Extra (actor) - Casting

Casting

Casting criteria for background actors depend on the production. It has been said that background cast members often require little or no acting experience. This however is not true. Any type of unrealistic portrayal must include some form of imagination and acting. Punctuality, reliability and the ability to take direction also figure prominently for these cast members. Background actors are often selected at extremely short notice, after all other preparations for the shoot have been finalized.

Several casting agencies specialize only in background work. When hiring background actors, casting directors generally seek those with a specific "look," such as "high school students" or "affluent senior citizens," consistent with the context of the film. Casting directors may also look for background actors with a special skill for the scene, such as rollerblading, or dancing. A background actor is often expected to bring his or her own wardrobe to the set, and a casting director may favor the one who already has the required costume or prop, such as a police uniform, or a musical instrument. On other occasions, where a costume has already been prepared (for example, to fit another actor who is now unavailable), a background actor may be selected as a "costume double" simply because they are the right size to fit it.

On smaller productions or student films, background actors may be hired en masse with little formality.

The length of a background actor's employment on a production largely depends on the needs of the director and the scene(s) being filmed. Some background actors are needed on the set only for a day or two. Others may remain with the film for an extended period. On James Cameron's film Titanic, for instance, a group of 150 "core background actors" was hired to play the ship's passengers. Those background actors were employed throughout the filming.