How I became an Extra or Background Artiste

Before you read on, a couple of useful links: Brookside (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2350) | Liverpool's TV and Film Industry
(http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=785)
Being an Extra or a Background Artiste always appealed to me ever since I became a student and had plenty of time on my hands between juggling my studies and a part time job in Tescos. The perceived excitement of it all, caught my interest and I began my quest to become an Extra. Being in-experienced I was eager to find a route in and was quickly ripped off by an agency willing to interview me for a fee of 60 quid and put me on their books for two years. I never heard from them again http://www.ijobsblog.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif

It was at my lowest point I felt I had nothing to loose and decided to phone up an agent as a last resort. I contacted Toner Casting Ltd, Unit E6 Brunswick Business Centre Brunswick Way Liverpool L3 4BD who advised me never to pay to get on anyone’s books and she was willing to see me. I raced down, had a quick interview and within a week, I received a phone call for parts in Brookside, Hollyoaks, Grange Hill, Al’s Lads, David Copperfield, The 51st State and The Story of Seffan Kischo.

All filmed in and around Liverpool, often refered to as The Hollywood of The North of England. Liverpool is the most filmed city outside of London and has a booming TV and film industry.

I would advise anyone contemplating entering the business never to pay to go on anyone’s books and also be aware of the low pay and long hours. I was once on-set for 14 hours filming Al’s Lads, was paid a flat fee and was given my taxi fare home at 3am!

http://static.flickr.com/1/131527499_35d6c3e75e.jpg

By far, my most memorable experiences came whilst filming The 51st State with Robert Carlyle and Samuel L Jackson. So much happened in such a short space of time, I could be here all day telling you about the stories http://www.ijobsblog.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif
I have kept an image gallery of me in various costumes at different times over the past six years. I was even included on the front page of the Liverpool Daily Post!

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Here are clips of me and Mrs Kev in the background on Brookside.

Clip 1: Here's what you are looking for, me on the right at the end of the clip.

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cupvJWHVaw0)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/452038086_966157e1fb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452038086/)

Clip 2: Here's what you are looking for, Collette walking past and myself. Don't blink!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/222/452038102_3fc3a36d03.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452038102/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/452051783_12187c330a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452051783/)

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJRbW1WIA3A)

Clip 3: Here's what you are looking for, my ugly mug pulling faces at the singing, then Collette chatting away in the background!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/452038140_ea280d7a50.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452038140/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/242/452051865_4a79c0ff37.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452051865/)

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBiN0c1Gv5g)

Clip 4: Here's what you are looking for, me and Collette chatting in the background.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/453789467_7f994163ec.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/453789467/)

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpmVKlRuWZc)

===============================================

Clip 5: Here's what you are looking for, me leading a group of lads up the street on a night out in Manchester. I'm the one who turns towards camera and waves at the others....

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/453789437_f011aa88f3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/453789437/)

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7_IWJlX-Es)
================================================== =======

Here's some pics:

Various images of Liverpool on film:

http://static.flickr.com/56/131530440_a1c34003b3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131530440/)

http://static.flickr.com/45/131530439_967a66e12c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131530439/)

http://static.flickr.com/52/131530438_3d77a726df.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131530438/)

http://static.flickr.com/53/131530437_33be26b29d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131530437/)

http://static.flickr.com/45/131527500_a90eae9d8a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131527500/)

http://static.flickr.com/1/131527499_35d6c3e75e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131527499/)

http://static.flickr.com/1/131527497_91603bbbaf.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131527497/)

http://static.flickr.com/47/131527496_ca28db0f9d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131527496/)

http://static.flickr.com/52/131532043_6eb358bd3a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131532043/)

http://static.flickr.com/44/131532036_0a56e09c44.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131532036/)

http://static.flickr.com/52/131532035_1bc4aa2b25_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131532035/)

I've read the post and looked at the pics. Brilliant Kev! :D

Thanks, that second pic is me on the front of The Daily Post.

Kev thats so cool:)

must have been really good

whish i could do it

Kev thats so cool:)

must have been really good

whish i could do it

U can, phone an agent in town, look in the yellow pages for casting agents or somthing.

but im ugly:PDT_Aliboronz_11:

that does look fun though:rolleyes:

Kev the 2nd pivture....is that near Faulkner street?

we used to watch them film there..brilliant how they transform the street.

Kev the 2nd pivture....is that near Faulkner street?

we used to watch them film there..brilliant how they transform the street.

I think it was Catherine Street

^^Correction: It was Canning Sreet.

I know where you mean now.

cool pic.

Kevs the artful dodger:PDT_Piratz_26:

Kev, do Toner Casting have a lower age limit? My son attends theatre school and has an agent and is interested in this type of work but is only 14?

I couldnt say but there were kids (with parents also involved) in many of the larger productions I've done.

Here are clips of me and Mrs Kev in the background on Brookside.

read more (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8162&postcount=3)

Clip 1: Here's what you are looking for, me on the right at the end of the clip.

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cupvJWHVaw0)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/452038086_966157e1fb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452038086/)

Clip 2: Here's what you are looking for, Collette walking past and myself. Don't blink!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/222/452038102_3fc3a36d03.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452038102/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/452051783_12187c330a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452051783/)

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJRbW1WIA3A)

Clip 3: Here's what you are looking for, my ugly mug pulling faces at the singing, then Collette chatting away in the background!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/452038140_ea280d7a50.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452038140/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/242/452051865_4a79c0ff37.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452051865/)

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBiN0c1Gv5g)

Hey thats wicked mate, Your so lucky.

How did you get into do that?
Also when you speak in thwe background do you actually really speak or just move your mouths? how did the scene work?

Were about was that bar?
Thanks Kev for sharing the clips and pictures!

Hey thats wicked mate, Your so lucky.

How did you get into do that?

I joined an agency years ago in town. My first job was Brookie, then David Copperfield for the BBC, then more Brookie, Hollyoaks, Al's Lads, 51st State, Grange Hill.......pics here (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8162&postcount=3)


Also when you speak in thwe background do you actually really speak or just move your mouths? how did the scene work?

You have to mouth the words which is weird the first time u do it because it silent apart from the actors, even music is put in afterwards as is background noise, chatting etc....


Were about was that bar?
Thanks Kev for sharing the clips and pictures!

The Parade is/was situated around the back of Mersey TV's headquaters, Campus Manor, Childwall.

ALREADY POSTED AT THE START OF THE THREAD: The original thread merge didn't work as planned :)

================================================

How I became an Extra or Background Artiste

Before you read on, a couple of useful links: Brookside (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2350) | Liverpool's TV and Film Industry
(http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=785)
Being an Extra or a Background Artiste always appealed to me ever since I became a student and had plenty of time on my hands between juggling my studies and a part time job in Tescos. The perceived excitement of it all, caught my interest and I began my quest to become an Extra. Being in-experienced I was eager to find a route in and was quickly ripped off by an agency willing to interview me for a fee of 60 quid and put me on their books for two years. I never heard from them again http://www.ijobsblog.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif

It was at my lowest point I felt I had nothing to loose and decided to phone up an agent as a last resort. I contacted Toner Casting Ltd, Unit E6 Brunswick Business Centre Brunswick Way Liverpool L3 4BD who advised me never to pay to get on anyone’s books and she was willing to see me. I raced down, had a quick interview and within a week, I received a phone call for parts in Brookside, Hollyoaks, Grange Hill, Al’s Lads, David Copperfield, The 51st State and The Story of Seffan Kischo.

All filmed in and around Liverpool, often refered to as The Hollywood of The North of England. Liverpool is the most filmed city outside of London and has a booming TV and film industry.

I would advise anyone contemplating entering the business never to pay to go on anyone’s books and also be aware of the low pay and long hours. I was once on-set for 14 hours filming Al’s Lads, was paid a flat fee and was given my taxi fare home at 3am!

http://static.flickr.com/1/131527499_35d6c3e75e.jpg

By far, my most memorable experiences came whilst filming The 51st State with Robert Carlyle and Samuel L Jackson. So much happened in such a short space of time, I could be here all day telling you about the stories http://www.ijobsblog.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif
I have kept an image gallery of me in various costumes at different times over the past six years. I was even included on the front page of the Liverpool Daily Post!

================================================== =======

Here are clips of me and Mrs Kev in the background on Brookside.

Clip 1: Here's what you are looking for, me on the right at the end of the clip.

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cupvJWHVaw0)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/452038086_966157e1fb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452038086/)

Clip 2: Here's what you are looking for, Collette walking past and myself. Don't blink!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/222/452038102_3fc3a36d03.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452038102/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/452051783_12187c330a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452051783/)

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJRbW1WIA3A)

Clip 3: Here's what you are looking for, my ugly mug pulling faces at the singing, then Collette chatting away in the background!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/452038140_ea280d7a50.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452038140/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/242/452051865_4a79c0ff37.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/452051865/)

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBiN0c1Gv5g)

Clip 4: Here's what you are looking for, me and Collette chatting in the background.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/453789467_7f994163ec.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/453789467/)

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpmVKlRuWZc)

===============================================

Clip 5: Here's what you are looking for, me leading a group of lads up the street on a night out in Manchester. I'm the one who turns towards camera and waves at the others....

