Do to the overwhelming amount of emails that I get asking me to tell you guys what agencies you should join, I'd like to take this time to kindly direct you over to the ACTRA website. On top of that you should Google agencies, check out their social media pages, make sure that they have been around for a number of years and are active. With those tips you are off to a great start. I wish you all the best!
Well helllooo Roy!! You've landed on one of my older videos ahaha but there's plenty of new stuff coming up in this playlist :) I'm so glad you said hi, I hope everything's okay?
@@OliviaG I'm loving your content! I stumbled on this video because I was recently upgraded on set and began researching some acting tips, workshops and classes! Keep up the amazing wotk with the content!
@@OliviaG Thanks Olivia! It was on the set of 1UP. It happened so spontaneously, but I'm so glad it did. Really looking forward to continuing this journey now as a proud ACTRA Apprentice
Hey Olivia! I'm a union member based in Winnipeg at the moment and we submit our information directly to the background casting directors for each production (or they contact us personally). My main goal is to be acting, however roles are never guaranteed whereas receiving BG is quite frequent. So my question is: In Toronto do you rely on your agent to book you Background gigs as well as auditions for actor/principal roles? Or is there a separate agent you have to/can use for background gigs? Or is it possible to message background casting directly via email? Looking to eventually branch out to Toronto, but it is going to be a whole new world. Thank you! And great video :)
Thanks Jordan. In Toronto, bg agents are typically separate from principal acting agents. The good news is that you can múltiple background agents & bc you are a union member, it won’t cost you anything to join a bunch of agencies. Casting directors don’t usually book bg talent directly here unless you’re great friends or they know you and are in a pickle & will email you directly. Make sense? You can email casting directly but agents do NOT like that and I’m not sure if you’d even get a reply. Just food for thought (from my own personal experience). Hope that helps & let me know if you have any other questions!
@@OliviaG Thanks for getting back to me, Olivia! I do have a few more questions actually - if you don't mind. Are you still able to self-submit for roles on Casting Workbook etc if you have an agent? Also - what is your opinion on accepting too much BG work and building a reputation as only a BG performer? I've heard from a few people in Toronto that this is something to be aware of. However, if the acting agents and BG agents are different, I don't see how they could even know?
Thank you very much dear Olivia! Would you please recommend me the best few agencies in Toronto. What about Toronto Film Extras Agency, Morgan Rickman Talent ? Ml Talent Agency requires SIN number? I think it is not a good idea to give them SIN, isn't it? I will really appreciate for your response🌺.
Both agencies are legitimate agencies that have been around for years so either or will work. I’m not sure how Covid will affect things moving forward but both agencies want to meet you before taking you on as well. See if you can sign up for ML without putting a SIN number. You will have to write it down on your paperwork on set but I don’t think ML needs to have it. It’s been awhile since I’ve done it but I hope that helps you in the right direction. You can also look into Castmebg!
For background work I would say it’s pretty busy between spring to say early December. Although, each year is different. The Toronto Film and TV industry is only getting busier. But I do have to state that during the winter things slow down significantly. Not sure if that answers your question. Another factor is how many agents you have, the more you have typically the more chances for work you get... but again that’s not always the case. Hope that helps!
Yes that’s Toronto Film Extras and I can confirm that they are legitimate. However, they are one of the few agencies that requires you to join an additional database for approx $30 a year whereas other agencies don’t necessarily need that. Hope that helps!
Hi Olivia, What do you think about these two casting agency's, "B casting talent agency" and "Twins Talent agency" both are based in Toronto..Thank you! JD..
Hi Olivia! My wife and I live in Toronto too. Just wondering which agency you signed up with or recommend for background work? Thanks so much for this informative video.
Hey! I'm currently pursing the acting world full time so I'm not as active in the background world anymore...but if you give me a few names of agencies that you've found I'll be able to give you my opinion on what I think :) Sound fair?
@@OliviaG Absolutely! I previously signed up with CA7 Creative Inc, but I found it to be a total scam since I got a total of 1 audition after 1.5 years with the company. Basically paid $400 for photos that I ended using for Tinder, lol. Since then, I've been hesitant to sign up with another agency. I've heard Toronto Film Extras is pretty decent. I'm also just checking Craigslist for short-term gigs.
