment:

“Extras and filming groups” on VKontakte – you can’t trust them. Offers came, I went through castings, getting into different roles (not just extras), but in most cases it was a “scam”, they say: “Sorry, you are suitable for us, but you have to pay for us to cast you.” There is no point in searching on VKontakte, only through film studios or knowledgeable people,” says acting college student Danila.

Naturally, the bulk of the offers on all these sites apply only to Muscovites, since filming takes place at Moscow television studios or in metropolitan clubs, and ends very late. There are fewer, but still quite a lot of offers for extras in St. Petersburg; in other cities of Russia, filming is carried out much less frequently and they rarely recruit extras there.

Are actors in crowd scenes paid for their work?

Price tags for participation in crowd scenes of films or TV series vary from 600 to 1000 rubles, less often they offer large sums (as a rule, they pay more than a thousand for playing a passing role with a line).

You can also earn extra money by participating in the filming of television shows - both as guests on talk shows and as spectators in the hall. Here they pay from 150 to 600 rubles, rarely offering larger amounts. Rates are approximately the same for participation in the filming of music videos and commercials.

To participate in paid filming, as a rule, it is necessary to undergo at least an absentee casting - based on a photo, and also to exactly meet all the parameters presented by the employer (height, clothing and shoe size, hair length and color, type of appearance, nationality, and so on).

Such castings are held infrequently; more and more often they are now limited to simply selecting people based on photos via e-mail and Internet forums.

“The requirements for extras are not as high as for episodic actors and leading actors, but you still always need to give 100% - in case they notice you, one of the directors likes you. Although some extras perform poorly because they believe that this is not a role. And at the same time, such actors are still waiting for grandiose roles! Even if you have a small role, you need to play it in such a way that everyone remembers it!” – Mikhail tells us about his experience of participating in the filming of the detective series “Maryina Roshcha”, “Trace” and others.

Although there are many paid vacancies in this area, according to the reviews of all the extras, earning a living with such work is incredibly difficult, if not almost impossible. The filming process requires constant full concentration from all actors, long waits, and precise execution of all the director’s instructions, and food and rest for extras are, as a rule, not provided.

“Extras at the Fashionable Sentence are given 500 unfortunate rubles for 12 hours of filming. Many grandparents living nearby were in the studio during this time without proper food precisely because of this money,” Diana about the filming of the “Fashionable Verdict” program for Channel One.

“Those who spent time filming two programs were paid 300 rubles. On the set I met people who make only this living. They are seasoned, to some extent “friends” in Ostankino, they are known by sight by the organizers - impartial women who gather people for filming and call them to inform them about the time of the next filming,” - Marina about the filming of the program “Closed Screening” for Channel One .

“It’s stupid to do this for money. Only perhaps out of love for art or a desire for dubious fame,” - Anastasia about filming the film “Tsar”.

“Many of my friends manage to fully support themselves on such earnings. True, I’m not one of them,” Victoria about filming in the youth television series “Club”, “Daddy’s Daughters”, “Don’t Be Born Beautiful” and others.

Extras: who are all these people and why are they here?

“Then some kind of movement began, and the organizers began to gather a column of people. My friend and I fell into it. But then a whisper ran through the column: “They won’t take us!” They won’t take this column!” Somehow, my friend and I instantly met two other girls, grabbed hands and ran to the end of that moving column. For some reason no one stopped us. And we passed quietly. The next day at school everyone admired us, because many really didn’t make it to the shooting. And good. They would die there like we did,” Sofia about the filming of the film “Shadowboxing.”

Who plays all these restaurant visitors, spectators at concerts, silent waiters, postmen, taxi drivers, salesmen, and just passers-by on the streets? The most ordinary people, most often students, not necessarily from theater universities, and retirees. Films and TV series constantly require extras, and therefore getting to the set is not a difficult task. However, it’s worth immediately taking into account that, as a rule, this is a full-time job - from the very morning until 10-11 pm, and therefore, working 5/2 full time or studying full-time, it’s not so easy to find an opportunity to participate in filming - it's simple.

