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Ever since Janine Holt was introduced to the hit television series “Beverly Hills 90210” by her older sister Polly, she confessed that after the first commercial break her mind became set on becoming an actress.  “It was like a flash of light suddenly burst from the TV screen,” she mentioned when asked about her sudden epiphany.  She was 13 at the time, and though one may call it a “youthful dream” Janine made every possible effort to keep her hopes alive.

At the age of 18 Janine grabbed the opportunity to start paving the long road ahead of her by competing at local beauty pageants.  By the time she had reached the age of 20 she placed 2nd and 3rd runner-up out of four beauty pageants.

It was then after she decided to move to New York City in order to try her luck in acting, which was her main passion in the first place.  There, she ran into a couple of odd jobs so as to sustain herself.  “It was really hard, I usually got up three hours earlier so I could go downtown and check for casting calls,” she said about her daily routine.  Long hours were spent standing in line for auditions, to which she mentioned seemed endless.  Sometimes, she even confessed to calling in sick just so she could make it to a certain audition.

“No matter how many auditions turned me down, I always made sure to keep my head up.”  It was an attitude that Janine was glad to have kept.  Eight months after she moved to the big apple, things were looking grim.  Janine’s job as a waitress was hardly enough to support her financially, and so she decided to give herself another six months before she packed her bags and headed home.  “I cried myself to sleep every night.  I didn’t want to come home defeated.”

However, fate always has a way of twisting when one least expects it.  Janine had a regular customer who dined at the restaurant where she worked.  “He sat at my tables a couple of times.  He usually kept to himself, writing in a little notebook of his.”  With just a month and a half until her said deadline, Janine’s plans suddenly came to a turn.  “I brought him his usual salad, and then the next I noticed was he was looking at me funny.”  The two sparked a small conversation and by the end of the week, Janine was on location during her first film.  “His name was Michael,” and little did she know, prior to their conversation, that he was an independent film director.  He had asked her to come in for a screen test, and after that the two immediately hit it off.  Ever since 2002, Janine has starred in six independent films.  Three were directed by Michael while the rest were done by different directors from as far as Los Angeles.

When asked about the two’s chemistry when it came to making movies, Michael had this to say: “She has this natural presence while on screen which makes you have this immediate familiarity with her.”

We had a chance to interview Janine Holt in a more in-depth manner, and this is what she had to say:

Was success in independent films something that you considered when starting out?

To tell the truth, No it wasn’t.  I was young, so I naturally had this juvenile notion that being an actress meant acting only in big-budget movies.  I guess it was something that I came to learn gradually.

What were these specific things that you learned?

I appreciated the craft more and more as I did it.  There’s a whole lot more to acting than meets the eye.  You tend to know a lot more about yourself when it comes playing different characters and adopting a certain method when it comes to acting.  I eventually found and accepted that I wasn’t the “drop dead gorgeous” type.  I was more like “the girl next door,” or the “common waitress type!” (laughs).  I guess it’s a big hurdle for anyone to realize and accept that there are some things that a person can never be, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t special.  Talent runs deeper than physical attributes alone.  All you have to do is work with what you have, and then you’ll start to find that success is simply a byproduct of hard work and dedication.

How is your family backing you up in your career?

My parents thought I was crazy to leave home.  Come to think of it, I think they never took me seriously when I declared to them that I wanted to be an actress.  So you could just imagine their shock when I told them I was leaving in hopes to be one.  My sister Polly was my bottomless well of support.  She was always there to comfort me when I was feeling dejected, even if I would call her up at three in the morning.  But after my first film, I took my parents to see it with me.  I was more nervous that they were going to see it, more than the thought that there were a lot of people there who I didn’t know watching me on screen.  My folks seemed to like what they saw, except maybe for the intimate scenes! (laughs).

So what’s in store for the future?

I’m actually going to Arkansas next week to shoot a film with Dennis Murray.  I’ve read the script twice and it looks to be one of the most challenging roles that I’ll be playing.  Hopefully, if we finish it in time, it could be a contender for Cannes.  My fingers are crossed!

When Kim Kardashian, star of the popular reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians goes shopping on uber-trendy Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles followed by the invited cameras of Entertainment Tonight and throngs of paparazzi,  the sales clerks who work in these stores end up being unwitting, unpaid extras in Kardashian’s publicity campaign.

Do they get paid? No way. But if you want to be close to top stars, and appear on TV regularly (as an unpaid prop), get a job in a top celebrity hangout. What can beat the thrill of helping Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus or Kim Kardashian pick out clothes and see yourself regularly on national TV?

Being a movie extra can open many doors of opportunities to anyone.  It doesn’t matter whether you aspire to be the next big Hollywood star, or simply want to earn extra money on the side while being in movies.  Becoming a movie extra grants anyone a chance to enter the Hollywood scene, and it is one of the most effective methods to do so.

Movie extras earn as much as $400.00 per day, and can work for either union or non-union films.  Though landing a job as a Movie Extra isn’t very hard, it’s also not that easy.  Here are a few tips to help you out:

Look for casting calls in the internet-This is the quickest and easiest way to look for movies in need of Extras.  You can actually sign up (most are for free) and subscribe to newsletters.  So when a job listing is available, an e-mail will automatically be sent to you, providing you with details about the movie and casting.  Recommended site: http://www.Hollywood-Opportunities.com

Look for job postings on trade journals-The Variety and Hollywood Reporter have current job postings on their Classified/Help Wanted Area.  You can also check your daily newspaper under the Classified ads.

You can opt to join the union of background performers-SAG (Screen Actors Guild) offers assistance to background performers or Movie Extras.

