How can I be an extra in a Hallmark movie?
January 15, 2020 9:08 AM
I live in New England, and a lot of Hallmark Channel movies are set here. How can I be an extra in one of them?
I believe that various smaller production companies actually make the movies, and Hallmark only broadcasts them. Is there a central place to find out about casting calls in my area, that isn't scammy? (Or are these actually all filmed in Canada, so I am out of luck?)
I don't want to make a career of it, but I think it would be fun.
I believe that various smaller production companies actually make the movies, and Hallmark only broadcasts them. Is there a central place to find out about casting calls in my area, that isn't scammy? (Or are these actually all filmed in Canada, so I am out of luck?)
I don't want to make a career of it, but I think it would be fun.
Where I live there are a few casting agencies that are the go-tos for extras. Some focus solely on background talent, others have a broader remit. You just need to find out the names of these agencies and submit your contact info, headshot, measurements, etc. to their system. Typically when a movie or TV series is shooting in town, the local paper/free weekly runs a story or two about it—it's good local-interest content—and includes a link to the extra-casting agency. Try searching your local papers' websites for projects you know were shot in the area to see if they ran stories calling for extras. Those agencies are likely still around, and will accept your submission even if they don't currently have anything underway.
Most agencies have Facebook and Twitter presences as well, which they use to announce casting calls. Search for [your area] casting / background/ etc. There may well be a general-interest Facebook group for folks in the extras community too—it's a cliquish gig, and if you start doing it you'll meet the same faces again and again.
posted by mumkin at 9:42 AM on January 15, 2020
Most agencies have Facebook and Twitter presences as well, which they use to announce casting calls. Search for [your area] casting / background/ etc. There may well be a general-interest Facebook group for folks in the extras community too—it's a cliquish gig, and if you start doing it you'll meet the same faces again and again.
posted by mumkin at 9:42 AM on January 15, 2020
Boston Casting has an email list. A bit slow this time of year and pretty much no casting call announces what film or production company is looking, just need to go to the call.
There are definitely hallmark productions in the area, just ask a grip if you happen to walk by a shoot.
posted by sammyo at 10:15 AM on January 15, 2020
There are definitely hallmark productions in the area, just ask a grip if you happen to walk by a shoot.
posted by sammyo at 10:15 AM on January 15, 2020
Contact Mass Film Office. Sounds like a fun project.
posted by theora55 at 11:22 AM on January 15, 2020
posted by theora55 at 11:22 AM on January 15, 2020
Whattaya know, all the New England states have a Film Office!
NH
RI
CT (casting info here)
ME
Well, OK, not VT.
Also here's another portal for casting calls: https://newenglandfilm.com/classifieds/paid-casting-calls and https://newenglandfilm.com/classifieds/volunteer-casting-calls
posted by wenestvedt at 11:37 AM on January 15, 2020
NH
RI
CT (casting info here)
ME
Well, OK, not VT.
Also here's another portal for casting calls: https://newenglandfilm.com/classifieds/paid-casting-calls and https://newenglandfilm.com/classifieds/volunteer-casting-calls
posted by wenestvedt at 11:37 AM on January 15, 2020
I was just about to post the link for NewEnglandFilm.com (and you can also sign up to be notified by email when they have a need). There is also large TV/film studio in Devens, MA, called New England Studios that often needs extras, too - you might want to look there.
(As an aside, I can completely understand a love for New England and a desire to be a TV/film extra, but could I suggest that you don't support Hallmark in this way? Their movies purposefully exclude minorities, ignore non-Christian religions, disparage city dwellers, and the channel itself discriminates against LGBTQ in both shows and permitted advertising. Before rebranding, Hallmark was known as "Faith & Values Network," which was... probably exactly what you suspect it was. As you've seen in the answers so far, you have a lot of opportunities to do this with other companies!)
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:42 AM on January 15, 2020
(As an aside, I can completely understand a love for New England and a desire to be a TV/film extra, but could I suggest that you don't support Hallmark in this way? Their movies purposefully exclude minorities, ignore non-Christian religions, disparage city dwellers, and the channel itself discriminates against LGBTQ in both shows and permitted advertising. Before rebranding, Hallmark was known as "Faith & Values Network," which was... probably exactly what you suspect it was. As you've seen in the answers so far, you have a lot of opportunities to do this with other companies!)
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:42 AM on January 15, 2020
Here in Vancouver, BC there are flyers up on phone poles advertising for extras. My impression from the street signs and trans link busses in the background is that many are filmed here, but pretend to be New England (or New York. Or Seattle....)
posted by Valancy Rachel at 11:59 AM on January 15, 2020
posted by Valancy Rachel at 11:59 AM on January 15, 2020
(That is a very fair point, and one I hadn't considered when I made this post. In fact I posted on behalf of someone else -- but I think that's a good conversation to have with them. Thank you, NotMyselfRightNow!)
posted by wenestvedt at 11:59 AM on January 15, 2020
posted by wenestvedt at 11:59 AM on January 15, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
My impression is that a lot of these are filmed in Canada (and some in Atlanta) mainly to keep production costs low. You can find out where movies are shot in IMDB; you have to click on "More" just below the search bar and to the right of "IMDBPro", and then click on "Filming & Production". I just did a quick check for five movies airing today on the Hallmark Channel and here's what I got:
The Sweeter Side of Life - Bucharest, Romania (!)
Love at First Dance - Victoria, BC, Canada
The Story of Us - Unknown (IMDB is sometimes missing info)
A Winter Princess - Kelowna, BC, Canada
Love in Winterland - Kelowna & Vancouver, BC, Canada
I don't know if any of these movies are set in New England, though.
posted by mhum at 9:41 AM on January 15, 2020