– By what criteria are they selected? I ask a man in a bright orange shirt and blue tie.

- Yes, whoever you like, whoever suits the color. Like decorations, each artist has a specific color.

- No, what should I do? This is work! The camera is looking at you, you have to smile, laugh, make them laugh. You work for them! They turn on the soundtrack, the artist comes out, and you clap and smile, and then shout: “Happy New Year!” Nobody cares that you're not having fun at all. You have to be funny to THEM, otherwise, get out!”

“When I went there for the first time, I was very interested in the filming process itself, so I sat in the front row and watched more of the work of the cameramen and lighting crews than what the director, Urgant and Gudkov were talking about. Although when Ivan appeared and somehow unexpectedly appeared above my head, I almost fell out of my chair,” Diana about the filming of the show “Evening Urgant” for Channel One.

“You gain valuable experience working with a camera: you learn to be natural, but at the same time attentive, focused on the task set by the director. This is not as simple as many people think; you need to get used to all this. And I was able to make a lot of acquaintances on the set; useful connections wouldn’t hurt!” – Mikhail about the experience of participating in the filming of detective television series “Maryina Roshcha”, “Trace” and others.

“Since I was going to film a TV show for the first time, I wanted to dispel a certain myth of show business for myself. To see how it’s all filmed, to see how much the audience I saw on the screen corresponds to the reality on the set, how interested the people nearby are in the show, how lively their reactions are. Well, and see Vanya Urgant, of course. The filming was a pleasant surprise: Vanya’s jokes are funny, and the live music from the group “Frukty” gives optimism, and the audience around is sincerely happy,” - Anastasia about the filming of the show “Evening Urgant” for Channel One.

Do expectations match reality?

“The studio looks like cardboard, frankly, it’s drawn out and boring, although the heroines of the program really look shocked, and Evelina Khromchenko looks very professional. But the most important disappointment: the voting for the best clothes is fictitious,” Diana about the filming of the show “Fashionable Verdict” for Channel One.

“I was left with such negativity from our world of cinema that, without professional training, I went to work as a gymnast in the circus. If only it was further away. Although castings often interest me - as a means of self-test,” - Irina about filming the film “Above the Sky.”

“The first thing that caught our eye when we sat down in our seats were the screens above our heads, on which instructions for action appeared: “laughter,” “applause,” Tatyana about the filming of the “Evening Urgant” show on Channel One.

“We sat on some plastic benches, after which it was quite difficult to straighten up. Well, the main disappointment is that we went to the “Closed Screening” in the hope of watching a good movie, and at the same time listening to the opinions of critics and knowledgeable people. But it was not there. They showed us the film company's screensaver. Then there was a pause. And credits. Like, it’s time and honor to know, guys,” - Marina about the filming of the program “Closed Screening” for Channel One.

“I don’t get as much pleasure from filming TV series as I would have from filming feature films. According to rumors, in big cinema there is a completely different organization, everything is more serious, strict, large-scale, a very large film crew works. I would like to immerse myself in this atmosphere, working non-stop inspires me,” Mikhail about his experience of participating in the filming of the detective television series “Maryina Roshcha” and “Trace.”

What's difficult about being an extra?

Long waits, lack of proper food, the need to strictly follow the director's instructions. Many are also upset that actors in crowd scenes have almost no opportunity to communicate with famous partners on the set.

“They only showed us the credits, but we listened to three hours of philosophizing from the guests and the presenter. Filming of the first program has ended. As it turned out, the second program was supposed to be filmed next, which of course we were not warned about. We were angry and hungry, that’s why we blew ourselves up home...” - Marina about the filming of the program “Closed Screening” for Channel One.

