Film Extra Work: Set Etiquette and the Holding Area

Most of an extra's day happens in one place, the holding area. Productions use it for extras who are not needed in a shot yet, and you may wait there a long time before anyone calls your group. Good habits in that room make the day easier for you and for the crew.

What the holding area is

Holding is where background waits. What it looks like depends on the size of the group. For a big crowd it can be a large room, a gym or rec center, theater seats, or a tent in a parking lot with air conditioning. For a small group it may be a hotel or meeting room. It usually has folding tables and chairs and places to change, and lunch is often served there too.

You check in with the assistant directors, called ADs, before you go to holding. They tell you what to expect and how close to stay. The order of a typical day is in Being an Extra in a Movie: A Shoot Day From Start to Finish.

Holding often has a security guard, but people come and go. Do not bring valuables. Keep your bag and phone with you. When a name or a group is called, listen and answer. If you miss your call, the crew may have to go and find you, and that holds up the scene.

What to bring to holding

• the clothes casting asked for
• a book
• your phone and headphones
• a phone charger
• a snack

A book or something quiet fits the day, since there is a lot of waiting. If outdoor scenes are planned, add a jacket for cold or a rain jacket for rain. Holding itself is usually indoors or in a heated or cooled tent.

How to behave while you wait

Wait quietly. Put your phone on silent. Keep a low profile and do not ask the cast for photos or autographs. Asking the star for an autograph can get you sent home.

Be kind to everyone around you, because the person in the next chair could be another extra, a production assistant, or someone who helps choose who is booked next time. People who are reliable, early, and easy to work with are the ones casting books again.

Do not take photos of the set, the crew, or the cast unless the production says you may. Many productions keep their scenes private, and posting set photos when told not to is one of the things that stops casting from booking you again.

Moving to set

When an assistant director calls your group, stand up and follow their directions. The walk to set can be longer than you expect. Take the position they show you. After each take, you will often hear "back to one," which means go back to your first position.

You may also hear "first team" and "second team." First team means the principal actors, and second team means the stand-ins. If you do not understand a direction, ask one short question. Do not offer advice about the scene, the lighting, or the camera. The crew already has a plan.

Quiet during takes

When the crew says "background action," begin the movement you were given, and keep your voice low, since a microphone may be nearby. Do not look at the camera. After "cut," wait for the next instruction before you move.

Scenes are often shot many times. Keep the same position and the same energy each time unless you are told to change. Small changes can break the shot for the people who edit it later.

Food, breaks and bathrooms

Lunch comes about 6 hours after the crew call. Background is often called earlier than the crew, so you may not eat for 7 hours. Bring a snack. There are no set break times besides lunch, because there is so much waiting.

Craft services is the snack table, and it varies by show. If you have special food needs, bring your own. Ask an AD where the restrooms are when you arrive.

Do not leave the set or the holding area without telling an assistant director. If you need to step away, say where you are going and how long you expect to be gone.

Wrap

When your scenes are done, an AD releases you. Return any props to the prop department and any wardrobe you were given, change, and check out with the same ADs you checked in with. Then go home. Your release is early if your scenes are done. If you are in the remaining scenes, you may be held late.

Who to ask when you are unsure

Ask an assistant director or a production assistant. Each production has its own rules, and the crew knows them. A short question costs far less than a mistake in a shot.

For habits that help you get called back, read Movie Extra Work: Habits That Get You Booked Again. For the words you will hear, read Extras Casting in Plain English: The Words You Will Hear. If you want to know why background roles matter to a production, read The Importance of Extra Roles in the Entertainment Industry.

Pack a book and a phone charger the night before your next booking, so you are ready for the wait.