TALENT FAQ's
The People We're Looking For
What are we looking for? Basically anybody who wants to be an actor or extra. There's no right or wrong look. Casting directors look for a wide range of looks and personalities. It all depends on the story they are telling and the effect and look they are after. There are three areas we want to specialise in: stunt fighters, dancers and horse riders with their own horse.
Children: If you are under 16 years of age, you will need to be accompanied by a parent or nominated guardian at all times on set.
Children: If you are under 16 years of age, you will need to be accompanied by a parent or nominated guardian at all times on set.
What We Need From You
You need to have a relaxed, friendly attitude and be prepared to take whatever role you are given when you turn up for a film shoot. We want our extras to be able to give just that little bit more than other agencies provide, but we will help you realise your full potential as an extra. You need to be able to work long hours and in different environments. You also need to be prepared for hanging around a lot waiting to be called to set.
Other things we need from you:
Other things we need from you:
- Reliable transport. You must be able to get to auditions and shoot locations on time.
- Reliability to turn up to jobs you have agreed to do and turn up at the time specified. Ring ahead if you are going to be late.
- Legally able to work in NZ (if not a NZ citizen or resident).
- IRD number.
- NZ bank account number.
Actors
To be an actor with Icarus Talent you will need a degree in performing arts/drama or equivalent qualification, or alternatively experience as an actor or a body of work you have done as an actor. It is up to our clients to decide who they take on for an acting role and at their discretion as to whether you have relevant experience or not.
Extras
What is an Extra? The role of a background extra is a simple but very important one. Extras are the anonymous persons who give texture to a scene or background and help fill the shot, giving actors a realistic landscape to perform in. Extras can be the diners in a hotel scene, passersby in busy streets, the crowds in sport stadiums, horse riders in a historic battle scene, dancers in a ballroom scene, fighters in a battle scene - the list is endless. As an extra it’s your job to help bring movies and TV sets to life!
Anyone can be an extra. No matter what your look, age, size or shape you could be cast in an upcoming movie, TV series or commercial. Just as the real world is full of a huge mix of different people, movie sets also need a variety of diverse people to create a sense of reality that is true to the story. You do not need any experience to be an extra or any degrees in performing arts/drama.
Very few people work full time as extras. Usually, people who are involved in extra work also have a regular job or career, treating their work on set as a hobby, an additional source of income or a stepping stone to further their career in the entertainment industry. As extra work is casual and often comes at very short notice, the more flexible your regular job, the easier it is to be available for extra work.
Anyone can be an extra. No matter what your look, age, size or shape you could be cast in an upcoming movie, TV series or commercial. Just as the real world is full of a huge mix of different people, movie sets also need a variety of diverse people to create a sense of reality that is true to the story. You do not need any experience to be an extra or any degrees in performing arts/drama.
Very few people work full time as extras. Usually, people who are involved in extra work also have a regular job or career, treating their work on set as a hobby, an additional source of income or a stepping stone to further their career in the entertainment industry. As extra work is casual and often comes at very short notice, the more flexible your regular job, the easier it is to be available for extra work.
What You Need to be an Extra
In short, an Agent. Unless you have considerable contacts in the industry you just can't get work without an Agent. The Agent is on the mailing lists of production companies and Casting Agents, can ensure you get paid correctly and can negotiate on your behalf if necessary.
Featured Extras
A featured extra is someone who is in the foreground, eg a doctor, nurse or orderly in a medical drama. Featured extras get paid more than ordinary background extras.
Doubles and Stand-ins
A ‘double’ is required to take the place of an actor in a scene or shot that the actor is unable to and will often be required to perform various actions. There are several types of doubles: body-doubles, hand-doubles, and stunt-doubles. A double will usually be cast to match the appearance and measurements of an actor as they need to look similar to them in an action scene, or a shot filmed from a distance.
Similar to a double, a ‘stand-in’ is cast to have a very similar look and appearance to a main actor. Stand-in’s literally ‘stand in’ for an actor while the crew sets up lighting, props, and equipment, while an actor is filming another scene or rehearsing their lines in their trailer.
Similar to a double, a ‘stand-in’ is cast to have a very similar look and appearance to a main actor. Stand-in’s literally ‘stand in’ for an actor while the crew sets up lighting, props, and equipment, while an actor is filming another scene or rehearsing their lines in their trailer.
Exclusivity
If you join our agency you cannot be on the books of any other agency. Other agencies have the same policy. If you advise us that you are leaving our agency, we reserve the right to invoice for and collect commissions etc. on any work negotiated and/or contracted during the term of our relationship.
About Comp Cards
Talent agencies use Comp Cards to supply information about actors and extras to casting agents and producers. For this we need your vital statistics and some photographs of you. For the photographs we need head and shoulder shots plus full body and half body shots. Your membership fee includes photographs if you are living in Auckland.
If you have photos taken by a professional photographer send them to us, particularly if they are in character and costume. You can take your own photos as a temporary measure until we can arrange a photo shoot with you if you wish. Avoid photos that obscure yourself (eg, no sunglasses or hats) and use clean and clear backgrounds and preferably take the photos in natural light.
There is information in the Privacy Policy about how we handle information you supply us or we collect as you get work.
If you have photos taken by a professional photographer send them to us, particularly if they are in character and costume. You can take your own photos as a temporary measure until we can arrange a photo shoot with you if you wish. Avoid photos that obscure yourself (eg, no sunglasses or hats) and use clean and clear backgrounds and preferably take the photos in natural light.
There is information in the Privacy Policy about how we handle information you supply us or we collect as you get work.
