Members who are extras?

[wellpip]

On going through I notice that some members are extras. I’ve wondered often how people go about doing this sort of thing. Does it pay well; and do you use an agency etc. Do you need some basic acting experience behind you?

[batman]

Before I became a 'proper' actor I used to do extra work and the small amount of experience I'd gained at college etc was invaluable. It gave you a bit of confidence and also an understanding of what was going on. I sometimes worked via an agency and the pay was OK but they took their cut so it was better to try and find it yourself. I have no idea what the going rate is these days. I was glad to have done it because when I did get some 'proper' film/TV acting I was able to understand what it was the extras were required to do, something that the actors who hadn't done extra work often didn't think about.



Bats.

[wellpip]

name='batman']Before I became a 'proper' actor I used to do extra work and the small amount of experience I'd gained at college etc was invaluable. It gave you a bit of confidence and also an understanding of what was going on. I sometimes worked via an agency and the pay was OK but they took their cut so it was better to try and find it yourself. I have no idea what the going rate is these days. I was glad to have done it because when I did get some 'proper' film/TV acting I was able to understand what it was the extras were required to do, something that the actors who hadn't done extra work often didn't think about.



Bats.

Fascinating stuff bats..



Many thanks..

[Modular]

There's only one name that springs to mind on this subject...



Harry Fielder!



As a member of this (and other forums), there isn't much the guy hasn't done over the years!!



Check out his interesting website here.

[Freddy]

name='batman'] I have no idea what the going rate is these days.



Bats.

Over here the going rate a few years ago was £60 for a 12 hour day. Bats and Aitch will be able to tell you more but it seems to me you need a lot of patience.



Outside my local they filmed a scene from Stormbreaker on the beach. We watched as stunt riders rode motorbikes along the shoreline. Some of us pondered that they could easily get salt water in the engine. Sure enough the bikes cut out. That one failed scene took 4 hours. Fortunatley for us it was a warm summers day, the Bushey's was beautiful and the afternoon went quickly. The extras on the other hand had been holed up in a cafe wearing fancy dress. Must have thought they were in Wales on a dry Sunday



Freddy

[stevie boy]

name='batman']Before I became a 'proper' actor I used to do extra work and the small amount of experience I'd gained at college etc was invaluable. It gave you a bit of confidence and also an understanding of what was going on. I sometimes worked via an agency and the pay was OK but they took their cut so it was better to try and find it yourself. I have no idea what the going rate is these days. I was glad to have done it because when I did get some 'proper' film/TV acting I was able to understand what it was the extras were required to do, something that the actors who hadn't done extra work often didn't think about.



Bats.

are you still acting Bats???

[batman]

name='stevie boy']are you still acting Bats???

Nope .... last job was in 1997. It helped pay for my first year of RMN training.



Bats.

[Modular]

name='batman']Nope .... last job was in 1997. It helped pay for my first year of RMN training.

RMN...?

[batman]

name='Modular']RMN...?

Registered Mental Nurse.



Bats.

[Dame Starry]

name='batman']Registered Mental Nurse.



Bats.

I'm saying no-thing. NO-thing!



YDSL x.

[Steve Crook]

name='Dame Starry']I'm saying no-thing. NO-thing!



YDSL x.

That's all right, Bats will look after you



Steve

[batman]

name='Steve Crook']That's all right, Bats will look after you



Steve

She needs all the help she can get that one ..... talk about mixed up, she can't even remember her name!



Bats.

[francesgumm]

one of my kids was an extra in a couple of Harry Potter films & because he was under 16 got paid the princely sum of £37.50 a day! When you're over 16 it goes up to a whole £75.00 for a 12 hour day!

[harryfielder]

This was a good days pay.....Twenty years ago...

STRONGBOW COMMERCIAL…TWICKENHAM STUDIOS…

Now I never write too much about Commercials but this one really stands out from the others in the fact that by now you will have gathered that I do love to drink the odd swift half of the black stuff.

This advert is for cider.

The night before I do this job I’m compering and singing in a pub in Islington. (I can still hack it) and as I haven’t got a car at the moment a good friend of mine who is on the job with me the next day said he’ll give me a lift to the studio in the morning. (Good old Jerry Judge, a non drinker.)

