A Supporting Artist Guide – The Filming Industry Needs You

With no prior experience required, you can become a supporting artist to the filming industry. Although there are a few major factors for you to consider before putting yourself forward for casting to production. Herein we will take a look at some of these important considerations.

Payment for film extra (commonly known as SA - Supporting Artist or Background Artist) can be quite lucrative but you need to be able to ‘free time up’ to appear on set. Also, many SA’s make money to pay the bills, one way or another of which enables them to free time up to appear on productions without worrying about instant income.

So if your lifestyle allows you to free up time to appear on set and you can wait up to 3 months for payment from a SA job, then we will look at another major factor prior to appearing on production.

Production, where filming takes place, can be local or the set may be miles away from your location. Transportation is required for you to travel to location – if you have access to a vehicle, this is perfect. Although, on set, even hundreds of miles from my home, I often meet fellow SA’s who have arrived via public transport, and who have to travel back home the same way, taking many hours of free time from their day to day activities.

Another factor to consider is, you are required to behold a DSB (and some productions require you to hold an enhanced DSB.) Some minor offences recorded on your records should not hinder your application (obviously this depends on the severity and the recorded offence.)

Another factor to consider is you must be eligible to work and live in your country.

Are you prepared for a long day’s shoot? Often SA’s are required to be on set or location by 6.am and sometimes even earlier, even though the location or set may be many miles away from your home location. And after wrap (completion of filming for the day) you need to take into consideration the time allowance for you to travel back home.

I have personally appeared on many productions in 2019 where I and fellow SA’s have spent over 12 hours on set, and that is without the time for travel. Of course, not all production film days are so long and these are just some factors to consider prior to putting yourself forward for filming.

Production may need to dress you up. This means putting themed or outrageous outfits on you, plus beards, wigs, hairdo’s, sideburns, hats and even offering haircuts so that you suit their visual requirements for that particular shoot. This is not always the case, though, as you would often be required to supply your own (everyday) clothes or certain uniforms etc, depending on what production want from you.

Another consideration is that within three months of being accepted into the filming industry as a supporting artist is you must inform the tax man, either through your accountant or directly on HMRC website. Even if you are currently employed through a company, by partaking in SA work, you are also a freelance self employed person as well, and you will/should receive a Self Assessment at the end of the tax year once you’ve contacted HMRC / IRS.

Are you thinking of appearing on the other side of the camera as a Supporting Artist, and acting is in your blood or you’d just like to try applying for film work to see if this job meets your criteria, then let me recommend ‘A Supporting Artist Guide – The Filming Industry Needs YOU – Plus The Pros & Cons So You Get More Work.’

This is a WRAP and I thank you for reading this article, I hope it has helped you to learn more about SA work. Please leave your comments in the box below and let me know. I will get straight back to you.

Dale Ovenstone