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Becoming a movie extra can be a rewarding, fun and exciting opportunity. As with anything in life, there are chances of frustration and disappointment that go along with becoming an "extra" for television, movie and theater.

It is always best to keep an open mind, when pursuing this type of work and for some, career. Understand that just as you are eager to land that perfect spot, so is a thousand more. Being competitive helps but is not the only quality one must hold. You need persistence and a strong will to succeed.

There are many "agencies" that will be happy to take your money, take your sanity and take your dignity, all in the name of show biz. These entities need to be avoided at all costs! You should never have to "pay" for your talent. This does not mean that every Producer or Manager or even acting school out there is corrupt if they charge, they like us, need to earn a living too. It does mean to research everyone that you consider doing business with.

A few starter tips to get you on the industry road:

1. Create a portfolio with several high quality head-shots. If you have a family member or friend who is fantastic at capturing beauty in photos, use them! Start with at least two natural images (no touch ups). Include a minimum of 4 four more shots such as; 1 swimsuit, 1 formal wear and 2 casual wear (jeans, shorts, T's).

2. Make a website! Even free websites work wonderfully to house all your images, BIOS and past or recent work. Keep it easy to navigate, fun to read and simple to get to (no pop ups all over the place). One example of a free website is:

http://www.freewebs.com/

3. Stay focused and learn to take every "NO" as a "MAYBE". This means that when the door closes, wait awhile and try again. Becoming discouraged and resentful at the film makers and casting agencies is not only unbecoming...it is a deal breaker. Just because you were not "right" for the first character, does not necessarily mean you are not right for the second and so on.

4. Network! Surround yourself with other starving actors, writers and musicians. Everyone "knows" someone, somewhere. Finding that someone could be as simple as a new found friend on "casting unlimited" message forum. Casting unlimited is a fictional name, but should you google it and actually find a business called this? FANTASTIC! It is all about who you know and where you know them from.

There are never any guarantees in life, so don't expect them now. Work hard, play fair and never give up is all you can do. A diamond in the rough takes quite a bit of polishing and preparing to become a glorious, shiny gem.

If you are still in high school, your best bet is to get involved with the drama or play production class. Dancing ability, musical ability and even stage crew ability are all a bonus when attempting to become an extra in film. You never know what character they need, what kind of bystander they are looking for, so being prepared for many areas in casting is a definite plus.

Break a leg or two and good luck!

Learn more about this author, Erinn Soule.
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