After a good night (and early morning) in the pub I grab a few hours sleep before Jerry’s banging on my door and we’re off on the twenty mile trip to the studios.

Now I don’t feel to clever so when I get on the set I’ll just hide my face at the back of the other thirty or more Supporting Artists knowing I’ll feel better as the day goes along. (It’s called a hangover)

However this is not to be and as the director searches through all the faces of the crowd, he comes across mine and decides that I will be the star for the day.

I’m sat directly in front of camera and a large pint of cider is placed in front of me.

Another couple of the boys are also placed at the bar.

Now the director tells us the plot.

Simon Williams will come into the bar with a pretty ex page three girl and order a couple of funny drinks.. (Pink Gin or Dakari or some silly name).

That’s my cue to give him a look, turn back to my cider and take a good swig.

After about ten takes the cider tastes a lot better and I’m beginning to feel better.

Now I’m only drinking a mouthful of cider on every take so it’s not that much.

As the crew move the camera to a new position for different angles I have a chat with Jerry Judge who is standing just along the bar from me.

I lean onto the bar to take the weight off my body and a prop man tells me to be careful because that’s where the arrows will be hitting the counter.. (Arrows?, what f***ing arrows!).

Of course this is the commercial where the arrows thud into the counter at the end.

The crew have set the camera for a different angle and it’s ‘’ First positions, we’ll go from the top again’’

Now this time I’ve got my eye on Simon Williams, ex page three girl, my cider and any signs of ‘’Injuns’’…

We do another ten takes on that set up and it’s time for lunch (I popped over the pub for lunch as I’ve now got the taste).

About six o clock we’re onto the last shots and the arrows are about to fly and by now I’m in the land of the don’t care..

All goes well and we finish about seven o clock and I’m asked to sign a form as a featured artist and would get repeat fees. (I made nearly £2000)

(Good game this acting game)

Aitch,

[wellpip]

name='harryfielder']This was a good days pay.....Twenty years ago...

STRONGBOW COMMERCIAL…TWICKENHAM STUDIOS…

Now I never write too much about Commercials but this one really stands out from the others in the fact that by now you will have gathered that I do love to drink the odd swift half of the black stuff.

This advert is for cider.

About six o clock we’re onto the last shots and the arrows are about to fly and by now I’m in the land of the don’t care..

All goes well and we finish about seven o clock and I’m asked to sign a form as a featured artist and would get repeat fees. (I made nearly £2000)

(Good game this acting game)

Aitch,

LOL.. thanks for that one mate. Had a wee look at your website, very nice.. I recognised you the other night in Carry on abroad...

[harryfielder]

A mispent youth......

THE CREDITS

1966

The Saint.... Softly, Softly....

1967Half A Sixpence…Quatermass And The Pit…The Magnificent Two…Two A Penny…You Only Live Twice…Billion Dollar Brain…Great Catherine…Follow That Camel….A Challenge For Robin Hood…The Prisoner…The Champions…Man In A Suitcase….Market In Honey Lane…Enemy Of The World…Z Cars…The Saint II….

1968Hostile Witness…Attack On The Iron Coast…Charge Of The Light Brigade…Star…Carry On Up The Khyber…Where Eagles Dare…Oliver…Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang…Isadora…The Bliss Of Mrs Blossom…2001 A Space Odyssey…Salt And Pepper…Don’t Raise The Bridge, Lower The River…The Vengeance of She…The Saint III…Inadmissible Evidence…The Devil Rides Out…Nobody Runs Forever…

1969Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed…Prudence And The Pill…Germans At Meat…The Wheel In Space…The Avengers…The Adding Machine…The Battle Of Britain…The Assassination Bureau…The Games…Three Sisters…Year Of The Sex Olympics…Department S…Softly, Softly II …Otley…Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased)…

1970Freelance…No Blade Of Grass…Cromwell…. The Last Valley…Scrooge…Percy…Trog…Anne Of The Thousand Days…Carry On Henry…One More Time…Murphy’s War….The Revolutionary…The Music Lovers…Law And Order…Better Than A Man…Marty….Randall And Hopkirk II…The Double Decker’s…Puppet On A Chain…Twins Of Evil…

1971

Blood From The Mummy’s Tomb…Dr Jekyll And Sister Hyde…Revenge…Dulcima…The Devils…. Macbeth…Husbands…Carry On At Your Convenience…On The Buses…Fiddler On The Roof…Steptoe And Son…Spy Trap…The Persuaders… Jason King… Catweazle…Monty Python’s Flying Circus…Dixon Of Dock Green…Shirley’s World…

1972

All Coppers Are…Fear Is The Key…Frenzy…Young Winston…Pope Joan…Penny Gold….

