If we say that you can appear in movies without any hard work, talent, experience or even good looks, would you believe us? Probably you won't, but this is true. While we have always stressed on the importance of hard work and training, today we are going to tell you how you can be a part of show biz without much effort. Puzzled? Want to know? Well, you can do this by becoming a movie extra. Movie extra are those people who appear in the background to give a more natural feel to the set. They are the people you see in the background eating food, walking, boarding bus, or simply standing. Extras never get any lines to speak. If they do, they become actors.

Finding a role as an extra is not a very difficult task as all movies require extras in different scenes. However, before you get excited, let us make some clarifications. An extra's job is not as exciting as the main actors. In fact, the job tends to get quite boring as you are required to spend a lot of time on the sets doing nothing. Also, you won't feel much pride telling your friends that you have a role in so and so movie when you are in just one scene walking on the street. So why should you consider becoming an extra? The reason could be any of these-

• If you are a newcomer and have never seen a set and actual shooting, an extra's role is an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with the process of filmmaking. You can learn by watching big stars act in front of the camera.

• If you are a struggling actor, you can earn some money to pay for your lodging and food while you are looking for mainstream work.

• It may give you an excellent opportunity to meet and hopefully develop friendships with some people who will later help you in your career.

• A director or his assistant may spot you on the set and offer you a significant role in his next production. ( Though this rarely happens, you can be one lucky chap)

So if you want to get a role of a movie extra, you need to register with an agency which specializes in supplying extras to movies. Most of the agencies ask for a small fee, 20-30$, to get your name registered in their books. Always do some background work on the agency you are approaching and never pay above 30$ as a fee. As an extra you will not be required to submit professional headshots. Instead, the agency will take a picture of you and keep it on record. Some agencies conduct an interview before registration to get basic information from you and to know if you have any special skills. Be wary of an agent if he asks for extra fee to give a special push to your resume or asks you to get your headshot done from a recommended photographer. He may be trying to extract as much money from you as possible.

Another way to get work as an extra is to directly go to sets and meet people who are in position to give you a role. Though you have a slim chance of getting work this way, you may again get lucky if someone thinks you have got the desired look to fit the role of an extra.

The payoff

If you talk about the monetary compensation of becoming an extra, it's not much. The pay could be as low as 30-50$ for a day's work if you not the member of a union. If you belong to the union, you can expect to receive 80-90$ or even higher. The compensation varies according to the work done by the extra. For example, if you are doing a simple role, such as walking in the background, you will not be paid as much as for a role which requires special skill, such as playing some sports, handling weapons, etc. The compensation also depends on the budget of the movie.

Becoming an extra is not a glamorous as acting in the mainstream, however it can be an easy way to earn some money or get a chance to be the part of a movie set.