How to Become a Background Actor: Casting Calls and What to Expect on Set

How background jobs are found

There are three doors: background casting agencies and their databases, open calls and community groups. Ideally, you are in all of them.

Agencies and databases

Production companies ask background casting agencies for extras: you sign up once in their database and they call you when your profile matches a shoot. In Spain many agencies work as temp agencies (ETT) or work with one: they hire you per shooting day and register you with Social Security. Some let you sign up for both kinds of work; at Módico Casting, for example, you choose whether your profile is background, actor or both. In the United States, Central Casting works in a similar way (see the United States section below). If you live in one of the big production hubs, our city guides show how background work fits into each market: Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta.

Open calls

When a production needs a lot of people or local profiles, it opens a public call. In November 2025, the Gandia Film Office, run by the city council of that Spanish city, managed a search for background actors aged 20 to 55 for a Netflix series set in the nineties, with sign-up through WhatsApp; they were also looking for owners of cars from the 80s and 90s. Also check the active castings and the extras castings.

Groups and networks

There are Facebook groups and Instagram accounts for background work in many cities, and agencies post the profiles they are looking for there. They are fast, but fake listings circulate there too: before you send your details, confirm the call on the official channels of whoever signs it.

What details and photos they ask for

For background work, simple and current photos are enough. The form of Módico Casting, in Spain, asks for an ID, height, clothing and shoe sizes, hair, eye and skin color, tattoos visible in summer clothes, your Social Security number and two photos: a main one and a full-body one, facing the camera, without sunglasses or a cap. To make your photos count, follow the tips in how to prepare your audition materials.

In the United States, Central Casting’s profile asks for your sizes, photos, playing age, skills and vehicles. Its photo guide says your profile should always have a current headshot and a full-body shot, and that by headshot it does not mean professional photos: those are often retouched and cannot be used when considering you for background work. Take them against a white or solid light background, well lit, in portrait orientation, with nothing that hides your face.

Background agencies and channels by country

These are the agencies and routes we could verify on official sites or reliable press in October 2026. Check that they are still active before you send your details.

United States

Central Casting calls itself the leading background casting company in the United States and is part of Entertainment Partners. According to its Get Cast page, union and non-union actors are welcome, no experience is required and you must be legally authorized to work in the United States. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian creates and manages your account. Casting directors and production companies may contact you by email or text message, and you can also check its Open Roles page: the company advises checking often, because opportunities can change daily and bookings can happen just days before filming. In California and New York you must complete required training to remain eligible to work.

Central Casting used to work only in California, New York, New Jersey, Georgia and Louisiana. A July 2026 post in its newsroom, which cites The Hollywood Reporter, says its background casting is now open in all 50 states. For other platforms, see our guide to casting websites for actors.

On union productions, the pay and working conditions for background actors are set by contracts that SAG-AFTRA, the U.S. actors’ union, negotiates. Its Background Actors Digest explains how to check whether a job is covered: through the union’s signatory search or by calling SAG-AFTRA.

Spain

The Madrid Film Office publishes a directory of background agencies with eleven companies. Among them:

• Agencia Penélope: a temp agency (ETT) based in Madrid. According to elDiario.es, it was the agency of the background actors on a shoot of La canción, a Movistar Plus+ series, in 2024.
• Casting de Extras Ana Durá: holds castings in Madrid and at the Ciudad de la Luz studios in Alicante, with reach across Spain.
• Módico Casting: announces free registration, no commissions, Social Security registration and pay according to the collective agreement.
• Modfie: its frequently asked questions explain call sheets, contracts and payment terms.

Spain also has a national collective agreement for background performers, published in the BOE (the official state gazette) in May 2016.

Mexico

• Julio Toledo Extras Casting: a Mexico City agency with more than 28 years of experience and online registration. In 2022, according to Excélsior, it looked for the extras of a feature film from a major U.S. production company that was going to be shot in the capital.
• Vanguardia Modelos & Talentos: according to the Diario de Yucatán, in October 2025 it asked by email for three photos (face, mid-body and full body), height and sizes for an international period film shot in Mérida.

Argentina

In Argentina, no background agency passed our verification. What is documented is the role of the SUTEP, the entertainment workers’ union: in January 2026 it coordinated, with an official form, the search for extras for El futuro es nuestro, a Netflix miniseries produced by K&S Films and shot in La Plata. Look in the channels of the SUTEP and the production companies, and if someone presents themselves as an agency, ask for an address, a website and verifiable productions. You will find the production companies that shoot for Netflix in Argentina in our guide on how to audition for Netflix.

Colombia

In Colombia we did not find verifiable extras agencies either. The documented channel is the Agencia Pública de Empleo del SENA, the public employment agency of SENA, Colombia’s national vocational training service. In February 2024, its Bolívar office offered 200 extras vacancies for series to be shot in Cartagena, together with Studio 28 Producciones, and in September the Tolima regional office held a casting in Ibagué for a Netflix series. They asked for ages 18 to 60, with or without experience. According to Publimetro, SENA’s services are free and without intermediaries.