Mary Queen Of Scots…Steptoe And Son Ride Again…Carry On Abroad…Madam Sin…Cry Of The Penguins…Holiday On The Buses…The Pied Piper…Savage Messiah….Lady Caroline Lamb…I Want What I Want…Dracula A D 1972…The Likely Lads….Go For A Take…Henry VIII And His Six Wives….Madigan, The London Beat… Jason King IILord Peter Wimsey…The Rivals Of Sherlock Holmes…A Pin To See a Peepshow….The Adventurer…The Protectors…

1973

The Mutations… The Mackintosh Man…Diamonds On Wheels…Soft Beds, Hard Battles…Digby…Theatre Of Blood…The Optimists…Divorce His, Divorce Hers…Jack The Ripper…Mutiny On The Buses…Love Thy Neighbour…Till Death Us Do Part…Eric Sykes Film…Helen A Woman Of Today…Orson Wells Great Mysteries…Backbreaker…Moon Base…Harriet’s Back In Town…Barlow…The Zoo Gang…Churchill’s People…The Protectors II.Special Branch…Space 1999…Steptoe And Son…Planet Of The Spiders…

Wonder Loaf Commercial…Guinness Commercial…Crown Paint Commercial…

1974

Mr Quilp…Callan…The Internecine Project…The Tamarind Seed…Tommy…Derry Boys...Brief Encounter…What Changed Charley Farthing? Bless This House…Carry On Dick…Legend Of The Werewolf…Persecution…The Man With The Golden Gun…The Ghoul…A Man About The House…The Fight Against Slavery…Shadow Of The Workhouse…Up And Away…Death Or Liberty…Till Death Us Do Part II…The Public Eye…Z Cars…Murphy’s Stroke…Holding On…Space 1999 II…Zoo Gang II…The Sweeney…The Liver Birds…Churchill’s People II…Visitors For Anderson…It Ain’t Half Hot Mum….Revenge Of The Cybermen…Comedy Playhouse…

1975Softly, Softly…Barry Lyndon…Great Expectations…Brannigan…Hennessy…Galilao…Monty Python And The Holy Grail…Return Of The Pink Panther…Royal Flash…The Human Factor…Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother…Mahler…The Incredible Sarah…Lisztomania…One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing…Side By Side…The Land That Time Forgot…The Voyage…Moll Flanders…Confessions…Cakes And Ale.The Pallisers…Edward VII… Jennie…Catherine Mansfield…Hanging On…The Canadians...The Secret Agent…The Life And Death Of Penelope…The Seeds Of Doom…The Bubble...Clayhanger…Quiller…Poldark…The Survivors…Space 1999 III…The Punters…Jackanory..The Immigrants…General Hospital…The Dave Allen Show…Commercials In 75…Rugby Tug Of War…Bass…Skoll Lager…Wonderloaf…Tetley Tea…Woolworth…Tankard Beer…Home Pride…Football…

1976

Aces High…The Chiffy Kids…The Pink Panther Strikes Again…The Slipper And The Rose...Voyage Of The Damned…The 7% Solution…The Likely Lads…At The Earths Core…Trial By Combat…The Ritz …Orde Wingate…Law And Order…The Immigrants…Circus…Shakespeare…The New Avengers…Chips With Everything…Oil Strike North…Angels…The Glittering Prizes…The Prince Of Denmark…P.C. Penrose…Star Maidens…When The Boat Comes In…The Onedin Line…The Deadly Assassin…The Face Of Evil…The Séance Spectre…The Immunity Syndrome…The Lambada Factor…Dick Emery...The Norman Wisdom Show…Commercials in 76…Black Label…Robin Cars…Ranchero,s…Oxo…Beer…Rennies…Norsman Lager…Tartan Bitter…

