The Perks of Being a Movie Extra
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.
