First Day Working On Set As a Background Actor
Wardrobe. Hair. Makeup. Food.
A girl could get used to this set life.
Sitting in my queen-sized bed, reflecting on the time passed since getting out of this here bed before 4 o’clock this morning. Whew! Yes, I was up well before the chickens this morning, baby. And to say I worked an event (server) gig yesterday, which left me with much less than the recommended amount of sleep, I’m not having too much trouble keeping my eyes open to write this blog post at nearly 11 o’clock at night.
Lacking on rest, I thought I was going to be dog tired on set for a 5am call time, but something had me wired and I don’t think it was the coffee from craft services.
Maybe it was the newness, maybe it was the curiosity, maybe it was the excitement caused by newness and curiosity.
Related: Landing My First Background Acting Job
First of all, I didn’t go in with high expectations because working in the flexible food service industry of Los Angeles, majority of people I work with on any given shift are actors and I’d overheard them down-talking background work before. Every “actor” I’ve met in L.A. has, or has had, another job they do that actually pays the bills. When you’re an actor, chances are you’re a something-else that chooses to pour your resources into dreams of acting. It’s not paying you; you’re paying it. At least, at first (…or eternally). Anyway, this being the case, a great deal of actors in L.A. have “survival jobs”.
Related: 6 Side Hustles for Actors (YouTube video by Tyra the Creative)
If you’re an actor in L.A., why not do background acting as a survival job?
It makes sense, right? You get to be around the field you so-say love, you’re in the loop, you’re right there ‘round the folks you want to be ‘round. Why shouldn’t you do background acting as a survival job when you’re pursuing an acting career in L.A.?
Actors I’ve met would rather collect dirty glassware and change trash liners than go sit pretty on set as a background actor.
Some say it’s a faux pas to do background acting work if you have goals of being a principle actor. Once upon a time, they say, agents would even tell you not to accept background work. Though it’s still possible to get stuck there, which was one of the primary reasons to stay away from background acting, the tide seems to be shifting in more recent years. Agents don’t necessarily mind background work on a resume, as they’ve decided to look at the positive: you’ve been on set!
Even though doing background work isn’t frowned upon by the powers that be anymore (or as much?), some actors still don’t want to accept background work.
Related: Getting Into A Different Type of Gig
Okay, I’m getting off topic, maybe I am tired. The whole reason I brought all of that up is to say that I’ve heard actors on my event (serving) gigs say they wouldn't dare accept anymore background acting work because background actors are treated like cattle on set.
Background acting has a bad rap amongst some in the acting community, but what those folks experienced was not my experience today.
Whew child, these eyes are getting heavier now. Let me wrap this up, I suppose the quickest way I know how, chronologically.
Here’s how my first day as a background actress went.
I clicked the address provided in the email sent the day before shoot day and it brought me directly where I needed to go. Upon pulling into the parking lot right before 5am, there were men with flashlights smoothly directing parking. As soon as I parked and got out of the car, I could see shuttle buses and when I walked towards one, someone said, “background?”, to which I responded “yes,” and he pointed me towards my shuttle. A person outside of the shuttle door handed me a mask and I boarded.
Simple. Direct. Easy. No fuss.
This is already better than all the confusion trying to get to event gigs. Click the address you’re given, wrong location. Get to the right location, no parking. Arrive on site, no one knows why you’re here nor which direction you should go.
Moving along.
Shuttle brings us to set and we’re guided step-by-step. Check-in here. Okay, perf, Covid test (again) here. Let’s go down and pick up your wardrobe. This way for makeup. Okay, you’re done with makeup? Great, come this way for hair. You look absolutely amazing, wow, fantastic. You’re good to go. Walk with me this way. Let's pick you up some breakfast.
Me: Excuse me while I pick up eight french vanilla creamers, peel back the lid to each and pour them in my coffee cup.
Related: independent, locally-owned coffee shops #aroundLA
You're fine, take your time. Okay, we’ll have you here for holding and will come get you when you’re needed on set.
What?! That’s the type of organization I liiiiiiiiiiiike!
My entire day on set as a background actress for the first time was a well-oiled machine filled with polite people working it.
Okay, I need to go to sleep. I told myself I’m going for at least an hour-long bike ride in the morning and need to get this little skin indoors by 9am before the sun starts acting a fool. Ten hours in direct, blazing sunlight was enough to last me a while, honey! My goodness, I feel the upper portion of my arms tingle as I type this. I hope my Black behind isn’t sunburned.
The remainder of the day continued to flow as it began, pleasantly. Other than the paranoia of UV rays cooking up some aging, melanoma-ridden skin cells, I didn’t have any issues.
In between takes later in the afternoon, a group of us background folks were chatting and someone said, “this is nice, it’s a relaxing set.” Having to co-sign that, I said how it’s been such a pleasant experience that I’ll have to pick up more of these background gigs and less of my event (server) gigs. Everyone pretty much agreed, one girl saying how she’s down to only bartending once a week and the rest is acting work. Then here comes Debbie Downer, “well, you got really lucky for your first one. Trust me, they’re not all like this!”
Guess I’ll have to find out! 🙂
Thank you for being here, riders.
