Directing Extras

Learn how to find extras, the right way to direct them, how to cheat them on set, liability concerns and how to avoid them, logistics on the shooting day, and the most common problems filmmakers encounter when working with extras

Directing Extras

Developed by Jason Tomaric, FilmSkills
ABOUT THIS LESSON
Movies have long used extras to breathe a sense of realism into a scene.  Extras are non-speaking actors who populate the background of a diner, a stadium or a store to more closely recreate real life. For a filmmaker, extras are a great tool to have.

In this module, you will learn how to find extras, the right way to direct them, how to cheat them on set, liability concerns and how to avoid them, logistics on the shooting day, and the most common problems filmmakers encounter when working with extras.
 
Whether you’re working with thousands on a battlefield or just a small handful in coffee shop, create a realistic backdrop of life for your scene.
  • 29:54 video that walks you through every step of how to find and work with extras on set
  • Complete resource guide
  • Downloadable Extra Release Form
  • Downloadable Crowd Release - Studio Audience
  • Downloadable Crowd Release - Public Notice
  • Downloadable Group Release Form
  • Downloadable Background Talent Voucher
  • Reference for Extras from the film, "Time and Again"
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
  • How to cast extras
  • How to cheat extras to increase their numbers on screen
  • Logistics the day of the shoot
  • Liability issues and how to avoid them
  • How to direct extras
ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
Jason Tomaric

Jason Tomaric

Director, Cinematographer Los Angeles, California
Jason J. Tomaric is an Emmy, Telly, and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer of four internationally-distributed feature films, dozens of national television commercials, music videos, and the largest film training content library in the world, published author of 8 books - used in many top universities, and creator of AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform. 
 
Jason has worked in Los Angeles and around the world in over 20 countries. His clients include Disney, NBC/Universal, National Geographic, McDonald’s, Toyota, Scion, Microsoft, and Paul Mitchell, with narrative work screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and South by Southwest film festivals as well as on Netflix and on all broadcast networks.
 
Jason has taught and/or guest lectured at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA, Columbia College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, San Francisco State, University of Notre Dame, and numerous film festivals.
 
Jason has written eight industry-defining books, all sold in bookstores, and used in film schools around the world. The American Society of Cinematographers hails Jason's books - "There are no wasted words in Tomaric's tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director's craft.  It's difficult to think of a step in the process that Tomaric fails to address." 
 
Jason’s DVD training series on Hollywood film production have trained filmmakers in over 40 countries, with distributors in Europe, Hong Kong, New York and Australia.
 
In 2010, Jason launched FilmSkills, which combines the world’s largest film training video library with his proprietary learning management system.  Adopted by 47 universities within the first year, FilmSkills is now the leading industry-standard training solution for motion picture and television production.
 
In 2015, Jason launched AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform that bridges the gap between academia and industry.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS LESSON
Brad Sussman

Brad Sussman

Actor, television personality

Broadcast professional with 25 years experience in TV news (primarily Weather). Been a VO artist since high school, using my skills on everything from :30 radio spots to voicing membership campaigns for National organizations.


Mattel, Wild Planet, National Voice for the ALS Association. Voice, On-camera work and branding for the numerous Radio & TV stations. Voice for several concert tours (back when we used a razor blade & block to edit tape), Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, Ringling Brothers, Positively Cleveland, and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.

Dr. Timothy Burke

Dr. Timothy Burke

Superintendent, Perry School District
Dr. Timothy Burke was our instrumental point of contact when we shut dow portions of Perry High School to transform itinto the furturistic world in my feature film, "Clone."
Jeff St. Clair

Jeff St. Clair

Cleveland-based Actor "Clone", Commentor WKSU
Jeff is an accomplished Cleveland-based actor and has starred in the post-apocalyptic thriller, "Clone."
Johanna Jensen

Johanna Jensen

1st Assistant Director, "Northern Exposure", "Adventures of Brisco County Jr.", "8 Simple Rules", "Off Centre", and "According to Jim"
Johanna has had an extensive television career as both a 1st and 2nd Assistant Director. Her credits include 100 Questions, Roomates, The War at Home, Rock Me, Baby, My Big Fat Greek Life, 8 Simple Rules, Off Centre, According to Jim, Stark Raving Man, Northern Exposure, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., Law and Order, and Rambling Rose.
Josh McLaglen