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/453789437_f011aa88f3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/453789437/)

Click here to view the clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7_IWJlX-Es)
================================================== =======

Here's some pics:

Various images of Liverpool on film:

http://static.flickr.com/56/131530440_a1c34003b3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131530440/)

http://static.flickr.com/45/131530439_967a66e12c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131530439/)

http://static.flickr.com/52/131530438_3d77a726df.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131530438/)

http://static.flickr.com/53/131530437_33be26b29d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131530437/)

http://static.flickr.com/45/131527500_a90eae9d8a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131527500/)

http://static.flickr.com/1/131527499_35d6c3e75e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131527499/)

http://static.flickr.com/1/131527497_91603bbbaf.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131527497/)

http://static.flickr.com/47/131527496_ca28db0f9d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131527496/)

http://static.flickr.com/52/131532043_6eb358bd3a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131532043/)

http://static.flickr.com/44/131532036_0a56e09c44.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131532036/)

http://static.flickr.com/52/131532035_1bc4aa2b25_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131532035/)

After reading your post Kev, one line from the Royle Family came in to thought 'It'll take him 10 minutes to get in the bloody car his head is that big' :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Nice to see you on the small screen though Sir!

My claim to fame has been

'On the Waterfront' - some saturday morning show when I was about 10.

And erm singing on Songs of Praise in the RC Cathedral when I was about 12 :PDT11

And I appear in one of the photo's of the latest Liverpool Cathedral book on the end of a bell rope!

Kev, thanks for showing us the clips :D :handclap:

http://static.flickr.com/1/131527499_35d6c3e75e.jpg

I hope the police did the right thing and locked this ragamuffin up and threw away the key. Liverpool is bad enough without this type knocking around.

:)

Yeah, we're always complaining about these hooligans :D

I extra work once but I probably wasn't shown.

Maybe my hand was as I was a hand double too. The stuff they use for blood Is terrible to get off, It's some kind of food colouring and syrup I forget.

It was that Dead Mans Cards I think It's called, I shouldn't of done It but my mate asked me to go with him but he never told me It was free work and waited ages In a bus eating Cereal In Duke Street.:Smiliz_Kingz_PDT_13

They paid for a cab home at 4am and my mate had to be In college for 9:30 am haha.

Waited 12 hours only to walk across that small street off Duke Street where the Russian restaurant Is and then some costume dude asked me to do a hand double for one of the main people In It.:Smiliz_Kingz_PDT_13

Couldn't do that again.:Smiliz_Kingz_PDT_13

Who/What were you in "A Life for a Life", Kev ?

I was a 'prisoner' supposedly locked away with the main character. We spent a whole day at Risley Remand Center which was a weird experience. Loads of stories from the guards and we had to get in there before the morning time because the route we walked meant walking between two prison blocks.

Then I had a free rein of the old prison areas and empty cells. I wish I had taken my camera then :rolleyes:

The prison uniform I wore was the same one Daniel Day Lewis wore in that film he was in....In the name of the father.

Hi Kev

Is this you?

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0112701/

Chris

That's mad looking at you in all of them Kev.:p

I was an extra in Business as Usual made in Liverpool
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800042701/info

Chariots of Fire
Did try for this but was too young
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082158/

I was an extra in Business as Usual made in Liverpool
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800042701/info

Chariots of Fire
Did try for this but was too young
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082158/

I had that on VHS but totally lost it in the loft, could be still there. Mankind will probably never know...

Kev can you give me some advice on how to break into doing extras work locally? I did some extras work in Wales and have accidentally been an extra in liverpool before but, as I said, it was only accidentally. I am an actress, but I am just looking for a bit of extra and fun work ^_^'' HELP....someone? plllleeeeeeaaase!!!?

There are plenty of agencies in Liverpool, just don't pay to get onto people's books.

heres a photo of me from about 1983 when I was in Jimmy McGovern's City Echos at the Playhouse (I'm second left)
photo is a bit damaged though:disgust:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94/robbo176/cityechos2.jpg

Here's a few more pictures from Filming The 51st State:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/131527495_30b5a0a98b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131527495/)

My mini on set:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/131532041_dfc087cf82_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131532041/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/131532040_262a240583_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131532040/)

Samuel L Jackson on the steps of India Buildings:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/131530442_b257d0aa56_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131530442/)

Samuel L Jackson on the steps of India Buildings rehearsing the escape sequence:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/1/131530441_41973a353c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131530441/)

Call Sheet for filming in the Yew Tree Pub, it was kitted out a s a Manchester United Supporters Club and every actor in the scene as a Man U Supporter was a scouser, including me:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/131527498_0533f980c2_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/131527498/)