How can being extra actor help your acting career?

When I first started my acting career in Thailand I took on extra actor work twice. The first time on Luc Besson’s “The Lady” – You can actually see me walking behind the main male character as he steps off his plane in ‘Burma’. The second time was for a TVC.

I learned two valuable lessons from doing those two extra actor parts:

1. I saw and experienced how it felt to be on set. Who is doing what and the do’s and don’ts on set.

2. I realized that this was something that I don’t want to do again.

As extra actor you are the lowest part of the chain. You are being moved around and ‘used’ as they wish. This was a feeling that I didn’t want to experience again. The hierarchy on set is very clear. Being a ‘featured’, ‘support’ or ‘main’ character has many more benefits and comes with a much better treatment on set.

People on set are also very quick to form opinions about you. Once an extra actor, it is very hard to get rid of that. I know an actor in his 50s who used to be a professional extra actor. He gets some bigger parts now, but in the community he is still know as the ‘extra’.

What did I do to become more than just an extra actor?

1. I went to castings.

A lot of them. Several castings per week. For a year. I didn’t get a single part. I still went. For the experience. I started to become more and more free. In the end I didn’t care anymore whether I would get the job or not. I started to take the castings as a chance to improvise and have fun with it. That’s when I got my first ‘featured’ part. Five days of shooting. It was an amazing experience.

I have had many many parts ever since. But I have never taken on any extra parts.

2. I got training.

In this year I joined a theatre group. I took acting classes. I joined acting workshops. I invested in myself – and I still do. Every time I made some money, I invested it back into myself. The more you invest in yourself, the more it will pay-off in the end.

I encourage you, to do a few extra jobs. Get some experience on set. Get a hang of it. Learn the ropes, the do’s and dont’s, but don’t get stuck in the ‘extra-hole’.

Go to castings and get training. Invest in yourself. There are so many things you can do as an actor. Acquire new skills to stand out from the crowd.

If you start your journey, you may be surprised where it will take you!

Good luck and enjoy your journey!

Until next time!

Robin Schroeter from MasterClass Studio

Videography: Pandit Teerachetthongplung
Editing: Pandit Teerachetthongplung

—————————————————————-

More information on how to enter the acting industry in Thailand:
https://youtu.be/IVd-hLvZ8ww

—————————————————————-

Follow me on…
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/robindurigan
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/robin.schroeter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robin_schroeter
Blog: http://www.robinschroeter.de
Blog2: http//www.actors-thailand.com

—————————————————————-

Phone:: +66 869 488 384
Email: robin_schroeter@hotmail.com
Line: robinschroeter

—————————————————————-

MasterClass Studio
6/1 Ladprao 25
Junkasem, Chatuchuk
10900 Bangkok
Thailand

You are considering taking acting classes, but you are thinking, “Why do I really need them?”

1. You are investing in yourself

First and foremost, acting classes are a way of you investing in yourself. As actor, you are the product. You are the creator. You are the business. What business can run without investment?

Can you imagine a UFC fighter going into the ring without training? How high do you figure are his chances of winning?

2. You get a small part, but on set they can see you’re good at what you are doing and they make your part bigger

I have seen it many times on set. Somebody got a small part. Maybe an extra or featured extra part. On set, the person that got a bigger part cannot act. During the shooting they look around and they notice, “Hey, this guy is good” and within a few moments, you got the part! Because they like your acting, they can see what you can do, you just earned yourself a bigger part.

The same thing happens the other way around. I was on set recently, and my partner on set just couldn’t do it. From being one of the mains his scenes were cut down. While we were hired for a similar part, the focus of the camera was constantly on me. He just couldn’t pull it off. Can you imagine how frustrating that must have been for him?

3. You don’t waste people’s time on set

On set everything is about time. Budgets are lower than before. People don’t have time to get you where they need you to be. They need you to be ready. They need you do be prepared. If you are not, you will see your part dwindling very quickly.

4. You are ready for whatever comes your way

Taking acting classes gives you the tools to be able to handle whatever comes your way. Like a fighter, you know how to handle yourself in different situations. They want you to do it this way? No problem, you are ready. They want you to play it that way? No problem, you have done it before, you are ready. Like a fighter ducking and throwing punches. You are ready and can handle yourself.

5. Get hired again!

Ok, imagine this scenario: You did a great job. It only took you one or two takes to get it right every time. You were pleasant and professional to work with. The team and crew are able to go home on time or even earlier. Everybody tells you “Good job”. They are smiling at you. Shake your hand or give you a hug.

Now imagine this scenario: Every shot you had to do 10 or more times. You couldn’t pull it off. In the end they let it pass because they could see you tried your best and they are just not getting what they need. Everybody goes home late. Everybody is tired. The results suck, but there is no way to make it any better. At the end of the day they tell you “Good job”, but you can see in their eyes that they are lying. You are going home with the money, but feel that you failed that day.

Who do you think they will hire again?

You think this is only hypothetical? I have seen it happening on set. So. Many. Times.

Taking acting classes will get you ready to handle whatever is thrown your way on set. You are ready to handle yourself and the situation. You know how to work. You know what to do. And finally, if you do a good job, you will get hired again!

Have a great day!

Robin Schroeter from MasterClass Studio

“Act Like There Is No Tomorrow”

—————————————————————-

More information on how to enter the acting industry in Thailand:

—————————————————————-