How to Become an Extra or Actor and Also Get Your Sag or Aftra Card
Acting is a highly competitive business. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is difficult for the majority of actors to find steady employment. Meeting the right people and signing with an agent are just a part of what you'll need to do to make it big. Becoming an actor or extra in film and television and getting your Screen Actors Guild or AFTRA card works best if you have a plan.
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Instructions
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Be able to describe yourself. When a production is casting for a "bad guy" or "All-American type," they have a specific look in mind. Decide what your specific type is and be prepared to sell it to casting agents. If someone were to ask you about your specific talents, be prepared to tell them. For example, if a movie is looking for extras to dance in a grand ballroom scene, your background in dance can help.
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Enroll in acting school. No matter how talented you are, there are things about the craft of acting that you can learn from professionals. In addition, acting school gives you an opportunity to meet other actors and to begin networking.
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Put together a portfolio. According to The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, your portfolio should consist of your resume and a headshot. They suggest that you have your headshots taken by a photographer who specializes in working with actors as a regular photographer might lack insight into the industry and not understand what producers are looking for. Ideally, your resume will be printed on the back of your headshot to ensure that the two are never separated. The Conservatory emphasizes the importance of being honest on your resume. Acting is an industry in which people talk and you don't want to be known as someone who fabricates a work history.
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Sign up at Central Casting. If you're working in the Los Angeles area and want to be an extra, it's free to sign up and let them know you're available. Extra work is available nearly every day of the week. Although it won't make you wealthy, it will introduce you to people in the business and give you a peek at how things are done.
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Join a union. You can join AFTRA, The American Federation of Radio and Television Artists. At time of publication, AFTRA membership fees are about $1,200. This membership will allow you to do work on sitcoms and soap operas. In order to join SAG, The Screen Actors Guild, you must speak a line or do a stunt in a production, get three union vouchers showing your were paid union scale for the work you performed in a production, or impress the right people and have these requirements waived. Once you've provided SAG with proof of meeting their criteria and pay your dues, you're a member.
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Sign with an agent. Signing with an agent is a bit of a Catch-22. Agents want you to have experience before they'll sign you, but an agent can help you gain the kinds of experiences you need to build a career. Finding an agent who will take you on is a matter of plugging away at it while you continue to find jobs on your own.
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References
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