What is an extra?

An extra is a background actor. These are the people you see in movies or television shows that are there to fill in space to make the scene realistic. Like, if the main characters went to eat at a restaurant, the other, non-speaking people in the restaurant would be the extras.

How do I get to be an extra on "Dawson's Creek"?

First off, you have to find your way to the Wilmington, NC area, as this is where "Dawson's Creek" is filmed. Then you have to get in touch with Fincannon and Associates, which is the casting agency that handles extras casting for "Dawson's Creek". They can be found on the Screen Gems Studio lot on 23rd street in Wilmington. If you are going to be visiting Wilmington and want to know if they will be needing any extras while you are in the area, make sure you call ahead of time. You'll probably be asked to come by the agency when you get in town to fill out some paper work and get a polaroid taken, unless you bring your own picture or headshot. You have to pay for your polaroid, but it's less than $10.

What if I'm flying in from London?

Well, this is where it gets iffy. You should call Fincannon and Associates for the specifics, but I don't believe they take extras from foreign countries due to United States labor laws. Since you're a visitor to the country, you may not be able to actually work in the US. This would apply to all foreign countries, including Canada… no matter how free the border may be.

What if I only come to visit for the weekend?

You're out of luck then, as the show films Monday through Friday. It's not impossible that it could film on the weekends, but the extra money that would cost makes it highly improbable, and a rare case.

When does the show wrap for the season?

The show generally starts filming in July, has a winter break for the the second half of December and the first half of January, and then wraps around April or May. So, call ahead and make sure they'll be filming when you'll be visiting.

So I'm a US citizen, I called ahead of time, got my picture taken… now what?

More than likely, if it wasn't given to you during your visit to the agency, they will call you and give you your call time and location for whatever day you have been chosen to be an extra on. During this call, you will also be given any specifics for what you should be wearing and bringing to the set.

Why did they tell me to bring three sets of clothes?

There is always the possibility that the outfit you pick out to wear for your day as an extra is not the one that the warddrobe department on the show will deem appropriate. So, they ask that you bring three outfits so that they can have more of a choice.

What if they don't like all three outfits?

Well, there are a few things you can do to make sure this doesn't happen. For one, make sure whatever clothes you bring is not white or even off-white, as it does not look well on the film stock the show is shot on, and they tend to shy away from those colored clothes for that reason. Also, anything with a logo on it is a no-no unless it's a company that endorses or is endorsed by "Dawson's Creek". If you have any questions about a certain outfit you really want to wear being okay, just wear it and see if they make you change it. But if they do, make sure you have your back-up outfits. If nothing you have is acceptable, warddrobe does have some extra clothes they may try to dress you in.

What about the soft-soled shoes?

Walking around on set can be loud, and when you have a microphone trying desperately to pick up the lines of the cast, the last thing you needed is unneccessary noise. Wearing soft-soled shoes helps in this respect, as does walking quietly when filming. Of course, when you walk quietly, don't look like you're walking quietly. It's a challenge, but the idea is not to look like a bunch of people trying not to make a lot of noise, but looking like a bunch of people just behaving normally.

I arrived on location at my call time, now what?

First things first, find the check-in desk at the location. If it's the studio, you will be checked in at the gate. If it's a location, you'll be checked in whereever the extras are going to be staying for the day, affectionately known as "extras holding". More often than not, Shannon will be the one who checks you in, and gives you your voucher, though it could be someone else.

Voucher?

Yes, this is basically your paycheck. Without your voucher, no one will know how long you worked, how much to pay you, or where to send that paycheck.

What do I do with my voucher?

Well, you have to fill out the information on the front. Usually most of the info, such as which episode, production company, pay rate, call time, etc. is already filled out. If not, ask someone else who appears to know, or wait until the production assistant explains everything, which he or she will do prior to taking you to set.

Also, if this is your first time being an extra, make sure you bring two forms of ID, usually a driver's license and social security card if you have them, because the backside of page one of your voucher requests this information, and it is necessary if you want to be paid. If you do not have these things, a birth certificate helps as well. If you are under 16, you also need parental permission, which means bring a slip of paper, signed by a parent or guardian, saying you can work.

How much do we get paid?

Currently the rate for a non-featured extra is 48/8, or $48 dollars for any time up until eight hours. After eight hours, each additional hour is $6 an hour until you reach twelve hours. After twelve hours, each hour is worth time-and-a-half, or roughly $9 an hour. So, if you work 2 hours, you'll get $48 before taxes. If you work 9 hours, you'll get $54 before taxes. Use the information to think up as many monetary scenarios as you wish.

Some person with a headset just told me to get my clothes out. Why?

This is when a representative of warddrobe will go around and check the outfits, and make any judgments on them. Be prepared, and be cordial, even if the warddrobe person takes a seconds glance at that ensemble you spent all week putting together, and asks you to wear something else. They know what is best for the show.

My outfit was cleared, when do I get to meet the cast?

Technically when you accept the job as extra, you are doing just that: accepting a job. From here on in you will be regarded as a background actor, and will be expected to act in a professional manner as such. Since the main cast will be spending most of their time in character or rehearsing, it is best to give them the professional courtesy of not harassing them. Once you are on set, you are there to do your job as a background actor to make the show more realistic. You are getting paid to do this. You are not getting paid to get autographs or take pictures of your favorite cast members. If you are caught on set doing these things, you run the risk of being thrown off set by the crew. Then you don't get paid, because you weren't doing your job.

Can we ever take pictures and get autographs?

Cameras are not allowed on set. If your main goal is to get autographs and take pictures, then being an extra isn't what you should be doing. If you are an extra, and you should happen to be standing next to a cast member and they aren't involved in rehearsal or other important things, it doesn't hurt to say "hello". Do not expect a lengthy discussion about how wonderful they are to you and definitely DO NOT call them by their character's names. When you are a background actor, you are an actor, and therefore a professional peer. Respect that, and don't get in their face.

Why can't we talk on set?

Because the crew has to be able to communicate with each other. If fifty extras are talking, even whispering, the combined noise can be extremely loud on set. This makes the crew talk louder, and as the noise level increases it eventually starts causing a problem.

What does it mean when they say "Background"?

This is the "Action!" for the extras. On "background", all extras do what they have been instructed to do, whether it be walk across a hallway, or pretend to have a conversation.

What do you mean, "pretend to have a conversation"?

Once again, due to noise issues, when filming all extras do not actually talk, they pantomime. Pantomiming is acting without speaking while making it look like you're speaking.

What about when they say "Back to One"?

This means head back to your first position, which is the spot you were at when they initially said "Background". All things on set should be done quietly, including the walk back to one.

We're done filming, now what?

A production assistant, most likely the one who gave you all the above info on what to do at the beginning of the day, will give you the wrap time and lunch or dinner time for you to write on your voucher. Calculate the amount of hours between the start time and the wrap time, and then subtract the time spent on lunch or dinner. This will be your final hours. For example: Call time is at noon, wrap time is at 8pm. You worked 8.0 hours. However, you had dinner from 6-6:30pm. Subtracting that half hour, you have worked 7.5 hours. Write this in the appropriate box on your voucher. Then line up with the rest of the extras as your voucher must be checked off before you can leave. If you leave without getting your voucher checked, you leave with an unofficial paycheck that most likely will not be paid. The better job you do filling out your voucher correctly, the quicker you will get through the line.