“Sometimes they bring you to a shoot in the winter at ten in the morning, keep you until the metro closes, then you wait for a few more hours for your fee and no one thinks to add anything by taxi: “Why? The metro will open in an hour and a half,” Victoria about filming in the youth television series “Club”, “Daddy’s Daughters”, “Don’t Be Born Beautiful” and others.

“For extras, the instructions are to sit up straight, do not cross your legs and clap on command. You are a mannequin. You don’t have a special role, you should be there, but unnoticed and in the way the director needs. At first everything is interesting, you delve into the process, notice the details. After two hours it’s already difficult to sit still as needed,” Ksenia about filming the program “Let’s Get Married!” for Channel One.

Attitude towards extras in the acting workshop

Working as an extra for many is a great start to an acting career. True, there are cases when actors have a disdainful attitude towards extras. What is this connected with? With their own behavior.

“Walking as passers-by for pennies, standing in the background—deserves respect. But there are also such mass actors who, by incredible chance, received small cameos and begin to pretend to be stars,” Rinat, a professional actor.

“They fed me and that’s okay. Whether you are cold or uncomfortable, no one cares. You are not actors, you are extras. You are easily replaceable and not important in the frame. If one girl or boy left or didn’t come, then the missing people are sometimes recruited directly from people passing by - you don’t even have to pay money to them,” Veronica, actress of crowd scenes.

Witness what is left behind the scenes!

Everyone knows that they often shoot dozens of takes of the same scene, getting different reactions from the actors, choosing the right light, creating the right emotions... Seeing all these episodes and finding out what was left behind the scenes is another privilege of being an extra.

“It was in Anapa on the set of Yeralash. It sounded “Camera, motor, let’s start!” and the guys - “children's camp campers” began to fight with pillows. The director of the camp came, whose role was played by the famous artist Anatoly Zhuravlev. When he began to say his line, a pillow flew at him and landed on the safit. The soffit fell on Zhuravlev - this was not planned. Although he did not receive any serious bruises, filming stopped for that day, since he refused to continue filming...” - episode writer Mikhail about the filming of the TV magazine “Yeralash”.

“The presenters, especially Guzeev, were encouraging. She hilariously screws up takes and talks with the director about absolutely everyday topics, for example, discussing with him who will go where on vacation,” Ksenia about filming the program “Let’s Get Married!” for Channel One.

Steps on the actor's career ladder

Many actors begin their careers by participating in the filming of films, TV series and commercials as extras. This is what this whole pyramid looks like:

Extras– participants in staged crowd scenes are, as a rule, non-professional actors.

Statistician- an individual member of the crowd.

Episode- an actor performing a separate small role, perhaps with text, but his hero is not a significant character in the film or series.

Often: episodic actors are recruited for filming series. For example, distant relatives of the main and secondary characters who appear in only one episode are episodic roles, waiters in a new restaurant or random companions are episodic characters, any random characters who appear in only one episode are episodic characters.

Supporting heroes– permanent characters in a film or series who play a significant role in the development of the plot, appear on screen repeatedly, have a film background, their images are worked out in detail by the screenwriters.

Often, stars of the first magnitude play supporting roles, because often secondary characters have a specific character, their images are bright and memorable. Prestigious film awards, including the Oscar, are awarded for the performance of supporting roles.

the main role- the pinnacle of the actor’s career.

Can working as an extra be a step on the path to fame?

Leonardo DiCaprio began his career by playing episodic roles in the TV series Roseanne and The New Adventures of Lassie, and then received a larger role in another soap opera, Santa Barbara.

Orlando Bloom began his career with episodic roles in the television series "Accident". It is worth noting that Bloom by this time had an acting education.

With a 15-second appearance in the film, “Fire Service” began her career and Julia Roberts, who spent several years playing tiny roles in little-known films before she was able to attract the attention of producers and achieve at least supporting roles.

Keira Knightley Since childhood, she has acted as an extra, participated in many TV shows and received episodic roles in TV series.

Sergey Bezrukov He first appeared in films as a street child in the film “Stalin's Funeral”; his name is not listed in the credits. Only after repeatedly participating in filming as an actor in crowd scenes did Bezrukov begin to receive offers to play supporting roles.