1977

Jubilee… Star Wars…Valentino…The Sweeny…Wombling Free…The Eagle Has Landed…The Spy Who Loved Me…The Prince And The Pauper..The Mill On The Floss…I Claudius...The Crezz…Return Of The Saint…Blake’s 7…True Patriots…The Avenue…Aunties Niece...The Professionals…The Secret Army…The Duchess Of Duke Street…1990…Target…The Survivors…Wings…Warship…The Invisible Enemy…Happy Ever After…Tea Party…Buster Barnes…The Cedar Tree… Habitat…Armchair Thriller…The Two Ronnies…Commercials in 77…Watneys Beer…Halifax…Colt 45…Cossack…Home Pride…L.E.B…Barclays Bank…Buxted Chicken…Callard And Bowsers…Unigate…Castella…Paxo…Terry’s Chocolate Orange…Fine Fair…Scottish And Newcastle Beer…Watneys…Guinness…

1978

The 39 Steps…Death On The Nile…Agatha…Silver Bears…The Playbirds…Sweeney II...International Velvet…Superman 1…The Odd Job…The Medusa Touch… Julius Caesar…The Greek Tycoon…Who Is Killing The Great Chefs Of Europe…The Devil’s Crown…Force 10 From Navarone…The Hunchback Of Notre Dame…Pennies From Heaven…The Phoenix And The Carpet…Disraeli…Betting Coup…Edward And Mrs Simpson…Lillie…Kean…Accident…Victims…Prince Regent…The Voyage Of Charles Darwin…Turtle’s Progress…The Dancing Princess…Plain Murder…The Perfect House…The Loser...Matilda’s England… The Ribos Operation…The Armageddon Factor…The Beginning…The Weapon…Blow Out…The Secret Army…Rumpole And The Course Of True Love…Cygnus Alpha…Space Fall…Hazell…Spies…When The Actors Came…Get Some In…Destiny…Enemy At The Door…It Aint Half Hot Mum…Reginald Perrin…Grange Hill…Bloomers…Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em…General Hospital…Les Dawson Show…Ronnie Corbett Show…Lennie Bennett Christmas Special…Freddie Starr Show…Bruce Forsyth Show…Commercials In 78…Barclays Bank…Beer…Double Glazing…Whitbread Beer…Safety...St. Bruno…Harpic…Worthington Beer…

1979

A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square…Hanover Street…Silver Dream Racer…The Bitch...The Spaceman And King Arthur…A Man Called Intrepid…Yanks…Quadrophenia…

Tinker,Tailor, Sodier Spy…Ike…Birth Of The Beatles…Pride And Prejudice…Suez 1956...Saint Joan…Dreams Of Leaving…Murder Rap…My Son My Son…One Of The Boys…Crime And Punishment…Danger UXB…The Professionals…The Two Ronnies…Ace Pews...Fawlty Towers…Out Of The Past…Fox…Strike…The Fat…Fear Of God…Funny Man…The Threepenny Opera…Horse In The House…Shada…No Councillor…On The Move…A Horseman Riding By…Don’t Forget To Write… Butterflies…Q9… Target… Shoestring…Faith Brown Show…Les Dawson Show…This Is Your Life, Jack Higgins…Commercials In 79…Gertcha…Allied Brew…London Transport…Bradforb And Bingley...Indecoop (Leeds)…Skoll…Flora…John Player…Club Tonic…

1980The Long Good Friday…Raise The Titanic…Hopscotch…Breaking Glass…Elephant Man.The Human Factor…Flash Gordon…Superman II…Rough Cut…Heavens Gate…Dying Day...Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde…Oliver Twist…The Chelsea Murders…Henry IV Part One/Two…Henry V…Hamlet…Love In A Cold Climate…The Borgias…Black Beauty…Meglos…Adelaide Bartlett…The Death list…Goodbye Darling…Born And Bred…The Buccaneers...I Woke Up One Morning…Thames Report::Country man…The Gentle Touch…Billy…The Enigma Files…End Of Part One…Enemy At The Door…The Chinese Detective…Bergerac…A Walk In The Forest… McKenzie…Little And Large Show…Not The 9:00 News...Alas Smith And Jones…Les Dawson Show…

