Working as a Film and Television extra in Vancouver, BC

Thanks to Vancouver extras casting director Andrea Brown for information regarding the casting of background actors in Canada. Andrea Brown has cast dozens of top television shows and feature films including The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

The following information also applies to the other provinces of Canada.

In British Columbia, Canada, extras can be represented by "Extras Agents", which differ from Extras Casting Directors. Agents charge a 15% commission fee for their services, as well as a yearly photo fee of $25.00. Casting Directors such as Andrea Brown (who are contracted by the production company) hire the vast majority of their extras through Extras Talent Agents such as these reputable companies (only people LOCAL to the filming areas are generally hired):

A Tactical Actions Group
Blink Management

Boss Management

Def-Con-5

Golden Empire Talent

Hollywood North Extras

In Motion Talent

LJR Talent

Local Color

Muse Artist Management

NC Talent

Showbiz Management

Urban Casting

Valley Extras

There are two types of calls that extras talent agents make. One type of call is to book you for the job. The other type is to check your availability. It is common practice to check your availability before submitting pictures to the extras casting directors. A call to check when you are available is not a booking. If you are chosen by the extras casting director, the extras agency will call you back to confirm the booking. When They call to book you, they let you know the exact date(s) they need you. They usually call the day before you work, they rarely get much notice. When they call to book you, they need a yes or no, not a maybe-depending-on-the-time answer. When they are booking you they do not know the start or end time of the shoot. You need to be completely free on the day of filming with absolutely no other commitment. Under no circumstances can you be late to the set or leave early once you are on set. You will get a phone call later in the day from the production company, usually the second assistant director or extras coordinator, to give you the exact call time and location.

You must have a social insurance number or a work permit to work in Canada. More information regarding "Extras Agents" can be found here:

BC Ministry of Labour.

You can find information on how to obtain a Canadian Work Permit here:

How To Obtain a Canadian Work Permit

New York Extras Casting

The following are extras casting agents who do casting in the New York City area. It is a good idea to register with as many extras casting agents as possible.

Audience Associates/Big Crowds
3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Ste. 1152
Studio City , CA 91604
Phone: (818) 985-8811
Web: www.bigcrowds.com

Background, Inc.
601 W. 26th St.
Ste. M224
New York , NY 10001
Phone: (212) 609-1103
Web: www.bgroundinc.com

Barbara McNamara Casting, LLC
249 W. 34th St., Ste. 500
New York , NY 10001
Phone: (212) 645-6051
Web: www.barbmcasting.com

Bill Dance Casting
4605 Lankershim Blvd.
Ste. 401
North Hollywood , CA 91602
Phone: (818) 754-6634
Web: www.billdancecasting.com

Extra Connection
1382 Third Ave.
New York , NY 10021
Phone: (212) 472-6981
Phone 2: (212) 717-4277

Extra Extra Casting, Inc.
Phone: (212) 327-4685
Phone 2: (310) 552-1888
Web: www.extraextracasting.com

Extra Talent Agency
1133 Broadway
Ste. 1201
New York , NY 10010
Phone: (212) 807-8172
Web: www.extratalentagency.com

Grant Wilfley Casting
123 W. 18th St., Eighth Fl.
New York , NY 10011
Phone: (212) 685-3537

Mike Lemon Casting
413 N. Seventh St.
Ste. 602
Philadelphia , PA 19123
Phone: (215) 627-8927
Phone 2: (888) 991-0690
Web: www.mikelemoncasting.com

The Reel People Company
Phone: (212) 564-4141
Phone 2: (214) 890-0660
Web: www.reelpeoplecompany.com

Scott Powers Studios, Inc.
135 W. 29th St.
Ste. 404
New York , NY 10001
Phone: (212) 242-4700
Web: www.scottpowers.com/casting.html

Sylvia Fay Casting
71 Park Ave.
New York , NY 10016
Phone: (212) 889-2626

Winsome Sinclair & Associates
75 South Elliott Pl.
Second Fl.
Brooklyn , NY 11217
Phone: (212) 281-4044

Southern California Extras Casting Agencies

The following are extras casting agencies who do casting in the Southern California area. It is a good idea to register with as many extras casting agencies as possible. Please call for registration details:

