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Chris Cullari is a writer/director based out of Los Angeles. His most recent film, THE AVIARY, is available for streaming on Paramount Plus and Showtime. You can find him tweeting about monsters, pro-wrestling, and horror movies.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
Paying background actors can be a complex and time consuming task, especially when dealing with both union and non-union talent across different categories. Whether you're producing a feature film, television series, or commercial, understanding the proper rates and requirements for background actors is crucial for your production's success and compliance.
Below, we break down everything you need to know!
Background actors, often called extras or extra actors, are the performers who bring the world to life behind your main cast. If your scene takes place at school, on a street, in a business, or anywhere people gather, you’ll almost certainly be employing at least a handful of these actors.
It depends. Not all background actors are the same. They fall into several distinct categories, each with their own pay scales and union considerations:
These performers make up the majority of your background talent, and are used to perform basic walking or sitting actions and don't require special skills or training.
Think crossing the street or ordering a salad.
These background performers possess specific skills needed for particular scenes, such as driving cars, swimming, or dancing. Their specialized abilities command higher rates than general background actors.
Photo doubles stand in for principal actors in long shots or scenes where the principal actor's face isn't visible. They must closely match the principal actor's physical appearance and proportions.
These photo doubles might also have special abilities that your principal actor doesn’t, such as playing piano or drawing a sketch. Since their rates are already set higher than extra actors in the “special ability” category, these skills can be used on screen for no additional pay.
Stand-ins work directly with the production team during setups, standing in place of principal actors for lighting and camera positioning. This type of background actor needs to match the principal actor's height and general appearance, but doesn’t generally appear on screen.
If they do, special attention must be paid to their rate, as detailed below.
Each of these categories of extra actor is protected by SAG-AFTRA and comes with its own set of pay rates that SAG signatories must abide by.
Keep in mind that if a background actor is featured in a wet or smokey environment, their rate will increase. In addition, rate increases are imposed if a shoot lasts 11–15 hours (2x pay), or if a shoot lasts 16 hours or more (one day’s pay per hour).
Make sure to check SAG’s Background Rate Breakdown Sheet if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Non-union background actor rates vary significantly depending on the production type, location, and market conditions. Unlike union work, there are no guaranteed minimums or standardized rates.
According to an article in Backstage, non-union background actors can expect to make somewhere between $100 and $200 a day. If you are a non-union producer hiring a background actor, it can still be advantageous to pay as close to union wages as you can afford.
If you try to negotiate rates that are too low, you run the risk of upsetting talent or attracting extra actors with little to no experience.
As noted above, union background actors must receive overtime pay according to SAG-AFTRA regulations. After eight hours, they receive time and a half, and after 11 hours, they receive double time.
While you are not required to pay overtime for non-union talent, it may be in your favor to maintain similar overtime structures to preserve parity and fairness on set.
In addition to these guidelines, there are a handful of other considerations that you should be aware of when hiring background actors—especially on union-governed shoots.
Union rules mandate at least a half-hour meal break for both your main cast and extra actors every six hours.
Failing to take these breaks on schedule will result in penalty payments that can quickly inflate your budget. When working with large groups of background actors, these costs can multiply rapidly. Smart scheduling of background actors around meal breaks becomes crucial for controlling these expenses.
Transportation costs come into play when filming locations extend beyond the standard zone radius, typically 30 miles from a designated city center.
At this point, productions must provide either round-trip mileage reimbursement or transportation services. For large groups of background actors, you may find it more cost-effective to arrange shuttle services rather than pay mileage to each individual background actor.
The SAG website also notes that any extra asked to furnish their vehicle for photographic purposes must be paid $.30 per mile to and from the location with the producer’s studio as a starting point.
While there are no specific SAG rules governing parking payments, you’ll most likely want to arrange secured parking areas or handle parking garage fees for background actors. If you don’t, your shoot may be delayed by anywhere from a handful to hundreds of background actors trying to find their own parking on the street or other areas.
If your shooting location is remote, you may also want to arrange for shuttle service to and from the set.
If you are a SAG signatory, there are a number of other rules to keep in mind surrounding the compensation of background actors.
For a full list of SAG rules and regulations regarding background actors, please reference SAG’s Background Actor Digest.
Whether you’ll be employing union or non-union talent, make sure all your extras all sign an Extra Agreement that establishes the formal working relationship between themselves and your production.
Essential elements of this agreement include:
Make sure to download our Extra Agreement template to get this important paperwork started on the right foot!
The other critical document you’ll need to have your extras sign is an Extra Appearance Release.
This document is what allows you to secure the extra's permission to use their likeness, image, and performance in your production. Without it, you can’t show them on screen!
It should include language that:
Of course, we’ve got an Extra Appearance Release template that you can download right here to help you get started.
Managing background actor payments requires careful attention to detail and proper documentation. From tracking various rate categories to ensuring compliance with union regulations, the right tools make a significant difference.
If you’re ready to streamline your background actor payroll, Wrapbook's platform can help you manage different rate categories, track additional expenses, and ensure proper overtime calculations.
