# How do tv shows cast extras with military haircuts?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tv-shows-cast-extras-with-military-haircuts/1013895>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\
**Created:** [February 4, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tv-shows-cast-extras-with-military-haircuts/1013895 "2025-02-04T23:02:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tv-shows-cast-extras-with-military-haircuts/1013895/21 "2025-02-05T23:20:44Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> And non-speaking extra pay is all over the place, but generally several hundred $- so sure, a haircut is $20.

And it can be even more for a commercial. My son had a non-speaking role in a commercial about 15 years ago - by the time he got paid for this commercial running for two 13 week periods on cable and two 13 week periods on broadcast TV , he had made over $8000 for that one day.

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**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tv-shows-cast-extras-with-military-haircuts/1013895/22 "2025-02-05T23:38:03Z")

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I’ve been an extra a few times, so yes the listing will just ask for people with a buzz cut or willing to have their hair shaved off.

And it’s true that for most guys the latter is no big deal; my hair would grow back to it’s ideal length within a month (although TBH a grown out buzz cut looks like ass).

It might be a bit more of a challenge with female extras. AIUI in the US women aren’t required to get a buzz cut but they are meant to keep their hair pretty short? Probably the extras won’t take their hats off.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tv-shows-cast-extras-with-military-haircuts/1013895/23 "2025-02-06T01:23:31Z")

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> [@doreen](#):
>
> My son had a non-speaking role in a commercial about 15 years ago - by the time he got paid for this commercial running for two 13 week periods on cable and two 13 week periods on broadcast TV , he had made over $8000 for that one day.

Nice!

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