Dear Artists,
Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas break.
It's hard to believe it's already January 7th! We're back in our fantastic new office at Shepperton Studios and the team is buzzing with energy (despite it only being our second day back!).
We're busy juggling ongoing projects like "The Fixer”, “Vauxhall," and many more as well as prepping for exciting new productions starting this year. Of course, we’re also making sure all our amazing artists are ready to hit those sets.
My first bit of house keeping is to ask you to please take a quick look at your profiles and make sure your photos and measurements are up-to-date. It may seem a boring task but quite simply, it helps us book you faster when those exciting opportunities come along.
2024 certainly had its ups and downs, with plenty of chatter about challenges facing the industry. But despite it all, the major streamers are still churning out incredible drama, and the UK continues to attract blockbuster films like "Gladiator 2," "Deadpool & Wolverine," and "Wicked."
Just look at the global top 10 lists on Apple TV, Disney, Netflix, and Amazon – and you will see that British-made shows still dominate.
So while the industry may have contracted a bit, it's definitely not bursting any bubbles. Think of it more like a healthy readjustment. And 2025 looks set to follow a similar trend.
At the start of 2024 I predicted a new normal and I feel that’s what we saw happen. Whilst streamers were more conservative when it came to new content, we definitely saw a steadier, less cyclical year compared to previous years of waves and spikes.
In 2024, 18 of the top 20 grossing films were sequels or spin offs. 2024 also saw a huge amount of ongoing TV series where audiences are already established. Streamers are certainly backing their succesfull shows right now. As such, I think 2025 will be the year of quality over quantity.
Predicting the future is always a tricky business but even I'm amazed by the incredible projects heading to the UK this year. While some productions are still finalising their crews, one thing is for certain: 2025 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for supporting artists. If you're talented, reliable, and ready to work, you'll have a fantastic chance to land roles on some truly amazing shows.
On the industry front, I'll be attending the BECTU agents meeting next week to continue pushing for better pay and tighter agreements. I still believe the PACT/FAA clothing allowance terms need improving and I firmly believe that a national pay agreement is the best way forward, although the pay disparity between the regional and London agreements has lessened somewhat over the years. After good strides ahead, It will be a real step backwards if Equity do not find a way to solve the the travel pay disparity and unfairness on the regional pact/equity agreement.
On the subject of agencies - it has obviously been an interesting 18 months. I think some rotten apples have begun to fall away, leaving a handful of top agencies who are run very well by their management teams. Across the UK, we seem to share the top jobs and at the core of that is the belief that without our artists we would not have a business. Those that forget that do not last long.
I'm encouraged by the positive trend we saw in 2024. At Extra People we actually saw slightly less bookings than 2023 but higher overall earnings for the year. This just goes to show that our collective efforts are making a difference and that earnings for Supporting Artists continue to go up.
A huge thank you to all of you who worked with us in 2024, and a warm welcome to those who are starting their journey as supporting artists! Remember, professionalism and a positive attitude go a long way. Be kind to our team, do your best on every job, and we'll do everything we can to keep those fantastic opportunities coming your way.
Our Advice Centre is over 2 years old now and hosts a plethora of information, advice and tips for better performing and working as a supporting artist. Please use it - it’s a free resource.
Finally, I'm always happy to answer your questions. Feel free to leave a comment below about the agency, the industry, or anything else that's on your mind. I'll be collecting your questions and hosting a Q&A session in a few weeks.
Kind Regards,
Tom Walker.
Managing Director.
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Many Thanks,
The Extra People Team.
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