Movies about movies? Yes!

The life story of an unemployed actor named Andy Millman, who all his life dreamed of breaking into big cinema, but so far only achieved a place in the crowd, is told by series "Extras". All those who want to learn more about the life of extras actors and look at all the vicissitudes of this profession from the outside are recommended to watch this series!

When filming a movie or television program, you need a “background” against which all the events take place. These are people depicting crowds in markets, stadiums or spectators in a talk show studio. Whatever you may think, they also receive a salary, in some cases it becomes their permanent or additional income.

An original way to generate income

Participation in crowd scenes of films is mainly available only to residents of the capital. If it happens away filming, then provincials or villagers can also get into the frame.

Many people are eager to take part in filming, especially since they also pay for it.

The main motivation lies in the interesting possibilities:

• see your favorite stars in close proximity;
• find out how filming takes place from the inside;
• see what is left behind the scenes;
• earn a little money.

The table shows the income of extras in various television projects:

Their profits depend on the channel they operate on:

Earnings of extras on the set of feature films and television series:

Such amounts are earned in 1 day (8 hours). If a film requires filming a funeral procession, then each extra playing the role of a dejected walker receives 800 rub. ($12.49) per 8 hour shift.

They pay for the image of a corpse in the frame from 4000 to 6000 rubles. ($62 -94). For filming in a commercial, an extra receives from 1000 rub.

In Ukraine, people pay from 50 to 300 UAH($1.89 – 11.35). Very active earn up to 1500 UAH($56.73) per day. These are mainly pensioners, students and schoolchildren who have time but no money.

How to join the world of cinema?

In order to appear in the background in a movie or TV show, you need to register and leave your application on special sites that offer such vacancies. For example, Extras.ru. The recruitment of extras is carried out by foremen, selecting them based on their photos.

They have a number of criteria that the candidate must meet.

Each program or series has its own requirements.

If the candidacy is approved, an invitation is sent by email indicating the time of the shooting. You need to arrive early. At the entrance to the studio, the foremen hand out to the participants tokens. After the shooting they will be exchanged for your salary.

Then everyone is invited to the studio, where they must strictly fulfill the directors’ requirements - clap when told, laugh when signaled, etc. Filming continues 12 hours and more, people stay until late at night. The task of extras in a political show is not to laugh and not to sleep.

Sometimes members of the extras are fed during breaks between filming, and sometimes they are asked to take food and water with them from home.

In the studio you can expect some minor troubles:

• at the last moment they will be refused due to unsuitable appearance;
• Due to late filming, you may be late for the metro;
• you cannot leave the studio before other extras;
• payment is made on a blank statement.

In addition to the extras, there are also individuals who are shown in close-up.

They are allowed to say a few words or make a certain movement.

They pay several times more for this.

One extra is allocated 1200 – 2500 rub.. ($18.7 – 39). Everything that the extras were underpaid ends up in the pockets of the foremen and their patrons.

Revenue in other countries

Regular extras in America have their own guild - S.A.G.. They are taken to filming first of all. According to the law, you cannot hire strangers until you are provided with at least a job 510 people from the guild.

A large number of people are wondering how to act in a movie. A list of useful tips and recommendations specifically for them will be given in this article. After all, many people don’t even suspect that getting a role in a film today is not so difficult.

Unusual appearance

Is it possible to get into the film industry without proper experience and knowledge? In fact, anything is possible. There are a number of factors that can help an ordinary person to star in a film.

So, cinema has always needed people with extraordinary appearance. And we are talking here not only about handsome men or beauties; on the contrary, people with non-standard, unusual appearance are often needed here. Small or, on the contrary, huge height, heavy weight, pronounced national features and much more - all this may be of interest to the creators of the film.

