Today we outline the biggest differences between green SA’s and hardened veterans.
By comparing these two groups, we hope that the newbies will adopt the practices and behaviours of seasoned SAs and close the knowledge gap faster.
Adopting the following tips will increase your likelihood of availability enquiries and bookings.
Taking Photos
Newbies upload group photos in which we can’t figure out which one you are, or scenic holiday pics with you standing far away from the camera. Save these for Facebook!
Oldies keep it simple. They upload simple passport-style photos in a well-lit clean space with neutral clothing, hair down and minimal make-up.
Newbies upload Current Look photos once or twice a year.
Oldies regularly upload new selfies to the Current Look tags on their profile to remain prominent in our searches and after being asked to do so in availability enquiries. They know that Hair & Make-Up departments do not trust photos older than 2 months!
See below - your photos have the upload date on them when they appear on the lookbooks that we send to production!
Measurements
Newbies guess their measurements or use measurements from years ago.
Oldies take care to update their measurements a few times a year, making sure to fill out every body measurement on their profile. They know that Body Doubles and Stand-Ins have to match the main cast with half-an-inch leeway for every measurement.
Tip: Take full advantage of fittings by making note of the measurements that the Costume assistants record on their costume tags after being re-measured.
Skills
Newbies forget to fill out skills on their profile.
Oldies conscientiously fill out their profile as much as they can as accurately as they can. They know that we regularly cast athletes, dancers, musicians, linguists, baristas, waiters and more and that the people we approach first for these roles are those that have listed these skills on their profile.
Newbies exaggerate their skillset in order to gain more work.
Oldies know that lying about their expertise can be a costly and embarrassing mistake that sees their profile be blacklisted.
“SAs that have lied to us before about their skill proficiency have cost production hundreds of thousands of pounds! It’s really embarrassing for all involved and shatters the faith productions have in the entire background casting process. This leads to productions hiring stunt performers instead of SAs for really basic actions that most SAs can easily do - like swimming for example.”
DBS
Newbies fail to obtain a DBS Certificate, missing out on any production that intends to broadcast on BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV and Sky. Get one through here!
Oldies keep their DBS Certificate updated every 18 months to ensure they never miss out on any work opportunities.
Tip: If you use the DBS Update Service, a simply screenshot of your online DBS Platform will do instead of a new paper certificate. A new screenshot will need to be provided every 18 months.
Availability Enquiry
Newbies respond to enquiries without digesting all the vital information.
Oldies only respond available if they are 100% sure they can do the job if booked. They run a checklist through their head after receiving each availability enquiry:
Dates, Location, Transport, Time, Photos & Looks.
Dates:
Can I definitely do all the mandatory dates required?
Can I make one of the fitting dates if a fitting is required?
Location:
Have I double-checked the filming location(s)?
Have I double-checked the fitting location?
Is the location remote, demanding I drive?
Transport:
Will I be driving or using public transport?
Will I be relying on a production pick-up from a nearby train station?
Is there any rail strike action scheduled for those filming dates?
Will I need to pay ULEZ or Congestion Charge to drive to the location?
Will parking be available at the location?
Time:
Can I get there on time?
Am I going to have difficulty with an early morning start, potentially as early as 06:00 AM?
Am I going to have difficulty with a late finish in the evening?
Photos & Looks:
Are my Current Look photos updated?
Does the availability enquiry describe supplying my own wardrobe? Do I have appropriate outfit options?
Do I have the hair style mentioned in the availability enquiry, or have I had a significant change recently?
Will this production need to cut my hair or demand I be clean shaven?
Do I need to maintain my look for continuity on another production?
Only after satisfying this checklist will they then respond ‘Available’ or ‘Not Available’.
Dates, Location, Transport, Time, Photos & Looks.
Or: DiLigent Thespians Put Together Perfect Lookbooks!
Booking Confirmations
Newbies are slow to confirm the booking confirmation, or believe that ignoring the booking will mean they can get out of doing the job.
Oldies confirm bookings immediately. They knew that failing to confirm the booking doesn’t automatically release them, and that they need to get in contact with us directly if they have a problem.
Releases
Newbies take releases personally and believe the agency has failed to ensure work that they were available and keen for.
Oldies know that this job is a numbers game and releases are common; there will always be more SAs in a lookbook than is needed for the roles. Production decides who gets booked and there could be a hundred reasons why they weren’t picked, many out of their control.
Check-Ins
Newbies phone the agency to ask for further details long before the shoot date in question.
Oldies know that Check-Ins are sent the afternoon or evening before the shoot date, and will contain all the information needed for the SA to turn up and do the job. They know that the time Check-Ins are sent is dictated by production sending over the details to the agency.
Fittings
Newbies turn up without outfit options after Costume has specifically requested to bring some. Some newbies even show up commando - without wearing underwear!