Thank you for your transparency Shane! I’ve never hear of CA7 Creative Inc..& I’m sorry you had to learn the hard way. I was also a victim of many scams, so I feel for you. Just to be clear though, this video is for the background world and background agents don’t send you out for auditions, so I’m guessing you went for a principal acting agency for that? At least you got the photos so let’s focus on the silver lining haha! Toronto film extras is great but they will require you to join an extra database that many of the other toronto background agents don’t require... (so that’s an extra $30 a year or so). Up to you, I’ve only heard good things. As for Craigslist you may find the occasional background job on there but I would personally stick to agencies that have been around for a number of years. Hope that guided you in the right direction :)
Most productions run from Monday-Friday but I've have been out on Saturdays and Sundays as well (but its rare). So yes its possible but just tell your agent that you can only do Fridays + weekends. See what they say. Good luck
Do you always have to pay a fee? I just got scammed and that feeling was so awful, do you have any recommendations for agencies that are legit in the Toronto area?
Can you work at any other regular job on a visitors visa? If the answer is no then no you cannot as you will be required to fill out paperwork proving your place of residence -and that needs to be in the country you are currently wanting to work at. If you decide to work on a non union production you may get away with it but then the rates are usually not at as good or they try to get extras for free as volunteers. Hope that helped
Do to the overwhelming amount of emails that I get asking me to tell you guys what agencies you should join, I'd like to take this time to kindly direct you over to the ACTRA website. On top of that you should Google agencies, check out their social media pages, make sure that they have been around for a number of years and are active. With those tips you are off to a great start. I wish you all the best!
Thank you for this video, I live in the GTA and this was very helpful and informative :)
I just came around this channel again, very amazing content. This channel deserves way more attention.
Olivia Gudaniec Thank you, I surely am
Great video! Thanks for sharing this. I was always curious how movie bg worked.
@@OliviaG I think I'll give it a shot in the very near future. See how it goes. :)
Hi Olivia, thank you very much for the video. I am looking to start BG work in toronto and this video was very helpful
Oh yay! All the best ✌🏻💕 keep me updated on how it goes for you
Your videos rock '👏👏👏👏very interesting topic beautiful Olivia 💐
My sister was an extra in Hollywood back in the eighties☝️️✌️️👍😎👏👊
She was background walk on👍
🌹👍🙌👏you bet ! I would love try💐
What a coincidence that I stumbled on this video... We worked on Man From Toronto together!
Well helllooo Roy!! You've landed on one of my older videos ahaha but there's plenty of new stuff coming up in this playlist :) I'm so glad you said hi, I hope everything's okay?
@@OliviaG I'm loving your content! I stumbled on this video because I was recently upgraded on set and began researching some acting tips, workshops and classes! Keep up the amazing wotk with the content!
@@royurbanozo YESS ROY!! Thatta boy, so happy to hear. What show/movie? You so so so deserve it!
@@OliviaG Thanks Olivia! It was on the set of 1UP. It happened so spontaneously, but I'm so glad it did. Really looking forward to continuing this journey now as a proud ACTRA Apprentice
that was very helpful ! Thanks !
You are very very very welcome!!
Hey Olivia! I'm a union member based in Winnipeg at the moment and we submit our information directly to the background casting directors for each production (or they contact us personally). My main goal is to be acting, however roles are never guaranteed whereas receiving BG is quite frequent. So my question is: In Toronto do you rely on your agent to book you Background gigs as well as auditions for actor/principal roles? Or is there a separate agent you have to/can use for background gigs? Or is it possible to message background casting directly via email? Looking to eventually branch out to Toronto, but it is going to be a whole new world. Thank you! And great video :)
Thanks Jordan. In Toronto, bg agents are typically separate from principal acting agents. The good news is that you can múltiple background agents & bc you are a union member, it won’t cost you anything to join a bunch of agencies. Casting directors don’t usually book bg talent directly here unless you’re great friends or they know you and are in a pickle & will email you directly. Make sense? You can email casting directly but agents do NOT like that and I’m not sure if you’d even get a reply. Just food for thought (from my own personal experience). Hope that helps & let me know if you have any other questions!
@@OliviaG Thanks for getting back to me, Olivia! I do have a few more questions actually - if you don't mind. Are you still able to self-submit for roles on Casting Workbook etc if you have an agent? Also - what is your opinion on accepting too much BG work and building a reputation as only a BG performer? I've heard from a few people in Toronto that this is something to be aware of. However, if the acting agents and BG agents are different, I don't see how they could even know?
excellent
Thank you very much dear Olivia!
Would you please recommend me the best few agencies in Toronto. What about Toronto Film Extras Agency, Morgan Rickman Talent ?