Of course, it is quite rare for random people with unusual characteristics to be cast in the main role. But it is quite possible for them to apply for secondary, additional places. There will definitely be at least one scene for people with unusual appearance. Filmmaking is a very difficult process, and it happens that just one episode in a film can become a turning point, a key event.

Having acting abilities

Is just an extraordinary appearance enough to get a warm welcome into the film industry? Of course not. What's really important is having a variety of acting abilities.

And we are not talking about talent here at all. After all, talent is a relative thing, and it can be fully revealed only in the process of work. And interesting, unusual, bright and memorable tricks and techniques that could be used when filming a film are really important.

Who knows, maybe it’s your unusual facial expressions or ability to act relaxed in front of the lenses that will help you make your way into the film industry. And you don’t have to have an acting education to express yourself to the fullest. The main thing is to be confident in yourself and your abilities.

A quality path to the film industry

There are two ways to enter the film industry: qualitative and quantitative. They are completely different, and a person who wants to act in a movie must choose the best option for himself.

So what is a quality option? How to start acting in films following this path? It is suitable for truly creative individuals who are not afraid to create and show the results of their creativity to people. Maintaining your own video blog, shooting a short film, video or commercial - all this will definitely be noticed by the right people if the product is truly high-quality. The main thing in the chosen path is not to be afraid and not to be shy. Let the released videos be of not the best quality, with poor sound or awkward editing. The main thing that the right people will pay attention to is the behavior of a person who wants to break into cinema.

Quantitative path to the film industry

How to act in a movie if there is no possibility of pursuing a quality path? The quantitative option is suitable for people who, for a number of reasons, do not have the opportunity or time to express themselves fully. In this case, you need to create a high-quality portfolio and present yourself competently.

What does it mean? On special sites you need to leave your resume, in which you need to briefly and clearly outline all your features and skills. In addition, you need to add a certain number of your photographs - always high-quality ones, allowing you to fully evaluate your external data.

The portfolio can be seen by people who are somehow connected with the film industry. And only then will a person be able to get to the shooting of a real film. It is also worth adding that it needs to be updated periodically. For example, from time to time add new photos that show a noticeable change in image and appearance. Or edit your resume if new, interesting acting abilities and talents have been discovered.

You have to believe that this path to the film industry really works. Professionals from the world of cinema sometimes cannot find the right person, and therefore often go to similar sites with a portfolio collection. “Everyone is looking for new faces today. We found the main character of the movie “Vanechka” on the Internet,” says producer Nadezhda Kopytina. That is why you should not be suspicious of such sites.

The main thing on the Internet platform is the ability to present yourself well and patiently wait for the cherished hour when the invitation to the casting does come.

How do people get into movies?

How was Soviet cinema made? In the recent past, cinema was, first and foremost, an art. There was no stagnation in this cultural environment, because new faces were constantly sought out and invited there. Many actors began their film careers in the Soviet Union quite suddenly. Faina Ranevskaya, Mikhail Pugovkin - all these familiar faces do not have proper acting education. However, thanks to their talent and high skill, they are known all over the world.

So how can you act in a movie if you only have talent and an incredibly strong desire? The answer is simple - arrange real tests for yourself. There are several simple, but at the same time unusual ways to get to the coveted one:

• through acting agencies;
• "Mosfilm"
• through the crowd.

Each person decides for himself which method suits him best. Or you can try all these methods at once.

Are acting agencies really that effective?

Acting agencies are one of the most famous and widespread, but, unfortunately, not the best ways. This option is suitable for people who are willing to spend some money.

Acting agencies work in the following way: for money they save all the data of the person who comes - records showing various kinds of abilities, photographs, resumes, etc. Moreover, unlike portfolio sites, acting agencies send all the data about a person to directors, producers and other persons who are in one way or another connected with the recruitment of actors.