What to expect on set

A day as a background actor is long: you arrive early, you wait, you repeat the same action many times and you leave when the day wraps.

The call and the schedule

The call tells you the date, time and place, and what to bring. Be on time: the Spanish agreement establishes that the workday starts at the call time even if filming happens later, and that missing it without a justification terminates the contract. Days can stretch, and the usual rule is to stay until the end.

In the United States, Central Casting says your booking details (call time, hair, makeup and wardrobe notes, filming location and what to do when you arrive) arrive by email and text message the evening before your filming date, and that you must reply to confirm. Call times can change as filming schedules change, and you are responsible for knowing yours. Bring a photo ID and any documents your booking details mention; SAG-AFTRA members also bring proof of membership.

Wardrobe and continuity

On period productions, the clothes are usually provided by the production after a wardrobe fitting; for the film shot in Mérida they were made to measure. On a contemporary one they may ask for your own clothes in a certain style: bring a change. Once you are dressed, you are part of continuity: same clothes, same hairstyle and same action in every take. On period shoots they can turn you away even for dyed hair.

Central Casting advises reading your booking details fully, because they tell you how to show up with your hair, makeup and wardrobe. If you are not sure what to wear, its casting directors suggest watching episodes or clips of the show to see what the principal and background actors wear. For period projects or specialty roles the production may provide wardrobe, but do not assume it: the booking details will say.

On set: silence, waiting and treatment

• Silence: while filming, conversations are mimed without making a sound, unless the scene calls for murmuring.
• Waiting: much of the day is spent in assigned areas; to leave, tell the assistant director in charge of the background actors.
• Cast: it is best to let the lead actors start the conversation.
• Directions: do what they tell you and repeat it the same way in every take.

Central Casting’s guide for beginners explains the vocabulary you will hear on a U.S. set. When “quiet on set” is called, you stay silent and still on your mark. “Background” is the cue to begin your action, “back to one” means returning to your starting position and “wrap” means you are done for the day, so never leave before a production representative, usually an assistant director or a production assistant, has wrapped you. To mimic the chatter of a restaurant, background actors often mouth words like “watermelon” or “peas and carrots”, and one of its casting directors’ top tips is to never look directly into the camera.

Photos, social media and confidentiality

Taking photos on set is usually forbidden, and many shoots ask you to turn your phone off. Sensacine reported the case of a background actor on Insurgente who posted a photo from the shoot and ended up on a blacklist. Your image is also at stake: the Spanish agreement allows it to be used for promotional purposes without specific consent, and the APAF denounced digital scans of background actors made without notice. If they announce a scan, ask what it will be used for and ask for it in writing.

The reminder of professional conduct in SAG-AFTRA’s digest says to never bring your phone out on set unless you are using it as a prop as directed. On digital scans, the union’s February 2025 digest says that on SAG-AFTRA-covered productions you must get 48 hours’ advance notice before your call time (if you are booked less than 48 hours out, the notice comes at the time of hire). It also says your consent must be informed, with a reasonably specific description of the intended use, and that you must be able to sign or initial it separately, because it is not part of your voucher.

What to bring

• Photo ID (in Spain, a DNI or an NIE with a work permit; in the United States, a photo ID and any documents your booking details mention).
• The clothes the call asks for and a change.
• Comfortable shoes, a jacket, a charger, water and a snack.
• A book for the waiting, and nothing valuable.

Pay and conditions

Background work is paid by the day, and the amount depends on the country, the production and the category.

How it is usually paid

• By the day: the contract is set up by shooting days, and special categories pay a bit more.
• With variable payment terms: the Spanish agreement sets payment on the last day of the month worked; the agency Modfie warns that it usually arrives 30 to 60 days after the shoot.
• Sometimes by the week: in the 2024 SENA call in Tolima, weekly pay, transportation to the location and meals were announced.

In the United States, according to Central Casting, your pay depends on where the production is filming, the guaranteed hour rate, whether the role is SAG-AFTRA or non-union and factors like overtime, supplemental fees and meal allowances. All of your pay information is in your voucher, which is your timecard for the day. You e-sign your forms in SmartVoucher or complete a paper voucher, a production member records your on-set work details and at wrap you review and approve the voucher carefully, asking any questions while you are still on set. In most cases Entertainment Partners pays you, by check or direct deposit.

SAG-AFTRA’s Background Actors page offers a digest with the latest union rates and working conditions for TV and film, so check it instead of relying on a figure you read elsewhere. On a SAG-AFTRA commercial, the union’s May 2026 cheat sheet lists $466.60 for 8 hours for an extra (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). On TV and film contracts, background actors do not receive residuals unless they are upgraded to principal performers, according to the union’s FAQ.

