Have you ever seen a casting call for film extras on social media and found yourself day dreaming about your potential five seconds of fame? Or maybe the current transformation of the city into the set for the new Indiana Jones film has you wishing you could enjoy even a small part of the action? 

If so, then let us help. We spoke to up and coming actor Kyle McGuinness to answer some questions about what to expect when entering the weird and wonderful world of extra work.

He said: “Since April I’ve been working as a supporting artist on an Amazon prime series which is filming here in Scotland.

“I can’t say what it is, but it's the most money Amazon has ever spent on a production in Europe.

“It’s all set up inside a factory building with loads of different dressed sets. As a supporting artist, you can be sat there for four or five hours doing multiple takes from different angles.

“The experience varies based on production, but most days you’ll be taken straight to costume and then be checked over for continuity details from previous days filming. Then you’ll head to set where you’ll wait to be called for your scene.

“Usually you’ll get about one or two scenes shot a day which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it just depends on what they need from you that day.”

Glasgow Times:

Pictured: Up and coming actor Kyle McGuinness

Having previously worked on big-budget shoots in the city like the Bollywood film Bell Bottom or Netflix’s upcoming Christmas hit The Princess Switch 3 Kyle feels that Glasgow is the perfect place to try your hand at extra work.

He said: “In terms of filming we have two Disney productions shooting in Scotland at the moment and there are five or six casting agencies for extras who all seem to be very busy.

“I know a lot of people who are now doing extra work as a full-time job.”

As exciting as this may seem you’ll have to consider your current employment situation when applying for extra work. A flexible schedule is absolutely vital in an industry with so many changeable factors.

Kyle said: “I’d say extra work is great for university students or people who are self-employed because things tend to happen very last minute as the weather can turn or a crew member could be sick.

“I know someone who was on his way up to Oban for a job last week who was three minutes away from reaching the set after a three-hour drive, only for the shoot to be called off.

“The majority of the time you’ll be paid for a cancellation, but it’s still very annoying if you’ve taken the time off to work on that day.”

Glasgow Times:

Pictured: On set photos of The Princess Switch 3 filmed in Glasgow

There's good news though as you don’t have to quit your day job to work as an extra. In fact, your current occupation might just be what lands you a role.

Kyle said: “ A lot of people get into extra work with no previous acting experience because you can build your profile at an agency with your transferrable skills.

“For example, if you’re a mother, a teacher or a nurse you would get chosen for a role that specifies that vocation because you’ll have moved in that way, or stood in that space before which will make you come across as a lot more natural.

"That’s really important. I’ve worked with people before who have been asked to do a simple walk past the camera and they forget how to do it. They walk past like a robot with their eyes wide open.”

Good to know if you fancy getting in some screen time purely as a side hustle. However, if you’re truly passionate about pursuing a career as an actor then Kyle suggests applying for as many roles as possible big or small.

He said: “I think being able to get on these sets in any capacity is so important if you want to make a career of acting.

“I’ve certainly come on a lot just from being in front of the camera in scenes as an extra. You just can’t buy that sort of experience.

"I’d suggest that you need a lot of patience and a love for the industry though because you’ll need to realise that it’s not a normal nine to five job and you’re not the star of the show."

Glasgow Times:

Pictured: Sets built last week for the latest blockbuster to film in Glasgow

If that doesn’t appeal to you then it might be best to steer clear of casting calls altogether as Kyle stresses that diva behaviour will not be tolerated on set.

He said: “You might imagine you’re going to be eating catering food and sitting in a trailer when really you’re more likely to be eating from Tupperware in a tent.

“If you moan, you’ll be asked to leave, it’s a cut throat industry. I like to say that they’ll pick you up in a limo and drop you off in a bus.”

What do you say folks, ready for your close-up?