background actress needs help(urgent)?

Question

iim going to sign up with a background acting company!!! so i have a few questions!! i am african american and 16

-The Registration fee is $30, is that ok??
- Is it easy to get background work??
- What about school i know they do it on set, and my school signed my work permit, but some instruct on how to get my homework and what not?? and do i report myself absent or what??

and finally anyone that has any kind of tips who has had some kind of experiance doing this!!

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Yes the fee is normal, it should be no more than twice a year so don't pay it again for a long time. Yes it's relatively easy to get work as long as you stay in contact with the company and work is available for your age group and general physical description. Usually a show using your demographic (say a high school or Junior high show) needs 30 teens, 15 Caucasian, 5 asian, 5 Hispanic, 5 African American or some other misc. breakdown like that. If you fit the description then you may get a call and as long as you respond within a reasonable amount of time you will book the job.

As far as school work. they absolutely will provide a set tutor. You need to spend 3 hours a day on set in school but generally the tutor only supervises that you spend that amount of time doing the work that you bring from your own school. If you bring no work you bring a book. It's up to you to get work to do. As soon as you know you're working contact your teachers and get what you can. The tutor provided will do what they can to help but they may not be familiar with the work that you bring with you. Many possess a general education credential, but will do their best to help you if you ask. That's they key, ask for help if youo need it. They won't usually seek you out. They have anywhere from a handfull to a crowd of kids to oversee so if you need help, ask for it.

Other tips, don't look at the camera. Try your best to remember what you did in each take so you can repeat it, especially if you were behind a lead character. If you raised your arm at a specific point in the dialogue or if you had your sweater buttoned or un buttoned to a certain point... it's called continuity :-) Also, learn the art of pantomime. If you're really unsure of what to do and it's your first time, tell the AD (Assistant Director) when you check in at call time so he or she is aware that you'll need help at first. If that person is unreceptive to that, ask the other kids.

Have fun!