1981Eye Of The Needle…Dragonslayer…Outland…An American Werewolf In London…For Your Eyes Only… Ragtime…Reds…McVicar…History Of The World Part 1…Raiders Of The Lost Ark…Britannia Hospital…Antony And Cleopatra…Citizen Smith…Day Of The Triffids…Nobody’s Perfect…Oppenheimer…A Question Of Guilt…Flickers…Enigma Files II…The Diary Of Bridget Hitler…A Winters Tale…The Merchant Of Venice...Lord Byron…Potter…The Jail Diary Of Albie Sachs…Seconds Out…Blood Royal…Nanny...Maybury…Newsnight…Yes Minister…Strangers…Three Of A Kind…We’ll Meet Again…Coming To Dinner…The Party’s Over…Casablanca Was Never like This…Dawson Watch...It Aint Half Hot Mum…Only Fools And Horses…The Chinese Detective II…The Frankie Howard Show…Mike Yarwood Christmas Show…

1982

Great Expectations…Victor/Victoria…Ivanhoe…The Hunchback of Notre Dame…Krull..Evil Under The Sun…Who Dares Wins…The Wall…The Missionary…Juliet Bravo…Privates On Parade…The Winds Of War…Fanny By Gaslight… Easter 2016...King Lear...Two Weeks In Winter…The Girl On The Train…Goodbye Mr. Kent..Holding The Fort…Walter…Castrovalva…Love Story…Q.E.D….Starstruck…Troilus And Cressida…Widows…Sea Of Faith…Force Of Four…A Blue World…Big Brother… Mitch… That’s Life…Facelift…Murphy’s Mob…Spooners Patch…On The Line…The Agatha Christie Hour…Chandlertown...C.B.T.V. 1…. Kelly Monteith Show…Kenny Everett Show…

1983

The Sign Of Four…Return Of The Jedi…Octopussy…Runners…Saigon…Forever Young..The Prisoner Of Zenda…The Citadel…The Old Men At The Zoo…Reilly Ace Of Spies…Macbeth…Beau Geste…The Falklands Factor…Blood Royal…The Young Ones…Number One…Strangers And Brothers…Storyboard…The Brief…The Gathering Seed…Spyship…The Beggar’s Opera…Birds Of Prey…Cockles… Games…Parminter… Taggart…Cowboys…Smart Money… Minder…Auf Wiedersehen Pet…New Entertainer Five…Lenny Henry Show…Kenny Everett Show…Alas Smith And Jones II …C.B.T.V. II…Strongbow Commercial…

1984

Lassiter…Where Is Parsifal…Champions…Top Secret…The Little Drummer Girl…The Zany Adventures Of Robin Hood…Superman III…1984…Squaring The Circle…Cold Warrior…Ellis Island…Master Of The Game…A.D…Bleak House…King John…Early One Morning…Oscar Wilde…Lytton’s Diary…Magnox…Juliet Bravo II…Inside Out...Gone to Work…Magnum P.I. …Scarecrow And Mrs King…The Optimist…Big Deal…Cash And Curry…C.B.T.V. III…The Bill…Minder…Crimewatch…The Kenny Everett Show...The Two Ronnies…Pop Promo…

1985

Young Sherlock Holmes…Dance With A Stranger…The Holcroft Covenant…13 At Dinner...A View To A Kill…Water…Space Vampires…Morons From Outer Space…Deceptions…The Doctor And The Devils…Florence Nightingale… Laughterhouse… Plenty…The Chain..Dreamchild…The Bride…Lady Jane…Hitler’s S.S….Shadey…Titus Andronicus…The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission…Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy…Pickwick Papers...Oliver Twist.( BBC )…Wynne And Penkovsky…By The Sword Devided…Prospects…Late Starter…In Sickness & In Health…Brass Tacks…Eastenders (First ever episode)...The Bill…Dempsey & Makepeace…Girls On Top…Terry & June…Robin Of Sherwood…

Strike It Rich…Minder…1936…Sun Newspaper Commercial…Hideaway BBC.