About the Membership Fee
Every agency charges a membership fee but what is it used for? It covers our time putting together an online profile and Comp Card. Once you are a member of Icarus Talent we start promoting you to casting agents and producers, and managing your online profile as you gain more experience. The membership fee also gives you access to any workshops or in house promotions we may do. A small fee applies for workshops to cover our instructor (eg fight choreographer).
If You Live Out of the Main Centres
The majority of jobs are based in Auckland, Wellington or Queenstown, so if you live further away getting to jobs can pose a problem. Demand for people outside the main centres still comes up but is less common. It is preferable to live within reasonable driving distance of a main centre. Quite often a job can come up at short notice. If you are in this position it helps if you have somewhere to stay in town so that you are able to make it to auditions and location.
For Those Who Work Full Time
If you work full time you need to be able to take leave at short notice for auditions and filming. TV shows, films and commercials are rarely shot on weekends.
Meeting With You
Once you have signed with us we will want to meet with you to finalise some paperwork, take some photos and answer any questions you may have. We have a base at Whenuapai in West Auckland and also on Waiheke Island (See Contact).
Financial Stuff
Joining Fee: We offer a once only join up fee of $60 up front or $80 off your first job, unlike some agencies where there is a yearly fee. The join up fee includes photos if you don't have these already. The joining fee is less than what other agencies charge. You remain on our books until such time as you tell us in writing that you wish to leave. We don't have a stand down period when you leave.
Photographs: You will need to update these images once a year or if there are any changes to your appearance. This will only cost you $25 unless you can supply good quality images that do you justice. It's important to have good quality photographs so that we can promote you to casting agents and directors.
Commission: We take a commission of 15% on your GROSS earnings. This is in addition to your income tax deductions. The commission rate for extras is less than what other agencies charge.
Income Tax: You will go on the WT tax code and recieve schedular payments from us. ACC category is Entertainer. Tax is deducted at a flat rate of 20%. You will need to do a tax return at the end of the year. Information about this can be found on the IRD website here: http://www.ird.govt.nz/industry-guidelines/screen-production/screenprodindustry-residententertainers.html.
ACC: You will be considered a 'part-time' contractor and liable to pay your own ACC levies. NOTE: rollover payments and buyouts are considered passive income and not liable to ACC. In such cases you will need to contact ACC directly with invoices/proof that it is indeed a rollover or buyout payment so they can reassess your invoice.
Pay Rates: The rates vary depending on the production and you can be paid hourly, daily and weekly. For background extras average rates are $165-250 gross per 10-hour day. Depending on the production, pay rates are higher for featured extra and support roles. For TV commercials you can earn $1000 to $30,000 gross per job. Overtime rates apply after 10 hours. Some jobs may have a travel allowance included in the fee we charge the client. There is extra money if filming is extended due to bad weather (outdoors shoots). You don't get paid for attending auditions but do if you have a call back (which means you are on a short list for the role).
Per Diems: If you are employed on a shoot that takes you away from home (e.g. Auckland based talent being flown to the South Island) then a Per Diem for living away from home expenses may apply. This is in addition to your talent pay and is tax free up to $80 per day.
Travel Allowance: On some productions there is a payment for travel to and from the shoot location if the talent is required to be accommodated away from home.
Getting Paid: How long it takes to get paid depends on the production company’s protocol. Sometimes it's very quick but other times it can take a long time. Commercials can take between 6 to 8 weeks to be paid. TV shows can be paid monthly (eg 20th of the month). We have no control on this. As soon as we get paid you'll get paid.
Photographs: You will need to update these images once a year or if there are any changes to your appearance. This will only cost you $25 unless you can supply good quality images that do you justice. It's important to have good quality photographs so that we can promote you to casting agents and directors.
Commission: We take a commission of 15% on your GROSS earnings. This is in addition to your income tax deductions. The commission rate for extras is less than what other agencies charge.
Income Tax: You will go on the WT tax code and recieve schedular payments from us. ACC category is Entertainer. Tax is deducted at a flat rate of 20%. You will need to do a tax return at the end of the year. Information about this can be found on the IRD website here: http://www.ird.govt.nz/industry-guidelines/screen-production/screenprodindustry-residententertainers.html.
ACC: You will be considered a 'part-time' contractor and liable to pay your own ACC levies. NOTE: rollover payments and buyouts are considered passive income and not liable to ACC. In such cases you will need to contact ACC directly with invoices/proof that it is indeed a rollover or buyout payment so they can reassess your invoice.
Pay Rates: The rates vary depending on the production and you can be paid hourly, daily and weekly. For background extras average rates are $165-250 gross per 10-hour day. Depending on the production, pay rates are higher for featured extra and support roles. For TV commercials you can earn $1000 to $30,000 gross per job. Overtime rates apply after 10 hours. Some jobs may have a travel allowance included in the fee we charge the client. There is extra money if filming is extended due to bad weather (outdoors shoots). You don't get paid for attending auditions but do if you have a call back (which means you are on a short list for the role).
Per Diems: If you are employed on a shoot that takes you away from home (e.g. Auckland based talent being flown to the South Island) then a Per Diem for living away from home expenses may apply. This is in addition to your talent pay and is tax free up to $80 per day.
Travel Allowance: On some productions there is a payment for travel to and from the shoot location if the talent is required to be accommodated away from home.
Getting Paid: How long it takes to get paid depends on the production company’s protocol. Sometimes it's very quick but other times it can take a long time. Commercials can take between 6 to 8 weeks to be paid. TV shows can be paid monthly (eg 20th of the month). We have no control on this. As soon as we get paid you'll get paid.