AAA Urban Casting - Valencia, CA (661) 296-4970
Advanced Casting & Talent - Studio City, CA (323) 645-2327
Akimas Casting - Van Nuys, CA (805) 705-4110
Alice Ellis Casting - Venice, CA (310) 314-1488
Atmosphere Casting - Los Angeles, CA (888) 858-7090
AtWork Entertainment - Los Angeles, CA (323) 822-3288
Audience Associates/Big Crowds - Los Angeles, CA (818) 985-8811
Background Artists - Los Angeles, CA (888) 442-2867
Background Talent Services - North Hollywood, CA (818) 760-7090
Bill Dance Casting - North Hollywood, CA (818) 754-6634
Bump It Casting/Balyndah Bumpus - Los Angeles, CA (213) 700-5139
Burbank Casting - Burbank, CA (818) 559-2446
Caravan West Productions - Agua Dulce, CA (661) 268-8300
Carol Grant Casting - Fountain Valley, CA (818) 237-0282
Casting by Lila Selik - Los Angeles, CA (310) 556-2444
Sande Alessi - Sherman Oaks, CA (818) 201-0466
Central Casting - Burbank, CA (818) 562-2700
Christal Blue Casting - Hollywood, CA (323) 960-5057
Cline Entertainment - Apple Valley, CA (760) 242-5391
Combat Casting - Los Angeles, CA (310) 686-2718
Creative Extras Casting - Santa Monica, CA (310) 391-9041
Crowd In A Box Grover Beach, CA - 800) 427-6937
Debbie Sheridan Casting - Sherman Oaks, CA (800) 820-5305
Extra Extra Casting, Inc. - Los Angeles, CA (310) 552-1888
Gonzo Bros. - Santa Monica, CA (310) 828-4989
Headquarters Casting - Beverly Hills, CA (310) 556-9001
Hollywood OS - Burbank, CA (310) 277-3001
Idell James Casting - Pacific Palisades, CA (310) 230-9986
Jeff Olan Casting, Inc. - Sherman Oaks, CA (818) 285-5462
Magic Casting - Buellton, CA (805) 688-3702
Nandinee Productions - Los Angeles, CA (310) 876-0404
Prime Casting & Payroll - Hollywood, CA (323) 962-0377
Producer’s Casting Agency - Pacific Palisades, CA (310) 459-0229
Star Casting/Cheryl Faye - Valencia, CA (661) 510-3466
Ugly Models & Unique Characters - Sherman Oaks, CA (818) 222-9980

Film Commissions: State By State Listing

For inquiries regarding acting and extra work in your state and local areas, please check the nearest film commission office.

Alabama Film Office
401 Adams Ave., Ste. 616
Montgomery , AL 36104
Web: www.alabamafilm.org

Alaska Film Program
P.O. Box 110804
Juneau , AK 99811
Web: www.alaskafilm.org

Albuquerque Film Office
P.O. Box 1293
Albuquerque , NM 87103
Web: www.filmabq.com

Arkansas Film Office
One State Capitol Mall Fourth Fl.
Little Rock , AR 72201
Web: www.1800arkansas.com/film

Arizona Film Office
1700 W. Washington St. Ste. 220
Phoenix , AZ 85007
Web: www.azcommerce.com/film

California Film Commission
7080 Hollywood Blvd. Ste. 900
Los Angeles , CA 90028
Web: www.film.ca.gov

Governor's Office of Film & Entertainment
5426 Simpson Ave.
North Hollywood , CA 91607
Web: www.filminflorida.com

Georgia Film, Video & Music Office
75 Fifth St., Ste. 1200
Atlanta , GA 30308
Web: www.georgia.org

Hawaii Film Office
P.O. Box 2359
Honolulu , HI 96804
Web: www.hawaiifilmoffice.com

Idaho Film Office
700 W. State St., Box 83720
Boise , ID 83720
Web: www.filmidaho.com

Illinois Film Office
100 W. Randolph St., Third Fl.
Chicago , IL 60601
Web: www.filmillinois.state.il.us

Indiana Film Commission
One N. Capitol Ave., Ste. 700
Indianapolis , IN 462047
Web: www.filmindiana.com

Natchez Film Commission
640 S. Canal St., Box C
Natchez , MS 39120
Web: www.cityofnatchez.com

Kansas Film Commission
1000 SW Jackson St., Ste. 100
Topeka , KS 66612
Web: www.filmkansas.com

Kentucky Film Office
500 Mero St. 2200 Capital Plaza Tower
Frankfort , KY 40601
Web: www.kyfilmoffice.com

Governor's Office of Film & TV
800 Distributors Row, Ste. 101
Harahan , LA 70123
Web: www.lafilm.org