1986Mona Lisa…If Tomorrow Comes…Dead Man’s Folly…Highlander…The American Way…Family Ties Vacation…Lost In London…Fords On Water…Murrow…Paradise Postponed…Mrs Capper’s Birthday…The Baker Street Boys…Tripods…Help…The Singing Detective…Mary Queen Of Scots…Chance In A Million…Edge Of Darkness...King…Cousin…O.S.S. …All In Good Faith…All At Number 20…A Fairly Secret Army…Big Deal…One By One…Up The Elephant & Round The Castle…Rockliffe’s Babies…C.A.T.s Eyes…

1987

Hellraiser III…Little Dorrit…The Forth Protocol…84 Charing Cross Road…Duet for One...Empire State…The Princess Bride…The Attic…Cause Celebre…A man Of Sorrow…

A Sort Of Innocence…Blind Justice…Inspector Morse…Brush Strokes…Thin Air…Casualty…King & Castle…Hi De Hi…

1988

Appointment With Death…Hawks…The Fear…The Bourne Identity…Vanity Fair…South Of The Border…Paradise Club…Brownie Points...Eastenders…London’s Burning…Inspector Morse II…Batman…A Tale Of Two Cities…The Manageress…Against The Odds…Intuition…Home James…

1989London’s Burning II…Inspector Morse III…Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less (You will notice that the film and TV work is getting less but it’s because I’ve started up a business and I’m concentrating on that with just the odd film job)

1990Closing the Net…Shelley…London’s Burning III…Inspector Morse IV …King Ralph…

1991Hope It Rains…Eastenders…

1992The Bill…Casualty…Eastenders

1993

Goodnight Sweetheart…Inspector Morse V…Q Milligan…Eastenders…

1994

Stick With Me Kid…The Knock… Crime Watch…Eastenders…

1995

Mary Reilly…First Knight…Loch Ness…In Hitler’s Shadow…Our Friends In The North…Kavanagh Q.C…Eastenders….

1996Mission Impossible…101 Dalmations…Evita…Incognito…Mojo…Sharman…True Blue…London Suite…Friday Night Armistice…Holding On…Thief Takers…Bramwell…Silent Witness…Inspector Morse V1…Eastenders…

1997Wilde…Ivanhoe…Diana & Me…The Man Who Knew Too Little…Fairy Tale A True Story.The Jackal…A dance To The Music Of Time…The Apocalypse Watch…Supply And Demand…Kavanagh Q.C. …An Unsuitable Job For A Woman…Eastenders

1998

See How They Run…Trial And Retribution…Silent Witness…In The Red… Entrapment… Eastenders…

Well that’s it. Thirty Two years of my life in a few pages but stick with it because now I’ll tell you about some of the films and the people I’ve worked with…Including...

Hitchcock, Sir Larry, Cagney, Wayne, Curtis Steiger, and many more..

Did I enjoy my thirty two years, I’m going to tell you about it, then you tell me..

Read on McDuff…

Home Page www.harryfielder.co.uk

Contents

[willan]

Harry

There must be a book in you after 32 years of being an actor/extra. When can we expect the biography, it should make interesting reading.

[harryfielder]

Willan, there is a book you can read for free on my web.

Now I need a ghost writer to put a cover on it.....



Aitch,

[Private Widdle]

Me and another 300 London based Territorial Army soldiers did a night's work at Ally Pally in Wood Green as extras in '1984' which starred John Hurt. We worked from 22.00 on the Friday night until 06.00 on the Saturday morning and was paid the princely sum of £20. I played a 'prole' in a couple of crowd scenes that were filmed and by careful editing it appeared that there were 3,000 people in the crowd. These scenes occupy all of about a minute of actual screen time.



Despite this, I'll admit that I like to drop into conversations, that I appeared in the last film made by the late, great Sir Richard Burton.

[essaljay]

I worked for a recording company that had premises within Shepperton film studios as well as my usual place of work in the west end of London. Whilst in Shepperton helping to install a new mixing desk a grey-haired gentleman came in and asked if we could help out. He had extras for a film scene but not enough and could we come and help “pad it out”. We took all of .2 of a second to decide and followed him to the other side of the lot. Through Dickensian London where “Oliver” was filmed to a sound stage where quite a few people were already gathered from other parts of the studio. To cut a long story short the man was Ken Russell and the film was “Tommy” and I will always remember that I was part of the “Pinball Wizard” scene. I can’t remember what we got paid if at all but we did get a nice lunch and I was in so much trouble for doing it!