In response to a posting of an ad that seemed to be recruiting movie extras for the upcoming Lord of the Rings trilogy (which begins filming in New Zealand later this year), a reader somewhere in the Midwest posted a comment on Aint It Cool News asking for advice on getting cast as an extra in the movies. I responded with the following very basic advice:

Pretty simple, really.

You need to be where the movie is being made, and be a professional.

You're not in New Zealand, so you won't be in Lord of the Rings. Sorry. I'm in Arizona, so neither will I. (Their cast of thousands may in fact be only 5-600 people and a lot of digital compositing).

I don't know where in the Midwest you are, so I'll be absolutely no help on local resources. Look in your want ads or phone books for modeling or talent agencies. They will sell you a set of photographs that you take and/or bring with you to auditions. The better agencies will have good contacts and be able to prove it. Watch for anything too glamourous in the casting agency. Movie making is hard work done out of cheap offices by people who love the work.

Get some experience. I started out doing large crowd scenes for free in a sports movie years ago. It was a great opportunity to study the process. I listed that movie when I applied for other film work. Nowadays I'm about to start my seventh year performing at the local Renaissance festival, which has taught me a lot about acting, theater, and improv. Yes, I get paid (a little) for it; yes I list it when I look for performing gigs.

Keep trying; I'm 38 and still working at it. I also have a really good day job (I'm a software geek) to pay the bills. Almost nobody gets rich or famous acting, but it's very enjoyable.

Now, to expand on that:

Don't take it personally if you don't get cast. The show will need certain 'types' of people, and if you aren't right for the job, you're not right. Don't push it, thank them for their time and come back for the next job.

If there's anything you can do really well (ride a hosre, stage combat) be sure to list it on your acting resume. Basic extras get a little money and lunch. If you can do anything else, you'll probably get paid a little better.

In some movies you'll get costumed, in others you'll be told what to wear. Bring your own chair and a good book to read. Don't bring too much stuff with you; space will be tight and you have to move and take care of your own things. Expect long hours.

Be super-flexible. My last few times on TV, for example, were on early-morning news shows doing live inserts from the Renaissance Festival site an hour east of town. I was on site in costume at 4:30 AM. Because the TV truck couldn't move once it was set up, we scrounged props and furniture from all over a 30-acre site and cobbled together a little set right there by the truck. I helped with that. It all looked good on TV; I have the tape to prove it.

There are some books on movie extra work; they are geared for people living in Los Angeles and go into lots of details about union rules, maintaining a costume wardrobe, life on the set and a lot more. One title I have seen is particularly good, if a little hard to look at:

The Movie Extra Guidebook; How to Make Good Money as a Background Actor, Revised and Updated by Cullen Chambers

Lots of good data; I didn't buy it at the time and probably should have. But I'm in Phoenix and this book assumes you live in Los Angeles.

So just remember:

• Be Professional
• Be Where The Work Is
• Be Flexible
• Have Fun