Background Acting Tips for Beginners: How to Succeed on Set

Whether you're preparing for your first background acting role or looking to level up your skills, understanding what’s expected of background talent can make all the difference. This guide breaks down everything you need to know from hair, makeup and wardrobe basics to common set terms and performance tips so you can arrive confident, prepared and ready to shine.

How to get camera ready: hair, makeup and wardrobe tips

A big part of background work is creating looks for set. If you're booked for the first time, this can seem a little daunting, but it's also a really fun part of being a background actor.

For most roles, you will be asked to come to set camera ready, which means arriving with your hair styled, makeup applied and wardrobe on. But how do you know what to wear and how to complete your look? All of that information will be sent to you as a booking details message by the casting director or production company. A top background acting tip from our casting directors is to always read your booking details fully and carefully so you know exactly how you’re expected to show up for work.

Here are some tips for arriving camera ready to a film or TV set:

• Hair: Whether you’re going for a simple updo or perfectly set curls, keep in mind that your hairstyle has to last for an entire day and survive the elements of where you’re filming. For instance, if the shoot is on location somewhere humid and your hair tends to frizz out in those conditions, you should consider a hairstyle you can easily maintain for the entire filming period. Though, as always, start with the instructions in your details when planning your hairstyle. Also, be sure to bring any items with you to set to keep your hair looking camera ready all day long.
• Makeup: While you may have a go-to makeup routine, it’s important to keep your role and the project in mind when applying your makeup for set. You may prefer a glam look no matter the situation, but that’s going to be out of place if you’re playing a Midwest elementary school teacher. If a role calls for a “natural look,” that typically means foundation, mascara and a light blush. For men, makeup is not usually a requirement, but a translucent powder is a good idea to control shine from set lights.
• Wardrobe: When it comes to matching your wardrobe to an established look, our casting directors’ tip for first-time background actors is to watch episodes or clips from the show. Pay attention to what the principal and background actors are wearing, the color palettes and the overall style. This can help give you sense of what the wardrobe department is looking for.

For projects set in other time periods or for specialty roles, the production may provide wardrobe for background actors. The casting director or production company will either include this information as part of the booking process or it will be included in your booking details, so if you’re playing a 1970s rock star, don’t just assume production will provide your costume.

There may also be roles where you’re asked to bring some clothing items while the production provides the rest. For example, if you’re playing a paramedic, the wardrobe department may provide the uniform, but ask you to bring a specific color t-shirt, socks and shoes.

Common set terms every background actor should know

TV and film sets have their own language, which can be confusing if you are new to working as a background actor and are unfamiliar with industry terminology. You are probably already familiar with “action” and “cut,” but there’s a lot more direction you’ll be given than just when to start and stop.

Get to know these common set terms so you understand the directions you’re given:

• Quiet on Set: This may seem pretty self-explanatory, but when “quiet on set” is called, you are expected to remain silent and still on your mark, waiting for the 1st AD to call the next direction.
• Take: A take is the time between “action” and “cut.” It’s typical for multiple takes to be filmed for each angle in a scene.
• Background: When "background" is called, that's the cue for background actors to begin their action. Remember your actions so you can recreate them take after take.
• Cross: A cross is movement that passes through the view of the camera. If the assistant director instructs you to do a cross, your path may take you directly in front of the main action in the scene.
• Back to One: "Back to one" is a cue to move back to your original position from the start of the scene. “Back to one” is typically what background actors will be instructed to do after “cut” is called.
• Wrap: When background actors are done for the day, they are “wrapped.” Never leave the set before a production representative, usually an assistant director or production assistant, has wrapped you.

If you are unfamiliar with a term you hear on set, ask your fellow background actors when you're not filming. Chances are you are working with someone who can explain it to you.

Acting basics for background talent

Just because background actors mainly appear in the background of scenes, doesn’t mean they don’t perform. Background actors are integral to setting the tone and action of a scene. Imagine you’re watching a rock concert. The shots of excited faces in the crowd bring the scene to life. Though if the crowd is calm and disinterested, it completely changes the meaning of the scene. Background actor reactions are one of many tools in a director’s arsenal to inform the audience about the story.

So how can you perform well as a background actor? Casting director Claire’s top acting tip is simple: never look directly in the camera. Looking directly at the camera is called “breaking the fourth wall” and is a sign of a rookie actor. When an actor or background actor looks at the camera, it takes the viewer out of the story and breaks the illusion of the film or TV show being its own world. While a director may have a principal actor look at the camera for narrative purposes, as a background actor, it’s something you should never do.

Background actors are usually given direction on set by a second assistant director, second second assistant director or a production assistant. They will tell you when and where to move in a scene or what your action is, which can involve interacting with the principal actor, pantomiming with another background actor or walking between two points on the set.

Have you ever watched a scene in a restaurant and wondered what the background actors are saying to each other? During filming, everyone on set, including background actors, need to remain silent so not to interfere with the dialogue being recorded from the principal actors. To create the look of real conversations, background actors will often mouth words like “watermelon,” “rhubarb,” or “peas and carrots.” On camera, these words mimic the indistinct chatter of restaurants, bars and other locations where people would be chatting.

Kickstart your acting career with background work

Are you interested in working as an actor, but aren’t sure where to start? Background acting is a great way to get a behind the scenes look at how movies and TV shows are made—all while getting paid to be part of the production.

At Central Casting, we book hundreds of background actors a day to work on movies, TV shows and a variety of other productions. Sign up for free today to get valuable on set experience and the chance to work on your favorite Hollywood productions.