how to become an actor

How to Become a Background Actor – Registration

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

Registration at Central Casting Los Angeles

Our How to Become a Background Actor series takes an in-depth look at everything you need to know to become a Background Actor with Central Casting. Keep an eye on our Articles page for more in this series!

Do you want to be a part of the next Hollywood blockbuster? Do you love TV and just want to see how your favorite shows get made? People become Background Actors for a variety of reasons, but most start out the same, by registering with Central Casting.

What is a Background Actor?

A Background Actor (also called extra, background talent, and atmosphere) is someone who performs in a show in a nonspeaking role, usually in the background. Background Actors make movies and TV shows feel more authentic. They're diners in a restaurant, nurses in a hospital, students at a high school, and everything in between.

Background Actors are given direction by Assistant Directors, sometimes even crossing the camera and interacting with principal actors in a scene.

How do I become a Background Actor?

To work as a Background Actor with Central Casting, you first need to register at a Talent Onboarding session at one of our offices in Los Angeles, New York, Georgia, or Louisiana. Just make a reservation, then bring your required documentation to your reserved session. At Talent Onboarding, you'll fill out paperwork and take a photo for our casting platform.

Documentation

Everyone who registers with Central Casting must fill out an I-9 form and present the required I-9 form documentation. This is a crucial step in the registration process and you will not be allowed to register if you don't bring the original unexpired documents. Please be sure to read over the Lists of Acceptable Documents before you come to register. You'd hate to be turned away because you weren't prepared.

Here are some resources to read through on required I-9 documentation:

Registration at Central Casting Louisiana

Minors

Central Casting registers minors 15 days old to 17 years old to appear in movies and TV shows. Parents and legal guardians can register their minor by making a reservation for a Minor's Talent Onboarding session. During Talent Onboarding, the parent/legal guardian will fill out paperwork and the child will have their photo taken for our casting platform. Check out our calendar for upcoming Minor's Talent Onboarding sessions in your office.

Minors must meet the same I-9 requirements as adults in order to register and become a Background Actor with Central Casting. Our minors I-9 required documentation packet has more information about minors' identification requirements.

While minors do not need a work permit to register with Central Casting, they will need a work permit in order to be booked for jobs. Your location's Kids Sign Up page has all the information you need about minors work permits.

Photo room at Central Casting Los Angeles

Registration at Central Casting Los Angeles

Casting photo

Once you've filled out your paperwork, you'll take casting photos for our casting platform. The registration team will take two photos, a headshot and a full body shot. Keep in mind that Casting Directors, Assistant Directors, and other members of production will see these photos during the casting process, so dress how you'd like to represent yourself.

Your main profile photo should reflect what you look like on a general day-to-day basis. If you want to add additional photos of yourself in different looks, you can upload those to your online profile.