Welcome!!..Here are the ABC's of being a great background player!! The following is an overview of how to act on and off set when you are a background player/extra. Please remember that when you are booked by us, you are not only representing yourself but us as well and, well, we expect excellence :). If we call and leave a message for you, when you call back please make sure that you say your full name in your opening greeting. Example- "Hi! This is XXXXXX, you left me a message about possible being in the XXXXXXX production." When you are booked for a gig, you will either be given all pertinent information - i.e. where, when, what to wear/bring, etc or you will be told to either call our information line or check this website for the information. Once you are booked, you need to be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there- if you have an emergency that prevents you from making the booking, call us ASAP. Failure to show up to a booking without giving us proper notification will result in your NEVER AGAIN being booked by us for anything! Ok, you are booked- now what? Quick note*****IMPORTANT***** When you are booked you will be quoted a rate based on a set number of hours- either 8, 10 or 12 - usually 8. This does not mean that this is the number of hours you will be on set but the number of hours you will work before overtime pay starts. Expect to be on set for potentially a long time - 12-16 hour days are not uncommon. Also, if you have a short day, which happens on rare occasions, you will still be paid your full rate. You will arrive at the set/location on time with the required wardrobe and you will find out where you need to go to check in...then you will check in and receive your voucher. Your voucher is basically your timesheet and I9/W4 all rolled up in one- do not lose it- fill it out- ask for help from an experienced player if you have never filled one out before. You may be sent to props, makeup or wardrobe. If you are given wardrobe or a prop, they will take your voucher as insurance that you will return their property- fair enough, eh? After you have checked in, filled out voucher and if needed gone to wardrobe, makeup, hair, props, you will then be taken to a holding area where the fun starts...the waiting. The process of making a film, tv show or commercial involves a lot of hurry up and wait. Be prepared to wait and wait and maybe wait some more- bring reading material and whatever else you need to holding. Once you are taken to holding you will be - yup, you guessed it - held! This is where you need to be if you are not on set. There is no wandering away. You are being payed to be where production needs you when they need you there- so you need to stay in the holding area so they know where you are- simply, eh? Here are some more tips to make your life on set more enjoyable: If you are SAG, always have your SAG membership card with you. Always be on time to the reporting location with any required wardrobe and props. Always be cheerful, courteous, attentive and maintain your sense of humor. Only smoke-if permitted- in designated areas and clean up after yourself. Meals are usually provide for by the production company. When a meal is announced the cast and crew will be served and eat first. This is done because they will need to get back to set before you(background) so that they can set up for the next shot/scene. When you are given a prop or wardrobe item, they become your responsibility- take good care of the property until you give them back to the production company. Now for some on set information: Just like the holding area, once you are on set you are never to leave without explicit permission/instructions from the production company. Again, they need you to be where they need you when they need you to be there. They cannot hold up the production to go looking for you. Quiet-Quiet-Quiet! Always be quiet on set- both when the camera is rolling and when it is not rolling. When the camera is rolling all talking is faked/pantomimed unless you were given explicit directions to the contrary. When the camera is not rolling quiet is important so that the crew can talk among themselves and hear instructions and quickly get their work done. Also, have your cell phones turned off - not to vibrate but OFF when on set. No cameras of any kind permitted on set. No smoking or gum chewing on set. Never look directly at the camera unless explicitly told to do so by the production company. If you look directly at the camera the results look terrible and will insure that the part will hit the cutting room's floor. Also, never interact directly with or interfere with the movements of the principal actors unless explicitly told to do so. Do not chat with the crew while they are working- let them work. You will be placed somewhere on set(this will be your starting point or what is called your ONE). After a take when cut is yelled, go back to your One(or starting position). Go back directly but NEVER run. There are a lot of cable and equipment on a set and you always need to walk on set carefully and alertly. Action starts for you when BACKGROUND is yelled out...not on ACTION unless you have been given explicit directions to the contrary. Background always starts moving before anyone else so that you are already in motion when the camera starts and it looks more natural. Don't ask when wrap will be- it will be when it will be- as always, expect a very long day on set. Never leave the holding area or the set without permission of the production company. Never assume that you are wrapped(finished for day) until the production company officially and explicitly says that you are- at that time your will complete your voucher- with in and out times and have it signed by the production company. If you follow and embrace above, you are well on your way to being a valued member of the background profession!! Thank you!! Well, you made it through the day, got on set and , hopefully, had a fun and interesting time- That is a WRAP see you next time :) @copyright DavidAnthonyCasting 2008
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Thanks,
Matt Grisat
out quite clearly,,good job! Rose
Respectfully
Laura Vesa.