Josh McLaglen

Producer "X-Men," DGA Award Nominated 1st Assistant Director, "Titanic," "Avatar," "X-Men: First Class,” "The Polar Express," and "Real Steel"
Josh McLaglen graduated from UCLA in 1980 with a major in History.  After working with his father, director Andrew McLaglen, as a stuntman and a production assistant, he joined the DGA in 1984. He worked as a 2nd AD with his mentor Duncan Henderson on several films.  In 1987 he became a 1st AD on the TV mini series, AMERIKA, and his current film, REAL STEEL, marks Josh's 40th film as a First Assistant Director.  In 2002, he started working in a dual capacity as a Co-Producer/1st AD and now works as an Executive Producer/1st AD. Josh has had the pleasure of working with accomplished directors such as current DGA President: Taylor Hackford, as well as Robert Zemeckis, Francis Lawrence, Michael Bay, Shawn Levy and James Cameron.  He's been nominated twice for the DGA Award: AVATAR in 2009 and TITANIC which he won in 1997.  Josh is one of the industry's pioneers of the motion capture technology and has the distinct honor of having the two highest grossing films of all time: #1 (Avatar) and #2 (Titanic) on his resume.
Maria Battles Campbell

Maria Battles Campbell

2nd Assistant Director, "Avatar", "Reel Steel", "X-Men: First Class", and "Boogie Nights"
Days after graduating from the DGA Assistant Director’s Training Program in 1996, Maria began her first of many features & TV shows as a 2nd AD on the acclaimed film “Boogie Nights” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Throughout the next several years, Maria worked with some of the best 1st AD’s in the business & such esteemed directors as Mike Nichols, William Friedkin, Ang Lee, Francis Lawrence, Robert Zemeckis & James Cameron. But it was Maria’s experience as Key 2nd on the ground-breaking “Avatar”, which taught her the most detailed elements of filmmaking & VFX, especially as her role changed to 1st AD for Additional Photography & 2nd Units. Most recently, Maria just completed her role as Key 2nd AD for her long-time mentor & 1st AD Josh McLaglen on Director Shawn Levy’s “Real Steel”.
Matthew Feitshans

Matthew Feitshans

1st Assistant Director, "Total Recall," "Tombstone," "Army of Darkness", and “Remember The Titans”
Matthew Feitshans graduated from the University of Southern California Cinema School in 1991 with a degree in screenwriting, although his career in the film industry began long before that.  As a young teenager he held jobs as production assistant every summer on films produced by his father, Buzz Fetishans.  By 1993 at the age of 23, Matthew had earned a place in the Director’s Guild of America and has worked on several films in the capacity as Assistant Director, including “The Forbidden Kingdom,” “The Last Legion,”  “The World of Tomorrow,” “The Last Castle,” “Remember The Titans,” “Kull, The Conqueror” “Shadow Conspiracy,” “Beverly Hills Cop III,”  “Tombstone,”  “Army of Darkness," “Trading Moms,” “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story,” “Prancer,” “Timebomb,”  and “Total Recall."
 
Beginning in 2006, Matthew assumed responsibilities as VP of Development for Raffaella Productions, Inc.  Projects under his supervision currently include: MacGyver, with New Line Cinema; What Happened To Monday?, with Vendome Films; Killer Pizza with Chris Columbus and 1492 Films; and the upcoming production Vivaldi, starring Luke Evans, Jessica Biel, and Sir Ben Kingsley.
 
Ray Szuch

Ray Szuch

Owner of North Coast Central Casting
North Coast Casting helps actors, stunt people and crew find work, while assisting filmmakers and independent producers cast and crew their projects and providing acting audition information to members.
Richard Korby

Richard Korby

Production Sound Mixer, Music Tour Manager
Richard Korby has had an extensive career in both film, commercials and live music.  With several features under his belt, nearly a dozen television commercials and managing some of country music's top artists, Richard has fine tuned audio for audiences around the world.