How I Got Paid to Learn From Will Arnet and Alec Baldwin
February 11th, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized — Movie Critic
I know quite a few actors who refuse to do extra work. If you live in L.A., it can be more difficult to get principal acting jobs (if you do extra work) – because most Los Angeles agents and managers do not take actors who do extra work very seriously. However, in many other parts of the United States, there are lots of actors who work as extras one day, and the next day they are booked for principal roles in other TV, film or commercial projects.
If I am available, I will work as an extra for a number of reasons. For one, on a small set you get a chance to watch some incredible actors perform. On 30 Rock, I was seated behind Will Arnett and watched, heard, and made mental notes of how he read his lines, over and over again, and noticed the subtle adjustments he made. Typically, you want to give the director very similar reads for each take. Major changes to your performance should not be done unless they are specifically requested by the director. Alec Baldwin was also incredible. Both Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Arnett kept messing up their lines during rehearsals, but once the filming began, they were incredible and did not miss a single word.
Another benefit to doing extra work on a film is the potential of getting upgraded. This means the extra was given words to say. You can easily earn six times the amount of money if you are upgraded from an extra to a day player.
I also find that work brings in more work, whether for extra or principal jobs, or by getting a chance to network and talk with other actors. Observing other non-acting professionals on sets is also a great experience. So if you get the opportunity to do extra work, forget about the money! Just try to enjoy yourself, network with others, and learn as much as you possibly can during the shoot.
Aaron Marcus is America’s Premier Acting and Commercial Modeling Career Coach.
He has also been making his living as an actor and commercial model since 1986, and has been cast in 1,135 projects so far. He has worked on projects such as: Law & Order: CI, West Wing, The Wire, Burn After Reading and in hundreds of other acting and modeling projects.
He is also the author of How to Become a Successful Commercial Model, which is now in its 5th edition. Aaron Marcus travels the globe offering his The Best Way to Get Work as an Actor and Commercial Model workshop. You can get free acting and modeling information from Aaron’s site, at http://www.howtomodel.com.
