Become a TV star, hear the cherished “Lights, camera, action!”, sign autographs at fan meetings and pose for the paparazzi on the red carpet. Everyone has a chance to participate in the filming of a movie, series, TV show, clip or advertisement.
How to get into the crowd, is the work of the viewer and actor adequately paid? crowd scenes and can a few seconds in the background become a springboard for acting career? We figured out these issues, and at the same time we talked with permanent members crowd scenes about their work and impressions.
You can sign up as a guest for some major TV projects directly on their official website. This is how they recruit, for example, viewers for the filming of the Channel One show " Evening Urgant” – http://urgantshow.ru/form (you will find a viewer form by clicking on the link, after filling it out, you will receive confirmation and details about the shooting time by e-mail).
But to use for the employment of the group in social networks Experienced actors do not recommend:
“Groups of extras and filming on VKontakte - they cannot be trusted. Offers came, I went through auditions, getting into different roles (not just extras), but in most cases it was a “scam”, they say: “Sorry, you suit us, but you have to pay so that we can film you.” It makes no sense to look for VKontakte, only through film studios or knowledgeable people”, - says a student of the acting college Danila.
Naturally, the bulk of the offers on all these sites applies only to Muscovites, since the shooting takes place at Moscow television studios or in the capital's clubs, and ends very late. Less, but still a lot of offers for extras actors in St. Petersburg, in other cities of Russia, shooting is carried out much less often and extras are not recruited there very often.
Are mass scene actors paid?
Price tags for participating in mass scenes of movies or TV shows range from 600 to 1000 rubles, less often they offer large amounts (as a rule, more than a thousand are paid for playing a passing role with a cue).
You can also earn extra money by participating in the filming of television programs - both as guests on a talk show, and as spectators in the hall. Here they pay from 150 to 600 rubles, less often they offer large sums. Approximately the same prices for participation in the shooting music videos, commercials.
To participate in paid shootings, as a rule, it is necessary to go through a casting at least in absentia - from a photo, and also exactly match all the parameters presented by the employer (height, clothing and shoe size, hair length and color, appearance type, nationality, and so on).
Such castings are held infrequently, more and more often now they are limited to simply selecting by photo through e-mail and Internet forums.
“The requirements for extras are not as high as for episodic and leading actors, but still, you always need to give yourself 100% - suddenly you will be noticed, some of the directors will like you. Although some extras actors hack, because they think that this is not a role. And at the same time, such actors are still waiting for grandiose roles! Even if you have a small role, you need to play it in such a way that everyone will remember it!” - Mikhail tells us about his experience of participating in the filming of the detective series "Maryina Roshcha", "Next" and others.
Although there are many paid vacancies in this area, according to all the actors of the extras, it is incredibly difficult to earn a living from such work, if not even almost impossible. The filming process requires from all the actors constant full concentration, a long wait, the exact execution of all the instructions of the director, and food and rest for extras, as a rule, are not provided.
“The extras at the Fashion Sentence are given 500 unfortunate rubles for 12 hours of filming. Many grandparents living nearby were in the studio during this time without normal food precisely because of this money, ”Diana on the shooting of the Fashion Sentence program for Channel One.
“Those who spent time filming two programs were paid 300 rubles each. On the set, I met people who only earn money from this. They are hardened, to some extent “their own” in Ostankino, they are known by sight by the organizers - impartial aunts who gather people for shooting and call them to inform them about the time of the next filming, ”Marina on the filming of the program“ Closed Screening ”for Channel One .
“It’s stupid to do this for money. Only perhaps out of love for art or the desire for dubious fame, ”- Anastasia about filming in the film“ Tsar ”.
“Many of my friends manage to fully provide for themselves on such earnings. I'm really not one of them, "- Victoria about filming in the youth television series" Club "," father's daughters"," Do not be born beautiful "and others.
Extras: who are all these people and why are they here?
“Some kind of movement started here, and the organizers began to gather a column of people. My friend and I got into it. But then a whisper ran through the column: “They don’t take us! Don't take this column!" Somehow, instantly, my friend and I met two other girls, grabbed hands and ran to the end of that moving column. For some reason no one stopped us. And we passed quietly. The next day at school, everyone admired us, because many really did not get on the set. And good. They would die there, like us, ”Sofia about the filming of the film“ Shadow Fight ”.
