Hi, my name is William Finlay; I’m a 50 year old Fire Service employee, and I joined Extras NI in July 2007 to seek part-time work in film and TV.
On meeting Carla and Siobhan I was immediately impressed with their friendliness and also their professionalism, and I was pleasantly surprised when, only a few days after joining, I was offered work on City of Ember starring Bill Murray.
On set, Carla was there and I noticed that she took a very "hands on" approach to looking after all of the Extras NI extras.
A few weeks after City of Ember, Carla and Siobhan offered me work on Hunger, starring Michael Fassbender (Stelios from the film 300). I spent around 2 weeks on set as a Prison Officer, and the crew and cast were brilliant!
Since then, Carla and Siobhan have found me lots of work, and I have been a Priest (TV - In Cold Blood), a Policeman (TV – Scapegoat), a Terrorist (TV – How to Police the Dissidents), a Royal Servant (film – Your Highness), and a Whistleblower (Spotlight Special / Panorama).
All the work has been great fun and Extras NI have made sure that I was suitably paid in good time.
In my experience, the Extras NI team work hard for both their extras and their clients; they are meticulous with regard to dates and times on set, and are excellent communicators overall.
They are obviously very knowledgeable in the fields of film and television production, and have proven to be resourceful and full of initiative and enthusiasm.
I am very grateful to Extras NI for the film and TV work they have arranged for me, in particular Hunger and the Spotlight Special programme.
If you are thinking of "taking the plunge" to become a film or TV extra, just remember that it does take commitment on your part to be available, contactable, and completely reliable; but Carla and Siobhan will certainly not let you down, and I have no hesitation in recommending that you make Extras NI your agent.
William Finlay, member since 2007.
"Working with Extras NI has been an incredible experience for me. I never imagined I'd be in productions alongside international stars like Julie Walters, Sean Bean and James Franco. Watching them work and seeing the production being made from the inside is very exciting, but not as much as when you spot yourself on screen! The days can be long on set but you are surrounded by like-minded people. I've made a lot of new friends through being an extra...and got paid for it. "
Cate Conway, member since 2007.
"Who'd have thought that I would be watching my children being transformed by costume and make-up, surrounded by a crew of many, given instruction from a director and then watching themselves on both the little and big screen months later. The confidence this has given them has been invaluable and transferred to their lives outside of the set. We have been involved in commercials, TV drama and feature film. When seeing themselves on billboards and the side of buses, it was nearly, but not quite, as exciting as getting the day off school or eating lunch on a bus.
As a family our experience with Extras NI has been exciting, fun and rewarding. The children get to see that adults haven’t forgotten how to play make believe and adults get to see that children have so much to give. Thank you Siobhan and Carla. "
Paula Clamp - proud mother of Jordan, Yana & Jay Ford, all members since 2008
"If someone had offered me the opportunity to spend time on a science fiction set in one of the largest film studios in Europe, have the chance to appear in a $50m movie, appear in scenes with Academy Award nominee Bill Murray and Saoirse Ronan (just recently in Atonement with Keira Knightly), see Tom Hanks, receive direction from Gil Kenan (Monster House), all within 12 miles of my home and they would throw in all meals, I would have jumped at the chance and paid them good money for it. Instead, because I joined Extras NI, they not only gave me this opportunity but also paid me for the pleasure! As a lifelong lover of movies and movie making I have enjoyed every minute of working as an extra and seeing how a movie or television advert is pulled together. If you enjoy trying new experiences, meeting new people, can pass the waiting time chatting, reading or playing cards and appreciate the occasional extra money, it is a perfect pastime. Don’t worry if you are not exactly the Hollywood starlet type, the beauty of this is that they need all sorts; even middle aged, expanding, grey haired crones like me. This has been one of my more eventful years in many ways and membership of Extras NI has been a large part of that."
Linda Hutchinson, member since 2007
"Having worked in both theatre and radio, I jumped at the chance to explore another aspect of the entertainment industry and I got my chance through Extras NI. Having seen their ad, I signed up, got my mugshot taken, and soon was in business as a film extra!
What did I expect? Certainly not glitz and glamour, but rather an insight into the world that creates what we see on the silver screen. My experience with Extras NI certainly hasn't disappointed. In a matter of months, I found myself experiencing the harshness of life in 1950s 'Middletown' and then going underground into the strange world of 'City of Ember', to name but a few of the assignments I have been offered. I've had the opportunity to rub shoulders with stars like Bill Murray and Tim Robbins, and to observe their acting on set. Their understated, naturalistic style of acting taught me how to pitch my 'performance' when the time came - usually a walk from A to B doing whatever business was required of me! Be prepared for 'take' after 'take' of the same shot, and the inevitable delays as the cameramen re-set their equipment. There's nothing glamorous about this business, but rather the daily struggle to get short sequences just right, no matter how long it takes - and it's usually a 12 hour day!
Be prepared to keep or cut your hair to order, and to look 'in character' whatever the character may be - beauty or the beast! What I didn't expect, but found a really valuable part of being an extra is the really good friends I have made through the experience. I've met a special group of people, interesting individuals and great 'craic'. The camaraderie makes up for the long hours of hanging around in cold, wet, wind or sweltering sun on location outside or in. It's hard work and long hours but the rewards are immense, and I can't wait for the next time!
Olga Harper, member since 2007
"I would just like to say a big 'Thank You' to Extras NI for providing my 6 year old twin boys, Joel and Lewis with the fantastic opportunity through your website to appear in the BBC Drama, Fairy Tales 'The Empress’s New Clothes' with Denise Van Outen (something for them to boast about when their older!). Also, the lovely Liz White and Kenny Doughty who played their screen parents and were great with them on set, as were all the cast and crew during our time filming.
You provide a fantastic and very professional service and we really enjoyed the whole experience. Its not everyday your children get to be 'Little Star'."
Hazel Hargan, mother of Joel & Lewis Hargan, all members since 2007 – both boys played the role of one son (due to the nature of child working hours in film and tv) in BBC Drama FAIRYTALES – THE EMPRESS’S NEW CLOTHES.
"About 20 years ago in New Orleans, I had extra roles in a few movies that were filmed there. In May '07 I heard about Extras NI from a work colleague and thought ‘What the heck, I had fun doing it before. Let's give it a go.' A month later I got an extras role in City of Ember. Two weeks later I was asked to audition as a featured extra and got that role. Two weeks after that I was offered a position in the actual cast! Besides being treated like a real movie actor while on the set, I'll get see my name up on the big screen. Even without all the other extra work I got, 2007 has been one of the most exciting of my 52 years. Thank you Extras NI!"
Tom Dart discussing one of his roles as Mayor's Guard in CITY OF EMBER, member since 2007
"I'd just like to say how much I enjoy working with Extras NI. Everyone was very friendly and helpful yet very professional. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to get a part in a Hollywood movie "City of Ember". Without Extras NI it would never have happened and is something I shall never forget."
Mairead O'Hara discussing one of her roles as First Mayor in CITY OF EMBER, member since 2007
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