5 Things Beginning Background Actors Should Know For A Film Role

I've only been in a handful of films ever - one was a never finished feature-length slasher, and two of the others were just general background roles. I'd really love to make a transition to more acting at some point. I'd never stop doing comedy though. I just think it'd be great to work in multiple mediums.

On Monday, I was a FEATURED (WHOA!!) BG, which is a step up from your average BG (Background) whom gets less camera time and generally no actors talk to you. I'm front and center though (...more back and to the left actually) and get to interact with some up-and-coming names. It was a great experience. It's also my first film credit as Dejay Patson, AND (even better) my first acting gig in Los Angeles! (Took me three weeks to pop that cherry. Time to #WhoreOut, but first...)

I figured I'd just share some things I've learned in my short experience, for anyone interested in getting into film. Some of this may seem common sense, but things get forgotten, and a lot of people learn by trial and error if they didn't go to film school. (no film school here, but I did take acting and directing classes.) So here are..

FIVE things beginning (background) actors should know for a film role:

1) Know your mark - where do you go on scene? Maybe it's marked with neon tape, maybe it's marked with a Styrofoam cup - budgets are cool. -- Just walking wherever you feel will get you the most camera time is a good way to get punched in your reproductive organs, or annoyed faces from cast and crew alike at the very least.

2) Know when to be at your mark - what line do you land on? Land there at that time, always (for continuity). The director won't always tell you when to land, but instead might rely on it to happen organically and later ask YOU when you land. If you don't know (like when I was first asked), people have to look back at previous shots and figure it out -- it's just faster and less of a headache for you to know when you land.

3) Pay attention to your mark - sometimes your mark gets moved, and if no one tells you, it could ruin the shot. Which, arguably is not your fault, but no one wants to be the reason a shot was ruined.

4) Play it the same way (aka Know your mark 2) - if you scratch your nose when the actor says, "And THIS guy's a piece of shit!" You need to do that EVERYTIME that line is said in that moment of the scene from EVERY angle that it's shot.

5) Don't be a shining star - The bigger picture is about the project, and you are a cog in the machine. Even starring actors understand that they need the cast and crew to make the whole project work. Everyone works hard to make films happen, and egos can be toxic on a film set. -- That said, maybe you're new and want to be seen or heard more than you are. You could take a chance and it could be your big break, but it probably won't be. Realistically, Spielberg isn't going to walk from behind a curtain starting a slow clap because you scratched your nose for continuity. Do what the director wants from you - it's their vision. You're a pawn. It's okay to be a pawn.

That's it! Well, there's more. There's a lot more. There's also a lot of etiquette stuff, which seems kinda strange, but it's there.

All jokes aside,

DeJay Patson

#FilmSetSelfie