Background roles on film sets are an important one. They help make the scene more realistic. But there are only three reasons to do background work and jumpstarting your acting career is not one of them.
The Positive
Experience on Set
I did a few background gigs when I first started because I wanted to see what it was like to be on set. I had no idea how I would react in front of camera and doing background work is a great way to do that without the pressure.
Networking
I met one of my closest actor friends on set. We speak regularly and are very supportive of each other. Doing background is a great way to meet other actors, but don’t expect to meet directors, producers or the lead actors. You’ll mostly get to know other background actors and PAs.
Money
Non-Union background work usually pays 150-200 a day and it’s an easy way to make some extra cash. I met a lot of retired people on sets who love the experience and make some money doing it.
It’s Easy and Cheap to Start
All you need are a few amateur photos to get started. You don’t need professional headshots, classes or a reel to submit and book background roles.
Background in Commercials
Background in commercials is a different beast. You can make quite a bit of money and residuals.
The Negative
Bumped up to a Speaking Role
The chance of getting bumped up to a principal roles is slim to none. I have an actor friend who got bumped up. I met him a full year after that and he had done nothing with it since that happened to him. He still didn’t have headshots, he still didn’t have a reel, he still didn’t submit to speaking roles. If you do get bumped up. You still have to go through all the things that an actor has to do to get speaking roles. You still need headshots, a resume, and a reel. Background acting won’t get you those things.
It Can Hurt Your Career
I have heard that there have been cases that an actor didn’t get a role they auditioned for because they had worked on that show as an extra.
You Can’t Put it on Your Resume
Or more accurately, you shouldn’t put it on your resume. if you’re looking to book speaking roles, it does no good (and can even harm you) if you put background roles on your resume. Background roles on a resume only tell a casting person that you are a background actor. And in all honesty, casting doesn’t care.
You’re Wasting Time
If you’re doing background to use as a stepping stone to getting speaking roles, you’re wasting time. Time that could be spent, networking, taking acting classes, getting headshots, building your resume, building your reel and submitting to roles. These are things you will have to do at some point, even if you get bumped up to a speaking role. You will need professional headshots, a resume and a reel at some point.
Conclusion
If you’re out to be a career background actor, more power to you. But if you’re looking to get cast in speaking roles, doing background will not get you there. And if it does, you still have to do all the things that all actors have done at some point. There is no shortcut to becoming an actor.
Simon Shih 
100% disagree with most of this. Being on set and learning the filmmaking process is invaluable to an up-and-coming performer. Being seen by the Director, 1st AD and Casting people CAN pay dividends in the future (not necessarily for an “upgrade” on the current project… but for roles in the future). So from the standpoint of BG work being “in-and-of-itself” a usable credit… I agree. Unless you’re upgraded into a single character and given highly visible scenes, you’re better off NOT listing a BG role on an actors resume. But from a standpoint of networking and on-set experience, I think BG performing is a VERY GOOD entry-level step. For my current feature directing job, WILDFIRE – which opens Jan. 26 in over 1,100 theatres – I actually hired FIVE “background performers” that I met on the set of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, to have SAG speaking roles. I saw how they performed as BG and gave them the opportunity to read for speaking parts in my feature. There are no hard-and-fast rules of how to break-in to the industry. But if I had to select ONE issue to recommend… I would say to participate as much as possible in ACTING and CASTING workshops… such as those held by THE ACTORS FACTORY. You will be seen by legitimate CSA members and they will give you direct feedback on how to build on your individual strengths!
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