How to become a Background Actor in 2023
What is a Background Actor?
Per Central Casting’s website. “A Background Actor is someone who performs in a nonspeaking role, usually in the background of a scene. They help make movies, TV shows, and other productions look and feel more authentic. After all, hospitals, concerts, and city streets would just look like movie sets without Background Actors to give them life.
This is pretty much an accurate description of a Background Actor (BG). Below are some helpful tips on where to look for BG work (and not just in Los Angeles). Ideally, and if you have the money to do so, you should be signed up with at least two different casting sites to help get you work on a month to month basis. Notice how I didn’t say consistent…
Where to find work
If you’re new to the industry you’re going to want to sign up with Central Casting first thing. It’s one of the largest background acting services in Los Angeles, Georgia, Louisiana, and New York. Union or Non-Union folks can sign up for this free service. Really all you have to do is make an appointment on CC’s website and register in person. You fill out a bunch of paperwork, they take your pic, they verify you which takes no time at all and then you’re in. It’s 100% FREE and they reach out to you for work. Pretty easy, huh?
Cost: Free
This is another casting service. It’s free to create a profile (I believe you can upload 2 headshots max, your size card, resume, etc.) and browse for roles. However, you will need to pay (yearly or monthly) if you want to actively submit for work. Work can consist of background work and speaking roles.
Monthly Cost: $25.99
Yearly Cost: $259.90
Actors Access is another paid casting service if you choose to submit for speaking roles/background work. They do have a yearly and monthly subscription, or you can pay per submission which is meh. It’s free to create a profile, add a resume, size card, headshot, and view breakdowns (background and speaking roles).
Yearly Cost: $68
Monthly Cost: $9.99
Calling Services
A Calling Service is another way for Background Actors to find work, except they find the work for you vs you finding the work yourself. It typically costs somewhere around $75 / per month. Read the agreement and rates carefully as some have different rates depending on the calling service but for the most part it’s around $75/per month. Again, read the agreement and rates carefully.
Additional Items to Note:
– Signing up for any one casting website/calling service DOES NOT guarantee you consistent work. Sorry to say and I wish this wasn’t true but it is. Sometimes you’ll get cast on a show as Background Core and you’ll get to come back and work for days, to weeks, to even months on the same project. Other times you may only work a few times out of the month.
– Work can get slow during the Holidays (November-ish to January-ish )
– Don’t piss anyone off unless they clearly deserve it….JK, JK just try not to be an asshole and you’ll do just fine
Here are a few notable and well-known calling services in Los Angeles.