Tips & Tricks for a Newbie Background Actor

As a person who has been on set as a Background Actor (BG) since 2018, I have picked up on a few tips & tricks from several people, as well as my own experience, that I feel will make the process smooth for any newbie BG Actor entering the industry.

Here are all of those tips from before you are cast to actively being on set.

Enjoy!

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Before:

Have a headshot.
You can create it via your phone on a tripod or any other way that you can do that and you can do it against a blank wall (typically blue or grey) from just below your shoulders up to just above your head. And use landscape.

On that note, update your headshot every few months to match who you are at that moment. This could mean that your hair is longer, or shorter, or something physically changed on you that is not noted. That is why you need to update often.

Some productions will also ask for a head-to-toe photo, so update those as well during the same time points. In those head-to-toe photos, they are typically looking for your body type, so it's important to wear tighter-fitting clothing. Another tip is to wear darker colours but not black, and definitely don't wear white - wearing those colours in photos will make the dark and white balance off.

During:

You got booked, yay!

Fittings:

Period Dramas
- Generally, if you are featured, then you will get called in to get a fitting done a day or two ahead of when you need to be there, just to make sure something fits
- The other times, you will arrive on set and then get fitted into something, because they already had your sizes on hand

Your own clothing
- Most times you will just bring a bag of stuff with you based on the specs that they are looking for - you will typically receive an email from casting or wardrobe with example photos
- Other times, they will ask you to send them a photo, or a series of photos with what you have, and then they will tell you what to bring with you.

Fitting for clothing that they want you to wear.
- This is when they have clothes that they want you to wear, whether it is the period drama, a specific look, or a different decade in time. And will typically happen before you are on set.

The process is like this (after you confirm and pick a day and time to go in):
- You go in and meet with the wardrobe team
- They get you set up in a changing room with some clothes and will tell you what to put on right away
- They will take pictures of you and then send those to the director

Most of the time, that is where that ends, but other times those pics will be sent for approval right away so that the director can either say yay or nay, or ask wardrobe to put you in something else.

Before on set:

Once you know that you are booked for a specific day, you need to make sure that you are available for that entire day. You will know the day you need to be there, and your call time (time you have to be there to check in +15 mins - given the night before), but not know when you will end.

The start times may stagger between Monday and Friday, so you won't know the exact start time until the day before.

But from my personal experience, you will see start times for 8:00 a.m. typically on Mondays (sometimes earlier like 5 a.m.), and as the week goes on you will see later and later start times. But of course, this varies depending on what the production needs for a specific week or two weeks. Sometimes, rarely, it will be an entire week of night shoots. So during the summertime, those are typically when you will have a call time at 5:00 p.m.

Now for something important, if you are booked for the next day, and you haven't received a call time yet, then definitely reach out to either your agent, if you have one, or to the BG casting that booked you at around 11 pm. If they haven't received call time from the production yet, then they will let you know that. But if they do know that info, then they can pass it on to you so that you can get some rest. Knowing that time is imperative for a smooth arrival time to set.

During - On The Day:

Your call time is basically the time that you have to be at BG Holding on set. That means that you should arrive 20 to 30 minutes prior to that time so that you can park your car, get to background holding, and start doing paperwork.

The paperwork is what will tell the production that you live in whatever province, territory or state so that they can get tax credits, and also so that you can get paid for the work that you did.

Background Holding is where you are basically held prior to going to set. This is also where Background typically has their lunch, and is also a location for you to keep your stuff if you brought any with you.

There is also a holding area for background onset just so that the background actors are close and ready to go when they are needed. There's also crafty there with different snacks and different drinks available to keep you replenished for the long hours.

Off time in holding:

You are very likely going to be spending a lot of downtimes waiting until they need you for whatever they need you for, so it is always suggested that you bring with you some sort of entertainment. Whether that be books, computer games, card games, or whatever will make the time go by faster when you are in the off mode.

You are also free to talk with any of your peers that are also there to be in the background and it can be a lot of fun.

But if they are filming and you are in holding nearby, shut your mouth. It is fun to be on a set, but you are also there to do a job within a timeframe. If you are disruptive, you will be asked to leave and not allowed back.

Essential Things to Bring (based on my own experience):

A Winter Jacket - Trust me even in early mornings on summer sets, it can be quite chilly. So remember to layer up.

Refillable Water Bottle - Most sets these days are mostly plastic-free, so remember to always bring your water bottle with you.

If you know it's going to be freezing where you're going, dress appropriately, and also bring things that will keep you warm. Like a blanket or gloves or anything that will keep you warm on the inside of your costume.

Entertainment for the downtime. Books are always good, especially if you are not close to outlets.

Epi-pen & other health things like meds. You are there for a while, so make sure that you are prepared.

Toothbrush & toothpaste - This one is entirely up to you, but after having snacks and lunch on set, your mouth can feel a little grainy, so it's nice to have it so that your mouth can feel clean.

If casting is asking you to bring something specific, like things for your paperwork to confirm who you are or clothing items, then definitely bring those things along.

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Thanks for reading, and I hope that you got all of the info that you need to start BG acting in your local area. :)