New Performers
If you are interested in becoming a Background Performer with In-Motion Talent you can drop off or mail in a resume and photo at our office. You can also email them to info@
inmotiontalent.com
Our address is #240-21 Water Street, Vancouver BC, V6B 1A1. We are located in Gastown on Water Street, under the Packing House awning.
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Background Performer Information Guide
In-Motion Talent was founded in 1995 and is dedicated to providing only the very best people to fill roles required by the movie industry for background performers.
Before you get started it is important that you read this information package as it contains important information about what you can expect and what is expected of you on and off the movie set ... so lets get started!
Download Background Performer Information Guide [pdf]
WHAT IS A BACKGROUND PERFORMER?
GETTING BOOKED AS A BACKGROUND PERFORMER
WHAT IS A BACKGROUND PERFORMER?
Background Performers are the people who provide the ambiance or atmosphere, which also provides realism for the Actors to bring the scene to life. In other words, they are the people who move in behind the Actors to make the scene look real.
For example, the scene could be a Police Station where two Cops are bringing someone in for booking that has been arrested. It would look pretty silly if the police station was empty with no in there but the actors playing the cops and the bad guy. That's where you come in. Now imagine the Police Station filled with Background Performers portraying police, secretaries, drug addicts, prostitutes, low-lifes, and every day folks coming in to pay for a parking ticket; now the scene looks much more realistic. So as you can see Background Performers are a very important part of any film. Keeping in mind one extremely important fact ... the best Background Performers are the ones who are NOT NOTICED.
As a Background Performer, your job is to blend in with the rest of the crowd. I'll give you one more example. It's in the movie Kramer vs. Kramer, and the scene is the one in the restaurant where Mrs. Kramer tells Mr. Kramer that she wants her son back. This is a highly emotional scene. Now if you could imagine two Background Performers at the table next to them waving, laughing, looking directly into the camera, throwing food trying to be noticed, it's going to ruin the scene. Never let this happen, as it is a very good way to never be asked back again.
GETTING BOOKED AS A BACKGROUND PERFORMER
Once your picture and profile have been completed you will be placed on file ready for booking.
Three major factors fall into play when making a decision to book someone as a Background Performer.
- Do they have the right look for the scene?
- Do they have the right wardrobe for the scene?
- Are they available?
Each time we are called to book people for a scene in a movie, it is important for us to send the right person. For example, we would not send a Grandmother for a rave party scene!
Once you have been selected we will give you a call at the number or numbers you have provided in the interview. Don't worry that you may not be home provided you have an answering machine or voice mail. If you don't it is a good idea to get one. If we do leave a message, we will also leave a time frame of when we would like to hear from you by. If we have not heard from you in that time frame we will move on to the next person, so it’s a good idea to check your answering machine a few times a day to see if we have called. You may also want to get a pager.
Once you have been contacted and you are available for the day, your name will be called into the Background Performer casting director for booking. You have made a commitment to the production so make sure that your entire day is open and you have nothing else you have to do that day or evening as filming can run as long as 14 hours. Canceling or changing your mind after you have been confirmed makes it very difficult for all involved as it simply creates more work for your Agent and Background Performers Casting Director if we have to replace you.
On the initial call we will tell you what productions you are being booked on and the date that you are needed. The balance of the details such as where you are to go and what time you are supposed to be there will be given to you the night before. You will also receive your wardrobe specifications and the name of whom you are to check in with when you arrive on set.
Prior to accepting a booking as a Background Performer please review the following guidelines.- When you are booked to work a day on a film or television production you must keep the entire day and night clear of any other obligations. Productions often shoot 12 to 16 hours a day and you must be available for as long as you are required. Do not accept a booking unless you are absolutely sure that you can commit for the entire day and night.
- Productions generally start work as early as 6 or 7 in the morning and sometimes earlier.
- Most productions shoot during the week Monday through to Friday. Very few productions shoot on Saturdays and Sundays.
- If you are booked on a night shoot you must be prepared to work all through the night and finish during the morning hours.
- We will be booking you based on the way you look in your photo. Please let us know if you have changed your appearance.
- When you are initially booked on a production you will be given preliminary location and wardrobe information.
- If you do not own or have access to a vehicle do not accept a booking unless you are absolutely sure that you are able to arrange transportation to the shooting location. Please ensure that you are familiar with the public transportation system. Visit BC TRANSIT or contact them by telephone at (604) 953-3333 for information.
- If you own a vehicle please note that non-union Background Performers are responsible for their own parking.
- Regardless of whether you own a vehicle or not always keep a map of the lower mainland with you.
- A call time is the time you must report to work. Call times are always distributed the evening prior to the day you are scheduled to work.
- When you are given your call time you will also be given your exact reporting location, your contact name, as well as your detailed wardrobe information.
Reprinted with permission from James Forsyth Casting Inc.
Prior to accepting a booking as a Background Performer please review the following guidelines.- ALWAYS BE ON TIME FOR WORK! If you ever think you might be late for work please contact the Agent who booked you immediately. This lets us know that you are on your way and saves us time trying to track you down and possibly replacing you!
- Once you arrive at work report directly to your contact person and fill out your time sheet. When you have completed your time sheet please return it to your contact person.
- In order to fill out your time sheet correctly, always bring a pen, your Social Insurance Number and your complete mailing address. Please be sure to print clearly. It is very important that your time sheet is filled out correctly.
- Please note that time sheets will not be processed without a valid Social Insurance Number and a complete mailing address. If you are a minor or teenager please inform us if you do not have a Social Insurance number yet.
- Extras holding is the designated area where Background Performers wait until they are required on set. Never leave extras holding as you may be needed at any moment.
- Once you go to set the A.D.s will give you your movement or blocking for a scene. As we will repeat and match everything for different camera angles it is important that you remember exactly what you did and how you looked in each scene. This is called continuity. To help you remember you may want to make notes for yourself during your workday.
- Most productions will rehearse the blocking of a scene several times prior to filming.
- When the director is ready to shoot the following prompts will be heard:
- Once the scene is completed the director will call "cut". It is very important that you continue the action you have been given until you have heard the director call "cut".
- Once a shot is completed and the director has called "cut" the A.D.s may ask you to go to your "first marks" or return to your "number ones". This means you must return to your beginning position and prepare to shoot the scene again.
- While you are on set please do not talk.
- Always be sure to listen carefully to any direction you are given.
- Never look at the camera.
- When you are on set please ensure that all pagers and cell phones are turned off.
- Still photo or video photography by Background Performers is forbidden on set.
- Productions request that you do not disturb the actors. Please do not request autographs.
- Never leave set unless you are directed to do so by an A.D. When you do leave set please go directly to extras holding and wait for your next instructions.
- Never leave work until you are told you are wrapped. Please note that in order to be paid you must first sign out before leaving.
- Keep a work journal. Record your work dates, hours and pay rates each time you work.
- When you are leaving please ensure you take all of your belongings home with you. Anything that is left at the end of the day is tagged as "lost and found" and sent to the production office. If you do forget something please contact the production office. Please note that productions are not responsible for lost or stolen items.
- Light snacks and beverages are provided periodically during the work day. This is called craft service. Please note that due to different budgets there is often one craft service table for crew members and another for Background Performers. Please do not eat from the crew member's craft service table.
- A light lunch is provided. If you have any special dietary needs you may want to bring your own meal. Please note that lunch is generally served six hours after the crew has started working and is not served during the typical lunch hour.
- Report any injuries or illnesses immediately.
- Arrive at work prepared for any weather conditions. Always bring an umbrella.
- Waiting is a large part of a Background Performers job. Please feel free to bring a book or some other form of quiet entertainment with you. Sleeping at work is generally frowned upon.
- Keep your valuables with you at all times. Never bring large amounts of money or unnecessary valuables with you to work. Please note that productions are not responsible for lost or stolen items.
- Always deposit your garbage in a trashcan.
- If you smoke please smoke in designated smoking areas only. When extinguishing your cigarettes please use a butt can.
The 1st A.D. will call out "roll sound" to initiate sound recording.
Next, the sound department will call out "sound speed" to confirm that they are recording sound.
After that, the camera department will sync the film and sound using the time slate or clapper. They may also call out "frame" to confirm that they are filming.
Then the 1st A.D. will call out "background action" to cue the Background Performers to begin their movement.
Lastly, the director will call out "action" to cue the actors.
Reprinted with permission from James Forsyth Casting Inc.
WARDROBE, HAIR & MAKE-UPPrior to accepting a booking as a Background Performer please review the following guidelines.
- As a Background Performer you are required to supply your own wardrobe to wear on camera.
- Always report to work camera ready. This means you should arrive at work dressed in the requested wardrobe with your hair and make-up done.
- Women, please bring your make-up kits with you to work. Men, please make sure you arrive clean shaven unless requested otherwise.
- Always bring three full changes of the requested wardrobe including outerwear, footwear and accessories. Arrive dressed in your first change and bring the other two changes pressed and hanging in a wardrobe bag. The costume designer will then choose which of your wardrobe options work best for the scene we are shooting.
- Never bring your wardrobe rolled up and stuffed in a duffel bag or knapsack.
- Each production's requirements will vary slightly but please remember the following standard guidelines for wardrobe:
- Please ensure the wardrobe you bring is clean.
- Sometimes the costume department may give you something to wear in a scene. Please remember that you are responsible for this wardrobe at all times. Do not leave your wardrobe unattended.
- Please do not change your appearance once the costume, hair and make-up departments have approved you. Please use caution when eating or drinking.
- If you have any wardrobe items loaned to you from the production please ensure that you have returned them prior to signing out. Please be sure to return them in the same condition that you received them.
No black wardrobe.
No white wardrobe.
No bright colors like red, yellow or orange etc.
No visible logos or advertisements on wardrobe.
Reprinted with permission from James Forsyth Casting Inc.
PAY RATES and PAYROLLGenerally speaking Background Performers are paid not much more than Minimum Wage. Depending on the production pay rates range between $9.09 - $10.00 per hour. So if you’re doing this to increase your net worth, you’re doing it for the wrong reason.
It will take approximately three (3) weeks from the date that you worked until we receive payment from the production company. Always keep track of what productions you have worked on and the dates. It’s a good idea to call the Hotline on Tuesdays and Thursdays to see if your cheque has arrived and are ready to be picked up.
It is your responsibility to pick up your cheques from the Agency, we do not mail out cheques unless you have made prior arrangements - i.e. supplying us with self-addressed stamped envelopes.
As the Agency is very busy working to get you more work, our payroll hours are set for Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays only between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
BACKGROUND PERFORMER MYTHS
Originally printed in the May 2003 issue of Sides, the newsletter of The Union of BC Performers, here are a few common misconceptions that performers have when working as a Background Performer.
- MYTH: The Director spoke to me - I get an upgrade!
TRUTH: Not necessarily. An upgrade from the Background Performer category to the Actor category is based on "Individual Characterization" as outlined in article A324 of the British Columbia Master Production Agreement.
- MYTH: I was alone in a shot - I get an upgrade!
- MYTH: I had a character name - I get an upgrade!
- MYTH: Breakfast is a UBCP member's god given right.
- MYTH: The rules for joining UBCP keep changing. Some people who are Full members joined with no credits at all.
- MYTH: As a UBCP member, doing non-union commercial work is okay - just keep a low profile.
- MYTH: If I show my UBCP Apprentice or UBCP Extra membership card, I get access to the crew and principal performer's craft service table and meals.
- MYTH: UBCP members get signed out first at wrap.
- MYTH: If wardrobe supplies you with an outfit, you still get paid a wardrobe fee; a tie or shirt change constitutes a paid wardrobe change; if you are asked to bring three changes of wardrobe you are paid for them whether you wear them or not; you get paid twice for changing back into the same outfit you wore earlier in the day.
- MYTH: A Background Performer is on the clock until they get to crew park.
- MYTH: UBCP members are allowed to be 15 minutes late.
TRUTH: Simply put, no you do not. Please see article A324 of the British Columbia Master Production Agreement.
TRUTH: Once again, no. Please see article A324 of the British Columbia Master Production Agreement.
TRUTH: While there are some instances (Pacific Northwest hours for example) where a production must provide breakfast, generally they are not "required" to. They are required to provide a meal period after the first six hours of work.
TRUTH: As with any organization, policies will be amended, changed, added and discarded as the environment dictates. For a brief period in the early 90's some performers were allowed to join by paying a fee. Many of these individuals were already card carrying ACTRA members. This was when UBCP was just starting up and the policy was soon changed. As well, there have been times where loopholes were found in the requirements for joining and some individuals slipped in before the loopholes where closed. UBCP has worked very hard over the past years to develop policies that create objective and just criteria for membership. A huge effort has gone in to creating and maintaining an even playing field.
TRUTH: Absolutely not. UBCP is actively gathering information on Full, Apprentice and Extra members who have worked on non-union commercials and will be bringing them before the Disciplinary Committee. Any UBCP member who is "playing both sides of the fence" is undermining the very values they have promised to uphold and are undercutting their UBCP colleagues.
TRUTH: Access to the crew and principal performer's craft service table and meals is based on whether you are employed on a UBCP contract or a UBCP voucher. It is not based on having a UBCP Apprentice or UBCP Extra membership card. UBCP Apprentices and UBCP Extras who are not on contract or voucher must respect the production's direction with regard to which craft service table and meals they are entitled.
TRUTH: No. There is absolutely no preference for UBCP members to be signed out first, but smart productions will do this as they have to pay you until you have signed out.
TRUTH: No, no, no and no. When you are on a UBCP voucher you are paid for the use of your wardrobe to compensate for wear and tear and any possible dry cleaning charges. You are expected to supply the first wardrobe change seen on camera at no charge; the use of any additional changes will be compensated. You are not being paid for the act of changing.
TRUTH: No. They are on the clock until they are signed out at wrap.
TRUTH: If you actually thought this was true never admit it and from this point forward never be late. Your call time is your call time and you are obligated to meet that commitment. If it means arriving early to be sure, then arrive early! A late arrival doesn't go unnoticed and could easily be the difference between being called again and not.
Reprinted with permission from The Union of BC Performers.
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