About Me
…We are Next Level Entertainment & Promotions, producers of an array of cultural and educational events with an emphasis on community relevancy. Food Jazz and Poetry is one of the few if not the only show in the metro area that brings together entertainment for the over 30 crowd.Next Level Ent. in Southfield, where all the movie studios go for talent and "extras" (otherwise known as background actors with non-speaking roles). There are lots of scams out there, trying to take advantage of naive wannabes, but Next Level Ent. is strictly on the up & up - it's the largest extras casting company in DetroitGive Next Level Ent. a call at (800)520-0853 Here's how it's done:.Registration days at will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and we only do registrations for a Three hour per day: from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM only and Saturdays Auditions from Noon to 4:00 PM - a very narrow window of opportunity. Registration takes about one hour. Starting JULY 13, 2007(Tuesdays and Thursdays are "visiting days," when actors can make file changes, drop off headshots, and perhaps meet with filmmakers.).Because of federal law, they require both a valid drivers license and your Social Security card as identification when you register. Or else a U. S. Passport. Or else your drivers license and your birth certificate. (But all such items must be the original documents - no copies.) You must be 18 or older.If you are a resident alien, must presentyour current “ Em ploymentAuthorization†OR “Resident Alien†card (with a current photo of you), TOGETHER with the above-listed documents.We will take two photos of you (one computer image and one conventional photograph), which will be used in their files, from which they select potential extras. We suggest that you "dress to impress."Wear clothes that you own (you usually have to supply your own"costume" as an extra), and dress as the "type" you expect to portray if you get work as an extra. For instance, if you feel you are best cast as a conservative businessman, wear a suit.The cost for taking this photo/computer image is $20 cash , checks or credit cards. Bring exact change.We will also want to know your exact measurements & clothes sizes. For women, that means bust, waist, hips,dress and hat sizes. For men, it means know your coat, sleeve, neck, waist,inseam and hat sizes.Once you've signed up and are back home,you'll have to phone their (Next Levels Casting) hotline every day, twice an hour, to see what work they may have available, and the phone lines are often busy. Needless to say, it's a time-consuming business.When We answer the phone on these days, they'll ask for your social security number, punch it into a computer, call up your photo on the monitor and decide whether your looks match the roles they're trying to cast. If you're what they're looking for that day, we will give you set and call times "There are several other extra casting offices as well, besides Next Level Ent. These, and others. But they may or may not be as reliable as Next Level Ent.. A list of these agencies, with their addresses and phone numbers, can be found in the book, "Your Film Acting Career," by M.K. Lewis (which is available in most Wayne County libraries).Register with all of these extra casting agencies. (Legitimate agencies will not charge you a crazy fees to join it's normaly $25 or less.)And for pete's sake, don't quit your day job! Extra work doesn't pay very much and the work is spotty. But if you're lucky, the jobs can become a fun hobby and a minor source of extra income - and the free food on the set is usually pretty good.When you go to a casting company, dress well; they like an "extra" who has a large wardrobe of his (or her)own. And be sure to list as many special skills as you have (horseback riding,ice-skating, swimming, etc.) that might get you additional pay.Once on the movie set, try to get to know the stage manager or assistant director, the people who have the final say one xtra hiring for future productions. But bear in mind that extras are the low man on the totem poll of acting; don't expect to get much respect on the set.Or much fame. Many experienced movie extras actually try to turn their faces away from the camera during shooting, so that they can appear in multiple scenes. And a rule officially prohibits an extra from talking to a star (unless they talk to you first.)