After landing a job, here are some do’s and don’ts.  These are especially useful if it is your first time becoming a Movie Extra:

DO’s:

Check your clothes-Make sure that there isn’t a certain color or style you need to wear before leaving your house.  Bring extra clothes.  The average workday is twelve hours.  Even if you’re only in the background, you still need to look fresh.

Don’t be late-“Call Time” means the time you are needed on the set.  Call times are usually one hour before the actual shooting.  It’s best to give yourself at least half-an-hour before call time just to be safe.

Research-Though it’s not really required, it’s always good to plan ahead.  If the particular film you’re participating in is a period-piece or if the setting is quite unique, it’s good to know how the average person looked, moved, or acted at the time.

Learn by watching-If you want to pursue a more hands on Hollywood Career, it’s best to stay attentive during on set.  Watch and learn how the business is played behind the camera.  You’ll be surprised how much you could learn in just a day.

DON’Ts:

No unnecessary items-Just bring the bare necessities.  No need to bring cameras, or any other gadgets.  If you must bring a cel-phone or a beeper, be sure to leave it on silent.  Directors hate unnecessary noise, and it’s rude.

Keep it quiet-When the director yells “Action!” don’t say a word, unless you are said to make noise or talk.  Just wait until the director says “Cut!”

Maintain realism-Never look straight at the camera, unless you are told to.  This has the potential of ruining the scene.

Be subtle-Though the time you spend on set can be a good opportunity to make connections with people in Hollywood, try not to overly apply yourself.  Finding connections while you’re on the job can seem unprofessional.  Try doing it at the end of the day, and don’t let your intentions be too obvious.  “Maybe some coffee, or a drink would be nice.”

Many of us think that Hollywood is only for the dreamers and hopefuls out there who just wants a piece of the action.  Let’s face it, not everyone is cut out for all the attention that comes with living under the spotlight.

But how many times have you watched a movie, and during a particular scene you see hundreds of people running around, talking, walking, even screaming.  Then you start to wonder, “Where do they get all those people?” or more especially, “Do they get paid for doing that?”  The answers to those questions are everywhere, and yes (a lot actually).

A movie extra/stand in is defined as people/person who stands in the background of movies, lending a bit of realism to the scene.  As we all can see, there are no special skill requirements, and no good-looking-people-only type of screening, and no years of experience needed.  All you need to do is look like a normal human being and be able to take simple orders from a director.  Some call it the ideal occupation of the lazy.  If you can stand, walk, or sit for a few hours a day you’re perfect for the job.

What about the pay you ask?  An average movie extra earns as much as $28,891 per year.  The lowest salary based on a study is $23,814, while the highest is somewhere at $35,811.  So to break it down, on average, you can earn as much as $2,407 a month by just standing around for a few hours a day.  That type of salary is at the top 50 percentile of basic salaries in the country.  It’s the same as saying that the salary you can earn as a movie extra is more than half of all possible basic salaries out there.  I bet the other half above it consists of hard labor when you have to work your butt off for nine to ten hours a day.

Aside from the pay there are also a number of perks and opportunities that you can take advantage of.  For one, you get to choose your own schedule.  If you’re too tired to work, don’t accept any jobs.  And with the small amount of hours required, you can have more time for yourself.  Another would be the excitement of seeing yourself in an actual movie, even if it’s only for a few seconds.  There’s also the possibility of being discovered.  A lot of famous actors/actresses started out as extras: Tia Leoni, and Jackie Chan to name a few.  You never know it could happen.

As many of us know, Hollywood isn’t all about acting.  With current movies such as Step Up 1&2, Bring it On, Stomp the Yard, and past films such as Dirty Dancing, the ability to dance well is a definite plus for any Hollywood hopeful.  Not only does it give you a chance to be a part of the Hollywood dream, you can also earn a little more.  The average dancer can earn up to $21.00 for doing something they love to do.  On the other hand, Hollywood movie dancers earn thousands of dollars per movie.

Before you dive into your choice of being a dancer for Hollywood here are a few helpful tips to get you started:

Specialize—While it’s good to learn all kinds of dances, it’s even better to know all the ins and outs of one particular dance.  Whether it’s Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet, or Pop if you become exceptionally good at one kind of dance, chances are opportunities will look for you rather than the other way around.

Take Lessons—Having a good instructor will save you time to better hone your skills, and you’ll get to meet a lot cool people during classes.

Start as soon as you can—Though there’s not really an age limit to be a good dancer, it’s best to train yourself at the earliest time possible.  Most dancers start between the ages of 5-15, and do professional auditions by the time they reach 17-18 years of age.

Practice and Perseverance—The age old saying, “Practice makes perfect” applies to every aspect in our lives, including dancing.  If you’re having a hard time performing a dance move just get up and try again.  Never think that the best dancers out there achieved their skills overnight.  It takes months, even years of dedication to be a really good dancer.  Don’t worry it all pays off in the end.

So you’ve practiced your heart out and feel that you are ready to take on your first audition.  Here’s how you can look for one:

Check the Internet—The internet is an excellent source of information.  It’s fast and convenient.  Websites such as: www.Hollywood-Opportunities.com have current talent search listings.  You can sign up for free and receive newsletters to inform you of auditions in your area.  You wouldn’t even have to leave home.

Check the newspapers—Daily newspapers have job listings everyday.  It might be more of a chore compared to the internet but it’s a good supplement in finding auditions.

Pay attention—If your taking classes chances are there are bulletin boards, or classmates to inform you of current auditions taking place.  Also, don’t be afraid to visit dance halls or music schools, there are usually a lot of information there too.