Who plays all these restaurant goers, concert goers, silent waiters, postmen, taxi drivers, shop assistants, and just passers-by on the streets? The most ordinary people, most often students, and not necessarily theater universities, and pensioners. Movies and series constantly require extras, and therefore getting on the set is not a difficult task. True, it’s worth considering right away that, as a rule, this is employment for the whole day - from the very morning until 10-11 pm, and therefore, working 5/2 full time or studying full-time, it’s not so easy to find an opportunity to participate in filming - something simple.
- What is the selection criteria? I ask the man in the bright orange shirt and blue tie.
- Yes, who will like it, who matches the color. Like scenery, each artist has a certain color.
- No, but what to do? That's work! The camera is looking at you, you have to smile, laugh, make them laugh. You are working for them! They turn on the soundtrack, the artist comes out, and you clap and smile, and then shout: “Happy New Year!” No one cares that you're not having fun at all. You have to be funny to THEM, otherwise get out!”
“When I went there for the first time, I was very interested in the filming process itself, so I sat in the front row and watched the work of cameramen and lighting more than what the director, Urgant and Gudkov were talking about. Although when Ivan appeared and somehow suddenly appeared above my head, I almost fell off my chair, ”- Diana on the filming of the Evening Urgant show for Channel One.
“You get valuable experience with the camera: you learn to be natural, but at the same time attentive, focused on the task set by the director. It's not as easy as many people think, it all takes some getting used to. Yes, and I was able to make many acquaintances on the set, useful connections will not hurt! - Mikhail about the experience of participating in the filming of the detective television series "Maryina Grove", "Next" and others.
“Since I went to the shooting of a TV show for the first time, I wanted to dispel a certain myth of show business for myself. See how it's all filmed, how auditorium, seen by me on the screen, corresponds to reality on film set how interested people are in the show, how lively their reactions are. Well, to see Vanya Urgant, of course. The shooting was a pleasant surprise: Vanya's jokes are funny, and live music from the Fruit group gives optimism, and the audience around is sincerely happy, ”- Anastasia on the filming of the Evening Urgant show for Channel One.
Do expectations match reality?
“The studio looks cardboard, frankly, drawn out and boring, although the heroines of the program really look shocked, and Evelina Khromtchenko looks very professional. But the most important disappointment: voting for the best clothes is fictitious, ”- Diana about the filming of the Fashion Sentence show for Channel One.
“I have such a negative from our world of cinema that, having no professional training, I went to work as a gymnast in a circus. Just to be further away. Although castings often interest me - as a means of self-examination," - Irina about filming in the film "Above the Sky".
“The first thing that caught my eye when we sat down in our seats were the screens above our heads, on which instructions for actions appeared:“ laughter ”,“ applause ”, - Tatiana about filming the Evening Urgant show on Channel One.
“We sat on some plastic benches, after which it is quite difficult to straighten up. Well, and the most important disappointment - we went to the "Closed Screening" in the hope of watching a good movie, and at the same time listening to the opinions of critics and knowledgeable people. But it was not there. They showed us the screensaver of the film company. Then there was a pause. And titles. Like, it's time and honor to know, guys, ”- Marina about the filming of the program “Closed Screening” for Channel One.
“I don't get as much enjoyment from TV series as I would from feature films. According to rumors, in a big movie there is a completely different organization, more and more seriously, strictly, on a large scale, a very large film crew is working. I would like to immerse myself in this atmosphere, non-stop work inspires me, ”- Mikhail about his experience of participating in the filming of the detective television series Maryina Roscha, The Next.
What is difficult in the work of extras?
The long wait, the lack of proper food, the need to follow the director's instructions exactly. Many are also frustrated by the fact that the actors of crowd scenes have almost no opportunity to communicate with famous partners on the set.
“They showed us only the credits, but we listened to three hours of philosophizing of the guests and the presenter. Filming of the first program has ended. As it turned out, the second program was supposed to be filmed next, which, of course, we were not warned about. We were angry and hungry, that's why we blew ourselves home…”, - Marina about the filming of the program “Closed Screening” for Channel One.
“Sometimes they bring you to the shooting in the winter at ten in the morning, keep you until the subway closes, then for several more hours you wait for your fee and no one thinks to add something to the taxi: “Why? The metro will open in an hour and a half,” Victoria on filming in the youth television series “Club”, “Daddy's Daughters”, “Don't Be Born Beautiful” and others.
