HOW THINGS WORK:
Here’s some info on how our portal works: THIS IS A FREE SERVICE WE PROVIDE. You will never be asked to pay.
1. Create your own profile, and enter ALL of your stats. If you are a “fit” for one of our projects, we will contact you via this system. Expect a text or email via the CAP system. Be sure that your profile is enabled to accept texts!
2. You can see which projects and roles that we are looking for and mark yourself as available.
3. Your cell phone number is your user name. It cannot be used by any other person.
4. Your password must be at least 9 characters long- including upper and lower case letters, at least one number, and at least one “special” character (like #@!%)
5. Each project is assigned its own text number, so you may not recognize it as coming from us right away.
6. When booked, all of the shooting info will be posted in your profile. We will text you when it’s ready for viewing.
7. Please be sure to respond to a request in a timely fashion, available roles are filled quickly.
8. Your profile is yours to maintain. Please be sure to keep us up-to-date with changes (new photos, new car info, new union status, new sizes, etc)
When you are in your profile, and mark yourself as “available” for a role and shoot date, you place yourself in consideration for that day.
Next, you may get a “booking request”- this is a second tier- double checking your availability for that date. Please respond ASAP. Things move very quickly at this point!
Then, you may get an “OFFICIALLY BOOKED” text! Please respond that you accept the booking, and you will receive further details/instructions.
For Children: CAP uses a cell phone number as your ID in CAP- so everyone must have their own number. If the child can use the parent cell #- great. If the parent has their own CAP account (and the child doesn’t have their own phone yet) make the child’s number a “dummy number” – use the parent’s number, but replace the area code with “555”.
READ ON for more info!
At booking:
Be sure that you are available for the day (and night!). Many times, a shooting day can be 14-16 hours long. Please don’t commit to the day if you can’t complete the day.
Many times, extras are booked on very short notice. Please be sure we have the best number where you can be reached at all times. Keep your cell phone turned on!
Know your union status. If you are non-union, you may receive a “waiver” for the day. But, you have a limited amount of waivers that you can receive. Be sure you KNOW how many you have already! (see union info section below).
On a role name in CAP, you’ll see (U) for a union position, or (NU) for a non-union position.
You will be given:
Wardrobe specifications – Read them carefully. What season clothing should you bring? Are there any colors prohibited? Usually, Black, white, red, wild colors and logos are prohibited.
Location to report – Most times, you will report to “holding”. Parking may be in a separate location and you will shuttle from there.
Call time – Be on time! Take into consideration if your call time is around rush hour or if there is construction along your way.
You are not officially booked until you receive a call time. Call times are generally not released until the film finishes shooting on the previous day. You may not get that call until late in the evening. If it is a night shoot, we probably will text you the morning of the shooting day with your call time.
On set:
Bring a PEN and your ID with you. The most common Federally approved ID are: US passport - this "stands alone" -don't need anything else! If not , you need 2 forms of ID: usually Drivers License AND Social Security card. Kids who don't have a license (haha!) can use school ID or a copy of a recent doctor's appointment report AND SS card. (birth certificate only works as a substitute for a SS card) if they have a passport- great! we only need that.
Leave your valuables at home, but bring busywork – there’s always lots of down time on a set.
Pay attention to your “wrangler”. There is always a crew member assigned to background talent. He/she needs to know where you are at ALL times. Please don’t wander outside of assigned areas.
Cell phones must be off or on vibrate! Also, no picture taking on set.
If they request to use your car in the shot, be sure it has a full tank of gas. You may also be asked to bring a specific prop ( briefcase, bookbag, etc.) Generally, you are reimbursed for use of these things.
Pay:
You will fill out a pay voucher on set, receive a copy for your records and a check will be mailed to your home, usually within 2-3 weeks. If there is any problem with your check, please do NOT call us. All payroll issues should be directed to the payroll company listed on your pay voucher. Also, your employer for unemployment purposes is the same payroll company (not the production company.)
The production might use an Electronic voucher site. If so, we’ll send you that link. You’ll enter all of your payroll info there.
Your money will NOT be released to you unless you have supplied the required ID.
UNION INFO:
Most feature film and TV projects are signed to the SAG-AFTRA contract that covers actors and extras. Under certain circumstances, if you are not a union member, you may still be paid as a union member. If we do not have a union member available for that day, we can “make” you union for the day (a “waiver”). Your pay stub and copy of your voucher is your proof that you were waivered that day. Keep them for your records!
A project can also have non-union extras on the same day- once they have filled the quota for union extras that day. Sorry, if paid as “non-union”, you will not get a union waiver.
Please keep track of how many union waivers you have. You are only permitted to have 3 waivers. Once you reached that max, you must join the union in order to work again as a union member. If you are unsure of your status, go here to check it:
and more info on the union can be found on their website at: www.sagaftra.org
But, you can continue to work on a film as non-union, if the project has the need for any non-union extras.
PLEASE NOTE:
Procedures for payment may be different on a NON-UNION project. In those cases, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for sending an invoice to the producer for your services. Be sure to get billing information when you are book