An agency for movie extras is holding open days in Dublin this weekend, but what do you get for your €99 joining fee, asks CONOR POPE
IF YOU'VE ever dreamed of appearing on Crimecallor downing (pretend) beers in the Fair Citylocal – and let's be honest here, who hasn't – you will probably want to head for Dublin's Westbury Hotel this weekend, where an extras casting agency is holding open days.
Once you hand over your registration fee at the Movie Extras event, they will pop a bit of make-up on you, take your photo and before you know it, you could be playing the part of “shocked onlooker number two” or “bar-fly number seven”.
It's not just Crimecallor Fair Citythat's up for grabs, of course. Play your cards right – and by that we mean stand around, and do and say absolutely nothing – you could find yourself playing the role of a deliriously happy Eircom or Vodafone customer.
Or, maybe, just maybe, you'll get to be in the background of ITV's Primevalor the historical drama Camelot.
One year’s membership of Movie Extras is €99, while a family of six can get a package for €299. But do you get anything for your money other than a vague promise of being able to rub shoulders with some stars off the telly? And does the €99 represent good value for money?
Unsurprisingly, Derek Quinn, director and co-founder of MovieExtras.ie says it is a great deal. He admits that people are unlikely to make their fortune as extras and that most people who register do it for “a bit of craic and to see what goes on behind the scenes”.
According to Quinn, the “most important thing is that people can do what they are told on set”. He says some 80 per cent of his extras will get work in the first 12 months, although he cautions that the “chances of getting a staring role in an ad are slim”.
Even if you do hit pay dirt and land the lead part in a TV ad, you’ll probably net around €3,000. A baby can expect a third of that but, then again, all they have to do is look adorable.
Once you’ve joined the agency, more than 400 companies and casting directors have access to your profile and can contact you for work as an extra, model, actor or for promotional work.
Ronan Johns (21), a student of photography, has been an extra with the agency for four years. He has been on Fair City"loads of times" and on The Tudors, but his biggest role was as a garda killed in the line-of-duty for an RTÉ production called Garda ar Lár.
He also earned €2,000 for a brief appearance in an O2 ad.
“When I first started, I was getting more work, but as more people have signed-up with the site, I haven’t being getting as much. It is casual work. . . whenever it comes, it comes.”
Sitting in McCoys for eight hours will earn you €77, but then again Bella might say hello to you and sure that would be beyond priceless.