“For extras, the instruction is to sit straight, do not cross your legs and clap on command. You are a mannequin. You do not have a special role, you should be, but imperceptibly and in the way the director needs. At first, everything is interesting, you delve into the process, notice the details. After two hours it’s already difficult to sit the way you need to,” Ksenia on the filming of the program “Let's Get Married!” for Channel One.
Attitude towards extras in the acting workshop
For many, being in the crowd is a great start to an acting career. True, there are cases when the actors have a dismissive attitude towards extras actors. What is it connected with? with their own behavior.
“For a penny to walk passers-by, on background stand - deserves respect. But there are also mass actors who, by an incredible accident, received small episodes and begin to build stars out of themselves, ”- Rinat, a professional actor.
“Fed and okay. Whether you are cold, whether you are uncomfortable, nobody cares. You are not actors, you are extras. You are easily replaceable and not important in the frame. If one girl or boy left or didn’t come, then the missing people are sometimes recruited directly from people passing by - you don’t even have to pay money to them, ”Veronika, actress of mass scenes.
Witness what's left behind the scenes!
Everyone knows that dozens of takes of the same scene are often filmed, seeking different reactions from the actors, choosing the right light, creating the right emotions ... To see all these episodes and find out what is left behind the scenes is another privilege of extras.
“It was in Anapa on the set of Yeralash. It sounded “Camera, motor, start!” and the guys - "resting children's camp" began to fight with pillows. The director of the camp came, whose role he played famous artist Anatoly Zhuravlev. When he began to speak his line, a pillow flew at him and hit the Safit. The soffit fell on Zhuravlev - it was not planned. Although he did not receive any serious bruises, the shooting stopped for that day, as he refused to continue to act in film ... ”, - episode Michael about the filming of the Yeralash TV magazine.
“The presenters encouraged, especially Guzeev. She plays funny doubles and talks with the director on absolutely everyday topics, for example, she discusses with him who will go on vacation where, ”Ksenia about the shooting of the program“ Let's Get Married! for Channel One.
Actor's Career Ladder
Many actors start their careers by participating in the filming of movies, TV shows and commercials as extras. This is what the whole pyramid looks like:
extras– participants in staged mass scenes, as a rule, are non-professional actors.
extra- a separate participant in the crowd.
Episode- an actor who plays a separate small role, possibly with a text, but his character is not a significant character in a film or series.
Often: episodic recruits for the filming of serials. For example, distant relatives of the main and secondary characters who appear only in one series are the roles of episodic characters, waiters in a new restaurant or random companions of episodic characters, any random characters who met in only one series are episodic characters.
Heroes of the second plan– permanent characters movie or series that play essential role in the development of the plot, repeatedly appear on the screen, have a film background, their images are worked out in detail by the screenwriters.
Often: stars of the first magnitude play supporting roles, because often secondary characters have a specific character, their images are vivid and memorable. For the performance of supporting roles, prestigious film awards are awarded, including the Oscar.
the main role- the pinnacle of an actor's career.
Can work as an extra be a step towards fame?
Leonardo DiCaprio He began his career playing bit parts on Roseanne and Lassie's New Adventures before landing a larger role on another soap opera, Santa Barbara.
Orlando Bloom He began his career with episodic roles in the television series "Accident". It is worth noting that Bloom by this time had an acting education.
With a 15-second appearance in the Fire Department tape, she began her career and Julia Roberts, who played tiny roles in little-known films for several years before she was able to attract the attention of producers and land roles at least in supporting roles.
Keira Knightley Since childhood, she has acted as an extra, participated in many TV shows and received episodic roles in TV shows.
Sergey Bezrukov first appeared in films as a homeless child in the film "Stalin's Funeral", his last name is not listed in the credits. Only after repeated participation in filming as an actor in mass scenes, Bezrukov began to receive offers to play supporting roles.
Cinema about cinema? Yes!
The life story of an unemployed actor named Andy Millman, who all his life dreamed of breaking into a big movie, but so far only achieved a place in the crowd, tells series "Massovka". For all those who want to learn more about the life of extras actors and look at all the vicissitudes of this profession from the outside, it is recommended to watch this series!
