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Position:Home>Theater & Acting> Is it true that being a extra will hinder your acting career?Question: Is it true that being a extra will hinder your acting career!? I have heard from numerous sources that if you desire to have a sucessful acting career that you shouldn't take work as an extra!. I've heard that later on you won't be given a chance!.!. and that there is a stigma!. Is this true!?!?
Is it better to take small credited roles or to do more stage work and small films instead!? ThanksWww@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: It will only hinder your chances of getting a bigger role if you are seen regularly on that particular show as a featured extra, then they can't bring you in as a principle actor because people may notice!. It will however give you lots of insight as to how things run on a set if you've never had the opportunity to spend time in that situation!. My advice would be to do it, but just do as you're told!. So many people try to have that be 'their moment' but no one cares about the extras!. You are background plain and simple!. So go and just be that!. Use it as an opportunity to watch and learn!. You also never know if you will be the one in a million who will be taft-hartleyed (unionized) because they need someone like you for a small but key role and don't have time to go through the casting process on the spot!. It also doesn't have to be a trade off (all or nothing) although if you have an agent, he/she may advise against doing extra work at that point!. It can tie you down and make you unavailable for principle work auditions which is never a good thing!. If you are finding your own auditions at this point then there's no reason not to do a few days just to see how things work!. Consider it research!. You also don't need to advertise that you did extra work!.!.!. just a thought!. MarianneWww@QuestionHome@Com That's not true!. Doing extra work will give you experience of being on a set and allow you to learn how things work!. Plus, sometimes you may be given a few lines; however, don't depend on this!. And there is no such thing as an extra's union!.Www@QuestionHome@Com thats a load of crap, always take any job you can get being an extra on a set gives you the chance to network and meet people in the industry if you wanna be an actor its al about putting yourself out there and meeting as many people as you canWww@QuestionHome@Com I would assume that any type of experience is good!. If you had the choice between being an extra or having a small speaking role in a small movie, I would go for the latter!. Otherwise, the more you have on your resume, the better it looks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com you can be an extra all you want and it wont ruin any chances of getting better roles!. what ruins it are extras who have diva attitudes on set!. plenty of well paid actors started off as extras!.Www@QuestionHome@Com you can be an extra but just don't join the extra's union!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |