When I was in high school, Steven Spielberg came to the town where I lived to make a movie. For weeks the newspaper was full of stories about movie stars, casting calls, set building, and filming locations. Some people I knew signed up to be extras in the film, and I decided I wanted to be a movie extra someday.

A few years ago, I had some free time on my hands and decided it was time to fulfill my teenage wish. If you’re interested in working as an extra (the actual industry term is “background”), you can do what I did: spend a few weeks doing research, create some online profiles, and apply for some gigs. Or you can download my guide, How to Get Work as a TV or Movie Extra in NYC or Philadelphia: A Guide to Becoming a Background Actor, and get started right away.

This guide will help you:

• Learn more about what background work is and isn’t

• Determine if background work is right for you 

• Discover the quickest ways to find background work

• Figure out how to apply for a background gig and maximize your chances of getting it

• Learn how to prepare for a background gig

• Calculate how much money you will make - and how much you may have to spend

• Know what to expect on set and how to behave

• Avoid costly, dangerous, or embarrassing mistakes

• Decide what’s next for you in TV or film

If you’d like to try before you buy, sign up for my email list and receive a FREE section: Is Background Work Right for Me? Seven Questions to Help You Determine Whether to Pursue Work as a TV or Movie Extra.