How Does a TV Show Extra Spend a Workday?

by Maggie Hira

How Does a TV Show Extra Spend a Workday?
General Overview

A TV show extra is an actor or non-actor who is usually seen in the background scenes of a show or movie. TV show extras usually do not have any lines, but they are included in the scene to make it seem more realistic especially if it's a scene in a restaurant, sports stadium or busy street. Extras don't need to have any acting experience and they can be from multiple walks of life, including different ages and genders. Their main job is to blend into the background and make the scene look as realistic as possible. Extras meet with the assistant director on a TV show and follow his/her orders as to what to do and where to go. The assistant director also provides the extra with the day's payment.

Typical Workday

A TV show extra spends an entire workday on set, filling in on one scene or several different scenes. An extra must be prepared to spend about 8 to 12 hours a day on set depending on the length of the show, whether it's a half hour show or one full hour. Extras are paid a daily rate for their work. When he first arrives on set, the extra is immediately sent to get his hair and makeup professionally done. Then the wardrobe stylist outfits the extra in clothing that will fit in with the day's scene. Most of the workday for an extra will consist of a lot of basic activities such as standing around in the background, making up part of the clientele in a restaurant or store, pretending to be a sports fan in a stadium, faking a conversation in the background, walking down the street and other similar activities that are part of creating a realistic setting for the TV show.
Obtaining Work

The most surefire way to obtain work as an extra on a TV show is to join a casting agency. The best way to locate a casting agency in your area is to look in your local business directory. Cities such as New York, Miami and Los Angeles have several casting agencies that provide extras for different shows. Once you join a casting agency (which usually requires filling out a small form and submitting a headshot), they will call you whenever a show needs extras.