Extras On Television

[weecalf]

Isnt is annoying the way extras in scenes on television are so animated .Is it true that about in 7million become actors .May be well payed but are the really necessary.

[EDDIE51]

Extra's can make reasonable money, not in the film star league but not bad look here
http://www.castingcollective.co.uk/all-about-us/rates/
Main problem is the waiting around for something to happen , there can be a lot of that.
I know a girl who was in the film version of The Who's Tommy , she had 3 weeks work but was only in one shot for 10 seconds . She was a nurse in the scene where 'Sally' get a cut on her face trying to see Tommy.

[EDDIE51]

If you look through the list you will see that 'dialogue' is paid at an extra £50 a day this can be just one word spoken , you still get the £50 extra .

[tonymclark]

Equity's recommended minimum fee for a background artist is (or was until recently) £40 per day.

A lot of the time it can be £25 - £30 per day.

Most background artists get around £100 per day, but they can be needed in make-up at 4.30am and not finish filming until mid-night, though that doesn't happen all the time.

[curlyperm11]

I am qualified to stick my oar in hear, as its what i do, and have done for many many years!
Actually the correct terminology is 'supporting Artists' thatswhat we LIKED to be called!
The days of 'equity' are LONG gone! There are 3 into which we fall regarding payment one is known as a 'walk on 1 '. Basic just crossing the road or standing in background the second is a 'walk on 2'. Ie: being dressed as a nurse/paramedic/policeman etc.....you get more for this and 3rd is a 'walk on 3' which is a speaking part, no matter how much or little you say.
The average wage is about £75 (in the North of England anyway)
We get told how to walk, how to pretend to talk etc.....some of them can be annoyingly OTT, but as most scenes would be unrealistic without us, you will just have to avert your eyes if we annoy you!
I am the opposite though, i am only watching the background, looking for friends.