# Getting Extra Work in Hollywood
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-extra-work-in-hollywood/780484
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 22, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-extra-work-in-hollywood/780484 "2017-02-22T17:43:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-extra-work-in-hollywood/780484/1 "2017-02-22T17:43:17Z")
My question is “How hard is it for a random person with no inside connections to get work as an extra in a major Hollywood film?”
Some backstory. Let’s say I always wanted to be an extra in a Hollywood film and was willing to quit my job for a year and move to LA. I register at the usually places that extra wannabes register and show up wherever I think there is the slightest chance someone may need a middle-aged male movie extra.
How likely is it that I will find work in the first year of trying?
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### Author:  [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-extra-work-in-hollywood/780484/2 "2017-02-22T17:57:15Z")
I think it’s fairly easy. You would need to pay attention to places where they post for extras and respond to that.
I’m not in California, I live in Chicago, but I just responded to a casting call in December for Chicago Justice and was an extra for an episode that will show sometime this year and basically I just emailed a talent agency who put out the casting call. I got fitted with a costume and played my part and got about $110 for day’s work.
Once they have your info, it’s easy to get more work if they like working with you.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-extra-work-in-hollywood/780484/3 "2017-02-22T18:11:27Z")
You could probably get _something_, though certainly not enough to live on.
My parents were extras in two movies shot on eastern Long Island, mostly because they were able to show up for the shooting. That’s a big plus, especially for an open call.
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### Author:  [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-extra-work-in-hollywood/780484/4 "2017-02-22T19:40:29Z")
Two informative articles:
General info:
[http://www.entertainmentcareers.net/acting/becoming\_and\_extra.asp](http://www.entertainmentcareers.net/acting/becoming_and_extra.asp)
About the life of a professional:
[http://www.laweekly.com/news/some-hollywood-extras-suffer-but-others-are-rolling-in-it-5392316](http://www.laweekly.com/news/some-hollywood-extras-suffer-but-others-are-rolling-in-it-5392316)
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### Author:  [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-extra-work-in-hollywood/780484/5 "2017-02-22T20:13:48Z")
You’ll find work, but it will be spotty and at minimum wage, assuming you’re not a member of SAG-AFTRA. If you’re union, the work will be even spottier, but it will pay more.
You will need to register with every extras casting company in town, from Central Casting on down, and you will need to check their hotlines and Facebook pages constantly, and call or email to submit yourself constantly. You could hire a “calling service” to do this work for you, they charge a monthly fee and have many rules about availability, i.e., if they book you on something, you’d better show up, any excuse less than death (your own) will not be accepted. I’m only slightly exaggerating. You will also need an extensive wardrobe of business, formal and casual attire, extras generally wear their own clothes, except on “period” shows.
My cite: I was a union extra from 2000 to 2011, and I may go back to it now that I’m retired from my day job, once I build my wardrobe up - thrift stores here I come!
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-extra-work-in-hollywood/780484/6 "2017-02-22T20:30:57Z")
There’s a 2011 documentary called Strictly Background that follows the lives of 10 background extras in Hollywood. I recall the movie was a bit melancholy.
It’s not on Netflix anymore but you can rent it for $2.99 [here](https://vimeo.com/ondemand/strictlybackground). You can watch the trailer on that page for free.
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### Author:  [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-extra-work-in-hollywood/780484/7 "2017-02-22T20:46:15Z")
Thanks everyone. Ignorance fought.
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-extra-work-in-hollywood/780484/8 "2017-02-22T21:38:39Z")
> [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](#):
>
> My cite: I was a union extra from 2000 to 2011, and I may go back to it now that I’m retired from my day job, once I build my wardrobe up - thrift stores here I come!
That’s kind of awesome. Good luck with that!