Real life confessions from background artists

Let’s face it, our obsession with the big stars clouds our vision when it comes to noticing the hard working team of background artists. They are the ones who make it possible for the directors on a tight budget to pass off Minnesota as New York. They form the perfect backdrop, so that the viewers know how to interpret the scene. Wonder what it’s like to spend a day in their life? These confessions will give you a bird’s eye view of the film-making process.

MAKING IT AS A “CORE BACKGROUND ARTIST” ENSURES STABILITY:

Most background artists’ roles require only a day of shooting. That means artists can find themselves constantly looking for their next project. But if you get cast as a ‘Core Background Artist’(which means recurring as the same character) then it ensures consistent work. “I got called early on by Gossip Girl and quickly became a core high school student. Being on a show as core can mean three to five days a week of work”, says Andrew Goldfarb, a full time background artist for the last decade, who now owns a flat in New York.

ONCE A BACKGROUND ARTIST, WATCHING MOVIES IS NEVER THE SAME

Once you work as a background artist, watching movies will no longer be about the lead actors, your entire attention will be monopolized by the extras in the scene. “I can’t watch TV anymore without looking at the background actors and seeing who’s doing it right and who’s doing it wrong,” says Nemec.

THE TRICK TO GETTING MORE ROLES IS NOT TO PUT ALL YOUR PREVIOUS ROLES IN YOUR RESUME

Casting directors have tendency to cast artists in roles that are similar to those they have played in the past. For example, if you have a lot of credits as a college student you might not be cast as a lawyer. “The thing I learnt from my experience as a background actor is not to put all your credits in IMDb. That way the director’s decision will not be clouded by any of the roles you played previously. That increases your chances of landing a role”, says another background artist who wishes to remain anonymous.

THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR SURROUNDING THE JOB PROMISES A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

“I love my job”, said no corporate office worker ever. But in a background artist’s life, those words hold true. Imagine getting to see your favourite celebs up close and personal. Getting to go to fancy upscale locales that you may not have been able to afford otherwise. Getting the spoilers to all the cliffhangers firsthand. “2008 and 2009 were by far my busiest years, and I loved it. I’d be in a good mood even after 90-hour work weeks. I was seeing amazing things and meeting amazing people. There were weeks where I’d work five days and be in each of the five different NYC boroughs, and I was learning how to get around the city much faster than I expected to”, says Sarah Brown, a background artist, quite content with her choice of career.

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