Film extras in Britain: what an agency may charge you, and what it may not

Getting work as a film extra in Britain is realistic: background artists are needed constantly. But this is also the market with the most schemes where someone pays to be "added to the database" and gets nothing. The law regulates that money in some detail — here is what an agency may and may not do.

Why the rules are different here

An ordinary employment agency in Britain cannot charge a work-seeker a fee for work-finding services at all. Entertainment and modelling agencies are an exception: they may charge, but under strict conditions.

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The rules apply explicitly to actors, background artists, extras, dancers, musicians, singers and other performers.

What must be in the contract

The terms and the fees must be agreed in writing. The document must set out: the work-finding services provided; any authority the agency has to act on your behalf; any authorisation to receive money for you; what fees or commissions are charged for finding work; how they are paid; how they are refunded; how much notice you must give to end the contract; and how much notice the agency must give.

Until you have agreed to the terms, the agency cannot charge you or deduct from your earnings.

What can be charged upfront, and what cannot

An agency may take money upfront for one thing only: listing your details in promotional publications or on websites to help you find work. That covers publications, websites, photographs and audio or video recordings. You must be given the chance to see copies.

All other fees and commission for finding work normally come out of your earnings from the job the agency found. The normal order is work first, commission after.

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The deadlines that protect you

If there is a fee for promoting a performer, it can only be charged 30 days after the contract starts. During those 30 days you may cancel or withdraw without penalty and pay nothing at all.

Promotional photographs, audio and video must be shown to you before publication. You then have 7 days to object to anything being used. You cannot be charged until those 7 days are over, or until the agency has dealt with any reasonable requirement of yours — whichever is later.

For crew — camera operators, make-up artists, editors, sound mixers, costume designers and the rest — the period differs: a promotion fee can only be charged 7 days after the contract starts, and you can walk away within that time without paying.

The right to a refund

Remember this number: if you paid for promotional listing and your information was not made available to potential hirers within 60 days of the fee being paid, you have a right to a refund.

Photoshoots and showreels

An agency may also sell additional services, such as a portfolio shoot or a showreel. But the terms for those must be in a separate document, handed to you before the service is provided.

And the crucial point: an agency cannot make using those services a condition of finding you work. "Shoot your portfolio with us or there is no work" is not allowed. Fees for such services also cannot be charged until 30 days after the contract starts.

How to use this

Before paying anything, ask for the written terms and check the clauses on refunds and on notice. If money is wanted now and the contract is promised later, that is already a breach. If you paid for a listing and nothing was shown to anyone in two months, demand the refund — the right to it is written down.