Virtual Visiting Round Up: Summer 2024
During Virtual Visiting, Central Casting's Background Actors have the opportunity to meet with and ask questions to a panel of our Casting Directors. To help you be professional, we wanted to share some of the most asked questions during our summer sessions.
What are some of the best skills for Background Actors to have?
It may seem simple, but Casting Directors stress that two of best ways to be a successful Background Actor are to show up to check-in on time and follow directions on set.
Productions have a lot they need to get done in a day, by reading your details fully, showing up camera ready (or as instructed in your details), and by checking for call time changes to ensure you are on time, you can show production you are a professional.
During filming, Background Actors are commonly given direction by Assistant Directors or Production Assistants. This can involve walking around the set, pantomiming with other Background Actors, or interacting with principal actors. It's important to pay attention to all instructions given and keep track of your movements so you can recreate them every take. You should also be aware of the movements of the principal actors and other Background Actors to know how they may affect what you're doing.
Casting Directors also note that it's important for Background Actors to know how to accurately take their measurements. We use your sizes when booking Stand-Ins and doubles and when production provides wardrobe. It's crucial to have your accurate measurements in your online profile to ensure you match the clothing provided.
Is it possible to get booked with my child so we can work on the same production together?
The first thing to keep in mind when considering work for your minor is that minors must be accompanied to set by a parent or guardian who is not also booked as a Background Actor on that production. This means that if you and your minor are booked on the same project for the same day, they must be accompanied to set by a different guardian who is not working on that production. This is because guardians accompany the minor everywhere they go on set, including during filming where they will be somewhere behind the scenes, but within eyesight of the child. If the guardian is also booked on the production, their work duties may interfere with their ability to accompany the minor throughout the workday, which is why they cannot act as both a guardian and a Background Actor.
We also book Background Actors based on the needs of production. While it happens occasionally, we do not often seek to specifically book minor Background Actors and their parent/guardian together. If you are interested in working with your minor, keep an eye on our Jobs page to see if these opportunities become available.
Can I book speaking roles with Central Casting?
At Central Casting, we book Background Actors and doubles, which are non-speaking on-camera roles and Stand-Ins, who take the place of principal actors for rehearsals and camera set-ups.
We do not typically book principal roles, though there are some cases where a Background Actor may be given a line and upgraded on set. This is done based on the discretion and needs of the production. If you are booked as a Background Actor, please do not ask to be upgraded or given a line. You can learn more about background and principal roles in our article The Difference Between a Principal Actor and a Background Actor.
Thank you to all our Background Actors who attend and participate in Virtual Visiting! To learn more, you can read our latest Virtual Visiting recaps for Winter and Spring 2024.