Channel One show, revealing the amazing talents of children.
Air time: Sundays at 19:30.
On the launch of casting as part of a large-scale entertainment and educational project " The best» Channel One announced in October 2016, and already at the beginning of November, the start of the show was announced under the slogan “We found those born to win.”
On November 2, 2016, on the eve of the start of the project on Channel One, it became known that the host of the show " The best"There will be a famous showman Maxim Galkin.
A selection of videos with gifted children appeared on the channel's website, including videos of a dexterous tennis player hitting the ball with eyes closed; young trickster, simultaneously spinning on index finger a pot and a basketball; a boy and a girl who move their ears and eyebrows to the music, etc.
A similar show - "Amazing People", which is an analogue of the world-famous The Brain project, started on September 25, 2016 on the Russia 1 channel. Everyone who has unique talents was invited to participate in it, with no age restrictions.
The best. About the show
In project " The best» young Russians, whose age ranges from three to twelve years old, are given the opportunity to make themselves known throughout vast Russia.
Each of the participants in the program certainly has outstanding abilities. For example, he sings great songs or dances beautifully, skillfully shows tricks or professionally stands on his head, deftly mints the ball or easily conducts a dialogue with adults. In a word, children can do something amazing and bright, and they also dream of a big stage.
As part of the project in the studio of Channel One, young talents demonstrate extraordinary abilities in sports, creativity or science.
The first episode of the show The best"Viewers of Channel One saw on November 6, 2016. Opened the six-year program Stephan Otto, who can already be called a real ballet dancer, because the kid danced on the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater and the Musical Hall. Stefan does not know what a fee is, but he demonstrated his talent with pleasure, and also taught Maxim Galkin several steps.
Also in the first issue, the audience saw: 11-year-old roller skater Sofia Bogdanov from Moscow; very serious 5-year-old geographer Timofey Georgievich Tsoi who knows all the flags of countries and the capitals of states and asked Galkin to call him on you; the most jazz and virtuoso saxophonist 9-year-old Sofia Tyurina from Balakovo, who played "Flight of the Bumblebee" at a frantic pace; a fan of Brodsky and Maldenshtam, a princess silver age and the 6-year-old queen of ardeco Nicole Plievu, which charmed not only the presenter, but also everyone who was in the studio; talented 5 year old singer Victoria Kim from Vladivostok.
Completed the first episode of the show The best» four year old Anna Pavlova, who dreams of becoming an artist and knows that for this "you need to plow like a horse." Anya, in principle, didn’t really need the host Maxim Galkin on stage either - she played the violin, told poetry with different emotions, walked to her mother and Sergey Zhilin, who was sitting among the audience.
Three-year-old Misha Osipov, who lost a chess game to ex-world champion Anatoly Karpov last fall and wept bitterly on stage about it, is the undisputed leader in the number of views on the Internet. Misha's dad said that his son's interest in chess hatched at 2.5 years old. “My grandfather and I played, and Misha could stand near us for an hour, watching, asking what the pieces were called and how they walked,” Yury Osipov recalled. “I thought that his curiosity would be enough for exactly a week, but when three months passed and the passion did not pass, I realized: I need to hire a specialist.”
We found an experienced rapid chess teacher who has been training Misha for over a year four times a week for an hour and a half. “And my son also became interested in online chess,” mother Ksenia shared with TN. - We registered it on one popular resource, and now Misha is enthusiastically playing with some chess player from Malaysia. Along the way, he studies geography, examines a map, remembers the names of countries and capitals. Misha is not taken to the kindergarten, they work with him at home. AT free time he teaches mathematics and is not averse to playing football, but chess is still a priority: Misha is seriously planning to become a world champion.
Three-year-old Misha Osipov is the leader in terms of the number of views on the Internet ... He was very upset when he lost a program to ex-world champion Anatoly Karpov on the air. Photo: press service of Channel One
The son of the ex-member of the Strelka group Anastasia Kovaleva Timofey Tsoi began to surprise his mother literally from the cradle. “At 1 year and 7 months, when the son still did not really speak, he himself learned the alphabet. He came with a book, pointed to the letter and waited until I told you what it was called, - recalls mother Nastya. - I learned to read at the age of 2 years 10 months, and at first I read in reverse side and now his favorite game is to say long words backwards."