Oldies know that at the very least they should always be wearing underwear and know that black socks and a white/nude-coloured base-layer are often the normal basics of many costumes. Oldies bring as many costume options as appropriate in a suitcase or duffel bag when Costume requests they do so.
Newbies don’t prepare to give 4 hours of their time for a fitting, and book other commitments 2-3 hours after their fitting call time.
Oldies know that they are paid for 4 hours for this non-performance engagement; you’re lucky when you’re finished after 2 hours and you shouldn’t count on getting away this quickly every time.
Contacting the Agency
Newbies phone the agency to ask basic questions that can be answered using the Advice Centre or FAQ page of our website.
Oldies know to only phone the agency when necessary, usually with concerns for a current or imminent booking.
Transportation
Newbies fail to prepare for transportation demands for fitting and filming dates, often at the mercy of rush-hours, traffic developments and train delays that they encounter on the day itself.
Oldies immediately tackle transport concerns to inform their availability enquiry response and then double check again if they are booked. Depending on if they drive or use public transport, they check the distance and travel time on Google Maps and what stations and lines they will need to use to arrive on time.
On Filming Days
Newbies aim to arrive for their call time.
Oldies aim to arrive 15 minutes before their call time to neutralise stress from traffic and delays.
Newbies don’t bring anything to pass the time in holding.
Oldies know that their phone may well need to be handed into security and some days are spent more in holding than on set. They bring books, crossword puzzles, a pack of cards, a chess set, a notebook, a sketchbook - any favourite comfort that occupies their downtime quietly.
Newbies are flustered and intimidated by the noise and chaos on set.
Oldies know to simply follow the instructions from the Crowd team, to recreate their action faithfully for continuity, to not make unnecessary noise and to quickly reset to their first position after the camera is cut.
Newbies get starstruck by the main cast and attempt to talk to them.
Oldies know that it is professional etiquette to only speak to the main cast if they speak to you first. Even if they seem unoccupied, they could be rehearsing lines, finding the emotion of the scene or waiting to receive direction.
Newbies try to take photos of themselves in costume, the set or the main cast.
Oldies know that photographing or sharing any confidential material would be breaking the non-disclosure agreement and would trigger their immediate release from the job without compensation.
Job Reviews
Newbies believe that if they forget to ‘Accept’ Job Reviews within the 24 hour window, they won’t get paid.
Oldies know that the invoicing process is not interrupted if they don’t ‘accept’ a job review. It’s just the ability to query a review is closed after 24 hours.
Newbies wait until the Job Review to mention supplementary fees owed such as a Creative Reaction.
Oldies know to try and check with the Crowd 2nd AD (the person that signs you out!) before they leave Crowd base to verify whether they are due a Supplementary fee. Discussing this in person prevents interrupting the invoicing process at the Job Review.
Newbies get irate when there is a mistake or missing paymemt on their Job Review, belieivng that there is a sinister scheme by production to defraud artistes.
Oldies know that the Crowd 2nd AD works very long hours to complete these chits for hundreds of SAs each week and mistakes sometimes happen. That’s why there is a Review process in the first place. Being polite and professional during a Review query ensures everyone remains happy.
Newbies don’t click ‘accept’ once a pay query has been settled.
Oldies approve the review after a pay query has been settled, since the invoicing process will be paused until they do so.
Payment
Newbies ask the agency how much they will be paid in advance for jobs that pay on the FAA Pact or Equity Pact rate cards.
Oldies know that their exact pay is only calculated after they have signed out, when all of their additional supplements and overtime is calculated and can be reviewed on their Job Review.
Newbies expect pay within a couple of weeks of working the job.
Oldies know that the invoicing process takes time and is dictated and varied by how quickly each production pays. That is why agencies advise expecting a 6-8 week turnaround for payment. Payment is often much sooner than this, but the concern to chase payment should start at the 8 week mark.
The Union
Newbies don’t sign up to the union that fights for their rights and wages.
Oldies know that the only way to improve working conditions and bargaining power for all Supporting Artistes is to join the union.
If you’re based in and around London and the South East, join the FAA section of the Bectu Union.
Join FAA HERE!
If you’re based far outside of London and the South East, join the Equity union.
Join Equity HERE!
Professionalism
Newbies believe they can no-show or drop-out of bookings without consequences.
Oldies know that dropping out of a booked job will affect their profile’s attendance rating and will significantly reduce the chances of being put forward for work in the future.
Newbies can unwittingly become blacklisted by showing aggression to agency staff, the Crowd team, phone security personel, covid departments or any other crew members.
Oldies perform all duties and communication in a professional manner, because they understand that this is a people industry. Artistes who are easy to work with are rewarded with a positive feedback loop of bookings.
So that’s our list of differences!
Have we missed any?
What do you wish someone had told you when you first started doing Supporting Artiste work?
Comment below your best advice to newcomers!
Many thanks,
The Extra People Team.