What to ask before you accept

• Who hires me: the agency, a temp agency or the production company?
• How much do they pay per day, how many hours does it include and how is overtime paid?
• When and how do I get paid? Is there a contract or a receipt?
• Am I registered with social security, or is there insurance?
• Do they cover transportation and meals?
• What will my image be used for? Will there be a digital scan?
• In the United States: is it a SAG-AFTRA job or a non-union one?

Does it help you start a career?

Yes, as a school for the set, as long as you use it as a step and not as your only strategy.

What you learn

On a set you understand how a shot is put together, what a mark is, why a take is repeated and how much punctuality matters, and you see up close how actors work. “I like discovering the ins and outs of filming,” an architect who does background work told Valencia Plaza.

How to put it on your resume

Add it in its own section, separate from your roles, with the production and the year, and say whether it was special background work or acting. Avoid presenting it as a character: it confuses people and costs you credibility. Once you have speaking roles, it can come off your resume. To build the other sections, see our guide on how to make an acting resume.

How to make the jump to speaking roles

• Train in workshops and classes.
• Prepare your materials: resume, headshots, reel and self-tape.
• Sign up as an actor too with the agencies that allow it.
• Build experience in short films and independent theater, as we explain in how to get acting experience as a beginner.
• Aim for small speaking parts (bolos): they are the natural step toward the supporting cast.

In the United States there is also a union route. According to SAG-AFTRA’s Steps to Join page, you can qualify for membership by completing three days of work as a background actor under a SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreement, or with one day in a principal or speaking role. To prove it, send paycheck stubs, your contract or a payroll printout: the union says background vouchers are not acceptable as proof of work.

Warning signs

Signing up with a background agency has to be free. If someone asks you for money to work as an extra, be suspicious.

• A registration fee or a charge to “activate” your profile.
• Mandatory paid photos with the agency’s photographer.
• Courses as a condition for giving you work.
• Guaranteed work or pressure to pay and sign on the spot.
• Agencies with no backing: they ask for bank details by message and have no website, address or verifiable productions.

Several of these signs appear in the official guide on modeling scams from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. To check a listing, see how to spot a fake casting call.

Summary: your plan to start as a background actor

1. Prepare current photos and write down your height and your sizes.
2. Sign up for free with two or three background agencies (in the United States, start with Central Casting).
3. Follow the open calls in your area.
4. Ask who hires you, how much they pay and when.
5. On set: punctuality, silence, continuity and zero photos.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need experience to work as a background actor?

For basic background work, it is optional. In the calls we reviewed it was valued only for special profiles, such as martial arts or security forces, and Central Casting says no experience is required. What does count is punctuality and availability.

How much and when does a background actor get paid?

It depends on the country, the production and the category, and it is paid by the day. In Spain, the background performers’ agreement sets a daily wage and payment at the end of the month, although Modfie warns it can take 30 to 60 days. In the United States, your pay information is in your voucher and, in most cases, Entertainment Partners pays you by check or direct deposit. Ask for the amount and the date in writing. When you move on to speaking roles, what you earn will also depend on the role, as we explain in what a day rate is.

Can I post on social media that I was on a shoot?

Wait until the production makes the project public and, if in doubt, ask the assistant director. Photos are usually forbidden on set, and a leak can leave you out of future calls.

Does background work help you get speaking roles?

It works as a school, but the jump depends on your training and your materials. Sign up as an actor too, put together your reel and aim for small speaking parts. Telenovelas need many of them for their huge casts, so it pays to know how to get cast in TV shows and telenovelas.

Can a background agency charge me for signing up?

A serious agency signs you up for free, like Módico Casting, which announces free registration with no commissions. If they charge you for the registration, the photos or a course, be suspicious.

Is it free to sign up with Central Casting?

Central Casting describes sign-up as free and says no experience is required. Union and non-union actors are welcome. You must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and in California and New York you must complete required training to remain eligible. If someone charges you for the sign-up, be suspicious.

What is a voucher in background acting?

According to Central Casting, a voucher is your timecard for the day and holds your pay information. You complete it (a digital SmartVoucher or a paper voucher), a production member records your on-set work details and at wrap you review and approve it. SAG-AFTRA’s conduct reminder says to fill it out with care, keep your own record of hours and meal breaks and never leave the set until you are dismissed and your voucher has been signed.

Can background work get me into SAG-AFTRA?

It can. According to SAG-AFTRA, membership is available to those who complete three days of work as a background actor under a SAG-AFTRA (or AFTRA or SAG) collective bargaining agreement, or one day in a principal or speaking role. To prove it you need paycheck stubs, your contract or a payroll printout, because background vouchers are not accepted. Whether and when to join is a separate decision, so read the union’s membership FAQs first.

Do background actors get residuals?

Background actors do not receive residuals on SAG-AFTRA TV and film contracts unless they are upgraded to principal performers, according to the union’s background actors FAQ. On its Commercials Contract, extra performers are not held in exclusivity, which is why they do not receive residuals either.