Ml Talent Agency requires SIN number? I think it is not a good idea to give them SIN, isn't it?
I will really appreciate for your response🌺.
Both agencies are legitimate agencies that have been around for years so either or will work. I’m not sure how Covid will affect things moving forward but both agencies want to meet you before taking you on as well. See if you can sign up for ML without putting a SIN number. You will have to write it down on your paperwork on set but I don’t think ML needs to have it. It’s been awhile since I’ve done it but I hope that helps you in the right direction. You can also look into Castmebg!
Thanks so much for this video! How often would you say you can get opportunities?
For background work I would say it’s pretty busy between spring to say early December. Although, each year is different. The Toronto Film and TV industry is only getting busier. But I do have to state that during the winter things slow down significantly. Not sure if that answers your question. Another factor is how many agents you have, the more you have typically the more chances for work you get... but again that’s not always the case. Hope that helps!
@@OliviaG Thanks so much! Have you heard of TFX? Would that be considered a company where you can get an agent?
Yes that’s Toronto Film Extras and I can confirm that they are legitimate. However, they are one of the few agencies that requires you to join an additional database for approx $30 a year whereas other agencies don’t necessarily need that. Hope that helps!
I don't even have the money to travel anywhere within Canada,...little alone Toronto.
this is awesome babe
Hi Olivia, What do you think about these two casting agency's, "B casting talent agency" and "Twins Talent agency" both are based in Toronto..Thank you! JD..
Hi Olivia! My wife and I live in Toronto too. Just wondering which agency you signed up with or recommend for background work? Thanks so much for this informative video.
Hey! I'm currently pursing the acting world full time so I'm not as active in the background world anymore...but if you give me a few names of agencies that you've found I'll be able to give you my opinion on what I think :) Sound fair?
@@OliviaG Absolutely! I previously signed up with CA7 Creative Inc, but I found it to be a total scam since I got a total of 1 audition after 1.5 years with the company. Basically paid $400 for photos that I ended using for Tinder, lol. Since then, I've been hesitant to sign up with another agency. I've heard Toronto Film Extras is pretty decent. I'm also just checking Craigslist for short-term gigs.
Thank you for your transparency Shane! I’ve never hear of CA7 Creative Inc..& I’m sorry you had to learn the hard way. I was also a victim of many scams, so I feel for you. Just to be clear though, this video is for the background world and background agents don’t send you out for auditions, so I’m guessing you went for a principal acting agency for that? At least you got the photos so let’s focus on the silver lining haha! Toronto film extras is great but they will require you to join an extra database that many of the other toronto background agents don’t require... (so that’s an extra $30 a year or so). Up to you, I’ve only heard good things. As for Craigslist you may find the occasional background job on there but I would personally stick to agencies that have been around for a number of years. Hope that guided you in the right direction :)
@@OliviaG thank you so much for your help! Maybe we'll see each other on set one day :)
Is it possible to be an extra as a side job ? I work Monday - Thursday
Most productions run from Monday-Friday but I've have been out on Saturdays and Sundays as well (but its rare). So yes its possible but just tell your agent that you can only do Fridays + weekends. See what they say. Good luck
@@OliviaG okay thank you !
can we become an extra with a student visa with work permit ?
I think there are limitations with how many hours you can work but yes, I believe it is possible in Toronto. Check out the local union to verify :)
@@OliviaG thank you
can you still be an extra if you're under 18? if so, how would it work?
Do you always have to pay a fee? I just got scammed and that feeling was so awful, do you have any recommendations for agencies that are legit in the Toronto area?
Book a call with me and I’ll guide you on exactly who’s legit oliviagmedia.com/chat 😀
@@OliviaG I just emailed @ ljdevcic@outlook.com!
Who did your headshots?
I've had headshots done with a number of pros and all the photos you see are different photographers that aren't necessarily headshot photographers
Ive just gotten out of Prison non violent offence, does this effect my ability to act as an extra?
I would contact the actors union to inquire. In toronto, that’s ACTRA
Can you become an extra if you are a visitors visa
Can you work at any other regular job on a visitors visa? If the answer is no then no you cannot as you will be required to fill out paperwork proving your place of residence -and that needs to be in the country you are currently wanting to work at. If you decide to work on a non union production you may get away with it but then the rates are usually not at as good or they try to get extras for free as volunteers. Hope that helped
Thank you 😊
No problem all the best
Amazing 👍
Appreciate you tuning in