Thinking of Joining Us?

Film extras, also known as background actors or as we call them, supporting artistes, (SAs) appear in non-speaking or minor roles in the background of scenes in films, TV shows, commercials, and other media productions. Creating a realistic setting and atmosphere, SA’s portray everyday people in environments such as general crowds, modern-day passer-bys, or diners in a restaurant, and can also be cast in fantasy and period roles too. Their contribution is essential for adding depth and authenticity to the main action and storyline.

No prior experience is necessary. However, an interest in performance is beneficial, and any acting experience is appreciated. Overall you need to be reliable, friendly and punctual. Sometimes specific skills are required for a sequence, so make sure you tell us about any skills you have when filling in your application form.

The ideal extra should be flexible with their work schedule, reliable, and able to commit to work assignments. A patient and positive, can-do attitude is essential. This work is well-suited to many different people from all walks of life, such as retired or, self-employed people, students, or people out of work. Filming days are typically long with early starts, so you need to be quite hardy and resilient.

Due to frequent and sudden schedule changes, extra work is generally not suitable for those with caregiving responsibilities, full-time jobs, or availability limited to weekends.

Anyone with the right to work in the UK, with a National Insurance number and who is over 16 years old.

There is no maximum age; we have people registered with us in their eighties and nineties. However, you must be over 16 and have completed GCSEs. We do not represent children under 16.

If you have a very flexible work schedule and can accommodate date changes at short notice then you can work as an SA. However, the work can be unpredictable with last-minute changes which can make it difficult for those in full-time jobs.

You can register with as many background agencies as you like. We advise doing thorough online research, never paying any money upfront, and being aware of hidden fees. While a deducted commission rate is normal for agencies, it’s important to check for any additional charges.

We offer paid background and walk-on roles in UK-based high-end film and television productions, commercials, music videos, corporate videos, drama reconstructions, photo shoots, and promotional events. We work on productions throughout the UK

We strive to get people working as much as possible, but it largely depends on the casting briefs and locations for each production. Do you fit the brief and live in the right geographical location for the shoot? If so, keep an eye out for an availability request from the casting team. This kind of work can be sporadic and you can be sent a number of availability requests before you are confirmed for work. Depending on how busy we are you could get between a couple of days to 30 plus days work in a year.

Extra work is a good option for self-employed people with flexible work schedules. It’s a great way to learn how the industry works and earn extra money alongside other work. Most people who do extra work regularly have other jobs as well.

It’s rare for extras to transition directly into acting roles. While it does happen occasionally, it’s usually not a direct result of being an extra. Someone who has worked as an extra may develop an interest in acting and might then pursue formal acting training. You may however get a taste for working on set and look to pursue a career on set in another capacity.

Unfortunately, extras don’t get credited very often. The exception might be if you have been a stand-in, double, or heavily featured. But even then, it’s pretty rare and always at the producers’ discretion.

This is strictly prohibited unless agreed in advance as a chaperone due to access requirements. Due to security and confidentiality requirements, anyone attempting to access a film set without prior approval will be turned away.

No, due to confidentiality, this is an absolute no-no, and supporting artistes risk being sent home unpaid if they are found to have taken photos on set. On most productions, you will be required to sign an NDA. On high-profile productions, phones are often taken away during filming.

We only offer paid work. As a general guide, you can expect to be paid between £150 and £250 per day on average, sometimes more. This is before our 20% commission is deducted.

Union pay scales often apply. The rate depends on what you do on set, how featured you are, and whether it’s a day or night shoot. When sending availability requests, we will give you full details of the applicable rates.

Our application process is entirely online and takes about an hour to complete, though you don’t have to finish it all at once but does have to be completed within 28 days Once you submit your completed application, we will either approve it or request modifications for resubmission.

We ask for a lot of information and it can be time-consuming. We need this information to best represent you as an artiste. It is relevant to the casting process and reflects how we select artistes for roles or briefs we are given by production. Other identifying information is needed as we are required by law to collect proof of your ‘right to work’ in the UK.

We have eight UK regions. You can only apply to be in one, and it should be the area where you live. You will be automatically considered for anything in and around your location. If you are able to work in other locations you can note this on the application form.

You can only be listed in one region. Once approved, you can inform us of other areas in the country where you could work, such as when staying with parents or friends. Please note that travel and accommodation costs to additional regions are not covered.

Applications are usually approved within 24 hrs but may take longer at weekends or bank holidays when it can take up to 72 hours.

You will be registered with us and searchable on our website for 12 months. After 10 months, you will receive an email prompting you to start thinking about renewing your profile. Once your 12 months are up, you can renew at any time during the following year. You will not be live on our website for productions to see until you have completed your renewal.

Most of our communication is by email. The project managers will send any availability requests by email. We also text and phone if needed.

