Extras Casting: Fill In Your Profile Details and Sizes

Casting uses your Profile to find the right people for each role. Some details help match you to a character, and others help the wardrobe team find clothes that fit. A wrong detail can cost you a role or cause trouble on the day, so it is worth a few quiet minutes to get yours right.

Why details matter

Background casting is about types and looks. A role may call for a businessman, a police officer, a specific size for a costume, or a specific skill. Casting picks mostly from photos and Profiles, so the details you fill in decide if you appear in a search at all.

Productions often ask for exact sizes because costumes are chosen before the day. A wardrobe team may bring a rack of clothing for many people, and it only works if the sizes are right. If yours are off, they have to hunt for a replacement while the rest of the crew waits.

Location

Casting searches by city and ZIP code, so it can find people near the set. Extras usually have to live locally, since productions seldom bring in extras from other places. Keep your location and the cities you can travel to up to date. Check that the city and ZIP code in your Profile are correct, and change them if you move.

Height, weight and sizes

Fill in each field your Profile asks for with the real numbers. Do not round up or down to look a certain way. Clothing sizes change between brands, so if you are unsure, measure yourself instead of guessing from the tag on your favorite shirt.

Height and sizes matter most for a few kinds of roles. A stand-in matches the actor's height, hair color, and skin tone. A photo double goes further and matches height, weight, and clothing sizes, because the double appears on camera as the actor. Costume fits depend on exact sizes. If you think you might fit one of these roles, read the stand-in guide and make sure your numbers are right.

Hair, eyes and other details

Hair color, eye color, and similar details help casting decide which roles fit you. If you change your hair color or cut it short, update your Profile before you reply to the next Open Call. A role may call for a certain hair length, and your Profile should match how you look that week.

Do not cut your hair or shave your beard before a shoot unless casting says to. For a period piece, the hair department may need to style what you have. Casting sends instructions first. For a 1950s show, for example, expect no visible tattoos, no highlights, and no long acrylic nails. Answer any Profile question about tattoos honestly, since it can decide whether you fit a period role.

Skills

If a role needs a skill, your Profile is the only way casting can know you have it. A role might ask for juggling, a handstand, or riding a unicycle. List what you can really do, and say how well you do it. Do not list a skill you cannot do, because a scene that needs it will go badly for you and for the crew.

How to measure

Use a soft tape measure, the kind used for sewing. Stand straight and relaxed, in thin clothes, and keep the tape snug but not tight. A friend can help with your back, shoulders, and other places that are hard to reach on your own.

Write your numbers down so you can check them later. Keep them somewhere you can find them again, since you may need them for wardrobe questions on set.

What wardrobe asks for

Casting usually emails wardrobe guidelines the evening before your day. Bring about 3 looks, and sometimes 3 to 5. Wardrobe picks your outfit. Plain clothes work best: solid colors, no busy patterns, no logos or brands. For some period pieces, the production provides the costume and fits you first, which is another reason accurate sizes help.

Keep details up to date

Bodies change, and so do haircuts. You can edit your Profile at any time, so look it over each time you apply for a role. An old detail can cause a mismatch on set, and a mismatch is far easier to fix before the day than during it. Photos need the same attention. Casting wants a clear headshot and a full-body or three-quarter photo that look like you now, so replace an old one when your look changes.

If you are new to the site, The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Film Extra covers the first steps. Background Auditions: Profile Photos That Get You Noticed explains what makes a useful photo.

Open your Profile now and read each detail aloud. Fix anything that has changed, then take a look at Open Calls.