Montana Film Office
301 S. Park Ave.
Helena , MT 59620
Web: www.montanafilm.com

Nebraska Film Office
P.O. Box 98907
Lincoln , NE 68509
Web: www.filmnebraska.org

New Jersey Motion Picture Commission
153 Halsey St. P.O. Box 47023
Web: www.njfilm.org

New Mexico Film Office
P.O. Box 20003
Santa Fe , NM 87504
Web: www.nmfilm.com


New York
Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development
633 Third Ave. 33rd Fl.
New York , NY 10017
Web: www.nylovesfilm.com/index.asp

Michigan Film Office
702 W. Kalamazoo P.O. Box 30739
Lansing , MI 48909
Web: www.michigan.gov/filmoffice

Greater Columbus Film Commission
P.O. Box 127354
Web: www.columbusfilmcommission.com

Oklahoma Film & Music Office
120 N. Robinson, Sixth Fl.
Oklahoma City , OK 73102
Web: www.oklahomafilm.org

Ontario Media Development
175 Bloor St. East, South Tower, Ste. 501
Web: www.omdc.on.ca

Texas Film Commission
P.O. Box 13246
Austin , TX 78711
Web: www.texasfilmcommission.com

East Tennessee Television & Film Commission
17 Market Square, Ste. 201
Knoxville , TN 37902
Web: www.ettfc.com

Phoenix Film Office
200 W. Washington St.
Phoenix , AZ 85003
Web: www.filmphoenix.com

Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission
P.O. Box 640
Moab , UT 84532
Web: www.filmmoab.com

Metro Orlando Film & Entertainment Commission
301 E. Pine St., Ste. 900
Orlando , FL 32801
Web: www.filmorlando.com

Mississippi Film Office
P.O. Box 849
Jackson , MS 39205
Web: www.visitmississippi.org/film

Nevada Film Office Las Vegas
555 E. Washington Ave., Ste. 5400
Las Vegas , NV 89101
Web: www.nevadafilm.com

Yukon Film & Sound Commission
P.O. Box 2703
Whitehorse , YT Y1A 2C6
Web: www.reelyukon.com

Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission
312 Eighth Ave. North, Ninth Fl.
Nashville , TN 37243
Web: www.filmtennessee.com

Tupelo Film Commission
P.O. Box 47
Tupelo , MS 38802
Web: www.tupelo.net

City of Boston Film Bureau
City Hall, Ste. 202
Boston , MA 02201
Web: www.cityofboston.gov/film

Kauai Film Commission
4444 Rice St., Ste. 200
Lihue , HI 96766
Web: www.filmkauai.com

North Carolina Film Office
4324 Mail Service Center
Raleigh , NC 27699
Web: www.ncfilm.com

Oregon Film & Video Office
121 SW Salmon St., Ste. 1205
Portland , OR 97204
Web: www.oregonfilm.org

Pennsylvania Film Office
Commonwealth Keystone Bldg. 400 North St., Fourth Fl.
Harrisburg , PA 17120
Web: www.filminpa.com

Colorado Film Commission
1625 Broadway, Ste. 950
Denver , CO 80202
Web: www.coloradofilm.org

Vermont Film Commission
10 Baldwin St., Drawer 33
Montpelier , VT 05633
Web: www.vermontfilm.com

South Carolina Film Commission
1201 Main St., Ste. 1600
Columbia , SC 29201
Web: www.filmsc.com

Virginia Film Office
901 E. Byrd St., West Tower, 19th Fl.
Richmond , VA 23219
Web: www.film.virginia.org

Washington State Film Office
2001 Sixth Ave., Ste. 2600
Seattle , WA 98121
Web: www.filmwashington.com

West Virginia Film Office
90 MacCorkle Ave. SW
S. Charleston , WV 25303
Web: www.wvfilm.com

Wyoming Film Office
I-25 at College Dr.
Cheyenne , WY 82002
Web: www.filmwyoming.com

CT Commission on Culture and Tourism
805 Brook St., Bldg. 4
Rocky Hill , CT 06067
Web: www.ctfilm.com

Maine Film Office
59 State House Station
Augusta , ME 04333
Web: www.filminmaine.com

Maryland Film Office
217 E. Redwood St., Ninth Fl.
Baltimore , MD 21202
Web: www.marylandfilm.org

Rhode Island Film & TV Office
One Capitol Hill, Third Fl.
Providence , RI 02908
Web: www.film.ri.gov

South Dakota Film Office
711 E. Wells Ave.
Pierre , SD 57501
Web: www.filmsd.com