What Do Background Actors Do?
Ever wonder how Law & Order finds jurors? Or who gets to cheer for the South Crenshaw High football team in All American? These people are paid Background Actors hired by Central Casting. Chances are you don't pay much attention to the crew working alongside Alex and Bradley in The Morning Show - and that's because it's part of a Background Actor's job description to blend in.
What is a Background Actor?
A Background Actor is someone who performs in a nonspeaking role, usually in the background of a scene. They help make movies, TV shows, and other productions look and feel more authentic. After all, hospitals, concerts, and city streets would just look like movie sets without Background Actors to give them life.
At Central Casting, we book hundreds of Background Actors every day in shows like 9-1-1, NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Only Murders in the Building, FBI, English Teacher, Reasonable Doubt, and many more. You've also seen our background in recent films like Bad Boys: Ride or Die, The Idea of You, and Five Nights at Freddy's.
What do Background Actors do?
Whether you're interested in advancing your career in the entertainment industry or just want an opportunity to see how your favorite movies and TV shows are made, working as background gives you a unique opportunity to be behind the scenes on a variety of productions.
There's no universal Background Actors job description because your role can change from booking to booking. One day you may be portraying a 1980s high school teacher and the next a DJ working with your own equipment. Background are usually directed by the Second Assistant Director, Second Second Assistant Director, or a Production Assistant. Your duties can involve walking around the set (even crossing the camera), pantomiming with other Background Actors, or interacting with principal actors.
While it's possible for a Background Actor to be given a line and upgraded to principal actor during filming, Background Actors are typically nonspeaking roles. Upgrades are done based on the discretion and needs of production, please do not ask to be upgraded or given a line on set.
How to become a Background Actor
Want to get on set with Central Casting? Signing up is free and easy! Just visit our Sign Up page and follow the instructions to create your online profile, upload your casting photos, and complete paperwork.
Interested in other types of background work? In addition to Background Actors, we book Stand-Ins, who take the place of principal actors for lighting and camera setups, and doubles, who appear on screen in place of a principal actor.
Minors from 15 days old to 17 years old can also work as Background Actors and doubles in movies and TV shows. Our Kids Sign Up page has all the detailed information you need to sign up and help your minor get cast by Central Casting.
How to get booked
After completing Talent Onboarding, you will be eligible to work on our productions. The two main ways to get booked by Central Casting are by responding to availability inquiries from our Casting Directors or by submitting for work on our Jobs page.
In these messages and posts, Casting Directors will include information and requirements for the role, like portrayable age, portrayable ethnicity, union status, and other details. It's important to read this information fully and carefully to ensure you fit the description before responding. Then if the Casting Director can use you, they will reach out with next steps.
You can learn more about the messaging process and getting booked in our articles How to Respond to Central Casting Messages and 5 Tips for Getting Booked.