It depends on the projects we are working on and your suitability for them. There might be periods when we are constantly contacting you, and other times when it might go quiet for a while. Don’t worry; we’ll always try to contact you about any jobs you are suitable for.

We use your NI number to check that you are legally entitled to work in the UK.

We legally have to verify that all our supporting artistes are permitted to work in the UK by checking their passports, IDs, visas, and proof of right-to-work documents. This is all part of the application process.

Unfortunately, Student Visa holders are not normally allowed to work as self-employed in the UK so cannot register for extra work. Graduate Visa holders are, however, allowed to register with us.

Since 2014 anyone working as a Supporting Artiste is legally considered Self-Employed for both Income Tax AND National Insurance.

When working as a Supporting Artiste you are seen as self-employed and therefore no tax will be automatically deducted, you are responsible for paying your own Income Tax and completing your own annual tax return if required. We update these details annually and full details can be found here: Tax return FAQs

You can access your p60 information from Casting Collective through your Artiste Organiser.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is a background check and reviews the extra’s criminal record to identify any past convictions or cautions. A clear DBS check helps the production company ensure a safe working environment and comply with legal and safety regulations. It’s not always compulsory but will always be needed when Children are on set. In addition, It is normally a requirement for working as an extra on any job with the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky.

Full details of our privacy statement can be found here.

You will be registered with us and searchable on our website for 12 months. When registering with us you will have to agree to our agency Artiste Terms and conditions, you can find a copy of them here: /artistes/artiste-terms

In most cases, production will ask you to sign a separate agreement with their specific production. This is normally a release form and NDA and is usually done by digital signature over email.

In most cases, production will ask you to sign a separate NDA. This is a legal contract that obligates the extra to keep any confidential information about the film’s production, storyline, cast, and other sensitive details private. This agreement is designed to protect the production company from leaks and it remains undisclosed to the public until officially released. By signing an NDA, the film extra agrees not to share or discuss any details they encounter during their time on set.

We will contact you by email with availability requests and updates for any work opportunities.

If you have been selected for a role, the project manager for that job will email you a booking confirmation.

A Pencil booking means that we have checked your availability and you have told us that you are free. At this point, we will expect you to keep the date/s available on a “Pencil”. We have put you forward to the production.

Being “Heavy Pencilled” means we have checked your availability, you have been seen by the production, and they have shortlisted you, BUT you are not booked yet.

A Confirmed booking means we have confirmed the job to you by email or text. You may be required to attend a costume fitting ahead of your filming day. Either way, your final filming details will be emailed to you the evening before filming.

Filming days can be very long. When accepting any booking you must be free for the whole day, no specific call time will be known until the evening before any shoot. As a general guide a day shoot is normally any time starting from 7 am but it’s not uncommon to be called much earlier than that, 5 am calls are not unusual, with overtime a day shoot can easily be 10 to 15 hours long. A night shoot is paid at a higher rate and will usually film beyond midnight, sometimes until the early hours of the next morning.

When you register with us, you will have access to your own Artiste Organiser. Please ensure you keep your contact details and photos up to date. This is where you can see any pencilled or confirmed work in your CC Diary. You can also input any days you are not free so the Casting team can see your availability. In addition, you will be able to update your details and check your remittances.

It’s not essential to have a car or your own transport, as many locations are accessible by public transport. However, it is useful to have your own transport for very early starts or difficult-to-reach locations.

The best way to get more work is to keep your photos and measurements up to date and say yes as much as possible to availability requests. Most productions ask for up-to-date selfies, so ensure you upload them when asked.

The casting team works hard and often works long hours managing multiple briefs and regular schedule changes, so you will definitely up your chances if you are friendly, flexible, reliable, and understanding of the industry’s regular changes.

You don’t need professional photos or to spend a lot of money on photos for extra work. We have guidance on the photos you submit. They need to be recent with a good likeness and a plain background but don’t need to be professional. The most important thing is to keep your photos current and updated and a representation of how you look now. Full guidance on photos can be found here: add link

We require four photos of you for our website. A headshot, a full-length shot and a smart photo of you are required. There is then space for you to upload a fourth photo of your choice. The best photos are those that show us clearly what you look like. Please ensure they are recent photos with a true representation of how you look now, especially in relation to hair length. Full guidance on photos can be found here: add link

When you register with us, you will have access to your own Artiste Organiser. Please ensure you keep your contact details and photos up to date. This is where you can see any pencilled or confirmed work in your CC Diary. You can also input any days you are not free so the Casting team can see your availability. In addition, you will be able to update your details and check your remittances.

If you are unavailable for a job we have booked you for, please contact the project manager who sent you the availability request as soon as possible.

When you register with us, you will have access to your own Artiste Organiser. Please ensure you keep your contact details and photos up to date. This is where you can see any pencilled or confirmed work in your CC Diary. You can also input any days you are not free so the Casting team can see your availability. In addition, you will be able to update your details and check your remittances.

You must renew your profile at least every 12 months, but we encourage everyone to do this at least every two or three months. Refreshing your photos, checking your measurements, and updating your skills and experience will ensure productions see you in the best possible light.

Please take your time with your measurements, getting them right is critical. A tape measure will be required.

It’s vital that you measure yourself correctly and keep your measurements up to date via the Artiste Organiser. The Casting Team and Productions will regularly use measurements to make selections for roles, especially for any job that requires a costume fitting. If your measurements are incorrect, you can lose work or be sent home from a job unpaid.

On the application form we have short explainer videos showing how to do measurements. More specific individual measurement help can be found here and here:

https://castingcollective.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/topics/22422-taking-measurements-men

https://castingcollective.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/topics/22663-taking-measurements-women

Filming days are long, often with early starts and late finishes. A typical filming day can last 10 to 12 hours. However, depending on the production schedule and specific scene requirements, it’s not uncommon for days to extend to 15 hours or more. When you accept a booking it’s essential you are free for the whole day.

Nearly all jobs will have a set travel payment element added. Be aware that it might not fully cover what you have actually paid for your travel. On union agreement-paid assignments, a travel element is a set amount. If you are unsure, please contact the project manager who sent you the availability request.

If the production is modern day, you may be given a specific wardrobe brief outlining the types of clothes to bring along on the filming day. If the production is set in a different time period, usually a costume is provided, and you might be asked to attend a separate paid costume fitting, which normally takes 4 hours.

It is a good idea to bring photo ID to prove who you are. We also suggest taking a refillable water bottle, some snacks just in case, a waterproof coat, maybe some warm spare clothes and thermals if it’s a cold day and perhaps even a change of underwear and socks just in case you get wet on set. On a very hot day, consider taking a sun hat and sunscreen. There can also be a lot of waiting around so maybe take a good book, crossword, pack of cards etc.

Refreshments and meals are usually provided unless told otherwise.

No, due to confidentiality, this is an absolute no-no, and supporting artistes risk being sent home unpaid if they are found to have taken photos on set. On most productions, you will be required to sign an NDA. On high-profile productions, phones are often taken away during filming.

A film set is an exciting place to be, but it’s also a professional and busy working environment. You are expected to behave politely and professionally when representing Casting Collective.

Here are a few basics that will help you: Always be on time, or ideally 20 minutes early—it’s better to be an hour early than a minute late! Be polite, smile, and stay calm. Follow instructions promptly and accurately. Questions are fine, but keep them relevant and avoid being overly chatty. If you are unsure, please contact the project manager on the job with any questions.

Have a look at our Artiste toolkit, We have put together a list of key phrases you may hear on set, have a look: Glossary

We have compiled a full UK film studio directory in our Artiste Toolkit: Studio Directions

Remember that filming will not always be at a studio; it will quite often be on location. You will normally be given an idea of the location when we send you an availability request. Full location details will be confirmed the night before the job when details are sent out.

Two unions represent the interests of supporting artistes. We encourage everyone who wants to be a supporting artist or who regularly does extras work to join the Film Artistes Association.

The FAA: (Film Artistes’ Association which is part of BECTU the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematographic and Theatre Union) www.bectu.org.uk While not explicitly looking after SAs, Equity is the union for actors, singers, models, and performers. www.equity.org.uk

You do not have to belong to any union to work as a Supporting Artiste; however there certainly are advantages. Unions are important because they protect your pay and your rights when you work on any production. It is their job to negotiate agreements setting out the terms and conditions of your employment, so joining one will help protect you and your earnings. Without them, artistes would be pushed into working longer and longer hours for less and less money. In addition, a union will look after your welfare, for example, helping in the event of a dispute or injury.

When we send you an Availability request, we will tell you the rate of pay and indicate at what point you will go into overtime. After that time, an hourly overtime rate is normally applied.

Casting Collective applies a 20% commission (plus VAT) deduction from your earnings for all bookings.

Normally, it takes about six weeks from the day you work to receive the money in your account. However, this can differ from job to job and depending on the production company, it may be quicker or slower.

Legally Casting Collective must pay you within 10 working days of us receiving your money from the production company, but we aim to pay you sooner.

Log in to the Artiste Organiser, click on ‘Your Details’, then ‘Bank Details’ and follow the instructions. Your bank details are encrypted and not seen by anyone other than our bank when paying. Please be very careful when typing your account number and sort code; typos will result in payments being considerably delayed.

Rates of pay are different depending on the type of job you do. When booked you will be told the rate of pay or the union agreement applicable. Most jobs are paid under a Union pay scale and rates of pay can be found here: Pay Rates