It would seem that everything is simple and logical, you just need to pay a little money (prices in Moscow vary from 500 to 10 thousand rubles). However, there is one problem. Recently, there have been too many scammers in cities who are ready to make a star out of a person for a “symbolic $500.” Naturally, such scammers hide behind the signs of acting agencies. That is why it is necessary to choose as carefully as possible the places where you can give your money and data. After all, some particularly impatient people exclaim the phrase: “I want to act in films!” so often that it becomes very easy to deceive them.

About participation in extras

How to act in a movie without having the proper education? And even so that a sum of money was paid for the filming? The answer is simple: take part in the crowd. It is not so difficult. Directors and producers quite often recruit large numbers of people into their films, especially historical ones. Here, however, the point is different: will filming as an extra be enough to fulfill the dream of becoming an actor?

For some, yes, but for others, no. However, Russian films are made in such a way that even an extra can prove himself and attract the attention of the film’s creators.

So, how do you get into the crowd? You must register for the shoot in advance. As a rule, advertisements for recruiting people for the crowd for a film can be found on the Internet. But sometimes the creators of the film themselves find the necessary people - and do it on the street. It is also worth considering that participating in crowd scenes is not the easiest thing.

Firstly, you can spend almost a day on seemingly unknown things. Secondly, directors often have quite strict requirements for extras, and therefore you need to be prepared for anything. At the same time, if a person wants to somehow attract the attention of the film crew, then he should try especially hard. The creators of the film may be irritated, and they obviously will not need unnecessary distractions. However, it is worth considering that many both Soviet and Russian actors got into cinema through the crowd.

"Walk" around Mosfilm

This option to prove yourself is only suitable for truly thirsty people who want to prove themselves. The thing is that people working in a film concern are not very willing to once again accept another portfolio.

However, for decades now, people who have come to Mosfilm have encountered directors and producers who saw something special in a person and offered roles in films.

Today the easiest way to get there is through a tour. If a person has a desire not just to walk around the film factory, but to show himself to the creators, then he needs to tune in and prepare in advance. It’s worth immediately taking into account that the film company itself has a list of vacancies, but it will be difficult to find the right option without the proper experience. That is why a person who is confident in his abilities should take a portfolio folder with him and boldly knock on office doors. At the same time, it is better to agree to any proposed option, to any episodic role. After all, the likelihood that someone from Mosfilm will really want to do business with a random person is not so high.

“If a person wants to act in films, he must simply live at Mosfilm,” says actor Konstantin Kryukov. So the advice here can be given as follows: it is better to go to the film concert as often as possible. It is important to be confident and full of strength.

Invitation to casting

But what to do if a person was nevertheless noticed and, as a result, invited to the casting? Firstly, you shouldn’t be too happy or, conversely, panic. You need to calm down and start working on yourself.

It is worth learning that it is on the casting, so to speak, a kind of exam, that all future fate will depend. So how to pass the casting and act in a movie? You need to prepare high-quality photographs of yourself on a white background, write a resume, and add a couple of extra certificates or diplomas of achievement to your portfolio.

In no case should you limit yourself to just the phrase: Firstly, this statement will not be enough for the film crew. And secondly, professionals don’t like “wants” most of all. Persons associated with cinema are looking for people who are ready to reveal their talent to its full potential, and not just those who “want”. You should also not try to make friends with officials - this will be in bad form.

Appearance and behavior at the casting

Appearance is very important, probably even the main criterion. The main rule here sounds very simple: you need to look natural. Girls should not wear too much makeup or dress flashy. Guys should look neat and tidy. Hairstyle, posture, and gait are very important. You need to behave very confidently, but not arrogantly. Persons associated with cinema should see in the person who comes to the casting, first of all, individuality, and not some kind of far-fetched image.

It is worth agreeing that correct behavior at the casting is the basis for success. Usually here a person is asked to sit in front of the camera and say a few words about himself. This is necessary in order to understand how the newcomer behaves in front of the lenses aimed at him. The tips here are simple: be natural, rehearse your speech in advance and prepare a high-quality portfolio. You should, of course, rely on your own improvisation.

It is important to believe in yourself, and only then everything will definitely work out!