Timofey Tsoi learned the capitals and flags of states on his own, without any pressure from adults ... Photo: Channel One press service
... And after the broadcast, the boy, along with his mother, was invited to the ceremony of presenting the Russian Prize geographical society, where he shocked Vladimir Putin with his knowledge.Photo: press service of Channel One
Three-year-old Miron Dovgan from Chelyabinsk melted the hearts of viewers when he put on a hat with bunny ears, climbed onto a stool and sang several songs in a duet with Maxim Galkin. “Miron sang at the age of one,” his mother Anna told. “He still couldn’t speak, only in his gibberish, but he brought out the melody clearly.” For "Best of all!" Miron prepared a long poem about a little hare, but everything went wrong on the set. Mirosha categorically refused to read the prepared verse, he was suddenly drawn to music. First, the child sang “Samba of the White Moth”, and then suggested that Galkin play “On the Louboutins”, but Maxim delicately said that this one, perhaps, should not be sung.
Three-year-old Miron Dovgan was supposed to read a poem about a bunny ... but suddenly changed his mind and sang Meladze's Samba of the White Moth. Show host Maxim Galkin had to support the soloist. Photo: press service of Channel One
Eight-year-old Yaroslava Degtyareva from the mining town of Gukovo, Rostov Region, first became famous in the children's Voice. The song "Cuckoo" by Viktor Tsoi, which Yasya performed last year at "blind auditions", has already collected 28 million views! When the girl was five years old, she and her parents got into a terrible car accident. Scars from shrapnel on his face, knitting needles in his leg - Yasa had to learn to walk again. Her mother Olesya was worried that her daughter would develop complexes due to injuries and scars, and enrolled Yasya in the Inspiration children's vocal studio, where the girl became the lead soloist at the age of six.
On the air "Best of all!" Yaroslava performed "The Show Must Go On" Queen, which she also learned for "Voice". The performance turned out to be spectacular and memorable, the hall rose to its feet in unison. “The best performer of the Rostov region and the owner of a velvet timbre” already has a huge fan club. It is not easy for children to endure fame and popularity: in an interview with Maxim Galkin, Yasya slightly arrogantly announced that behind the scenes she refused to sit next to girls dressed up like fairies. “I'm a rocker,” Yaroslava explained, straightening the sleeves of her leather jacket.
Eight-year-old Yaroslava Degtyareva became famous in the children's "Voice". And now she has a huge fan base. Photo: press service of Channel One
But who has not yet been spoiled by fame is three charming accordionists from the city of Kokhma, Ivanovo region, Milan (10 years old), Snezhana and Steshana (9 years old) Kolmogortsevs. Girls from a large family, they also have an older sister and a younger brother. The application for participation in the children's talent show was sent by their dad. Girls, like all gifted people, showed the ability to do a lot: first they drew, then they danced, and then they were noticed music teacher and put together a team of virtuoso accordionists from the sisters.
Music teacher Nadezhda Isaeva immediately saw the hidden potential in the laughter girls. “I first show other children, and then I rehearse a hundred times,” Nadezhda Vyacheslavovna admitted. Not so with sisters. I will show them, see in their eyes that they understood, and I can leave the work, because I know for sure: they will finish it at home. The sisters are incredibly similar to each other. “The secret of the success of daughters is in their daily work,” the father is convinced. - They do a lot. They plow."
According to the father of Milana, Snezhana and Steshana, three sisters from the Ivanovo region, the secret of their daughters' success is in their daily work. Photo: press service of Channel One
In Torzhok, 5-year-old Sasha Kravchenko has long been recognized as a child prodigy. A little talent is fond of chemistry, physics, mathematics and even cosmology. “Sasha always showed interest in things that were not characteristic of his age,” said mother Lydia. - In a year he learned the letters. I started counting at two. Always ran ahead of the locomotive. At the age of 4, Sasha saw chemical experiments and became interested in them. The periodic table turned up, I began to study it on my own. I am not qualified in this field. I had to help and buy “Elements. Theodore Gray's Guide to the Periodic Table.
