Casting Director Renee Godbout on how to make the most of your role as an extra

As an actor trying to break into the entertainment industry, you may wonder: Is working as an extra worth it? The answer is: Absolutely!

When entering into the world of background work, you may have your doubts about landing a speaking role. But upgrades do happen! In fact, they have happened on every single project that I have worked on! So how do you get the elusive upgrade? Well, unfortunately there’s no science to it. But if you keep these 3 tips in mind, an upgrade just may happen to you!

1. BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
This means introducing yourself to other people on set, including production staff and other actors. Of course, you don't want to be an annoyance: If someone is too busy to meet you, move on. Just make sure that people know who you are and why you're on-set.

2. DON'T RELY ON LUCK ALONE.
Act like a professional and take your job seriously. If you behave like a principle actor, you'll improve your chances of landing a speaking role.

3. DON'T HESITATE TO TAKE A RISK.
If your casting director tells you there is a strong chance of a possible upgrade when they hire you for background work, believe them! If you're attached to the project already, you've got nothing to lose.

A recent upgrade happened for one of my extras during the filming of Made of Honor, starring Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan. It's not exactly Oscar-worthy material, but it is a cute story with some sweet moments. More than half of the film is set in Manhattan, and the production shot in the city for 4 days. During those four days, I was told to find a beautiful girl who was comfortable with dogs for a possible upgrade. I submitted photos of several girls and they chose the one girl they wanted to use. I still hadn’t seen a script page with the dialogue this girl might say, but at the end of the day, I was informed that she had been upgraded! I was thrilled for both her and myself. When one of your extras gets an upgrade, it’s like getting a gold star on a homework assignment!

Although I knew she had gotten the upgrade, I wasn't sure whether her scene would make it into the final cut of the film. So I went to the movies and waited patiently. It had been almost a year since I worked on the film and by then, I didn't remember too much about the movie aside from the basic plotline. It all came rushing back to me when two dogs appeared on screen. I knew that this was the added scene. The camera panned up... and my girl said her lines beautifully! In its opening weekend, Made of Honor grossed over $15 million, which means my extra was seen and heard by millions of moviegoers nationwide - just in one weekend!

Although upgrades may not happen every time you work as an extra, they will happen often enough to make extra work worth your time. Remember, every piece of the scene is important. When you take your role seriously, the film's production will take you seriously. Casting directors don’t just throw anyone into a role. They pick the right people for the job, and that includes extras as well. Being in the right place at the right time is important, but if you take your role as an extra seriously and aren't afraid to take smaller roles, you may find yourself acting with Patrick Dempsey on the big screen in no time!

Renee Godbout - Freelance Casting Director. Renee Godbout recently worked on the first season of The CW's popular teen show Gossip Girl at Grant Wilfey Casting. Some past projects include 2 seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the pilot for Dirty Sexy Money, and the upcoming Jonathan Demme-directed Dancing with Shiva.

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