Sasha wanted to take part in the TV show himself - he likes public speaking. Mom recorded on video how her son promises to tell the audience Fermat's theorem and the Big Bang theory if he is invited to "Best of all!". TV workers called back as soon as they received the questionnaire. For Sasha, they arranged an incredible surprise: he played with Dmitry Dibrov in the game "Who wants to become a millionaire?" and won 3 million ... sweets. When the child saw a suitcase full of sweets, he was sincerely upset - Sasha dreamed of real money. "Why do you need money? Dibrov asked imprudently. “You’ll still waste all of them on sweets.” “No,” Sasha answered sadly, “I would buy an apartment in Moscow and move from Torzhok.”
Sasha Kravchenko from Torzhok played with Dmitry Dibrov in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and won 3 million ... sweets. Photo: press service of Channel One
No rehearsals
On the shooting of the show "Best of all!" children flew in from the USA, Canada and even from Australia. After each issue, editors receive between 50 and 200 casting requests. First, everyone is asked to send a video, and only after that they are invited to a face-to-face meeting at the Ostankino television center. If the child cannot come, they communicate with him via Skype. It takes about two weeks to make scenery, select costumes and music. Two days before filming, the children come to Mosfilm and get acquainted with the studio. No one rehearses on stage in advance, except perhaps only athletes: the editors take care of the first emotional reaction of the children. And none of the children meet with the host, Maxim Galkin, in advance either, so his dressing room is specially equipped in the opposite wing.
On the "First" started casting for popular show children's talents. It is enough to fill out a questionnaire and wait for an invitation from the producers.
Channel One announced the casting for children's show"The best!"
“Best of all” is a show in which a child demonstrates to others everything he is capable of. However, it is important not only to be able to amaze with talents, but also to have a “suspended tongue”.
“If your child shows extraordinary creativity, sports or science. If he sings better than others, dances, stands on his head, shows tricks, mints a ball, or knows how to do something bright and amazing. If he feels comfortable in a dialogue with an adult, dreams of a big stage and is ready to take part in the new project of Channel One! Take part in the casting! Fill out the form on the Channel One website! – call the authors of the program.
The project leader was Maksim Galkin who easily found an approach to young participants. And the children who appeared in the project have already become all-Russian celebrities. Three year old chess player Misha Osipov brought genuine tears of tenderness from the audience. But real star last season without a doubt became a charming cook Polina Simonova from Lyubertsy, who captivated the public with a serious approach to cooking Olivier salad and her pink bonnet.
The TV show "Voice of Children" gathered a multi-million audience of viewers. No less number of children dream of entering the competition and reaching the final, demonstrating their singing abilities and creative potential to the whole country. The highlight of this program is that popular vocalists audition the casting children blindly, with their backs turned to the children. Last season accepted more than 120 thousand applications from children different ages, but only 1,000 people went on the air. And few of the viewers realize how much it costs to participate in the voice of children for their parents.
The cost of participation in the transfer
According to the parents of children who have already participated in the vocal television competition "Voice of Children", the creators and leaders of the project do not require any money to get on the stage. In order to go through all the stages of casting, the child must be creatively developed and talented. This will require prior training in music school or vocal lessons, which today no one provides for free. Therefore, the question of how much participation in the project costs is still relevant.
Vocal lessons in different cities of Russia cost completely different things, ranging from 300 rubles per hour to several thousand hourly pay from a tutor. The expenses of parents can also include accommodation and food for them and the child in Moscow during the participation in the show. Again, the experience of previous participants showed that for the existence in the capital for the period of participation will require from 150,000 to 300,000 rubles.
Secondary costs
In addition to living in Moscow and feeding the child by parents, they will need to independently select and buy outfits for their child. One suit will cost parents about 10,000 rubles. No make-up or make-up is allowed, the stylist of the show does not allow this on stage. children's competition. It is better for parents to stock up on finances in advance for the future equipment of the child in case of passing the competition.
During the period of participation in the voice, children are forbidden to get sick. No one will give a deferral for sick leave, so parents need to stock up on medicines in case of emergency. If the child does not have author's songs in his repertoire, they can be ordered, the cost of one will be about 40,000 rubles.
In general, the costs of parents for the successful participation of the child in the show "Voice of Children" will include the following costs:
- vocal lessons;
- author's songs;
- outfits and costumes;
- future residence in the capital;
- child health support is in order.
According to an interview with the mother of 13-year-old Voice of the Children participant Kristina Tashkinova, as a result of her passing the competition for television, her parents had to spend a little less than a million rubles.